The metals research that the UT contributes to the NIMR is spread over three groups at Engineering Technology. HuÚtink's own group at Technical Mechanics is known for modelling metal transformation processes. With its own simulation package DiekA he can calculate what happens in metal when it is, for example, rolled. In the group Mechanical Automation of his colleague Jonker mechatronic solutions for machining metals with lasers are developed. The Tribology group of colleague-professor Schipper is concerned with friction, wear and lubrication. In total more than 14 researchers working at Engineering Technology, over half of them for HuÚtink, are employed by the NIMR.
The NIMR is one of the four technological top institutes (TTIs) established in 1997. The three technical universities participate in them, as well as Groningen University and a number of companies, the largest of which is Corus.
