OUR HISTORY
We began with a bold ambition to reimagine the way complex products are designed, assembled and manufactured. What started as a vision to create smarter, more adaptable manufacturing environments has grown into a world-class research and innovation centre.
From the early days of automated assembly exploration to launching Omnifactory, each step has pushed boundaries. Our journey reflects a simple but powerful idea that by combining cutting-edge digital technologies with industrial know-how, we can create inexpensive, flexible, sustainable and globally competitive manufacturing systems.
This journey has been made possible by skilled researchers, technicians, engineers and industrial partners whose expertise and innovation have transformed ideas into practical solutions.
2008
OMNIFACTORY LAUNCH
the journey so far...vision to reality
fA3D – Future Automated Aerospace Assembly Demonstrator
The Future Automated Aerospace Assembly Demonstrator (FA3D) platform was a testbed where newly developed innovative and groundbreaking assembly methods and solutions for cost-effective future aerospace manufacture were tested and validated. It was a capital project developed and funded by University of Nottingham’s Strategic Development Fund.
Its objective was to deliver a reconfigurable, evolvable cell to enable automated aerospace assembly and allow significant product variation. The cell developed consisted of fixture, automation systems, process end effectors, safety systems, RFID, control system software, informatics and cell infrastructure.
fA3D2 – Scaling Up Innovation
Building on the success of FA3D, the FA3D2 project was launched through the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) and the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund. This expanded the original testbed into a national experimental platform for digital and informatics-enabled aerospace manufacturing. It gave UK businesses the opportunity to test, demonstrate, and adopt breakthrough technologies, helping them improve productivity, quality, and cost competitiveness in global markets.
the launch of omnifactory
Upon the completion of the FA3D2 project, in March 2023, the £3.8M Omnifactory officially opened its doors.
More than just a testbed, it is a unique national facility for smart manufacturing, working across all sectors of UK industry. Here, we develop and trial the latest digital tools, from AI-driven process optimisation to advanced automation, helping industry partners transform their operations and prepare for the factories of the future.
the omnifactory research centre
Formerly known as the Centre for Aerospace Manufacturing (CAM), the Omnifactory Research Centre now applies its expertise across a wide range of industries.
Our research spans Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 1–6, covering everything from early-stage ideas to near-market solutions. While we continue to lead in aerospace, we now also support key sectors such as automotive, construction, defence, food and beverage, medical, nuclear, space and defence.
Our mission is to deliver practical solutions, working hand-in-hand with industry to shape the future of manufacturing.