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Navantia Webinar on Surfacing Technologies

Webinars 06 February 2026

Navantia Webinar on Surfacing Technologies
Time: 11am, Spain/10am, UK

 

Advanced surface engineering technologies are critical in terms of enhancing product functionality, performance and lifetime. Surfaces are critical to the manufacture and operation of most engineered parts and components and play a key role in protecting materials in harsh environments. The selection of the most appropriate technologies to prepare, finish, measure and qualify surfaces is central to achieving the desired quality, functional performance and longevity. The large number of technologies available to engineers to modify and enhance surface properties or protect the underlying substrate can be overwhelming.

This webinar will provide a high level overview of the key technologies available, together with a deeper dive into selected surface engineering and advanced coatings methods that are available at TWI, and which can be used to support Industrial Members. In addition, to specific technologies relating to surface preparation and coating application, an overview of testing methods and specification development will be provided.

The webinar will include TWI experts Dr Melissa Riley and Dr Alan Taylor, together with, Ian Hay who will discuss auditing and compliance.

Speakers

Dr Alan Taylor FRSC FIMMM - Technology Fellow - Functional Coatings and Resins

Dr Alan Taylor FRSC FIMMM

Technology Fellow - Functional Coatings and Resins

Alan is a Technology Fellow at TWI specialising in the characterisation of functional surfaces with a focus on durable repellent coatings. Over 30 years he has led over 200 industrial projects covering every sector.

He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining. He is a board member of the Surface Engineering Leadership Forum; is an expert reviewer for the EC; the EPSRC Future Leader Fellowship Scheme and has reviewed proposals for the Royal Society. His current interests centre on supporting industry to navigate through the changing environment related to regulatory compliance for coating and surfacing technologies.

Dr Melissa Riley CEng FIMMM FWeldI - Consultant, Surface Engineering

Dr Melissa Riley CEng FIMMM FWeldI

Consultant, Surface Engineering

Dr Melissa Riley is a Consultant within TWI’s Metallurgy, Corrosion and Surfacing team and has >25 years experience in surface engineering with 22 years of service at TWI. She has worked on a wide range of projects for TWI’s Industrial Members relating to the development and application of thermal spray coatings, and other coating technologies. Prior to joining TWI she worked on PVD and CVD coating technologies for orthopaedic applications.

Her work has included application and performance evaluation of wear and corrosion resistant coatings, ceramic coatings, bearing materials and more novel coatings and applications, including leading TWI’s work on the development of coatings on composites. Melissa has also led TWI’s thermal spraying and coating evaluation capability development over the last 15 years, including installation of thermal spraying systems, surface profilometry equipment, and erosion test facilities, along with the creation of a (£0.5M) large scale coating facility (LSF) which now houses TWI’s cold spraying systems and thermal spray coatings at scale. This is supported by robot offline programming capability to support upscaling and manufacturing development.

Melissa is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and Fellow of The Welding Institute. She also sits on the Management Committee for the UK Thermal Spraying and Surface Engineering Association (TSSEA), which issues the Code of Practice for Thermal Spraying, and also BSI STI/040 Thermal Spraying and Thermally Sprayed Coatings Committee.

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