Materials Processing Institute
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersMiddlesbrough, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Materials Processing Institute does
Materials Processing Institute is a UK-based, privately held research and technology organisation headquartered in Middlesbrough with a secondary production facility in Normanton. It operates at pilot scale within foundation industries (steel, cement, ceramics, glass, chemicals, paper) and delivers four principal service lines: Research & Innovation (collaborative and specialist R&D, prototyping, scale-up), Specialist Melting (bespoke short-lead-time steel melting and casting), Consultancy (technical due diligence for M&A and capex), and Training (online courses via Thinkific plus classroom and bespoke in-house programmes). Its technology stack centres on materials processing, industrial decarbonisation, circular economy and digital technologies, anchored by capital-intensive assets including a 7-tonne electric arc furnace (Green Steel Centre, £2.9m upgrade in 2025), a 1650°C Hydrogen Testing Hub, continuous casting, secondary metal refining, and Industry 4.0 infrastructure (digital twin, IoT, AR) at the Normanton Plant.
The business model blends grant-funded collaborative research (Innovate UK, UKRI, NPIF, EU RFCS) with commercial fee-for-service work for industrial clients. Named enterprise customers include British Steel, Wienerberger UK, Tarmac, Holcim UK, Glass Futures, voestalpine and Danieli. The go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales for bespoke R&D with open-access support to SMEs, a recurring training catalogue priced at $75/module or $185/course online, and venue hire from the Middlesbrough campus. Recent outputs include a 20% clinker-replacement cement technology validated with Holcim UK, waste-heat recovery research demonstrating 3-9% gas consumption reduction, and the UK Primary Steelmaking Review commissioned by the UK government in March 2026.
Materials Processing Institute firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Materials Processing Institute
- Legal name
- Materials Processing Institute
- Website
- https://mpiuk.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Materials Processing Institute industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Materials Research and Decarbonisation Services
- NAICS
- Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing (3314)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Products (3490)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Materials R&D & Characterization (Powder/Resin Development, Testing) (IMAAAJAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Additive Manufacturing Research & Innovation Labs (IMAAAJAA), Consulting, Advisory & Technology Transfer (AM Adoption) (IMAAAJAK), Professional Training & Workforce Upskilling (AM) (IMAAAJAC), Material Qualification, Testing & Certification (AM Materials) (IMAAABAL), Industry-Specific Technical & Certification Prep (e.g., Construction, Manufacturing, Energy) (EDAGANAN)
Keywords
Where Materials Processing Institute is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Middlesbrough
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Materials Processing Institute business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Research & Innovation Services: Developing materials and commercialising technologies for industrial processes through partnership programmes, collaborative research, specialist research, and prototyping. Works with collaboration partners to deliver individual innovation projects up to fully integrated programmes for large multinational clients.
- Specialist Melting Services: High quality steels manufactured to short lead times and client specifications through a bespoke specialist melting and casting service.
- Training Services: Theoretical, practical and operational courses based on major technologies currently in global operation. Online courses available on-demand, classroom training and bespoke in-house training programmes.
- Consultancy: Expert advice and technical due diligence for Mergers & Acquisitions, capital expenditure on new plant and equipment and market studies. Technology management and leadership support.
- Government & Research Funding: Funding from government bodies including Innovate UK, EU Research Fund for Coal and Steel, and Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund to support collaborative research projects in advanced materials, decarbonisation, digital technologies, and circular economy.
- Venue Hire & Facilities: Serviced offices, meeting rooms, events space, laboratories and workshops available to rent in a range of sizes and configurations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Online Course - Module 1 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Online Course - Full Course (3 modules) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Materials Processing Institute product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Materials Processing Institute is an independent research and technology organisation that delivers collaborative and specialist research, prototyping, scale-up, and innovation programmes for industrial clients. It sells technical consultancy (including M&A technical due diligence), bespoke specialist melting and casting of steels, and paid training courses delivered online and in the classroom, all anchored by pilot-scale facilities such as an electric arc furnace, hydrogen testing hub, continuous casting rig, and Normanton Plant.
