abc academic business collaboration

Your guide to working with ISSUE 1 and colleges in

Extracting knowledge Where to start? We show you the route to success Is your business well equipped? Plus a four-page guide to accessing knowledge in Wales FOREWORD INTRODUCTION Contents Foreword 2 Successes so far 12 Introduction 3 Getting more than you bargained for 12 Path to success 4 What can barcodes do for your business? 13 Guide to knowledge in Wales 6 Local solutions to global problems 14 Specialist equipment 10 Backchat 15 Foreword: New Momentum for Economic Renewal As the world emerges from recession, it is vital to ensure Our programme of Academic Expertise for Business is that Wales is fit for the future and ready for the challenges of investing £70 million to unlock the huge potential of our economic recovery. country’s higher and further education institutions. Launched Our aim is to build on our in April 2008, it has already assisted nearly 150 projects reputation as a resilient nation, that will help bring educational institutions and equipped with an innovative, green businesses together. economy that matches the needs Business Innovation, part of Flexible Support of the 21st century. for Business, provides an integrated package So the Welsh Assembly of innovation advice and funding for Government’s Economic Renewal businesses and individuals. The Programme focuses on driving Business Innovation team of up skills and encouraging Innovation Managers provides the advanced research and specialist support and access development highlighted in this to Innovation Vouchers that can supplement. be used to part-finance work That means it is vital to harness with private sector experts and the knowledge and expertise of universities and colleges. our world-class universities and And the recently announced all-Wales colleges – the 21st-century equivalent Incubation Network promotes further of the raw materials that powered the collaboration between academia and businesses Industrial Revolution. These institutions in our Technium® facilities to help young technology-led are accessible and approachable, ready to businesses reach their potential. give all businesses in Wales the innovative cutting edge they Now is the time to ensure new momentum to launch require to succeed in their marketplace. the Welsh economy into the coming decade – with Wales’ Devolved government is enabling us to draw together business and academic communities working together as the great talent of our academic and business communities, never before. breaking down the barriers that previously kept them apart. The benefits of sharing knowledge are mutual, and pave the Deputy First Minister and way to maximising the economic impact of our academic Minister for the Economy and Transport institutions.

COVER IMAGE Cross-fertilisation of ideas, knowledge or resources through collaboration

PHOTOGRAPHY Sourced from organisations featured, their representatives and iStockphoto.

Project Manager Catriona Vernal (tel +44 (0)1738 450494, fax +44 (0)870 164 0124, email [email protected]) Designer David MacDonald. Published on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government by Prepress Projects Ltd, Algo Business Centre, Glenearn Road, Perth PH2 0NJ. Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Welsh Assembly Government or its employees. The Welsh Assembly Government is not responsible for third-party sources cited such as websites or reports. ISSN 0968-7920. Printed in Wales by HSW Print. Distributed by Zenith Media Ltd. Crown Copyright.

Extracting knowledge: as easy as abc 2 FOREWORD INTRODUCTION Working with universities and colleges in Wales – as easy as abc

Our Welsh universities and colleges are here to help your either too expensive to buy or not readily available in the business become more innovative and competitive. You marketplace; and collaborative industrial research and have the opportunity to work with people who are willing to development projects. understand your business and the barriers to development In abc we showcase some of the range of equipment, you may encounter. Their goal is to help you overcome collaboration and advice available to show you how these barriers and find the best solutions. accessible it all is. However, we appreciate that trying to find which On pages 4 and 5, you’ll find the path to follow to identify or college has the right expertise or facilities for the right expertise or facility for you along with funding your business, and finding the right person to contact, can opportunities to help cover any costs. seem challenging. We also have a quick-look guide to all Knowledge Accessing the resources of universities and colleges does Transfer Centres (KTCs) – groups within universities and not have to be daunting. This is why we have produced abc, colleges geared to assisting companies, from individuals your guide to academic expertise and facilities, complete right up to larger organisations, located across Wales. Each with key contacts and an overview of their services. KTC has a team dedicated to liaising with local industry, and Your business can be large or small, and it doesn’t is available to help your business by providing expert advice, need to work with leading-edge technology or undertake access to specialist equipment and new ideas and research. research to benefit from this expertise. Our universities and You’ll also find some testimonials from other businesses, colleges provide a breadth of services including short-term like yours, which have already benefited from working with diagnosis/problem-solving projects that typically take less our universities and colleges. You will discover that your than one day; student/graduate placements, from which business can innovate with short-term project-based help as your business can benefit from the latest academic training well as long-term strategic input. to help you solve an in-depth problem (knowledge transfer The expertise is there for you, and accessing it is easier projects, KTPs); access to specialist equipment that is than you might think. What have you got to lose?

