Collaborations
Through training, consultancy and research we are pleased to have worked with many organisations, including for example; Nissan, Jaguar Landrover, Triumph Motorcycles, the Sussex Pump Cluster, John Lewis, Mars UK, Tri Vista, Matmos, PDD, Fire Fly, Smiths Medical, SKK Lighting, SEOS displays, Cadventure, Johnstone Sweepers, Atco Qualcast, Stewart Plastics, Paxton Access, Eurotherm, Powerslide, Lego, Matmos, Suck UK, Nokia, Constables Mobility,
Case Study 1. Collaborative Research
The Centre pooled expertise from product design, furniture design, materials science and environmental sciences to provide a Life Cycle Analysis service to five of the country’s leading furniture companies on behalf of the British Furniture Manufacturers Association. The project environmentally benchmarked a range of furniture products using Life Cycle Analysis, and then identified the design changes needed to significantly reduce their environmental impact. Companies hence obtained product specific design advice but also the expertise to develop their own benchmarking capabilities.
Case Study 2. Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP)
KTP schemes place top class graduates into business to work on strategic projects for a minimum of two years. The scheme is part funded by the government and administered by the university. For Felcon Goldsworth Ltd, the company was able to develop a new medical trolley aimed at combating superbugs and at capitalising on operational changes taking place within the medical industry. The trolley also represented a strategic move for the company away from its traditional bespoke designs and into mass produced products. The university has continued to work with the company by providing highly educated graduate staff.
Case Study 3. Consultancy
A consultancy project with Sutebrow LLP included parametric solid and surface modelling of shoulder implant designs along with alignment and implant jigs. 3D printed prototyping of components was also carried out along with structural finite element modelling and analysis of tolerances and alignment for 316 stainless steel and cobalt chrome materials. A consulting project with Plastipack included 3D printed prototypes of novel thermal bubble designs, as well as 2D technical drawings and 3D models of Geobubble protective cover designs. The university relation has continued through the take up of a KTP scheme developing thermally restrictive materials for reservoirs.
Case Study 4. Partnership Working
The element of partnership working is highly valued and continuing theme in our work with industry. University expertise in product design and fashion textiles combined through a KTP scheme to work with sports product manufacturer Gray Níchols where a technology rich garment design procedure was successfully integrated into their renowned sports range. The programme included student design competitions and sponsored final year student projects. The outcomes exceeded expectations with the financial benefits arriving more than 2 years before they were originally anticipated. A similar relationship has been built up with GBE Electronics Ltd, through KTPs and project work. The task has been to help the company become compliant with the Medical Device Directive, and to enable new and lucrative markets. The first product is an exploitation of a University patent in diabetic testing, with interesting future possibilities both commercially and technically.
