Looking back to last year, Guangbo Hao, Professor in Mechanical Engineering with the School of Engineering and Architecture at University College Cork, served on the judging panel for the Manufacturing Excellence Awards 2025. A Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and secretary of the Irish Manufacturing Council, Hao brought a rare combination of academic distinction and sector engagement to the awards' evaluation process.

Hao's research focus centred on the design of compliant mechanisms and robotics, with innovative applications spanning precision manufacturing, energy harvesting, medical devices, and deployable structures. This breadth of applied research made him well positioned to assess entries where engineering innovation, manufacturing precision, and real-world impact intersected. His work has been funded by Research Ireland, SFI, IRC, EU Horizon 2020, Enterprise Ireland, and the Royal Irish Academy, reflecting sustained confidence in his research programme across national and European funding bodies.

His editorial leadership further underscored the depth of his standing within the global engineering community. Hao served as Editor-in-Chief of Mechanical Sciences and as Associate Editor of the ASME Journal of Mechanisms and Robotics, IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, and Mechanism and Machine Theory roles that placed him at the centre of international engineering scholarship and peer review.

Among his accolades, Hao received the ASME Compliant Mechanisms Award in 2017, 2018, and 2022, as well as the 2023 UCC President's Award for Excellence in Teaching. With over 200 peer-reviewed papers published, his contribution to the field extended well beyond institutional boundaries, informing manufacturing research and practice internationally.

His involvement reinforced the Manufacturing Excellence Awards' commitment to a judging panel grounded in technical rigour, research credibility, and genuine sector expertise.

Visit the official Manufacturing Excellence Awards website to explore award categories, review the judging panel, and subscribe to the newsletter for updates and exclusive coverage from Ireland's manufacturing sector.