3 Issue 1 These days, our Welsh universities and colleges are geared towards working with businesses like yours. By taking on board their new knowledge and technology or using their specialist equipment, your business can benefit by becoming more innovative and competitive. The university or college you work with will depend on the expertise or facilities that your business needs. Identifying this may seem like an enormous mountain to climb. Where do you start? Help is at hand – we can help you find that first foothold on your route to the top.

WHERE IS BASE CAMP? Universities and colleges have commercial offices or technology transfer offices that are dedicated to helping businesses find the support they need. Information can be found on university and college websites. Welsh-based businesses can get support from the Welsh Assembly Government’s team of Innovation Managers, based throughout Wales. Innovation Managers can identify how your business can become more innovative and access expertise from the private sector and universities and colleges

CAN ANYONE CLIMB THAT MOUNTAIN? Any company of any size, however long established, from start-up to global enterprise, in any sector, anywhere in the world – all can access our Welsh universities and colleges to help develop their business – it doesn’t matter whether you are in a high-technology business or a more conventional industry

NEED A HELPING HAND? Stuck between a rock and a hard place? You might need to discuss possible solutions with someone who understands technical problems. You might need access to specialist equipment to trial and test new products or procedures. Or, you might need to tap into expertise and know-how

4 HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO REACH THE TOP? Depending on the nature of your project, you could work with a university or college on just a short-term interaction, with a quick problem-solving diagnosis, or benefit from a graduate placement within your business or longer-term collaborative research work

WILL COST SET US BACK? The cost varies depending on the project. For businesses in Wales, Innovation Managers can provide access to Welsh Assembly Government Innovation Vouchers or longer-term R&D funding. Funding is also available to part-finance graduate placement schemes WHAT’S THE NEXT STEP? Once you’ve identified the most appropriate university or college you can begin to work with them to solve your technical problems. You can visit a centre or they can come and talk to you

Do you have a mountain to climb?

For more information contact Flexible Support for Business Tel 03000 6 03000, www.fs4b.wales.gov.uk 5 GUIDE TO KNOWLEDGE IN WALES GUIDE TO KNOWLEDGE IN WALES

4 Sustainable Alternative Energy Technology Sustainability Purpose To become the premier alternative powertrain centre of knowledge transfer solely devoted to environmental and applied green 1 Delivering Low-carbon Buildings Cymru performance technology. To improve the competitiveness and Purpose To promote and demonstrate the benefits of sustainable design, efficiency of these emerging sectors in producing clean energy construction and operation in the built environment technologies Services Sustainable design advice, building performance prediction, Services Test facilities, technically experienced people, full R&D programmes architectural services, environmental management, waste Equipment Rolling road testing, advanced fuel cell simulation systems, load minimisation advice bank simulation system, prototype build battery equipment, Equipment Building performance monitoring and testing, building and urban mobile laboratory, advanced software modelling, advanced CAN scale computer simulation, physical scale model testing (wind tunnel development studio, two specialised (non-mobile) energy storage and artificial sky) systems Users Construction industry, particularly architects, mechanical engineers, Users Automotive industry quantity surveyors Contact Jonathan Williams, University. Tel +44 (0)1443 483791, Contact Huw Jenkins, University. Tel +44 (0)29 2087 5959, email [email protected], web http://fat.glam.ac.uk/consultancy/ email [email protected], web www.cardiff.ac.uk/archi/cribe cerea

2 Biomass Processing for High Value Products Purpose Realistic scale-up of harvesting and pre-processing of grass feedstocks to determine the practicalities and economics of running a grass biorefinery ‘on farm’. Bulk reduction for transportation and stabilisation for long-term storage Services Unique access to a demonstration facility and academic expertise for processing feedstock grasses from experimental plots prior to downstream juicing and fermentation Equipment Dry biomass pelletiser, a demonstration facility including plant that provides a state-of-the-art recovery and purification platform and enables the rapid processing of laboratory- to pilot-scale volumes of natural and fermented liquors Users Agricultural industry Contact Dr Steve Fish, . Tel +44 (0)1970 823232, email [email protected], web www.aber.ac.uk/en/ibers

