Research Laboratories and Test Facilities
Our Materials and Component Research Laboratories (MCRL) help customers get more from their high value assets by improving design, increasing out-put, extending asset life and demonstrating safety. MCRL provides research, technical solutions and independent advice in structural integrity utilising our skills in the fields of corrosion, mechanical engineering and materials science. We have been working at the leading edge of technology for more than 50 years providing services across a wide range of industrial sectors including MOD, civil nuclear, fossil power, safety regulators, rail, aerospace and oil & gas.
We have over fifty professional engineers and scientists, based at our laboratories in Birchwood Park near Warrington and Culham Oxfordshire, many of whom are internationally recognised within their discipline. In addition, we are supported by a number of external consultants and University departments.
We have extensive sate of the art facilities that benefit from continuing capital investment. Our facilities include:
- Unique corrosion and corrosion cracking labs offering over 30 test stations with a capability to carry out tests in high temperature and high pressure environments
- A suite of 40 high temperature testing machines for creep and fatigue testing
- A fracture toughness testing lab
- A microstructural studies lab with SEM and optical microscopes
- A thermal properties measurements lab · A component testing facility for structural features testing with loads up to 700 tonnes.
- An active facility for tests on irradiated materials
At our labs in Derby we have direct access to the rail network, sidings and have facilities to provide the full range of rail vehicle static testing. Our facilities include wheel unloading, bogie rotation and sway testing rigs. We also have metallurgy and non destructive testing facilities on site.