Professor Peter Kelly is a distinguished leader in surface engineering and advanced materials science, currently serving as Head of the Surface Engineering Group and Research Lead for the Department of Engineering at Manchester Metropolitan University. He joined MMU in 2005 after transferring the internationally recognized Surface Engineering Group from the University of Salford, where he had been instrumental since joining in November 1989 and succeeding Professor Derek Arnell as group leader upon his retirement in 2002. Prior to his appointment at MMU, he directed the Advanced Materials and Surface Engineering Research Centre, establishing himself as a prominent figure in the academic surface engineering community. His career trajectory demonstrates a consistent commitment to advancing materials science through both academic leadership and industry collaboration, with his group now firmly established as a center of excellence within the university's engineering department.
Professor Kelly's research has achieved global recognition for pioneering developments in magnetron sputtering processes, particularly through his leadership of the Surface Engineering Group which has become renowned for its expertise in physical vapor deposition techniques using pulsed plasmas. His impactful industry collaborations include groundbreaking work with Bobst on packaging technologies, where two Knowledge Transfer Partnership projects (KTP009328 and KTP010748) were both rated as 'outstanding' by Innovate UK for their innovation in conversion processes for AlOx coated polymer packaging and plasma-assisted process enhancement. These innovations enabled Bobst to maintain competitive advantage in a challenging global market through direct sales of systems incorporating technology developed with Manchester Metropolitan University. His current research focuses on sustainable food packaging development with significant societal implications, addressing the critical need for recyclable polymer solutions that provide necessary barrier properties for the food industry.
As Program Chair for the prestigious International Conference on Metallurgical Coatings and Thin Films (ICMCTF 2025), Professor Kelly continues to shape the global discourse in surface engineering while leading one of the most advanced academic research facilities in this specialized field. His Surface Engineering Group maintains state-of-the-art capabilities including nine vacuum-based coating systems with commercial-scale production potential, atmospheric plasma systems, and diverse power delivery techniques for depositing metals, alloys, and ceramics. The group actively collaborates with the University's PrintCity facility and Manchester Fuel Cell Innovation Centre, applying their expertise to diverse applications from transparent conductors to nuclear barrier coatings and photocatalytic surfaces for antimicrobial and environmental remediation purposes. With ongoing research in hygienic surfaces, fuel cell technologies, and sustainable packaging solutions, Professor Kelly's work continues to bridge fundamental materials science with practical industrial applications that address pressing global challenges in environmental sustainability and technological advancement.