3 Goniophotometer and Spectroradiometer Purpose To promote the uptake of -efficient lighting Services Independent testing facility, consultancy, R&D Equipment Specialist light measurement equipment which is required to make accurate assessments of current and next-generation lighting solutions 5 Biochar for Business and the Environment Users Lighting and construction industry, engineering and electronics Purpose Demonstration and development of a biochar production facility for industry converting under-utilised organic waste streams into value-added Contact Professor Paul Rees, . Tel +44 (0)1792 295197, products. Locally/nationally sourced dry organic wastes and biomass email [email protected] feedstocks may be ‘carbonised’ to produce a range of products such as combustible charcoal, a soil conditioner and carbon sink, and activated carbon for more high-end applications such as gas/water filtration systems Services Processing dry organic wastes to pyrolysed/torrefied products such as biochar, bio-oil and activated carbon. Demonstration, feedstock trialling, and solid/gas/liquid product capture and evaluation Equipment Automated gas-recycling carbonisation rig with 1t batch capacity. Pyrolysis conditions may be tailored to suit different feedstocks or favour production of certain products. The more sustainable process operates by gases produced during pyrolysis of the feedstock being recycled back through a burner to supply the heat required to drive the process. Solid/liquid products may be collected and stored Users Charcoal producers, manufacturers, county councils, agri-chemical companies and supply chains, waste management sector, animal feed companies Contact Dr Edward Hodgson, Aberystwyth University. Tel +44 (0)1970 823126, email [email protected], web www.aber.ac.uk/en/ibers

Extracting knowledge: as easy as abc 6 GUIDE TO KNOWLEDGE IN WALES GUIDE TO KNOWLEDGE IN WALES

9 Field Emission Cryo-scanning Electron Microscope Materials Purpose A state-of-the-art electron microscope capable of imaging and 6 Cutting and Fabrication Technology Centre analysing biological samples Purpose To provide expertise and access to advanced diagnostic facilities for Services Ultra-high-resolution imaging (1 nm resolution), elemental analysis, the quality enhancement of machined parts cryogenic sample stage for preserving biological samples, transmission imaging (0.5 nm resolution) Services Consultancy and specialist staff for short- and long-term R&D projects Equipment Field emission scanning electron microscope, X-ray detector, cryogenic stage, transmission detector Equipment Five-axis computer numerical controlled (CNC) machining with large-volume capability, autoclave for curing composites, wide Users Healthcare and pharmaceutical companies, food industry, range of non-destructive diagnostic and testing equipment, semiconductor industry, metallurgy, materials including thermography, very high-speed digital videography, digital Contact Dr Thierry Maffeis, Swansea University. Tel +44 (0)1792 602234, polarimetry, laser Doppler scanning vibrometry email [email protected], web www.swansea.ac.uk/ Users Manufacturing sector, particularly composites machinings engineering2/research/multidisciplinarynanotechnologycentre Contact Dr Tyra Oseng, Swansea Metropolitan University. Tel +44 (0)1792 481157, email [email protected], web www.smu.ac.uk

7 Welsh Composites Centre Purpose To facilitate new materials and product development, design, modelling, manufacture and testing; to develop the most efficient and effective transfer of composites knowledge; to drive the uptake of new composites technology Services Materials testing and characterisation, design and structural modelling, materials and process selection, new product development Equipment Composites processing facilities: cold press, hot press, press Engineering moulding, compounding of short-fibre/particle-filled thermoplastics, injection moulding 10 School of Engineering Users Aerospace, marine, sports and leisure, construction and automotive Purpose (a) Environment, (b) performance engineering, (c) green industries communications Contact Dr Anke Skrobek, Swansea University. Tel +44 (0)1792 602505, Services To facilitate knowledge transfer and collaborative industrial research email [email protected], web www.welshcomposites.co.uk (a) Assessment of the impact of solid wastes, bespoke environmental process engineering solutions, characterisation of organic and 8 Industrial Biopolymers inorganic materials (b) Provison of four cutting-edge technologies: rigid body dynamic Purpose To help and support companies that wish to develop new products or analysis acoustic emission non-destructive testing for damage processes using environmentally friendly biopolymers assessment, structural health monitoring, identifying manufacturing Services Consultancy, feasibility studies (economic and technical assessment defects; digital image correlation optical strain measurement; of new product opportunities), R&D (experimental protocols to autoclave for the manufacture of large-scale high-quality composite develop prototype materials), mechanical and physical testing, pilot- components scale production (c) Help companies design, develop and supply the network Equipment State-of-the-art equipment for oxygen, gas and water vapour infrastructure to reduce the electrical power consumption of future transmission rate testing, 26-mm screw diameter compounder, communication systems biodegradation testing suite, 50-litre scale-up capability, Equipment (a) Bespoke environmental pilot-scale testing facilities, involving comprehensive analytical support, 500 m2 of space dedicated to chemical, mineralogical and physical characterisation of different pilot-scale production waste streams and their impacts on the environment using Users Packaging, construction, plastics, aerospace and automotive inductively coupled plasma and gas chromatography mass industries spectrometry, ion chromatography, gas chromatography and mass spectrometer, X-ray diffraction and fluorescence, scanning electron Contact Rob Elias, . Tel +44 (0)1248 364829, microscope, accelerated solvent extractor system and a mercury email [email protected], web www.bc.bangor.ac.uk analyser (b) Non-destructive testing using piezo-electric transducers, large autoclave manufacturing unit, high-resolution cameras used for optical strain measurement (c) Cascade wafer probe station, coherent phased high-frequency synthesisers and analysers, harmonic load pull Users (a) Mining, water treatment and waste management industries (b) Automotive, aerospace and defence industries (c) Aerospace communications and manufacturers of electronics and components, printed circuit boards and measurement instrumentation, computer-aided design software developers Contact Simon Parker, Cardiff University. Tel +44 (0)29 2087 6584, email [email protected], web www.innovation.engineering.cf.ac.uk

