Benjamin holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from RWTH Aachen University, Germany. His research focuses on the area of digital manufacturing with a focus on lowering the cost of automation through the use of digital technologies.

Benjamin currently works on the Digital Manufacturing on a Shoestring project which is investigating how low-cost, readily available digital technologies can be implemented to support growth and productivity in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The project addresses the common concern that many digital manufacturing solutions are designed for large companies. The research team is working with SME partners on a UK-wide and international project to identify common digital challenges in SME manufacturers and create inexpensive digital options. They will create digital options based on commercially available technologies such as Raspberry Pi, and work with small IT developers and student hackathons to produce a range of customisable solutions.