Product overview
The Materials Processing Institute operates as a research and technology organization offering a portfolio of services centered on advanced materials research, industrial decarbonisation, circular economy, and digital technologies. The core offerings include Research & Innovation Services (collaborative and specialist research, prototyping, and scale-up production), Specialist Melting (high-quality steel melting and casting to client specifications), Consultancy (technical due diligence, innovation programme management), and Training Services (theoretical and practical courses for the steel industry delivered online via Thinkific and classroom-based). Supporting infrastructure includes multiple R&D centres: the Green Steel Centre, Advanced Materials Characterisation Centre, Advanced Materials Development Centre, Circular Economy Development Centre, Energy & Process Decarbonisation Centre, and Sustainable Cement & Concrete Centre. Additional facilities include the Normanton Plant for steel melting/casting with industry 4.0 digitisation, SME Technology Centre, Industrial Laboratories, and Office Space & Events facilities. The institute also conducts funded research projects and provides access to comprehensive equipment including various furnaces and analytical instruments.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- EconoMISER: Research programme focused on sustainable technologies in foundation industries including alloy development, decarbonisation, and AI.
- PRISM
- Green Steel Centre
- Normanton Plant
Products and services
- Research & Innovation Services
Quantifiable outcome
- 20% clinker replacement in cement production using recycled concrete fines without quality compromise
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Materials Processing Institute
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Materials Processing Institute technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability7 records
Feature4 records
Materials Processing Institute partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- UK Steel CouncilcoreUK Steel Council supported the commission of UK Primary Steelmaking Review on behalf of Secretary of State for Business and Trade and Minister of State for Industry, providing inputs to UK Steel Strategy announced by Government.
- Holcim UKcoreHolcim UK as implementing partner led a 15-month study with the institute testing a concrete clinker alternative using recycled concrete fines from demolished buildings, demonstrating up to 20% clinker replacement. Holcim planning to scale innovation at new plant operational by late 2026.
- British SteelcoreCollaborative research partner in Best Practice and Heat Recovery project comparing British Steel reheating furnace with brick kilns, examining combustion efficiency and waste heat recovery to improve energy efficiency.
- Wienerberger UKcoreCollaborative research partner contributing brick kiln operations to waste heat recovery project comparing steel and ceramics sectors for improved energy efficiency and carbon reduction.
- Heatcatcher LtdminorWaste heat recovery specialist partner providing expertise in comparing combustion profiles and recommending best practice solutions for waste heat recovery across steel and ceramic sectors.
- Low Carbon Europe LtdminorProject partner providing low carbon technology expertise for cross-sector waste heat recovery research between steel and ceramics industries.
- TarmaccoreCollaborating on upgrading BOS slag by addition of difficult to recycle glass or slags to improve skid resistance and abrasion resistance for road surfacing applications.
- Glass Futures LtdminorProject partner contributing waste streams from glass industry for use as slag modifiers in steelmaking by-product value enhancement research.
- PWS Road Building ServicesminorProject partner providing road building services expertise for testing upgraded slag products for skid resistance in road surfacing applications.
- Monitor Coatings LtdminorLead partner in Nano-Reinforced Coatings project developing new reinforced mould coating materials using nanotechnology for improved thermomechanical properties in continuous casting.
- University of NottinghamminorAcademic partner contributing research expertise to nano-reinforced coatings project for steel sector product functionality improvements.
- Cranfield UniversityminorAcademic partner contributing materials science expertise to nano-reinforced coating development project for aggressive industrial environments.
- Swerea KIMAB ABcoreCoordinator of PMAPIA project on precipitation of micro alloy particles in B and Mn alloyed steel grades. European research collaboration reducing yield loss and cracking defects in continuous casting.
- Sidenor Investigacion Y DesarrollosaminorEuropean research partner in PMAPIA project contributing to investigation of micro alloy segregation and cracking in continuous casting for engineering steels.
- RWTH Aachen UniversityminorAcademic partner contributing process metallurgy expertise to PMAPIA project on micro alloy behaviour during continuous casting.
- voestalpine Stahl GmbHminorEuropean steel producer partner in PMAPIA project providing industrial validation of micro alloy casting guidelines and safe industrial casting practices.