7 Issue 1 GUIDE TO KNOWLEDGE IN WALES GUIDE TO KNOWLEDGE IN WALES

11 Manufacturing Engineering Centre 14 User-centric Design Lab Purpose World-class R&D in advanced manufacturing Purpose To improve the design capabilities of SMEs to enable them to realise the business rewards of better product development practice Services Contract manufacture services in rapid prototyping/rapid manufacturing, tooling and micro and nano-fabrication, feasibility Services User research, innovation management, product design, packaging studies and technology demonstration products, consultancy and graphic design, rapid prototyping, short-run, low-cost services to develop new products, identify best technical solution, manufacture, tooling management and production adapt existing technologies, long-term R&D projects Equipment Observational research facilities, 3D computer-aided design, various Equipment Micro-machining systems, micro-fabrication equipment, quality rapid prototyping technologies, vaccuum casting and rapid metal control systems, focused ion beam system with integrated scanning casting, high-speed machining and toolmaking electron microscopy, SLA rapid prototyping machine Users Various, including the medical device, automotive and aerospace Users Automotive and motor sport; electronics, consumer products; industries, food producers and financial services organisations medical devices; communications; aerospace/defence; design/ Contact Jarred Evans, Institute, Cardiff. Tel +44 (0)29 modelmakers; engineering/toolmaking 2041 6725, email [email protected], web www.pdronline.co.uk Contact Geraint Evans, Cardiff University. Tel +44 (0)29 2087 4641, email [email protected], web www.mec.cf.ac.uk 15 Textile Technologies Purpose To increase access to advanced technology for pre-production and production processes for the textiles sector Services R&D, prototyping Equipment Specialist technology for design and pattern cutting: computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing, laser joining technologies Information technology Users Apparel, textile and technical textile industries Contact Suzi Park, Coleg Sir Gar. Tel +44 (0)1554 740238, 12 The National Automatic Identification and Data email [email protected], web www.colegsirgar.ac.uk Capture Centre for Wales Purpose To improve organisational efficiency through the use of automated Opto-electronics identity and data capture Services Diagnostic interview, feasibility study, consultancy advice, system 16 Inert Environment Fabrication and Characterisation design suggestions, assistance identifying potential suppliers Facility Equipment Linear bar codes, two-dimensional bar codes, active or passive Purpose To allow devices to be fabricated and tested in a dust-free radiofrequency, biometric identification, global positioning system atmosphere and one that is free of the ‘contaminating’ effects tracking of atmospheric oxygen and moisture, which is not possible in a Users Almost any sector of the economy, but particularly useful in conventional clean room. There is no similar regional facility manufacturing, retail, health care and supply chain management Services Fabrication of organic devices, advice and support in thin film including logistics deposition, device fabrication, materials characterisation, electrical Contact Hywel Williams, University of Glamorgan. Tel +44 (0)1443 654542, characterisation of materials email [email protected], web www.aidcwales.org Equipment Class 1000 clean room with inert atmosphere glove box incorporating a thermal evaporator for organic thin film deposition as Product design well as a spin-coater for solution processing of organic materials Users Businesses involved in thin-film transistor, radiofrequency 13 Simulation-based Product Design identification, organic photovoltaics, organic LEDs Purpose To support, advise and guide companies in moving forward their Contact Professor Martin Taylor, Bangor University. Tel +44 (0)1248 680696, design functions from the conventional design–build–test cycle to email [email protected], web www.eng.bangor.ac.uk/ one which embeds computer simulation research/optoelectronics Services Scoping exercise to solve particular design problems to demonstrate the applications and benefits, comprehensive understanding of product/process behaviour, evaluation of design alternatives and optimisation, reduction in physical testing costs, failure risks, time to market, development risks, improved product quality Equipment Over 100 high-specification PCs, high-specification parallel cluster with over 200 processors, high-speed fibre optic network, virtual reality workbench, virtual reality cave, mobile 3D laser scanner, video-conferencing, small-scale wind tunnel, testing machines (including 250 kN fatigue testing, tension and compression testing) used to validate the simulation results Users Mainstream engineering sectors (aerospace, automotive), environment, bio-medicine, agriculture, leisure industry Contact Dr Kim Davies, Swansea University. Tel +44 (0)1792 292596, email [email protected], web www.swansea.ac.uk/ engineering/research/c2ec

