What MAPP - EPSRC Future Manufacturing Hub does

MAPP (Manufacture using Advanced Powder Processes) is the EPSRC Future Manufacturing Hub, established in 2017 as part of the UK government's Future Manufacturing Hub portfolio and hosted at the University of Sheffield with a 9-month COVID extension running to June 2024 (grant EP/P006566/1). It coordinates pre-competitive interdisciplinary research across seven UK universities — Sheffield, Cambridge, Imperial College London, Leeds, Manchester, Oxford, and UCL — focused on fundamental scientific challenges in powder-based additive manufacturing and solid-state processes, including Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF), Directed Energy Deposition (DED), Diode Area Melting (DAM), Field Assisted Sintering Technology (FAST), and robocasting for metals, ceramics, and polymers.

The hub operates a portfolio of platform research, cross-cutting themes (such as in-situ process monitoring, alloy design, and future manufacturing platforms), and grand-challenge projects, supported by privileged access to UK national infrastructure including Diamond Light Source, the ESRF synchrotron, the Henry Royce Institute, and STFC Central Laser Facilities. Distinctive technical assets include the world's first Quad-ISOPR quad-laser replicator — combining Renishaw's RenAM500Q scanning head with UCL's ISOPR chamber for concurrent multi-modal imaging — and the proprietary AM-SegNet neural network trained on 10,000+ labelled synchrotron X-ray images for porosity, keyhole, and melt-pool quantification. Demonstrator outputs include processing routes that converted surplus A20X aluminium alloy powders into aerospace-grade sheet material via FAST, joint PhD research with Ford on high-pressure die casting predictive modelling, HEAT-AM CALPHAD-based high-entropy alloy design for aerospace, and Ti6Al4V density of up to 98% using multi-laser Diode Area Melting.

MAPP is not a commercial entity and does not sell products or services; its revenue model is grant-funded by EPSRC, with co-funding from the Aerospace Technology Institute, Innovate UK, and industry partners such as Rolls-Royce, GKN, Renishaw, Ford, Carpenter Additive, ECKART GmbH, and Wayland Additive. Knowledge transfer occurs through peer-reviewed publications (including Nature Communications and Acta Materialia), technology demonstrators, international conferences, industry partner briefings, and public engagement programmes. With only 5 directly listed employees and a distributed research model spanning seven universities, MAPP's economic logic is as a national research asset rather than a revenue-generating business.

Name

MAPP - EPSRC Future Manufacturing Hub

Legal name

MAPP - EPSRC Future Manufacturing Hub in Manufacture using Advanced Powder Processes

Website

https://mapp.ac.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MAPP is the EPSRC Future Manufacturing Hub, coordinating pre-competitive powder-based additive manufacturing research across seven UK universities for aerospace, automotive, and materials partners including Rolls-Royce, GKN, Ford, and Renishaw.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Sheffield

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

MAPP is an EPSRC-funded research hub that delivers pre-competitive, fundamental research into advanced powder-based manufacturing processes to enable low energy, low cost, and low waste high value manufacturing routes. The hub collaborates with 7 UK universities and industry partners (GKN, Rolls-Royce, Renishaw, Ford, Carpenter Additive) to address scientific barriers to powder process adoption, producing demonstrators, publications, and trained researchers rather than commercial products.

Product overview

MAPP is the EPSRC Future Manufacturing Hub in Manufacture using Advanced Powder Processes. It is a collaborative research hub (not a product company) focused on delivering low energy, low cost, and low waste high value manufacturing routes through powder-based manufacturing research. The hub produces publications, demonstrator projects, and educational resources including the 'Beat the Machine (Learning)!' game.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Beat the Machine (Learning)! A free interactive educational game/simulation that introduces metal additive manufacturing to the public, demonstrating how researchers use closed-loop control algorithms to adjust laser power and travel speed during selective laser melting. Built for public engagement and STEM outreach.

