A new ultrasound technology developed by researchers at the University of Bristol (Dr. Bruce Drinkwater from the Department of Mechanical Engineering) and the University of Sheffield (Dr. Rob Dwyer-Joyce) has been used in an award-winning plan and is set for commercialisation.

The groundbreaking ultrasensor technology measures the thickness of lubricating oil films on key components like bearings, pumps and seals in a non-destructive way.  The brand new technology, which can measure oil films as thin as a hundredth of the width of a human hair, will prevent mechanical failure resulting from too little or too much lubrication.

The Royal Academy of Engineering and the ERA Foundation awarded a prize of £30,000 to Mr Phil Harper from the University of Sheffield’s Department of Mechanical Engineering.  Mr. Harper will use the fund to work with the University of Bristol in taking the new technology to market, through the creation of a new start up company called Tribosonics Ltd.

The University of Bristol, who are leading on the commercialisation side, will licence the groundbreaking technology to Tribosonics Ltd.

James Lancaster, Technology Transfer Team Leader at the University of Bristol, said: “It is exciting to see the excellent research that has come out of both universities being commercialised successfully into industry.”

Phil Harper said: “Using ultrasound technology means we can look inside machines for faults and damage linked to lubrication, without damaging the machines themselves.  This really is an important breakthrough and I’m looking forward to taking it out to industry.”