For help with a story or to find an expert: 0114 225 2811
Tags:
Issued:15/07/13
A European research powerhouse has strengthened its links with Sheffield Hallam in a deal that will see two of its top scientists become visiting professors at the University.
Professor Dr Günter Bräuer and Professor Wolfgang Diehl, from the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films in Germany, will join Sheffield Hallam's Materials and Engineering Research Institute (MERI) ahead of a £5.7m revamp due to be completed in Autumn next year.
The appointments follow several years of close scientific collaboration between the two institutes, working on high power impulse magnetron sputtering (HIPIMS), a technique which can be used to create special heat-resistant coatings for space station cryocoolers and jet engines.
They also established the HIPIMS Technology Centre in 2010 to tackle industry-oriented research projects in the field of vacuum coating technology, bringing in a seven-figure research income.
The appointments were officially announced at the fourth International HIPIMS Conference in Braunschweig, Germany, by Professor Alan Smith, Director of MERI at Sheffield Hallam.
Professor Smith said: "I would like to welcome Professor Brauer and Professor Diehl to their new roles.
"Fraunhofer has an enthusiasm and commitment to HIPIMS technology that matches our own.
"At Sheffield Hallam we have recently announced a major £5.7m revamp for our centre which includes state-of-the-art new equipment for HIPIMS applied research.
"With Gunter and Wolfgang on board, our global reputation for innovative and applied knowledge transfer can only get stronger."
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is the largest organization for applied research in Europe, with 66 institutes and research units. The majority of more than 22,000 staff are qualified scientists and engineers with a €1.9 billion annual research budget.
The HIPIMS Technology Centre is committed to developing plasma science and technology to improve the quality and performance of PVD and PACVD applications. One of the main strengths of the centre is its expertise in High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering (HIPIMS) - the latest innovation in PVD.
For Sheffield Hallam press information: contact Laurie Harvey in the Sheffield Hallam University press office on 0114 225 2621 or email laurie.harvey@shu.ac.uk
