Rapid Expansion – We Welcome Dr Richard French and Sarah Marsh-Collings

Increased workflow and success in the Integrated Innovation in Nuclear Decommissioning (IIND) competition have prompted IS-Instruments Ltd (ISI) and i3D robotics Ltd (i3D) to expand their teams with two new appointments:

  • Dr Richard French — Senior Systems Scientist/Innovation Lead

  • Sarah Marsh-Collings — Dissemination and Exploitation Manager

Driving Growth Through Innovation

Both organisations have experienced rapid growth following their participation in the IIND competition. This was funded by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), Innovate UK, and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. From a shortlist of fifteen, ISI and i3D joined one of only five consortia. They were selected to build prototype demonstrators combining robotics, remote sensing, and intelligent stereo-vision systems. These systems aim to make nuclear decommissioning safer, faster, and more cost-effective.

Phase 1 testing in a non-radioactive environment is now complete, and Phase 2 testing in a radioactive environment is about to begin.

Dr Richard French — Senior Systems Scientist/Innovation Lead

Richard brings more than two decades of expertise in how lightweight sensors, electronics, and materials perform under high-radiation exposure. Based at the University of Sheffield, he led the Enabling Sciences for Intelligent Manufacturing (ESIM) group. Here, he fostered collaborations between industry and academia to deliver innovative research in robotics and autonomous systems.

Richard holds a PhD in Applied Physics, and has a hands-on background in mechanical and electrical engineering. He supported CERN’s ATLAS Experiment, helping to construct and fine-tune underground semiconductor detectors that proved the Big Bang Theory. He also contributed to major EU accelerator infrastructure programmes, developing irradiation facilities as part of the Asteroid Impact and Deflection Assessment (AIDA) collaboration.

Sarah Marsh-Collings — Dissemination and Exploitation Manager

Sarah joins the team to enhance communications, outreach, and visibility across both organisations. She holds a BSc (Hons) in Natural Sciences and has over 14 years of experience in communications. She will help raise awareness of ISI and i3D’s R&D achievements and their impact across multiple industries.

Her ability to translate complex technical advances into clear, engaging narratives will ensure the companies’ pioneering work reaches an audience beyond academia and industry.

A Unified Vision for the Future

Nicholas Bantin, Director at IS-Instruments Ltd and i3D robotics, commented:

“Richard’s multi-disciplinary background and reputation as an innovator make him a valuable addition to our team. Not only as we progress to Phase 2 of the IIND competition, but also across projects in autonomous welding, additive manufacturing, smart agriculture, and extreme environments including nuclear decommissioning.

Having Sarah on board enables us to share our technology development and celebrate our successes with a wider audience. Our innovations have significance far beyond academia. We welcome the opportunity to inform and inspire the public about the intelligent application of science.”

Building Momentum

The arrival of Dr Richard French and Sarah Marsh-Collings marks an exciting new chapter for IS-Instruments and i3D robotics.

Their expertise and enthusiasm strengthen an already dynamic team. They are ready to take on new challenges, share fresh ideas, and continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible through science and collaboration.