Prof. Jianguo LIN, Chair Professor of Materials Technologies of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), has been elected as a Fellow of the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering (HKAE). This prestigious honour recognises his distinguished expertise and impactful contributions to the advancement of engineering.
Prof. LIN is an internationally renowned expert in materials modelling, advanced metal forming technologies, and sustainable manufacturing processes. The HKAE acknowledges his pioneering work in developing innovative theories and transformative technologies for lightweight alloys, which have enabled the production of complex, lightweight components for vehicles. These advancements have significantly reduced energy consumption and carbon emissions in transportation and related industries. Prof. LIN’s research has revolutionised the commercial manufacturing of complex‑shaped lightweight components once considered impossible, exemplifying the integration of fundamental breakthroughs with industrial applications. He has developed more than 20 patented technologies, including HFQ®, Flextrude®, and WiExtrude®, widely adopted in industry.
He pioneered the use of state‑variable material descriptions combined with calibrated ordinary differential equations to integrate classical mechanics with physical metallurgy. This breakthrough has enabled the simulation of diverse high‑temperature metal‑forming processes and the precise control of metallurgical states and mechanical properties within components. His work spanned alloys such as aluminium and magnesium (150–550°C), ultra‑high strength steels (480–950°C), and titanium and nickel superalloys (850–1,050°C) for turbine blades.
These efforts not only overcame long‑standing barriers to forming complex structural parts but also enabled accurate prediction, tailored microstructure, and low energy consumption during manufacturing. These advances are consolidated in his landmark book Fundamentals of Materials Modelling for Metals Processing Technologies.
As a world-leading scholar in materials technologies, Prof. LIN has published over 300 refereed journal papers and influential books, including Fundamentals of Materials Modelling for Metals Processing Technologies. He established and led the UK’s largest university‑based metal forming research group at Imperial College London, which received two Imperial President’s Medals for its partnership engagement and research capabilities. He also founded four industry‑sponsored research centres there, securing over HK$250 million in support.
In addition, Prof. LIN is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and a Member of the European Academy of Sciences. He has coordinated large projects across nine countries with up to 20 partners and secured over HK$500 million in government‑sponsored research funding, underscoring that these innovations have delivered substantial industrial impact, enabled energy-efficient production processes, and reduced carbon emissions across the global transportation sector.
The HKAE aims to foster collaboration, innovation, and excellence in engineering, thereby advancing society and developing Hong Kong and the Nation. It comprises a distinguished group of Fellows from various disciplines, recognised as leaders in their fields, with remarkable achievements in engineering science and its applications.
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