Teesside University and Ford Aerospace Limited KTP 24_25 R2

A materials science partnership between Teesside University and Ford Aerospace Limited is developing new surface engineering and joining techniques to unlock commercial opportunities in advanced manufacturing. The project addresses a specific industrial gap: current methods for bonding and treating metal surfaces limit what can be built—particularly for lightweight, high-performance components used in aerospace and other precision industries. Without better surface engineering, manufacturers cannot reliably join dissimilar materials or achieve the durability needed for demanding applications. If successful, these techniques could allow Ford Aerospace and similar companies to produce stronger, lighter, and more complex parts. That matters for aircraft, where every kilogram saved reduces fuel consumption, and for any system that depends on reliable joints between different materials—from vehicle chassis to industrial machinery. The work is applied and commercially focused: the goal is to move new surface treatments and joining processes from the lab into production lines, creating new products and supply chain opportunities for UK manufacturing.