Dr Catalin Iulian Pruncu

I am an expert in design for manufacturing with more than 12 years of experience in critical industry (Submarine, Aerospace, Civil Nuclear application and Automotive). I hold extensive experience with metal forming and machining processes, especially lightweight alloys and new product introduction for critical sectors. I have had experience in prestigious universities and industry such as IMI Truflo Marine Ltd., BAE Systems, Rolls Royce and C2 Technology and have delivered critical product for the Spanish Navy and Jaguar Land Rover. 

I took a MSc in Design & Materials Engineering in the University of Paul Verlaine Metz (France) in 2009. In 2013, I received a PhD in Design Mechanics and Biomechanics from Politecnico di Bari (Italy). I joined the University of Birmingham in 2014 to become a Research Fellow in the School of Mechanical Engineering and am a Charter and a member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, UK.

My research is dedicated to further develop and validate hot form quench (HFQ®) Technology for use in the global automotive industry and I apply EBSD technique to correlate the microstructure/GNDs evolution with mechanical behaviour of material subjected to forming processes and other mechanical/chemical treatments.

My career highlight is represented by the project that I have delivered for IMI Truflo Marine with Spanish Navy submarine as end customer in order to complete the NAVANTIA S-80 Plus-class submarine project. I was involved in organizing different international conferences, including the 12th International Conference on New Trends in Fatigue and Fracture, Brasov, Romania, 2012.

• Associate Lecturer