Dr Philip Hackney

I first came here (when it was Newcastle Polytechnic) to study Mechanical Technology and have stayed in that subject area ever since. After graduating I became a Marine Engineer officer with Shell Tankers and travelled around the world as a ship based engineer. I then worked at Babcocks Ltd as an industrial  power plant boiler commissioning engineer based in South Africa and worked mainly commissioning boilers in chemical plants and sugar refineries before coming here.

The two things I enjoy most about my job in the School are the engagement with students and the opportunity to undertake demanding but rewarding work - for example developing a solar oven for a charity in Tanzania. I love the consulting side of my job because I believe it keeps me at the leading edge of technology and often the project can be used as case study material to make my teaching more interesting and up to date.

My research area is a new method of manufacturing called Rapid Manufacturing (also referred to as Rapid prototyping), which builds parts by a series of very fine layers. This technology has the capability of revolutionising the way products are developed. It opens up the possibility of moving away from mass production to mass customisation, where every product is different to suit the user's needs.

Away from the university I spend as much time as I can sailing - I have recently bought a share in a 49 foot sailing boat based out in Greece.