IMPC

Muhammad Hussain Ismail B.Engg, M.Sc
PhD Student - Email mtp07mhi@sheffield.ac.uk

Muhammad H. Ismail (Hussain) has joined Sheffield University since Oct 2007 and he is currently a PhD student at the Department of Engineering Materials, under supervision of Dr Iain Todd and Prof H. A. Davies.

He obtained his first degree in Mechanical and Materials Engineering in 1999 from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). He then pursued his master degree (M.Sc) at the same University and graduated in 2002. His master’s thesis is entitled “The Effects of Powder Loading on Processing Conditions in Metal Injection (MIM) Process”.  He has joined Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Malaysia since February 2001 as a lecturer at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. His research interest is Powder Metallurgy, particularly in the Metal Injection Moulding (MIM) process. 

Prior his PhD study, he had led 3 research projects on MIM and members of several research grants. His research projects were focusing on rheological behavior and parts’ characterization in MIM process of 316L Stainless Steel using a water soluble binder system and development of local bio-polymer binder system based on palm stearin. His PhD work is focusing on the fabrication of Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) components using pre-alloyed NiTi by MIM route. Most of his research works is conducted at the Innovative Manufacturing Process Centre (IMPC) in Rotheram.

Alfred Sidambe BSc PhD AMInstP

Dr. Sidambe joined the IMPC/AMRC at the University of Sheffield in December 2006 to work as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate. His tasks involve developing improved processing routes to Titanium alloys, with emphasis on Metal Injection Moulding.

Alfred obtained his PhD in 2006 from Cranfield University (UK) in injection moulding of polymers bonded to magnets. His work allowed him to developed extensive knowledge in the Extrusion, Mixing, Rheological and Injection moulding techniques of polymers as well as Finite Elements Analysis and magnetic properties of materials.

His first degree was in Special Applied Physics with Electronics which he obtained with honours in the First Class from The University of Hull, UK, in 1997.  In his undergraduate days, Alfred was awarded the Idwal Jones Prize in Experimental Physics for his excellence in experimentation.

Dr Sidambe has also worked in industry within the Photoelectronics and Information Technology sectors.

Tom Jarvis, MEng Mechanical and Materials
Research Engineer

Tom graduated from Birmingham University in 2005 with a Masters degree in Mechanical and Materials Engineering. Since then he has been working for Rolls-Royce as a Research Engineer and he is working towards an Engineering Doctorate in aerospace metals and related technologies. Back in the past, Tom was an apprentice in 2000, working at Witter Towbars in Chester developing his practical skills in the workshop, NDE and mechanical testing. Between his studies at University he worked at a vacuum casting company in Manchester looking at process quality issues, and then for a tool maker, Survirn Engineering in Birmingham.

Tom’s research at the IMP-C is for the development of metal injection moulding of high temperature alloys for aerospace applications.  Tom is also keen to hear about innovations in the area of metal injection moulding, and also the joining of nickel and titanium alloys.

Sinan Al-Bermani, MSc
PhD Student  -  Email

Sinan completed a Masters degree in Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Sheffield in 2005.  Upon graduation, he has been employed by Firth Rixson Ltd as Development Metallurgist and he has been based in Glossop and Sheffield for two years.  Sinan was responsible for the forging and the rolling of superalloys and for the development and approval of innovative production routes.

Sinan rejoined the University of Sheffield in August 2007 to work on a research project titled “Rapid Manufacturing of high strength titanium components”.  The aim of his research is to produce titanium parts that are capable of withstanding the high temperatures and pressures exerted in both the automotive and the aerospace applications.  There are high expectations from Sinan’s project and this is proved by the name of his sponsor, which is Renault Formula 1.

Wen Xu, MSc PhD
MIM coordinator - Email

Wen had her first degree in China in metal and metallurgy in 2001.  After that, she obtained both a Master’s degree in polymers and a PhD in the UK at the Loughborough University.  Her main research project was focused on the processing of a novel composite material containing metal, polymer and ceramic.  Wen approached and worked on technologies such as casting and injection moulding.  She has developed solid knowledge and experience in the selection of materials and parameters for various processing and characterisation.  She has also carried out various projects during her study and research, such as the electro-plating, the manufacturing of both nano-sized metal powder and polymer nanocomposites.

Wen joined IMPC in July 2007.  Her main responsibilities include the day to day running of the Metal Injection Moulding (MIM) machines and all the related equipment.  She coordinates of the MIM team and she is also managing the related MIM projects.  Her main research interests include various material processing and material composites.

Massimiliano Ruffo, Laurea PhD Dott Ing
IMPC Manager  -  Email

Massimiliano (Max) studied in both Italy and Spain and obtained a “Laurea” degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Bologna University (Italy) after working on different research projects in the aerospace area.  While studying, Max worked part time in different sectors, such as IT consultancies, co-authoring of mathematics textbooks, web development, project management, skydiving instruction and photography. After University he worked freelance in civil engineering and got his charter ship in both civil and industrial engineering.  He worked as IT/multimedia project manager for an Italian scientific publisher while he was teaching Mechanics and Physics in a secondary school.

In April 2004 he moved to the UK and joined the Rapid Manufacturing (RM) Research Group based at the Loughborough University.  He worked on the research on Management, Organisation and Implementation of RM and he also wrote a PhD thesis in two years and four months.  During his work, Max developed frameworks and decision making tools to help industrial managers, with a focus on topics such as time and cost estimations, feasibility studies, outsourcing policies, supply chain management, organisational dynamics, change management. 

At the present time, Max is responsible for the day to day management of the IMPC.  He is also a link between the centre and all range of clients, from large companies that are part of the AMRC consortium (Boeing, Rolls-Royce, etc…) to small regional companies.  Max is identifying, starting and managing a wide portfolio of projects, ranging from short term applied projects to long term research.