Professor Martin Howarth
Director of the National Centre of Excellence for Food Engineering (NCEFE)
Summary
Martin Howarth is Director of the NCEFE at Sheffield Hallam University. The NCEFE is a hub for collaboration between the food and drink industry and academia, developing innovative engineering solutions for the industry and supporting the development of critical skills, which are currently in short supply. The NCEFE aims to help realise the food and drink industry's and Government's ambitious visions for growth in the UK and address the urgent challenges the industry faces. The NCEFE is supported by £6.9m from HEFCE and £2.8m from ERDF, the Food and Drink Federation, the National Skills Academy for Food and Drink, and many key companies, from multi-nationals to SMEs, working in the sector.
About
Martin has a PhD in Robotics from Nottingham Trent University and is a member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and a Chartered Engineer. Previously, Martin was Head of Department of Engineering and Mathematics at Sheffield Hallam University where he was responsible for leading the strategic development of Engineering and Mathematics in the College of Business, Technology and Engineering, as well as for overseeing the delivery of excellent education in these disciplines. He was responsible for managing 85 academic staff across a range of disciplines from Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Mathematics.
Teaching
- Robotics and Automation
- Manufacturing Processes
- Industrial Projects
Research
- National Centre of Excellence for Food Engineering
- Materials and Engineering Research Institute
Research and technology transfer work led by Martin at the NCEFE includes a focus on improving sustainability and reducing waste in the food and drink sector, and assisting manufacturers with efficient food processing techniques. Recent projects address the health agenda through the reduction of the salt and fat content of food, sustainability through novel processing techniques to increase yield and quality, and new control techniques to increase the availability of autonomous systems.
Over recent years, Martin has led and supported EU, EPSRC and Innovate UK projects and has contributed to the Knowledge Transfer Partnership programme within engineering at Sheffield Hallam University. Martin has authored and refereed technical publications in manufacturing, automation and robotics in a range of industrial sectors.
Publications
Journal articles
Oluwole-Ojo, O.N., Zhang, H., Howarth, M., & Xu, X. (2023). Energy Consumption Analysis of a Continuous Flow Ohmic Heater with Advanced Process Controls. Energies, 16 (2). http://doi.org/10.3390/en16020868
Cui, X., Harris, M., Howarth, M., Zealey, D., Brown, R., & Shepherd, J. (2022). Granular flow around a cylindrical obstacle in an inclined chute. Physics of Fluids, 34 (9). http://doi.org/10.1063/5.0101694
Meng, Q., Zhang, H., & Howarth, M. (2022). Comparison between Real-Time Auto-Tuning PID and Conventional PID Controller for a Dairy Industrial Evaporation Process. International Journal of Modelling, Identification and Control, 40 (1), 27-35. http://doi.org/10.1504/IJMIC.2022.10048796
Oluwole-Ojo, O., Zhang, H., Howarth, M., & Xu, X. (2021). Model based design and validation of a batch ohmic heating system. Modelling, 2 (4), 641-658. http://doi.org/10.3390/modelling2040034
Paximada, P., Batchelor, M., Lillevang, S., Evageliou, V., Howarth, M., & Dubey, B.N. (2021). Impact of lipophilic surfactant on the stabilization of water droplets in sunflower oil. Journal of Food Processing and Preservation. http://doi.org/10.1111/jfpp.15757
Zhang, H., Mohamed, A., Breikin, T., & Howarth, M. (2021). Modelling and Simulation of an Ohmic Heating Process. Open Journal of Modelling and Simulation, 9 (1), 26-42. http://doi.org/10.4236/ojmsi.2021.91002
Shenfield, A., & Howarth, M. (2020). A Novel Deep Learning Model for the Detection and Identification of Rolling Element-Bearing Faults. Sensors, 20, 5112.
