The University of Huddersfield’s Centre for Efficiency and Performance Engineering (CEPE) will be a focal point of a new UK-China research network.

Universities in both countries have teamed up to ensure that machines ranging from aircraft engines to wind turbines operate as reliably and efficiently as possible, leading to cost savings and environmental benefits.

The University of Huddersfield’s Andrew Ball and Fengshou Gu (www.hud.ac.uk), both leading experts on diagnostic engineering, helped to inaugurate the new research hub on a recent visit to China.

Professor Ball is the founder of the CEPE, and Professor Gu is the deputy director.

It is the world’s largest research centre in the field of diagnostic engineering, with 15 academic staff, over 30 doctoral researchers and more than 30 visiting academics working to improve machinery reliability and safety — and to boost plant performance while reducing harmful emissions.

The Centre has developed highly productive collaborations with teams of researchers at several other UK universities.

Professor Ball said: “The network in the UK works well because CEPE is a hub with ‘spokes’, consisting of individuals or groups at other universities in the UK.

“We also have links with numerous institutions in China. It is all about collaboration and sharing.

“A fundamental principle is that all members of the CEPE International network can access every member institution’s specialist research facilities, their data sets and their expertise.”