SHARK · Project

Laser Surface Texturing That Adds Anti-Ice, Anti-Bacteria, or Grip Properties to Any Part

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Imagine you could use a laser to etch tiny patterns onto metal surfaces — patterns so small you can't see them, but they make the surface repel ice, kill bacteria, or grip better. Until now, getting these patterns right was slow trial-and-error work stuck in labs. SHARK built a digital platform that tells manufacturers exactly which laser settings produce which surface property, turning weeks of experimentation into minutes of lookup. They proved it works on real parts for turbines, medical devices, food equipment, and industrial tooling.

By the numbers

<10%

Cost of functional surfaces compared to conventional methods

>20%

Improvement in product performance from surface functionalities

Sector-specific component demonstrators built and tested

Consortium partners across 7 countries

73%

Industry partners in the consortium

The business problem

What needed solving

Manufacturers who need special surface properties — anti-bacterial, anti-icing, high-grip — currently rely on expensive coatings, chemical treatments, or manual finishing that add significant cost and complexity. Getting functional surfaces right with lasers has been a slow, unpredictable trial-and-error process limited to lab experiments, not factory floors.

The solution

What was built

SHARK built an open-platform laser surface texturing system with a digital knowledge management database, predictive modelling for process parameters, and inline quality inspection. They delivered four working component demonstrators for turbomachinery, medical devices, tooling, and food industry — each with tested and documented performance results.

Audience

Who needs this

Food processing equipment manufacturers needing anti-bacterial surfacesAerospace and turbine manufacturers needing anti-icing or drag-reducing surfacesMedical device companies requiring bio-functional surface propertiesTooling and die makers wanting to extend tool life through surface engineeringAny manufacturer paying for expensive coatings that laser texturing could replace

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Food Processing Equipment

mid-size

Target: Manufacturers of conveyor belts, food contact surfaces, and packaging machinery

If you are a food equipment manufacturer dealing with bacterial contamination on production surfaces — this project developed laser-textured anti-bacteria surfaces that can be applied to your components at less than 10% of the cost of conventional surface treatments. A dedicated food industry demonstrator was built and tested, proving the technology works on real production parts.

Aerospace & Turbomachinery

enterprise

Target: Turbine blade manufacturers and MRO providers

If you are a turbomachinery company dealing with ice buildup or drag on blade surfaces — this project developed anti-icing laser textures with greater than 20% improvement in surface performance. They built a turbomachinery component demonstrator and validated the texture functionality, backed by predictive modelling that eliminates costly trial-and-error.

Medical Device Manufacturing

mid-size

Target: Producers of implants, surgical instruments, and sterile equipment

If you are a medical device maker struggling with surface contamination or needing specific bio-functional properties — this project built a medical sector demonstrator proving laser texturing can deliver anti-bacteria surfaces on real components. The open-platform system works independently of laser source brand, so it integrates with your existing equipment.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to add laser-textured functional surfaces to our parts?

The project's objective states that surface functionalities can be delivered into real products for less than 10% of the cost of conventional treatments. The system uses nanosecond fibre lasers, which are widely available industrial lasers, keeping capital costs reasonable.

Can this work at industrial production volumes, not just lab samples?

Yes — the entire point of SHARK was moving laser texturing from lab-scale to industrial throughput. The project developed two complementary laser techniques (Pseudo Random texturing and Direct Laser Interference Patterning) specifically to achieve industrial scale productivity. Four sector-specific demonstrators were built on real components.

How is the intellectual property structured? Can we license this?

SHARK was a collaborative project with 11 partners across 7 countries, coordinated by The Manufacturing Technology Centre (UK). IP is likely shared among consortium members. Contact the coordinator to discuss licensing terms for the knowledge management platform and process parameters database.

Does the system work with our existing laser equipment?

SHARK was explicitly designed as an open-platform independent of laser source manufacturers. This was a deliberate choice to overcome one of the main historical limitations of laser texturing. The system should integrate with your existing nanosecond fibre laser setup.

How long does it take to find the right laser settings for a new surface property?

The project built a predictive modelling system combined with a comprehensive database of process parameters and functionalities. Instead of trial-and-error experimentation, you look up or predict the settings needed for your target surface property. Inline surface characterisation provides rapid feedback and built-in quality assurance.

What surface properties can actually be achieved?

Based on available project data, demonstrated functionalities include anti-bacteria surfaces, anti-icing surfaces, and high-friction (grip) surfaces. These were validated across four sectors: turbomachinery, medical, tooling, and food industry, each with dedicated component demonstrators.

Does this meet industry regulations for food contact or medical devices?

The project built sector-specific demonstrators including food industry and medical sector use cases, with corresponding texture functionality performance test reports. However, regulatory certification (e.g., FDA, CE marking) would need to be pursued separately for your specific application.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a strongly industry-driven consortium: 8 out of 11 partners are industrial, giving a 73% industry ratio — well above average for EU research projects. The consortium spans 7 countries (CH, DE, ES, FR, IE, SE, UK) with The Manufacturing Technology Centre (UK) coordinating. With only 1 university and 2 research organizations, the project was clearly designed for industrial application rather than academic exploration. The 2 SMEs in the mix suggest pathways for smaller manufacturers to access the technology. This composition signals that results are production-oriented and closer to market than typical research projects.

THE MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY CENTRE LIMITEDCoordinator · UK
SIMTECparticipant · FR
UNITED MACHINING MILL AGparticipant · CH
SANDVIK COROMANT ABparticipant · SE
HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITYparticipant · UK
JOHNSON & JOHNSON VISION CARE IRELAND UNLIMITED COMPANYparticipant · IE
UNILEVER U.K. CENTRAL RESOURCES LIMITEDparticipant · UK
EVERLLENCE SEparticipant · DE

How to reach the team

The Manufacturing Technology Centre Limited (UK) — search for SHARK project coordinator at MTC to find contact details

Order a report on this consortium See THE MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY CENTRE LIMITED profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore how laser-textured surfaces could cut your surface treatment costs by 90%? SciTransfer can connect you with the SHARK consortium team and help evaluate fit for your specific production line.

Order a report on this topic More in Manufacturing & Industry 4.0