- CEIT-IK4 Technology CenterminorResearch partner contributing to PMAPIA project investigation of boron and sulphur interactions affecting cracking sensitivity in micro-alloyed steel continuous casting.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Materials Processing Institute competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Cranfield University: UK post-graduate university with strong industrial materials and manufacturing research, an active MPI academic partner on the nano-reinforced coatings project. Comparable as a materials R&D partner but operating under a different (academic) institutional model.
Emerging players
- Hatch Ltd: Global engineering consultancy with deep specialisation in metals, mining, and industrial decarbonisation. Comparable to MPI in serving steel and metals clients on process improvement and decarbonisation, though delivered as commercial engineering services rather than a research institute.
Direct peers
- TWI (The Welding Institute): UK-based applied research organisation providing industrial R&D, materials testing, and welding/manufacturing technology services to industrial clients. Highly comparable to MPI in its model of industry-funded applied materials research and training.
- Henry Royce Institute: UK national institute for advanced materials research with a hub-and-spoke model across leading universities. Comparable to MPI as a UK-focused advanced materials research organisation serving industrial decarbonisation and manufacturing needs.
- National Physical Laboratory (NPL): UK's national measurement institute with extensive materials characterisation and testing capabilities. Comparable to MPI's Advanced Materials Characterisation Centre in offering high-end industrial measurement services and applied materials science.
- Glass Futures Ltd: UK-based glass industry R&D organisation operating pilot-scale facilities for industry collaboration. MPI is an active project partner with Glass Futures, and the two share a similar model of consortium-based industrial R&D in foundation industries.
Broad incumbents
- Tata Steel (UK R&D): One of the largest integrated steel producers globally with substantial in-house R&D for advanced and green steels. Comparable to MPI as both a steel R&D player and a former employer of several MPI leadership team members (David Bruce ex-Tata Steel Teesside).
- Fraunhofer Institute: Germany's largest applied research organisation with 75+ institutes covering materials, manufacturing, and decarbonisation. Comparable to MPI as a mission-driven applied research model but at vastly greater scale, budget, and geographic footprint.
- SINTEF: Norway's largest independent research organisation with strong materials, metals, and process industry capabilities. Comparable to MPI in its focus on industrial process R&D, particularly metals, energy, and sustainable manufacturing.
Regional players
- CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (IMMT): India's national R&D laboratory for minerals and materials processing under CSIR. Comparable to MPI in its focus on mineral and metal process R&D, but operating in a different geography with a different funding ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Materials Processing Institute social profiles
Digital presenceMaterials Processing Institute compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Materials Processing Institute financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Materials Processing Institute leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles18 records
Materials Processing Institute funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Materials Processing Institute M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Materials Processing Institute
What does Materials Processing Institute do?
Materials Processing Institute is an independent research and technology organisation that delivers collaborative and specialist research, prototyping, scale-up, and innovation programmes for industrial clients. It sells technical consultancy (including M&A technical due diligence), bespoke specialist melting and casting of steels, and paid training courses delivered online and in the classroom, all anchored by pilot-scale facilities such as an electric arc furnace, hydrogen testing hub, continuous casting rig, and Normanton Plant.
Is Materials Processing Institute a public or private company?
Materials Processing Institute is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Materials Processing Institute founded?
Materials Processing Institute was founded in 2014. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Materials Processing Institute based?
Materials Processing Institute is headquartered in Middlesbrough, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Materials Processing Institute make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Research & Innovation Services are the primary driver. The others are specialist Melting Services, training Services, consultancy, government & Research Funding and venue Hire & Facilities.
Who are Materials Processing Institute's main competitors?
Cranfield University is listed as an others. Hatch Ltd is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are TWI (The Welding Institute), Henry Royce Institute, National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and Glass Futures Ltd. Broad incumbents are Tata Steel (UK R&D), Fraunhofer Institute and SINTEF. CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (IMMT) is listed as a regional player.
Does Materials Processing Institute have an API?
No public API is recorded for Materials Processing Institute.
What industry is Materials Processing Institute in?
Materials Processing Institute's product category is Industrial Materials Research and Decarbonisation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAAAJAG, Materials R&D & Characterization (Powder/Resin Development, Testing), with a secondary code of IMAAAJAA, Additive Manufacturing Research & Innovation Labs. Its NAICS code is 3314 and its SIC code is 3490.