The IOM3 Surface Technologies Group (formerly the Surface Engineering Division) represents the interests of those working with coatings, surface treatments and corrosion that underpin every industrial and manufacturing sector. The group will not only bring the surface engineering community together, but also work closely with the wider science and engineering community, particularly from both academia and industry, to achieve the net-zero targets and other UK Government priority challenge areas such as energy security, healthy living, defence and space. Surface engineering is an enabling, essential technology highlighted in the UK Innovation strategy report. This group includes the Corrosion Subgroup and the former Vitreous Enamelling Society.
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Meet the Surface Technologies Leadership Team
Prof Ping Xiao CEng FIMMM
Ping Xiao received his DPhil in Materials Science from Oxford University in 1993. He has been on the academic staff at The University of Manchester, UK, since 2001 and became a professor of materials science in 2008. His research includes study of thermal barrier coatings and environmental barrier coatings for aero-engine applications, developing coatings for corrosion in oil industry and manufacture of ceramics coatings and ceramic composites for applications in nuclear industry. He has published ~300 peer-reviewed articles, and is among the top 2% list of the most cited researchers in the world based on a study in 2020 led by Stanford University.
Saqlain Ali
Saqlain Ali is the Technical & Process Development Director of Permastore Limited. After completing his BEng (Hons) Degree in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Leeds, he gained a Fellowship of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining. Saqlain has developed his career within manufacturing environments across a broad and diverse range of business sectors over the past 20 years. He is an experienced industry leader in vitreous and porcelain enamel technology and Standards and is recognised in the industry as a global expert in these areas. Saqlain has also gained qualifications in Company Direction through the Institute of Directors.
Dr Henry Begg
Henry completed undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in materials science at the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford before joining TWI as a Project Leader in the Surface Engineering team. He has since worked on a wide variety of coatings-related research on behalf of TWI industrial members, focussing on thermal and cold spray technologies. He now leads a team of ~20 scientists, engineers and laboratory staff running industrially-focussed research on topics relating to surface engineering, electrochemical corrosion and permeation / transport phenomena in polymers.
Dr Gyaneshwara Brewster CEng MIMMM
Gyn is currently working as a Technologist in the Surface Engineering team within Rolls-Royce plc. His first degree was in Aeromechanical Systems Engineering at Cranfield University, after which he pursued his interest in Materials Science, next going to Cambridge University to undertake an MPhil in Materials Modelling followed by a Rolls-Royce sponsored EngD on single crystal nickel base superalloy manufacturing. Gyn joined Rolls-Royce in 2008, and since this has led projects spanning manufacturing, service support and capability acquisition across a wide range of technical areas. A significant proportion of his role is now focussed towards research & development of new coatings technology, specifically focussing on thermal barrier coatings and environmental degradation. As part of this role he is involved in collaborative programmes with the UK research network, as well as international academic and industrial research partners and suppliers.
David Elliott FIMMM CEnv
David Elliott is a Chartered Environmentalist and Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining who graduated from the University of Wolverhampton, UK as a Materials Engineer. He has over 45 years of experience in the surface engineering sector, is currently President of CETS – The European Committee for Surface Treatments and is a member of the Technical Working Group that produced the BREF – Best Available Techniques Reference Document for the Surface Treatment of Metals at the European IIPC Bureau in Seville. He is also Chairman of SELF – the Surface Engineering Leadership Forum that aims to help the surface engineering sector in the UK to become world class and embrace digitalisation. He is actively involved in the development of legislation and best practice guides and has participated in many breakfast meetings at the European Parliament, House of Lords UK and with many EU & UK Government Departments. He is currently working with the UK HSE to produce guidance on reporting and monitoring requirements under the REACH Regulations.
Dr Tony Horner CEng FIMMM
Tony is a Technical Specialist in the field of corrosion and environmental degradation/cracking of materials with over 30 years’ experience in the nuclear industry. He has led a wide range of multidiscipline teams and programmes supporting the design and operation of nuclear plant, including civil aerospace gas turbine engines. He has also been responsible for setting the strategic direction and leading research and technology programmes for Rolls-Royce and in collaboration with external organisations and universities concerning corrosion and environmentally assisted cracking for a wide range of structural alloys and weldments. In his current role Tony is leading a programme to develop nuclear power and propulsion systems for future human space exploration missions to the Moon and Mars.
Dr Tanvir Hussain CEng FIMMM
Tanvir has over 15+ years of experience in thermal and cold sprayed coatings providing innovative solutions to the thermal spray sector. He works closely with Industry finding and aligning students to help solve their issues He has a strong track record track record in data-driven approaches to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at a national level and strongly believes that a diverse team will do the best science. His vision is to embed diversity and inclusion across the entire surface engineering sector.
Mark Gee FIMMM
Mark is an NPL Fellow in the Advanced Engineering Materials Group in the Department for Engineering at the National Physical Laboratory. He is visiting Professor at the University of Southampton, the University of Manchester and Beijing University of Technology. He was awarded the Donald Julius Groen Prize for Tribology in 1992, and the IMechE Tribology Trust Silver Medal for Tribology in 2003. He has published over 300 papers and reports.
Mark leads projects that are concerned with the development of an improved metrology for surface engineering and tribology (friction and wear). Particular research interests are the mechanisms of abrasive and erosive wear for ceramics and other hard materials, and the development of in situ real-time measurement techniques. Through his membership and support of Surfaces and Coatings within IOM3 he is passionate about showing how better metrology can improve the benefits to industry and society that surface engineering can bring.
Allan Matthews
Keen to improve Academia:Industry links and to help ECRs progress their careers. Also want to encourage digitalisation in the surface engineering sector.
Andy Williams FIMMM CEng
Andy graduated from University College Cardiff in Metallurgy and Materials Science in 1983. He has held a number of posts within the Gas Turbine Component Repair and coatings industry throughout his career and is considered an Industry expert in the field. He is guest lecturer at five UK Universities and sits on the Industrial Advisory Board of both Nottingham and City University. He is a Fellow of the IOM3 and a Mentor for the IMechE. He is also a Board Member for the European Turbine Network bringing together the total supply chain within the Industrial Gas Turbine community. Andy has presented numerous papers at International conferences and authored chapters on repair technology within recognised text books. He brings to the board over 38 yrs of Industrial knowledge within the surface engineering community.
Professor Robert J K Wood CEng FIMMM
Robert Wood is Professor of Surface Engineering and Tribology and has 30 years’ experience of tribology and surface engineering. He has spent 4 years at BP before returning to Southampton to re-establish surface engineering/tribology research. His group was awarded £10M from EPSRC in 2008 to create the National Centre for Advanced Tribology at Southampton (nCATS) and was awarded a further £3M for research into Green Tribology. He is Chair of UK Tribology and is Editor-in-chief since Jan 2016 of the IoP Journal: Surface Topography - metrology and properties. He was elected Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2016. He was awarded the Annual Donald Julius Groen Prize in 2011 and the Tribology Trust Silver medal in 2018 for his outstanding achievements in tribology. For the IOM3 Surface engineering board, Robert represents Tribology and UK Tribology community.
