Arts University Plymouth Unveils Fab Lab South West at Big Creative UK Summit

A research project focused on growing elephant grass for sustainable insulation and building materials. Agrikinetics approached the Lab to explore whether the grass could replace imported paper and card pulp. Fab Lab South West produced moulds and a proof of concept for cartons, enabling Dorset-based Agrikinetics to put the ideas into production.

Fab Lab South West collaborated with Sagetech to prototype and develop equipment for anaesthetic gas capture, addressing a critical environmental challenge in healthcare. Anaesthetic gases, which have long atmospheric lifetimes and high global warming potentials, contribute significantly to healthcare’s carbon footprint. The equipment designed in partnership with Sagetech captures these gases, preventing their release into the atmosphere and helping to mitigate the healthcare industry’s impact on climate change.

Devon-based Barnaby’s Brewhouse partnered with Fab Lab South West to tackle carbon dioxide emissions produced during beer fermentation. The Lab collaborated with the brewers to design and prototype a CO2 capture and purification system, enabling the reuse of CO2 to carbonate their beers. This innovation reduces reliance on external suppliers of fossil fuel-derived CO2, aligning with the brewery’s sustainable ethos. Once fully implemented, the system will capture more CO2 than needed for beer production, with potential applications for local agriculture under consideration.

Renowned for their work on listed and heritage buildings across Devon and Cornwall, Atkinson Architects collaborated with Fab Lab South West to integrate advanced LiDAR scanning into their projects. The Lab supported the pulsed laser scanning of a Grade I-listed heritage structure on the Dartington Estate, providing highly accurate data to inform renovation projections. The partnership also resulted in the creation of an architectural model, enhancing project visualisation and planning for historic sites.

Aegean Diving Services, specialists in whole-boat cleaning, partnered with Fab Lab South West to design an innovative shroud for their underwater grinding equipment. The shroud enables the capture of detritus created during cleaning, preventing pollution and ensuring compliance with stricter environmental regulations. This collaboration demonstrates how digital fabrication can support sustainability in marine industries.

Internationally recognised glass artist Laura Quinn worked with Fab Lab South West to design bespoke connecting components for her wearable glass art. Using a combination of traditional glassblowing techniques and digital technologies, the collaboration allowed Laura to create modular, interchangeable designs that push the boundaries of how glass is used. This work reflects her commitment to sustainability and innovation in craft, making her pieces more durable, repairable, and adaptable.