Member Article

Teesside’s MPI to become central UK hub for industry

The Materials Processing Institute has announced it is to return to independent ownership.

The organisation, which was first founded almost 70 years ago, evolved to become the research and development arm, firstly of British Steel and more recently Tata Steel.

The MPI, based in Teesside, is set to become the UK’s centre for industrial materials research and plans to open its doors to companies outside of the steel sector, to make use of its top class research and development facilities.

And while the organisation will still undertake a substantial amount of project work for Tata Steel, it believes becoming an independent not-for-profit entity once again will not only benefit its customers, but UK trade in general.

The MPI will be collaborating with well-respected partners such as Harsco, CPI and Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3).

And it is also opening up its services to SMEs, where it hopes it can add real value to smaller players in sectors such as recycling and waste, construction, automotive, oil and gas and nuclear.

The Materials Processing Institute is also in partnership with several universities including Teesside, Sheffield, Durham and Newcastle, providing doctoral training for PHD students.

Material Processing Institute Managing Director and CEO Mr Chris McDonald said: “This move makes the MPI more accessible across industry.

“The UK is a superb place to do research and it is always good to do it in an open, independent and collaborative way. Tata Steel very much wanted this approach and will continue to utilise MPI’s services substantially.

“We have a lot of international links, built up by the good reputation we have in the materials industry over the years and can lever these links for the benefit of UK industry.

“We are really excited about working with smaller companies to help them look at their materials processes and finding new innovative effective ways to work.

“There are grants available for the work we do and it means smaller companies will get the opportunity to access our brilliant scientists and our extensive design and test facilities.

“We are already working with a number of small companies and look forward to hearing from more. Our doors are always open.

“We have a first class institute here in Teesside and we are proud to be serving not just the region but the whole of the UK and beyond.”