The Robotics Living Lab (RoLL) is a £3.8m development at Manchester Fashion Institute, Manchester Metropolitan University.
Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, RoLL is part of the CReSCa World Class Lab series and supported by the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) in Coventry.
This new fashion research facility will help support micro-scale fashion businesses using robotic technologies, particularly focussing on creating high-value, low-volume fashion production in the UK.
RoLL will conceive, test, and develop new tooling solutions. Applications include stitching, cutting, pressing, and repair tools to support small fashion design businesses in using innovative manufacturing processes for more sustainable production. The facility will encourage new forms of research partnerships, enable fashion research to inform policy on carbon-neutral manufacturing, and support Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s 2038 target for net-zero manufacturing.
As well as developing innovative collaborative robotic tooling, RoLL’s offer includes bespoke workshops and consultancy focussing on creative and agile automation for businesses.
For enquiries, please get in touch at roboticslivinglab@mmu.ac.uk
