CFPR for Industry

How does a University Arts Department qualify itself within the arena of developing industrial research projects? Partnerships forged between the Centre for Fine Print Research (CFPR) and industry, now constitute approximately a third of the research work we undertake. These partnerships have grown over the last ten years as the reputation of the Centre has increased. This specifically refers to collaboration between researchers and industry, which develops eithera new industrial product, or a process that assists the creative development of new profitable markets. We have a variety of different opportunities, which allow us to access government funds for working with industry.

Novel ceramic materials for rapid prototyping

David Huson and Stephen Hoskins have a patent for their research which allows an exact real clay replacement to be printed using a digital file via 3D printing technology (rapid prototyping). This process moves rapid prototyping from its classification as a prototyping process towards a production process. The technology is developing fast and the Centre for Fine Print Research has taken a clear lead in the quality of objects that can be printed. The research team have developed novel ceramic materials which replace the plaster powder currently used for the rapid prototyping process.

Until now it has been possible to print ceramic materials in this manner, although the density and shrinkage of the objects produced did not achieve the demands of the ceramic industry. Following a three year research project, funded by the AHRC, researchers investigated how the latest technology in 3D printing could be used to create one-off functional bespoke artworks, rather than creating a prototype which forms the basis for a mould or has to be recreated in another media. This new process allows the artist to develop the object digitally on screen and then produce the finished work directly in “real” ceramic materials. The object is then placed in a kiln and fired.

The technology has potential for use in the wider ceramics industry; it will now be possible, not only to make exact trial versions in ceramic before a production run, but to operate specialist short runs which allow every piece to be different. In the long term the technology may have implications in the medical field, as research is already taking place for ceramic replacements in serious bone fractures. One of the key challenges of the project was to develop ceramic objects which were strong enough when they came out of the printer, but still had the right properties to be able to be fired in a kiln.

If you are interested in licensing this technology please contact us to arrange a meeting to discuss the innovation and complete a full disclosure. This meeting is required to gather all the relevant information to enable us to undertake the necessary due diligence and develop an appropriate protection and exploitation strategy.

The Centre for Fine Print Research offers industry level training, specialist bespoke courses and consultancy in:

Colour management, Laser cutting, Wide-format printing and 3D design, scanning and printing.

Our diverse knowledge of the fundamentals of printing processes, our varied skill backgrounds with staff, (from ceramic engineering to 3D rapid prototyping, laser cutting and all aspects of print and colour management) allows us to take a lateral view to problem solving which allows us to produce solutions for printing and industrial companies both in process and workflow which would not be considered by other specialists in the field. 

Our Industry Partners include:
Aardman Animations - AJ Wells and Sons - Burgess, Dorling and Leigh

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships

Uniquely the CFPR specialises in the interface between the visual arts and industry - not at first sight a partnership that appears to offer competitive advantage. For example, in relation to the application of print to industry it is our experience of early printing technology and its 19th Century developments, which give us a fundamental overview of current print technologies and practises, allowing us to take a lateral approach that offers innovative solutions.

Over the years we have undertaken a series of collaborations with big business as well as Small to Medium Enterprise’s (SME’s). For example with Hewlett Packard our collaborations extend over 10 years from colour science, through wide format printing to dissemination of research projects with schools.

We have worked with both non-print specialist companies such as Dycem UK Ltd, with whom, not only are we developing a technique for printing high quality colour designs and assisting their entry into the digital print marketplace, but have changed their approach to the manufacture of safety flooring products.

We worked with specialist manufacturers of inks such as Cranfield Colours, on a collaborative project which successfully opened up the lines of communication between the manufacturer and the end user to develop a new methodology for the testing, design and manufacture of innovative, commercially viable inks for the specialist fine art market. As a result the company reported an increase in gross profits and an increase in artists’ ink exports into new markets.
 
Another successful knowledge transfer partnership was with the company John Purcell Paper (JPP) who required a transfer of knowledge in wide format printing to enable the company to service the growing international market of coated traditional cotton rag paper for photographers and artists. 

The company increased its market share of digital print papers from a small base to 30% of total turnover over a five year period. The CFPR trained company staff how to use a range of wide format printers and how to write specialist colour profiles to customer requirements giving JPP the confidence to be the lead supplier to artists in this market.

The Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) scheme: rbi.uwe.ac.uk/ktp

Current CPD Courses -

Funding Organisations