Extracting knowledge: as easy as abc 8 GUIDE TO KNOWLEDGE IN WALES GUIDE TO KNOWLEDGE IN WALES

Printing technologies Communications

17 Print Functional Materials 20 Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) Testbed Purpose To provide a well-equipped resource and expertise to support Purpose To provide support for the development, testing, evaluation, research product and process development in the printing industry and demonstration of 2.5, 3G and beyond 3G mobile and wireless Services Work with companies to develop their printing technology and air–interface standards, with a special focus on real-time testing expertise to add value to their products. It also looks to work with Services Consultancy, research testing and evaluating new wireless new companies (both spin outs and inward investing) to develop equipment and services high-skilled manufacturing Equipment World-class test equipment, wireless testing, performance validation Equipment Air-conditioned laboratory, printing presses, colour measurement, Users Communication sector, global industry leaders prepress equipment Contact Tim O’Farrell, Swansea University. Tel +44 (0)1792 602768, Users Printing industry email [email protected], web www.swan.ac.uk/engineering/ Contact Glyn Davies, Swansea University. Tel +44 (0)1792 295091, telecommunications/facilities email [email protected], web www.swan.ac.uk/printing

Creative industries

18 Moving Image Wales Purpose To support established businesses, emerging talent and the creation of new businesses in the creative industries. Provides tailor-made advice and guidance to businesses working across the creative sector in Wales, representing a range of disciplines including TV, film, fine and applied art, architecture, photography and graphics Services Innovative cross-media investment models involving digital Quick guide technology (e.g. live action TV, HD media, iPhone apps, augmented reality, games); high-definition production and post-production We appreciate that many of these centres are multidisiplnary and cut across workflows; laser cutting and etching many sectors. So, this is only a rough guide. For further information on capabilities contact the individual centre. Equipment RED One and other HD cameras, AVID editing suites, laser cutting/ etching, water-jet cutting, digital textile printing Biochar for Business and the Environment 5 Users TV, film, animation, media, textiles, fashion, graphics, illustration. The Biomass Processing for High Value Products 2 technology might be employed in most industry sectors including Cardiff University School of Engineering 10 industrial design, engineering and manufacturing Cutting and Fabrication Technology Centre 6 Contact Chris Holtom, Swansea Metropolitan University. Tel +44 (0)1792 Delivering Low-carbon Buildings Cymru 1 481241, email [email protected], web www.smu.ac.uk/ciric Field Emission Cryo-scanning Electron Microscope 9 Goniophotometer and Spectroradiometer 3 19 Medialab Industrial Biopolymers 8 Purpose To develop a demonstration HDTV studio showcasing the latest Inert Environment Fabrication and Characterisation Facility 16 HDTV production camera equipment, special effects and animation Manufacturing Engineering Centre 11 techniques and processes. To provide access to a render farm facility Medialab 19 Services Creative environment to produce new digital content. New product Moving Image Wales 18 opportunities, networks with national and international media Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) Testbed 20 companies Print Functional Materials 17 Simulation-based Product Design 13 Equipment HDTV camera equipment, high-grade render farm animation facilities, AVID digital editing suites Sustainable Alternative Energy Technology 4 Textile Technologies 15 Users Digital media sector, creative industries The National Automatic Identification and Data Capture Centre for Wales 12 Contact Peter Hodges, Glamorgan University. Tel +44 (0)1443 668676, User-centric Design Lab 14 email [email protected], web www.cci.glam.ac.uk Welsh Composites Centre 7

9 Issue 1 SERVICES SERVICES

Specialist equipment

Besides consultancy and collaboration, universities and capabilities to achieve the competitive edge you need for colleges can offer you access to specialist equipment. success. Here we feature three types of equipment – which This gives you the opportunity to broaden your business’s usually come at a high cost – available at universities and expertise and skills in a cost-efficient way and enhance your colleges in Wales for your business to access.

Quick prototypes

Are prototypes essential to your business? This is of particular interest if you are involved in the If so, the Manufacturing Engineering Centre (MEC) at automotive, aerospace, electronics, medical, casting, Cardiff University is just one of many academic centres in jewellery, design and modelmaking industries – particularly Wales which can help you. if you cannot afford to slow down or stop your design and The MEC is certainly no stranger to industry. Its state- development programmes. Once you have the prototype of-the-art facilities, some of which are unique in the UK, you can, for example, review assembly techniques, reduce have been accessed by firms for many years for successful parts count and improve ergonomics. microengineering collaboration. The MEC has recently expanded and has purchased even more specialist equipment for industry to access. One such piece is the Perfactory® SLA rapid prototyping machine, which uses stereolithography to turn a 3D computer-aided design drawing into a solid object. Thanks to this machine, you will be able to produce – quickly, easily and inexpensively – solid prototypes of your products.

