Working with industry

Plymouth Electron Microscopy Centre: a real-time, business-responsive facility, based at the University of Plymouth
Working with industry
With over 30 years of experience working with industry, Plymouth Electron Microscopy Centre (PEMC) provides a comprehensive service that brings together academic expertise and research with businesses across the UK and beyond. PEMC has a commercial user group spanning a range of sectors including aerospace, manufacturing, engineering, textiles, microelectronics, biomedical, food, and more. Our relationships within the commercial sector have earned us a strong reputation as a reliable, well-rounded and professional centre, providing insight and solutions to real-world problems from a strong foundation of scientific research.
We provide expert, local access to imaging and analysis instrumentation, supporting a diverse range of activities including materials properties analysis, analysis of defects and component failure, evaluation of product quality, bio-imaging, mineralogical analysis and sample characterisation, and 3D digital imaging and analysis.
PEMC has strong links with other departments within the University, so can offer a full analytical service in addition to electron microscopy data capture, including composites, metallurgy, engineering and food science.
We offer bespoke services with competitive hourly rates to make the most of our extensive suite of instruments, to investigate and understand your products in depth. As keen knowledge sharers experienced in interdisciplinary collaborations, our team of experts will help you to benefit from:
  • Improved performance of products and processes
  • Enhanced quality control and monitoring
  • Increased efficiency (waste and cost)
  • New product development
  • Promotional images and outreach materials
  • Educational materials
  • Research support
  • Collaborative research and development

Plymouth Electron Microscopy Centre is a jewel in the crown not just for the University, but for the city of Plymouth.

Jerry RobertsJerry Roberts
Emeritus Professor

If you would like more information on how Plymouth Electron Microscopy Centre could help your business, please contact us at emc@plymouth.ac.uk and we'll be happy to help.

Plymouth Materials Characterisation Network (PMCN) 

PMCN aims to build a self-sustaining network of researchers, technicians, industry experts, and academics who are familiar with and benefit from the use of electron microscopy in their day-to-day business. Any Devon-based company wishing to utilise electron microscopy in their research and development can now access the equipment available at PEMC, along with benefitting from our technical expertise across a range of disciplines, including SEM, TEM and FIB-SEM. New companies wishing to take advantage of this fantastic opportunity have until 31st of March 2023 to sign up.
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Plymouth Electron Microscopy Centre

We found the PEMC service extremely useful. The communication was excellent; any potential problems were communicated to us for verification before PEMC carried out the work. We are extremely happy with the results and will definitely be using PEMC again.

Ben Daniels, Production Planner, Peter Day Precision Engineering

Industry case studies

Tappermade Tappermade
 "This incredible instrument allows us to zoom in to see the hair stand in detail... and see the extent of the damage"

Electron Microscopy for Farmers Electron Microscopy for Farmers
 How PEMC worked with multiple farmers for deeper understanding of soil health and diversity through electron microscopy.

ARC Marine ARC Marine
 "Use of the Plymouth Electron Microscopy Centre allowed us to delve in to a very new field of study dubbed geophycology, the study of algal interactions with rock – and now concrete"

Composite Innovations Ltd Composite Innovations Ltd
 "Working with [PEMC] has been truly informative and accessible. The friendly and extremely, competent expertise at [PEMC] together with the advanced ion beam milling capability takes this visualisation to a completely new level."

Davy J Ltd Davy J Ltd
 "This study gave us a new insight into the micro properties of our fabrics and their performance characteristics. As a growing South West business, access to such technology on our doorstep with Plymouth University is invaluable."

Pollenize Pollenize
 "We have thoroughly enjoyed working with PEMC on the various projects about pollen and bees. It has been a great learning process, especially in regards to pollen collection, as it has further enabled Pollenize to push on with other research projects."

Scarlet PL Scarlet PL
 "This has enabled a keen understanding as to why the fault in the weld may have occurred and the techniques used has allowed for high resolution analysis."

Esterlam International Ltd Esterlam International Ltd
 "The work carried out by PEMC on the FIB-SEM has gained Esterlam a lot of respect from our client. The outcome of the testing has strengthened our relationship..."

Owens Owens
 "It was lovely working with the PEMC team on the project, which gave us useful insights into what happens to the microstructure of a coffee bean as it progresses through our roasting process. This information will be invaluable..."

Enigma Audio Enigma Audio
 "This diagnostic work is delaying the development of new products and also a barrier to understanding why this particular element performs well. Gaining support with this investigation will allow us to potentially develop the company and grow quicker..."

Plessey Semiconductors Ltd Plessey Semiconductors Ltd
 "Having a local, state of the art tool, available to assist process development is a key resource for Plessey as we develop our LED processes to drive the mass adoption of micro LEDs in the display market."

Radley Scientific Radley Scientific
 "Our work with [PEMC] using the FIB-SEM has allowed us to carry out an experiment that conclusively proves the mechanism of PZT aging by providing visual results unavailable with any other technique."

PML Applications Ltd PML Applications Ltd
 "Working with [PEMC] was a great experience from the start. The team got really engaged with our project and helped us shape where we could and should go for maximum impact..."

Ramer Sponges Ltd Ramer Sponges Ltd
 "This analysis provides evidence to explain why and how this is achieved, and how we can exploit these advantages to specifically target Ramerfoam® grades for additional technical applications."

South West Metal Finishing South West Metal Finishing
 "The results from [PEMC] have aided SWMF in developing a better understanding of the process aided by experts and access to specialist equipment."

Research Case Studies Research Case Studies
 See how Plymouth Electron Microscopy Centre work with academic researchers across scientific fields.

How European funding supported SMEs in the South West, using Electron Microscopy from 2010–2015

Thanks to funding from the European Regional Development Fund, we gave 121 companies 12 hours of free support in PEMC. Our customers came from Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, and companies varied from;
  • Peter Day Precision Engineering Ltd - to verify the precision thickness of their platings for their customers.
  • Langage Farm LLP - examining the microstructure of their quarg and yoghurt, leading to new product development. 
  • BB Photonics Ltd - precision measurement to support new product development. 
A number of these companies have now come back to work with PEMC regularly, demonstrating the real value of our service to businesses of any size.
As a result of their initial work with PEMC, Langage Farm LLPembarked on a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with the University. This collaboration was so successful that Langage Farm secured a £4.2million deal with a major supermarket as a result.
The three reports below (produced by the Heart of the SW Local Enterprise Partnership (HOTSW LEP), CaSEand the National Centre for Universities and Business) mention the impact of PEMC's work with industry.

Plymouth Electron Microscopy Centre