Seminar Free

Innovations in Metals: Driving Productivity, Performance and Sustainability

16 April 2026 Sheffield, Mappin Hall, Frederick Mappin Building, University of Sheffield
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The Sheffield Metallurgical and Engineering Association in partnership with IOM3 and UK Steel have organised a series of seminars aimed at companies in the metals and materials supply chain.

The format of the seminar series will consist of six one-day events at six monthly intervals.

Overview

Metals remain foundational to the UK’s industrial base, underpinning sectors from aerospace and automotive manufacturing to energy infrastructure and healthcare technologies. As pressures mount to decarbonise production, improve resource efficiency, and enhance performance in increasingly demanding applications, innovation in metallic materials and processes has become both a scientific and strategic priority. This seminar explores recent advances shaping the future of metals, with a particular focus on innovations emerging from, or directly relevant to, the UK research and industrial landscape. An emphasis will be placed on sustainability and resilience within metals supply chains.

 

This is the second seminar in the series, and we will have presentations from both industry and academia. Confirmed speakers include UKAEA, Special Melted Products, CISDI, Innoval as well as the Universities of Sheffield, Oxford and Manchester. Topics will include

 

  • low-cost titanium production
  • development of nickel superalloys
  • advanced characterisation of steels
  • aluminium recycling and alloy development
  • use of AI in metals manufacture
  • latest developments in metals for nuclear fusion
  • onshoring of nickel superalloys

 

 

All seminars in this series are free to attend, and you can register for this conference using the button above.

Programme

9:15

Registration and Coffee

9:55 

Welcome and Introduction

10:00

Kathy Christofidou – University of Sheffield
Alloy Design Strategies for Next Generation Superalloys

1025 

Mark Taylor – University of Manchester
Phase Transformations in Steels using In-Situ EBSD

10:50

Tom Sellers – Special Melted Products
Rapid Validation of Pressed Forged Superalloys using a Digital Twin Framework

11:15

Martin Jackson – University of Sheffield
Demonstrating Titanium Circularity

11:40

Panel Q&A

12:00  

Lunch and Networking

13:00 

Tamsin Whitfield – University of Oxford
Advanced Refractory Alloys

1325

Frances Livera – UKAEA
Materials and Manufacturing for Fusion Energy

13:50

Afternoon Coffee

14:20

Nick Stanley – CISDI
Integration of AI products in the Steel Making Process

14:45

Ahmed Nassar and Ceri Williams – Innoval Technology
AI for Low Carbon Aluminium: Practical Applications Across the Value Chain

1510

Panel Q&A

15:30

Wrap Up and Close

  

 

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