Conference Organising Committee

Dr Acacio Rincon Romero

Acacio Rincon Romero is a research fellow within the Coatings and Surface Engineering group at the University of Nottingham, UK. He specializes in developing and characterizing advanced ceramic coatings. His expertise lies in formulating compositions for thermal barrier coatings resistant to CMAS and optimizing them for low thermal  conductivity, ensuring durability in high-temperature environments. Throughout his career, he specialized in ceramic materials processing, particularly focusing on innovative and environmentally sustainable colloidal processing methods.

Tanvir Hussain

Tanvir Hussain is a Professor of Coatings and Surface Engineering at the University of Nottingham and an Engineering and Physical Sciences (EPSRC) Research Fellow. He leads the Centre of Excellence in Coatings and Surface Engineering with several state-of-the-art thermal and cold spray, including multiple powder and suspension high velocity oxy-fuel spray, atmospheric plasma spray, high and low-pressure cold spray and UK’s only axial injection Suspension Plasma Spray. He is a member of the Surface Technology Leadership Team at IoM3 and a member of EPSRC Strategic Advisory Team (SAT) on Manufacturing. He is an Editor of the Journal of European Ceramic Society, and has published 135+ journal papers.  

Kah Leng

Kah Leng is a Research Fellow at the University of Nottingham, working closely with Professor Tanvir Hussain. Holding a background in mechanical engineering, he recently completed his PhD in surface and coating technologies. He possesses a strong entrepreneurial drive and is dedicated to leveraging his expertise to address real-world challenges and deliver meaningful contributions to the community.

Dr Siddharth Lokachari

Dr Siddharth Lokachari is a Rolls-Royce Research fellow within the Faculty of Engineering’s Coatings and Surface Engineering group at the University of Nottingham’s Rolls-Royce Manufacturing and On-Wing University Technology Centre, he focuses on advancing miniaturization strategies for the thermal spray process and developing next-generation thermal barrier coatings for aero-engines as part of the Rolls-Royce REINSTATE project, a £10.5 million initiative funded by ATI and Innovate UK. Prior to joining UoN, he contributed to aerospace suspension feedstock production at Treibacher Industry in Austria. He holds a PhD from the University of Munich, Germany, and a Master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Nagaoka University, Japan.
Linkedin Profile: www.linkedin.com/in/siddharthlokachari

Buhao Zhang

Buhao Zhang is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Nottingham, UK. He specializes in fabricating and characterizing environmental barrier ceramic coatings. His expertise also extends to high throughput materials discovery, where he contributes to the accelerated exploration of novel materials. Additionally, he focuses on advancing the field of ultra-high temperature ceramics. With a proven track record in cutting-edge research, he has published extensively in renowned journals. Passionate about pushing the boundaries of material science, he is open to collaborations and opportunities that leverage multifaceted expertise in enhancing material performance and exploring the intersection of technology and innovation.

James Newton

With over 25 years dedicated to surface finishing, I serve as the Director of Metallisation, driving excellence in thermal spray applications. My journey from a Manufacturing Engineer has been marked by a relentless pursuit of innovation and operational efficiency. Leading diverse teams, I’ve instilled a culture of continuous improvement within the thermal spray community, fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing. Through strategic vision and hands-on leadership, I’ve spearheaded transformative initiatives that have reshaped industry standards. My commitment to engineering excellence is matched only by my passion for cultivating talent and fostering professional growth.

As a member of the TSSEA Thermal Spray and surface engineering association committee, I am deeply invested in advancing our field, leveraging my expertise to propel the industry forward. With unwavering dedication and a collaborative spirit, I am honoured to contribute to the collective pursuit of excellence in thermal spray technology.

Mick Bignell

Mick Bignell is an independent Thermal Spray Specialist with over 30 years’ experience in the coatings industry. Mick is a NADCAP coatings auditor and Thermal Spray training engineer. The role of NADCAP auditor gives a high quality perspective on the Special Process we know as Thermal Spray and also, how this process is being integrated with modern Quality Management Systems. He is involved with Thermal Spray process improvement and fault finding.

Steve Bomford

Over my 40-year period directly involved with thermal spraying, I have been lucky enough to be employed in the roles of production engineering, sales, business development, training and technical support. My current position working for Oerlikon Metco, as Customer Solutions Centre (CSC) Manager UK, allows me to utilise my knowledge gained to support and develop opportunities for surface engineering both in the local and global marketplace.

Outside of my “day job”, I have also allocated part of my time to being a committee member for the TSSEA and as chair of the BSI STI/40 standards development group covering “thermal spraying and thermally sprayed coatings”. In both positions, I hope to promote the acceptance of coating processes to a wider industry and academic audience.

Colin Arrow

I have worked within the Thermal Spray Industry for over 39 years, covering the full range of spray processes. I have worked for 2 major Equipment suppliers and 1 coating contractor. My areas of expertise include Sales, Technical Service, Application engineering, Special Projects, and Coating Evaluation. I am a member of the BSI standards committee group covering thermal spraying and I am also an assessor for ISO 14918 – qualification and testing of thermal sprayers, I have compiled and written a book on the Principles of Thermal Spray.

Andrew Cole

Andrew Cole is a Director at an independent materials science consultancy Inspiratech 2000 Ltd (materials.co.uk).

He specialises in failure analysis of metallic materials and surface coatings based on over twenty years of experience developing and optimising automotive drive train and brake components.

His knowledge of surface treatment microstructures, properties and performance includes thermal spray, electro and electroless plating, plasma nitriding, laser cladding and galvanising. He is also experienced in analysis of pigments and fillers in modern and historic paint layers.

Andrew is a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, a Chartered Engineer and a Chartered Scientist.