Cranfield University

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We operate a wide range of facilities and complementary equipment which ensure we are well positioned to serve our clients. This infrastructure underpins the work of our staff and students in relation to research and teaching. Many of our facilities are also used for short courses, adding a practical dimension to our training programmes. Facilities are often near to, or, of industrial scale and are unique to Cranfield.

High temperature surface engineering: we operate extensive facilities for PVD, CVD coating and plasma spray (LVPS) coating of high-temperature components. We are the only university in Europe to run facilities for the deposition of EB-PVD thermal barrier coatings onto blades. Globally, Cranfield operates the most comprehensive high-temperature coating test facilities to found in a university.

Microsystems and nanotechnology activities benefit from our state-of-the-art clean rooms. We operate an extensive suite of materials’characterisation and surface analysis equipment. Supported by metallographic and mechanical testing facilities, we can prepare and identify the microstructure and composition of a wide variety of materials.

Precision machining laboratories are the best equipped in Europe and include leading-edge micro-engineering equipment. These facilities support precision machine technologies including machine tool design; advanced fabrication processes; process development including abrasive machining, diamond turning and plasma assisted machining; micro-engineering including micro-machining; photochemical machining and metrology.

At the forefront of composites manufacturing, polymer and ceramic processing our facilities include the lightweight structures' laboratories. We have large scale facilities for polymer matrix fibre composite processing; a unique facility that supports the lamination of high performance carbon fibre tape; a resin processing facility which includes resin transfer moulding and vacuum infusion systems. We can manufacture large demonstrator structures to clients' specifications.

Cranfield includes the largest UK academic group dedicated to welding and welding automation.Our fully equipped welding laboratory boasts the highest power fibre laser in the UK, the Fanuc AM-120iC Robot, the Romer Arm, state-of-the-art equipment for arc welding process development, welding metallurgy and welding process automation. We also run a record breaking hyperbaric chamber for deep weld simulations.

Offshore and ocean related research and teaching benefits from facilities such as corrosion laboratories, materials' testing equipment and diving tanks. We develop automated and remotely operated vehicles for subsea engineering applications.

Cost and decision engineering work at Cranfield is recognised internationally. Our Cost Studio® provides real-world experience of product cost modelling applications. We also support enterprise modelling, development and implementation, alongside SAP, Oracle e-business and UGS Team Engineering Solutions facilities for system design and configuration.

Our water science facilities are among the best in the world. Dedicated laboratories are complemented by our pilot-plant hall. This is situated at Cranfield’s own sewage treatment works. Recent investment include an unparalleled environmental analytical facility for micropollutants and emerging contaminants in soil, waste, water and wastewater media. A containerised laboratory also operates at one of the residences where grey water treatment pilot plants are stationed. Cranfield can access major waste and resource management facilities. Significant waste management operations in the region are available to the University for pilot-scale projects.

Our energy focus is on clean power generation from fossil and renewable fuels. We operate unique engineering-scale facilities. These support the development of efficient technologies with low CO2 emissions. Our test rigs for advanced fuel combustion are world-leading, enabling us to capture research data at near to industrial scale. We are well equipped to examine the practical implications of the various energy futures being considered to address climate change.

The Cranfield Impact Centre (CIC) is known internationally for its work on structural integrity testing. Our FIA approved impact testing laboratory is used by many of the world's top F1 teams. We operate a number of facilities across the University which relate to motorsport.

Our off road dynamics facility is unique in the UK. We are able to gain a better understanding of the relationship between machines and the soil environment in controlled conditions. Our researchers provide important research information to organisations operating across automotive, aerospace, agriculture, construction, motorsport, sports surface, defence and telecommunications. Co-located is a rolling-road dynamometer for engine development work. Vehicle dynamics is also supported by a moment of inertia rig.

Dedicated laboratories, including the Cranfield Soil Laboratory, the Soil Erosion and Conservation Laboratory and the Soil Dynamics Laboratory, support the study of soil engineering, soil erosion, soil-plant-water interactions, water quality, hydraulics, ecosystem behaviour, irrigation and drainage. These facilities ensure we have specialist capabilities in soil chemistry and biology. We possess the largest soil flume in Europe. We also operate the commercially-run Cranfield University Experimental Farm which is also used for field scientific and engineering research.