COTECH rapid prototype mould for microfluidic part prototypes

This specialist SLA machine gives greater definition to components than existing technology, allowing for the use of different materials to create the objects. For example, a biocompatible material can be used to produce thin-walled components, which would be suitable for medical applications such as hearing aids. Traditional SLA machines first have to create a base upon which to build. This machine, however, builds from the top down, removing the need for a base, and thus streamlining the prototype creation process.

Contact Frank Marsh, Cardiff University +44 (0)29 2087 4641 [email protected] www.mec.cf.ac.uk

Extracting knowledge: as easy as abc 10 SERVICES SERVICES

Low-energy light sources

Step into Bangor University’s School of Electronic industry, is ideally situated to benefit the strong opto- Engineering and you’ll find the latest addition to its facilities: electronics cluster in North Wales, focused on Technium® inert atmosphere glove boxes. Used for fabricating organic OpTIC at St Asaph. The facility has already attracted the electronic devices, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs), it interest of opto-electronics spin-out companies based there. incorporates an organic evaporator and spin-coater. Steve Kelly of SmartKem Ltd says that the new facility Organic electronics differs from traditional electronics in will be especially useful for fabricating test devices and that it uses carbon-based materials (conductive polymers, circuits, including displays, made from the range of new plastics and small molecules) rather than metals. It’s all organic materials which the company is developing, housed in a clean room – a special type of atmosphere with while Gene Koch of Lomox Ltd expects that it will greatly a low level of environmental pollutants such as dust. assist his company in performing physical parameter and This equipment, available for joint research with fabrication process evaluations of its new state-of-the-art photopatternable organic LED materials. The facility is available for specialist projects, such as the fabrication of organic radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, which in turn can enhance brand recognition and security.

Contact Professor Martin Taylor, Bangor University +44 (0)1248 382686, [email protected] www.eng.bangor.ac.uk/research/ optoelectronics

Computer-generated imagery

The University of Glamorgan’s Cardiff School of Creative and Medialab can be utilised for computer animation, visual Cultural Industries contains cutting- effects for high-definition (HD) edge technologies and facilities for television and film industry, computer the creative disciplines. games development (from iPhone Here, Medialab provides the apps to full HD gaming experience) environment for the creative industry and 3D/stereoscopic presentation for to produce new digital content, games, television and projection. product applications, disseminate Peter Hodges, head of Medialab, new project opportunities and upskill remarks, ‘This specialist equipment staff, while also developing new is expensive and out of the reach graduate talent and networks with of many SMEs. They could access leading national and international all the facilities separately, but this media companies. brings together the facilities and You also have the opportunity to access the render farm industry-focused research and development under one facility. A render farm is a computer cluster built to render roof. In fact, this is the only render farm facility of its type in computer-generated imagery (CGI), typically for film and Wales.’ television visual effects, using off-line batch processing. The software purchased as part of the render farm facility Contact Peter Hodges, Glamorgan University will be installed by March 2010. The aim is to provide access +44 (0)1443 668676 to rendering software to the Welsh digital media industry by [email protected] installing further commercial software licences. www.cci.glam.ac.uk

11 Issue 1 SUCCESSES SO FAR SUCCESSES SO FAR

Getting more than you bargained for

Swansea-based housing association Grŵp Gwalia Cyf, which builds and maintains sustainable, high-quality housing, required interior kitchen and bathroom tiles for its new SA1 development. The tiles had to be designed and made from recycled material and produced to stringent technical specifications, but also capable of being mass produced. At the Cutting and Fabrication Technology Centre (CFTC) at Swansea Metropolitan University (SMU), senior research associate Dr Tyra Oseng was researching the production and application of a new material made from 100% recycled bottle glass. Applying this research to tile development in an per second to research impact damage such as stone chips R&D collaboration with Grŵp Gwalia demonstrates how a on windscreens. university’s latest thinking can easily be put into industrial The centre’s networks also came in useful for this practice. project – the tiles The state-of-the-art material developed by the CFTC were produced with differs from other similar products because of its production the help of glass process. ‘It uses less energy than conventional hot glass designer and SMU recycling,’ explains Dr Oseng. research fellow, Technical specifications from the architects also required Rodney Bender, strength and stability testing of the recycled glass material. at his company This was able to be done at the CFTC using its specialist Innovative Glass non-destructive testing (NDT) facilities. SMU is the only Products Ltd. university in the UK Following installation which specialises in in a show apartment, Our research helped Grŵp architectural glass. Grŵp Gwalia expressed Gwalia find a product that NDT equipment can its interest in using the ticked all the right boxes for be used to test any tiles in other housing, materials (metals, and Dr Oseng was its sustainability agenda. composites, recommissioned to It was made from 100% glass, polymers) produce more tiles at a recyclable glass, strong, for flaws and later stage. aesthetically pleasing and residual stresses. able to be mass produced. The centre Such a product would uses dedicated In brief be difficult to find in a equipment, such Business Grŵp Gwalia Cyf, www.gwalia.com University Swansea Metropolitan University, www.smu.ac.uk commercial environment. as its high-speed Dr Tyra Oseng Industry Materials/applied design and engineering Cutting and Fabrication digital video camera Technology Cutting and fabrication, non-destructive testing Technology Centre which can take up Duration 7-month Knowledge Transfer Partnership to 109,000 frames Key result areas Launch of new sustainable product range