Mukherjee, S., Asthana, A., Howarth, M., & Chowdhury, J.I. (2020). Techno-Economic Assessment of Waste Heat Recovery Technologies for the Food Processing Industry. Energies, 13 (23), e6446. http://doi.org/10.3390/en13236446
Paximada, P., Howarth, M., & Dubey, B. (2020). Double emulsions fortified with plant and milk proteins as fat replacers in cheese. Journal of Food Engineering, 288, 110229. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2020.110229
Dubey, B., Fitton, D., Nahar, S., & Howarth, M. (2019). Comparative study on the rice bran stabilization processes: A review. Research & development in material science, 11 (2). http://doi.org/10.31031/RDMS.2019.11.000759
Mukherjee, S., Asthana, A., Howarth, M., McNeil, R., & Frisby, B. (2019). Achieving operational excellence for industrial baking ovens. Energy Procedia, 161, 395-402. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2019.02.100
Karim, A., Islam, M.A., Mohammad Faizal, C.K., Yousuf, A., Howarth, M., Dubey, B., ... Rahman Khan, M.M. (2018). Enhanced biohydrogen production from citrus wastewater using anaerobic sludge pretreated by an electroporation technique. Industrial & engineering chemistry research, 58 (2), 573-580. http://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.8b03586
Dubey, B., Howarth, M., & Paximada, P. (2018). Electrosprayed particles derived from nano-emulsions as carriers of fish oil. TechConnect Briefs, 3 (3), 1-4. https://briefs.techconnect.org/papers/electrosprayed-particles-derived-from-nano-emulsions-as-carriers-of-fish-oil/
Lopez-Juarez, I., Rios-Cabrera, R., Hsieh, S.J., & Howarth, M. (2017). A hybrid non-invasive method for internal/external quality assessment of potatoes. European Food Research and Technology, 244 (1), 161-174. http://doi.org/10.1007/s00217-017-2936-9
Lockwood, A.J., Wedekind, J., Gay, R.S., Bobji, M.S., Amavasai, B., Howarth, M., ... Inkson, B.J. (2010). Advanced transmission electron microscope triboprobe with automated closed-loop nanopositioning. Measurement Science and Technology, 21 (7), 075901.
Hovsepian, P., Luo, Q., Robinson, G., Pittman, M., Howarth, M., Doerwald, D., ... Zeus, T. (2005). TiAlN/VN superlattice structured PVD coatings: A new alternative in machining of aluminium alloys for aerospace and automotive components. Surface and Coatings Technology, 201 (1-2), 265-272. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfcoat.2005.11.106
Hovsepian, P., Luo, Q., Robinson, G., Pittman, M., Howarth, M., Doerwald, D., ... Zeus, T. (2005). TiAIN superlattice structured PVD coatings: a new alternative in the machining of aluminium alloys for aerospace and automotive components. Surface and coatings technology, 201 (1-2), 265-272. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfcoat.2005.11.106
Luo, Q., Robinson, G., Pittman, M., Howarth, M., Sim, W.M., Stalley, M.R., ... Hovsepian, P. (2005). Performance of nano-structured multilayer PVD coating TiAlN/VN in dry high speed milling of aerospace aluminium 7010-T7651. Surface and Coatings Technology, 200, 123-127. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfcoat.2005.02.017
Lopez-Juarez, I., & Howarth, M. (2002). Knowledge acquisition and learning in unstructured robotic assembly environments. Information Sciences, 145 (1-2), 89-111. http://doi.org/10.1016/s0020-0255(02)00225-6
Lotfi, A., Howarth, M., & Hull, J.B. (2000). Orthogonal Fuzzy Rule-Based Systems: Selection of Optimum Rules. Neural Computing & Applications, 9 (1), 4-11. http://doi.org/10.1007/s005210070029
Lofti, A., & Howarth, M. (1998). Industrial application of fuzzy systems: Adaptive fuzzy control of solder paste stencil printing. Information Sciences, 107 (1-4), 273-285. http://doi.org/10.1016/s0020-0255(97)10053-6
