Case Studies

Our increasing use of mobile phones for accessing the internet, checking train times, and transferring money online, relies on communication networks that can match our rising expectations. Good quality signals, data transmission speeds, and network coverage are essential for reliable network operation, and in rural areas conne...

Films and coatings with complex layers often introduce formidable surface chemistry challenges in advanced manufacturing processes, such as constructing electronics based on non-silicon semiconductors or in drug delivering layers used in medical implants. Biochemical surface interactions have particular importance for patient w...

Thin films and complex surfaces can introduce formidable surface chemistry challenges in high volume manufacturing, such as electronics, and medical implant production. Multiple chemical layers are often engineered to give specific functionalities during use. The quality and completeness of these functional layers needs to be c...

Advanced manufacturers of nanotechnologies, semiconductors and solar cells are increasingly innovating with multifunctional materials and this requires the accurate characterisation of very small features. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) allows very precise sub-nanometre measurements of surface features and could in the future pr...

The electrical and electronic engineering industry is a major contributor to the EU economy and directly supports over 4 million manufacturing jobs. All mains-operated electrical devices made or used in Europe must comply with the EU’s Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive. This requires that electrical items or compone...

Banks and internet companies need very accurate time and date stamps to send information and process high frequency transactions. As the technology used gets faster, greater timing precision is required. Atomic timekeeping, provided by National Measurement Institutes, supplies the highest timing accuracy, but these clocks are b...