Our Network

APT has a lengthy record of working with Industry, international organisations and academic colleagues from around the world.  APT is keen to partner with interested parties and undertake new projects to solve presented engineering challenges in the areas of Advanced Processing Technology. Some current and previous partners are indicated below.

Academic External Affiliate Members

Prof Brett Paull Dr Aran Rafferty
Prof Paolo Cappa Dr Anthony Betts
Dr Syarifah Nur Aqida Prof Anthony Brabazon
Dr Ahmed Issa Dr Damian Connolly
Dr Abdulbaset Abuazza Dr Stephen Brennan
Prof. Gautam Majumdar Dr Sumsun naher
Dr Martin Quinn Dr Nigel Kent

Working With Us

APT and DCU have a strong track record of successful collaborations with companies and in attracting significant funding from a number of different funding sources. If you are interested in undertaking a project with us, we would normally go through the following steps.

Step One: Brilliant Idea

There are lots of avenues to working with APT. In the past we have had companies come to us directly with prior knowledge of our research.  Alternatively, you may have an interest in pursuing a new project or piece of research and have contacted Invent (DCU’s Innovation and Enterprise Centre) who put you in contact with an APT member. Whichever the case, APT offers direct research opportunities, consultancy expertise and contract research.

Step Two: APT Project Outline

Having received a brief outline from you as to what you are looking for. APT will then internally assign the project to the most appropriate members, who have the best skill set and expertise to make your project a success. They will then draw up a rough plan or project outline, detailing what the possible project deliverables and send this on to you.

Step Three: Face-to-face Meeting

This is probably the most crucial part of the process. We will sit down with you, the APT researchers and our Tech Transfer Officer from Invent. We will discuss the project in detail and address any changes you would like. We will iterate a plan together to make sure that it meets your goals and is possible within the expertise of APT.

Identify Appropriate Funding Mechanism

During this meeting we will also identify the most appropriate funding opportunity for this project. The university has extensive experience in this area.  APT has been successful in attracting significant funding from a number of different funding sources including:

Enterprise Ireland: Innovation vouchers, Feasibility studies, Commercialisation funds, Innovation partnerships.

Science Foundation Ireland: Industrial fellowships, SFI centres, TIDA, Partnerships.

European Funding: H2020 Large projects, H2020 SME innovation, EU Training networks.

Other Sources: IRC Postgraduate & Postdoctoral funding schemes.

Our Tech Transfer Officer will also discuss the licencing and IP options available to you.

Step Five: Making the Application

APT will write the application to the chosen funding body, with your input. This will be an iterative process and the time it takes will depend on the size of the project and the funding body. For example, with an innovation voucher the application can be written and submitted within a week, whereas with a H2020 application preparation over a three month period is not unusual.

Step Six: Start Working

Once the applicant is approved then the real work starts!

Equipment & Resources

Mechanical Testing Equipment
  • Instron Tension/Compression microscope
  • ESH Servo-Hyrdraulic Fatigue microscope
  • Purpose built Torque-Tension microscope
  • Micro/Macro Hardness Testers
  • Charpy Impact / Grindosonic Modulus
  • FTA 200 angstrom wettability analyser
  • High temperature capillary viscometer
  • Bulge forming analyser
Powder Processing Equipment
  • Attrition, ball and cryogenic milling equipment
  • Netzsch Dilatometer
  • Stanton Redcraft DTA/TGA
  • Micromeritics Helium Pycnometry
  • Quantachrome Mercury Porosimetry
  • Micromeritics BET Surface Area
  • Micro Raman Spectroscopy
Microstructure Characterisation Equipment
  • Optical Microscopes / Image Analysis
  • Sample preparation equipment
  • SEM (Carl Zeiss LS15) with EDX, BSD, and Cathode luminescence
  • Alicona software
  • Bruker D8 Advance XRD
  • Spectrometers – Spectro LES, ICP, AAS, USB650-VIS-NIR Red Tide/ integrating sphere Labsphere
Surface Coating Equipment
  • Sol-gels
  • Laser surface cladding/melting
  • PVD
  • CVD
  • Magnetron Sputtering
Laser Processing Capabilites
  • CO2 1.5kW Rofin laser centre
  • CO2 100W
  • Excimer ATLEX-200/300i (KrF 248 nm)
  • 1.6 J Nd:YAQ Newport Quanta Ray
  • Nd:YAG 2 and 4W
  • 532 nm (Req. doubled Nd:YAG) 4W
  • Ti-Sapphire femtosecond laser
Surface Characterisation Equipment
  • CII Veeco AFM
  • Nikon stylus profilometers
  • Laser profilometer
  • Interferometry
  • Infinite focus microscope
  • Veeco white light interferometer (NT1100)
Rapid Prototyping Techniques
  • Stratasys Connex 1
  • Uprint
  • Dimension FDM
  • NanoScribe
  • Metal 3D printing
Powder Sintering Equipment
  • Powder compaction/isostatic pressing
  • High temperature isostatic pressing
  • Ceramic mould preform facilities
  • Sintering ovens/stir casting
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