Mitchell, M., Howarth, M., & Gentle, C.R. (1998). Production and evaluation of textured polymer sheets as optical pressure-sensing interfaces. Journal of Materials Processing Technology, 77 (1-3), 129-133. http://doi.org/10.1016/s0924-0136(97)00410-x
LOTFI, A., & HOWARTH, M. (1997). Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, 8 (6), 525-532. http://doi.org/10.1023/a:1018582921530
Lotfi, A., & Howarth, M. (1997). Noninteractive fuzzy rule-based systems. Information Sciences, 99 (3-4), 219-234. http://doi.org/10.1016/s0020-0255(96)00271-x
Lopez-Juarez, I., & Howarth, M. (n.d.). Learning manipulative skills with ART. Proceedings. 2000 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS 2000) (Cat. No.00CH37113). http://doi.org/10.1109/iros.2000.894666
Conference papers
Meng, Q., Zhang, H., & Howarth, M. (2019). Performances Comparison between Real-Time Auto-Tuning PID and Conventional PID Controller for a Dairy Industrial Evaporation Process Control. 2019 International Conference on Artificial Intelligence, Control and Automation Engineering (AICAE 2019). http://doi.org/10.12783/dtcse/aicae2019/31462
Dubey, B., Roncato, P., & Howarth, M. (2019). Easy flowing emulsion (o/w) based spray-dried powder produced using dietary fiber as a wall material. ILASS-Americas 2019. http://www.ilass.org/2/conferencepapers/80_2019.pdf
Mukherjee, S., Asthana, A., Howarth, M., Mcneill, R., & Frisby, B. (2019). Achieving operational excellence for industrial baking ovens. Energy Procedia, 161, 395-402. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2019.02.100
Mukherjee, S., Asthana, A., Howarth, M., McNeil, R., & Frisby, B. (2018). Achieving operational excellence for industrial baking ovens. In 2nd International Conference on Sustainable Energy and Resource Use in Food Chains, ICSEF 2018, Paphos, Cyprus, 17 October 2018 - 19 October 2018.
Asthana, A., Mukherjee, S., & Howarth, M. (2018). Evaluation of waste heat recovery technologies for industrial food manufacturing process. In International Conference on Sustainability, Energy and Environmental Sciences (ICSEES), 16 July 2018 - 18 July 2018.
Mukherjee, S., Asthana, A., Howarth, M., & Mcneill, R. (2017). Waste heat recovery from industrial baking ovens. Energy Procedia, 123, 321-328. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2017.07.259
Asthana, A., Mukherjee, S., & Howarth, M. (2017). Waste heat recovery from baking ovens. In 11th European Conference on Industrial Furnaces and Boilers, 18 April 2017 - 21 April 2017.
Mukherjee, S., Asthana, A., & Howarth, M. (2016). Waste Heat Recovery in Food and Drinks Industry (Abstract only). Journal of Food Process Technology, 7 (12). http://doi.org/10.4172/2157-7110.C1.056
Lockwood, A.J., Wedekind, J., Gay, R.S., Wang, J.J., Bobji, M.S., Amavasai, B., ... Inkson, B.J. (2011). NanoLAB Triboprobe: Characterizing Dynamic Wear, Friction and Fatigue at the Nanoscale. MRS Proceedings, 1297. http://doi.org/10.1557/opl.2011.596
Brignone, L., & Howarth, M. (2003). ART-R: a novel reinforcement learning algorithm using an ART module for state representation. 2003 IEEE XIII Workshop on Neural Networks for Signal Processing (IEEE Cat. No.03TH8718). http://doi.org/10.1109/nnsp.2003.1318082
Brignone, L.M., & Howarth, M. (2002). A geometrically validated approach to autonomous robotic assembly. IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems, 2, 1626-1631.
Chmielarczyk, P., Howarth, M., & Brignone, L. (2001). Learning manipulative skills using an ANN approach based on sensorial and descriptive information sources. ADVANCES IN MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY-XVI, 509-513.
Brignone, L., Sivayoganathan, K., Balendran, V., & Howarth, M. (2001). Contact localisation: A novel approach to intelligent robotic assembly. Proceedings of the International Joint Conference on Neural Networks, 3, 2182-2187.