Extracting knowledge: as easy as abc 12 SUCCESSES SO FAR SUCCESSES SO FAR

What can barcodes do for your business?

Teddington Engineered Solutions (TES) Ltd, based in Llanelli, may be included to have accurate, timely and integrated , designs and manufactures bespoke bellows information flows,’ Richard explains. This can result in short and expansion joints for piping systems. Teddington wishes payback periods and a good return on investment. The to do what every business changes may have future desires: increase efficiency to benefits too; it has prepared improve competitiveness and Relatively simple technology such as bar codes the ground for the use of market penetration. can help to identify objects and people, and the other technologies such as Because of the bespoke speed and accuracy of data capture allows us to radio frequency identification. nature of the market, each For the company, the have better visibility of the organisation. order enquiry requires Richard Thomas, Director benefits extended beyond a complex design and Teddington Engineered Solutions Ltd shortening the time to prepare estimating stage before a a quote, such as greater quote can be prepared. visibility of the shop floor, Streamlining this pre-quote allowing supervisory staff to process to derive accurate cost estimation in a reduced time make scheduling decisions based on accurate information. is critical to obtaining order information and knowing that Furthermore, Richard strongly believes that bringing jobs will be profitable. the university on board was more beneficial than using Richard Thomas, director of TES, met the commercial an industry business consultant. ‘Whilst “conventional” services of Glamorgan University business consultants could via a networking meeting, certainly have had an input to the beginning a relationship which led change required,’ he explains, to a two-year Knowledge Transfer ‘it is unlikely that this degree Partnership (KTP) between the of assistance could have been company and the Automatic provided, and certainly not at an Identification and Data Capture economic rate.’ (AIDC) Centre for Wales at the The AIDC Centre for Wales University of Glamorgan. Key to provides consultancy to identify this is the full-time involvement of a problems and propose solutions proficient graduate, backed up by associated with the identification academic help on a regular basis. of documents, parts and people, Barcoding is the simplest of a range of enabling together with the data collection and subsequent IT technologies for automatic identification and data capture. It processing required. is not a new or sophisticated technology, but its applications Manager of the centre, Hywel Williams, says it is not just can bring powerful benefits to businesses. As Richard says, barcodes that are involved. ‘Other technologies include ‘The payback came as a result of the effective combination two-dimensional codes, active and passive radio frequency and use of the technologies.’ identification, and various biometric techniques, some or all The university suggested a range of potential solutions, of which can find applications in almost any business.’ but the problem solving was very much a two-way process: many of the generalities were often the result of input from the KTP associate or the supervising academic, whilst In brief the specifics were the result of ‘local’ knowledge. The Business Teddington Engineered Solutions Ltd, www.tes.uk.com partnership is also beneficial to the academic institution, University University of Glamorgan, www.aidcwales.org providing as it does ‘real world’ examples and experience. Industry Manufacturing Technology Data capture Implementing the barcode technology suggested by the Duration 2-year Knowledge Transfer Partnership AIDC Centre allows better visibility of work in progress and Key result areas Reduced enquiry to quote time, better visibility of work inventory. ‘Eventually other members of the supply chain in progress

