Wolfson X-Lab Extreme set to become reality thanks to £1.1 million grant

View over Engineering buildings at Loughborough University

The Wolfson Foundation has awarded a grant of £1.1 million to the University to set up the Wolfson X-Lab Extreme. The new lab will house the Gleeble 3800, positioning the University and the East Midlands as a leading hub for hydrogen production and the manufacturing of materials under extreme conditions.

The Gleeble 3800 with its unique enhancements is a specialist piece of equipment worth over £1.6 million. This particular Gleeble will be a specialist piece of equipment and the first of its kind in the UK and Europe, putting the University at the forefront of materials engineering research. It will have specific attachments for cryogenic quenching, ultra-high sustained temperature testing, and laser ultrasonics.  

The Wolfson X-Lab Extreme will be a crucial step for a sustainable hydrogen economy in the UK. The procurement of this testing equipment will help accelerate and spearhead UK research in this sector, including materials development for hydrogen storage, distribution and transport.