Howarth, M., Silvester, S.A., Lacey, M., & Sivaygonathan, K. (1999). Investigation into the printing characteristics and mechanical dynamics of advanced squeegee mechanisms. Proceedings of the IEEE/CPMT International Electronics Manufacturing Technology (IEMT) Symposium, 178-184.
Howarth, M., & Lotfi, A. (1999). Adaptive fuzzy control of solder paste printing: The identification of deposit defects. Proceedings of the IEEE/CPMT International Electronics Manufacturing Technology (IEMT) Symposium, 102-107.
Lopez-Juarez, I., Howarth, M., & Sivayoganathan, K. (1998). Adaptive learning approach to control contact force in assembly. IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems, 3, 1443-1448.
Lotfi, A., Howarth, M., & Thomas, P.D. (1997). Orthogonal fuzzy model of the solder paste printing stage of surface mount technology. IEEE International Conference on Fuzzy Systems, 3, 1433-1437.
Howarth, M. (1995). Robotic task level programming using neural networks. 4th International Conference on Artificial Neural Networks. http://doi.org/10.1049/cp:19950565
Lopez-Juarez, I., & Howarth, M. Force control in robotic assembly under extreme uncertainty using ANN. 2000 26th Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society. IECON 2000. 2000 IEEE International Conference on Industrial Electronics, Control and Instrumentation. 21st Century Technologies and Industrial Opportunities (Cat. No.00CH37141). http://doi.org/10.1109/iecon.2000.973216
Lotfi, A., & Howarth, M. An intelligent closed-loop control of solder paste stencil printing. Twenty Third IEEE/CPMT International Electronics Manufacturing Technology Symposium (Cat. No.98CH36205). http://doi.org/10.1109/iemt.1998.731039
Theses / Dissertations
Wedekind, J. (2012). Efficient implementations of machine vision algorithms using a dynamically typed programming language. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Dutton, K., Penders, J., & Howarth, M.
Chmielarczyk, P. (2006). Learning manipulative skills using an artificial intelligence approach. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Howarth, M.
Presentations
Zhang, H., Oluwole-Ojo, O.N., Howarth, M., & Xu, X. (2022). Implementation of advanced real-time process control on a continuous flow ohmic heater. Presented at: The 15th Conference of Food Engineering, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA, 2022
Dubey, B., Roncato, P., & Howarth, M. (2019). Easy flowing emulsion (o/w) based spray-dried powder produced using dietary fiber as a wall material. Presented at: ILASS-Americas 2019, Arizona, 2019
Dubey, B., Paximada, P., & Howarth, M. (2018). Electrosprayed particles derived from nano-emulsions as carriers of fish oil. Presented at: TechConnect World 2018, California, USA, 2018
Posters
Dubey, B., Nahar, S., & Howarth, M. (2019). Ultrasound-assisted extraction of rice bran protein and its functional properties. Presented at: Physics in Food Manufacturing Conference, Campden BRI, Chipping Campden, UK, 2019
Dubey, B., Howarth, M., & Paximada, P. (2018). Protein enrichment by microencapsulation for dairy products. Presented at: 3rd Food Structure and Functionality Forum Symposium - From Molecules to Functionality, Montreal, Canada, 2018
Nahar, S., Howarth, M., & Dubey, B. (2018). Study of interfacial properties and bulk rheology of emulsion using RBP. Presented at: 3rd Food Structure and Functionality Forum Symposium - From Molecules to Functionality, Montreal, Canada, 2018
Paximada, P., Batchelor, M., Lillevang, S., Howarth, M., & Dubey, B. (2018). Fat-based submicron emulsions using high pressure homogenizer. Presented at: 17th Food Colloids Conference : Application of Soft Matter Concepts, Leeds, United Kingdom, 2018
Paximada, P., Dubey, B., & Howarth, M. (2017). Designing W/O emulsions with enhanced properties. Presented at: 3rd UK Hydrocolloids Symposium, Nottingham, UK