13 Issue 1 SUCCESSES SO FAR BACKCHAT

Local solutions to global problems

Semantise Ltd is a communications technology developments. ‘With and data management software our work with Semantise and company that helps organisations SALT in general, we’ve been improve teaching and learning. looking at how developing It has developed osisreport, a bilingual software for Wales helps reporting and assessment software us develop multilingual software product for schools. However, a for a global market,’ explains lack of proofing Delyth Prys, head of the LTU at tools proved a barrier to entering Bangor. ‘We find that working this market within Wales, as many with local companies helps us to schools were required to produce concentrate on relevant issues to reports in both English and Welsh. the local economy.’ Semantise enlisted the help For Semantise, the of the Language Technologies collaboration with SALT and the Unit (LTU) at Bangor University to development of osisadrodd integrate Welsh language proofing has opened up opportunities tools with its specialist software. to support schools in Wales. The LTU is the co-ordinator of This project, together with a special interest group in the the continued input of LTU’s field of speech and language expertise, will allow the software technologies, SALT Cymru, which to be offered to schools, further was established in 2008. reducing costs. ‘We received a ‘It was easy to approach the second project grant to take the university as we had good contacts proof of concept to a market- already through previous projects,’ ready solution,’ says Semantise’s says Semantise director Oggy East. ‘Discussions identified Oggy. ‘The project also allowed us to establish contact with a mechanism whereby its multilingual language proofing local schools’ ICT provisioning service.’ software could be integrated to create “osisadrodd” and to There are also beneficial effects on other areas of the provide Welsh language proofing.’ business. ‘The technical skills used in the project are being An associate, adopted to extend the range of software we can offer,’ David Chan, was explains Oggy. ‘In the long term, the technology allows We’d love it if more employed on for other language combinations, which, as well as being companies approached the project. He attractive internationally, will prove valuable in supporting us with their multilingual created a bilingual a range of language requirements of parents. There is software needs – it’s reporting system, great scope for increased sales of the software to schools good to be able to provide incorporating in Wales and schools in and beyond the UK that require local solutions to global proofing tools multilingual student reports – the LTU’s expertise has problems. to support the opened up a potentially huge market for us.’ Delyth Prys production of Language Technologies Unit bilingual reports, In brief Bangor University opening the way for Business Semantise Ltd, www.semantise.com further multilingual University Bangor University, www.saltcymru.org development. Industry Information technology/communications Technology Language software Semantise is one of many companies that SALT has Duration 3-month short Knowledge Transfer Partnership already helped. SALT devises new projects designed to help Key result areas Development of new product, increased market the Welsh language move to the forefront of multimedia opportunities

Extracting knowledge: as easy as abc 14 SUCCESSES SO FAR BACKCHAT Finding the right fit for your business Norman Cox, project manager, provides an overview of the newly established Textile Technologies project

Tell us the basics Based at Coleg Sir Gar in West Wales, we began in September 2009 and will run for three years. Our aim is to transfer knowledge from academia into business across a broad range of manufacturers involved in almost any kind of textile use in Wales.

What expertise do you have? A wide range – we can collaborate with clothing, footwear, furniture and engineering companies that cut, sew and join fabrics to make different types of products.

and engraving, water jet cutting, digital fabric printing and digital embroidery.

What can you offer businesses? Computer-aided design (CAD) facilities, manufacturing, laser joining technologies and prototyping in the apparel, textile and technical textile sectors. What sort of companies have benefited so far? Companies enrolled on the project so far come from a What technologies do you have available? range of industries. They include makers of leather goods, We have the advantage of very powerful software. We have upholstered furniture, inflatables, rescue equipment and also a state-of-the-art Gerber CAD system for the creation and those involved in defence and aerospace. manipulation of flat pattern pieces, to optimise fabric usage to make cutting easier while reducing wastage. We also Any unique projects on the go? have available a Texwel Pro 140 joining machine that can We are helping a company to develop a belt and buckle for join fabrics using laser and ultrasound technology. This will Carl Hester, the British entrant for Olympics 2012 Dressage. be used to test fabrics in R&D collaborative projects with He is the current national champion, so there should be participating companies. great interest in this product throughout the equestrian community. Do you have links to other services? Swansea Metropolitan University’s Creative Industries Contact Norman Cox, Coleg Sir Gar Research and Innovation Centre (CIRIC) is a partner on this +44 (0)1554 748238 [email protected] project and has complementary high-tech equipment for use www.colegsirgar.ac.uk in a variety of textile applications. This includes laser cutting

15 Issue 1 streamline innovation process improvement strategy supply chain management informed thinking improved planning better access to markets prototyping research and development resource optimisation new products collaboration specialist equipment expert knowledge sustainability competitiveness knowledge transfer breaking barriers fresh thinking cross- fertilisation success new services superior technology streamline innovation process improvement strategy supply chain management informed thinking improved planning better access to markets prototyping research and development resource optimisation new products collaboration specialist equipment expert knowledge sustainability competitiveness knowledge transfer breaking barriers fresh thinking

For further information on how the Welsh Assembly Government can help you and how to access universities and colleges contact: Flexible Support for Business www.fs4b.wales.gov.uk Tel 03000 6 03000 Distributed with Advances Wales, issue 62, winter 2009