Quantifiable outcome

• Development of non-dimensional threshold for predicting keyhole regime transitions and porosity onset in LPBF
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ECKART GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner providing A20X alloy powder for research on solid-state processing of surplus aluminum alloy powders using Field Assisted Sintering Technology (FAST) combined with hot rolling to convert atomization byproducts into aerospace-grade sheet material.
• Ford Motor CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAutomotive manufacturer enabling joint PhD project with IIT Bombay and UCL for predictive modelling to improve vehicle fuel efficiency through understanding microstructural features in high pressure die casting. Grant from Ford supported the research.
• Carpenter AdditivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld-leading powder producer co-funding a student to investigate powder oxidation effects during additive manufacturing across three common alloy systems for aerospace applications.
• Wayland AdditiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial collaborator featured in Annual Report 2023 interview as part of MAPP's industrial collaboration program.
• GKNcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor aerospace manufacturer mentioned as one of MAPP's key industry partners for collaboration on advanced manufacturing research.
• RenishawcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManufacturing technology company providing RenAM500Q scanning head technology for the Quad-ISOPR system development.
• Rolls-RoycecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAerospace engine manufacturer listed as key industry partner in MAPP's collaborative research network.
• Diamond Light SourcecoreTechnology or IntegrationUK national synchrotron facility providing X-ray imaging capabilities for in-situ process monitoring research. Part of collaborative studies with UCL and Ford.
• UKRI Research Complex at HarwellcoreTechnology or IntegrationResearch facility providing laboratory space and synchrotron access for MAPP researchers from multiple university partners.
• Henry Royce InstitutecoreTechnology or IntegrationUK national institute for advanced materials providing equipment access and facilities including Royce Discovery Centre at Sheffield.
• UKRI STFC Central Laser FacilitiescoreTechnology or IntegrationScience and Technology Facilities Council facilities providing ultra-fast imaging and beamtime for AM process observation studies.
• High Value Manufacturing CatapultcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK innovation center network providing access to advanced manufacturing facilities and supporting technology translation from research to industry.
• Metal Powder Emergence (MPE) LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead organization for HEAT-AM project developing CALPHAD-based alloy design approaches for high entropy alloys in aerospace AM applications.
• University of LeicestercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in HEAT-AM project alongside MPE for developing novel high entropy alloys for aerospace AM.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC): MTC is a UK-based Catapult-supported manufacturing RTO that develops and industrializes advanced manufacturing processes, including additive manufacturing. It overlaps with MAPP in scope (powder bed fusion, process control) and shares UK industry partners and EPSRC-aligned funding streams.
• National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS): NMIS is a Scottish Government–backed advanced manufacturing research institute with active additive manufacturing programs and industry partnerships. It is a UK national peer competing for similar funding streams and industry engagement.
• Fraunhofer IFAM: Fraunhofer IFAM is one of Europe's leading applied research institutes for powder metallurgy, shaping, and additive manufacturing. It conducts pre-competitive and industry-funded research on LPBF, DED, and sinter-based processes comparable to MAPP's technology stack.
• Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG): WMG at the University of Warwick is a UK academic department with significant additive manufacturing research capacity and strong industry links, particularly into automotive and aerospace. It competes for the same UK EPSRC and industry co-funding as MAPP.
• America Makes (Manufacturing USA): America Makes is the US national accelerator for additive manufacturing research and commercialization, operating under the Manufacturing USA public-private partnership model. It is the closest structural analogue to MAPP, coordinating academia, industry, and government around powder-based AM process development.
• National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster (NAMIC) Singapore: NAMIC is Singapore's national platform for AM translation across aerospace, biomedical, and industrial sectors, aggregating universities, public agencies, and industry. It mirrors MAPP's hub model for industry-relevant AM research and translation.

Regional players

• Sirris: Sirris is Belgium's collective R&D center for the manufacturing industry, with active programs in additive manufacturing and powder-based processes. It is a comparable applied-research organization operating in a different European national ecosystem.
• RISE Research Institutes of Sweden: RISE is Sweden's state-owned research institute with materials and manufacturing divisions that conduct additive manufacturing R&D for industry. Comparable scope and public-good research mandate, but in a Nordic rather than UK context.

Others

• ASTM International (F42 AM Committee): ASTM's F42 committee develops the standards underpinning qualification of additive manufacturing processes and materials, including powder-based systems relevant to MAPP's research. It is an ecosystem enabler rather than a competing research performer.

Broad incumbents

• Oak Ridge National Laboratory — Manufacturing Demonstration Facility: ORNL's MDF is a US Department of Energy–funded large-scale additive manufacturing research facility with broad capabilities in powder bed, binder jetting, and materials development. It is a much larger, federally funded incumbent operating across the full AM R&D stack that MAPP occupies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mapphub
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCg0Q4gV4DR_GDhsnc41infA
• Facebookfacebook.com/mapphub
• Instagraminstagram.com/mapphub
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mapphub

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MAPP - EPSRC Future Manufacturing Hub