Company background
Cracker Utility Solutions operate in the science, technology and engineering sector. Their main product is the newly developed ‘Cracker’ which is a simple, yet effective tool used to break the seal on manhole covers with minimum effort and time.
The company wanted to take their newly developed product to trade shows and demonstrate its operation but they needed support to develop a Virtual Reality based simulation, bespoke to their new product.
In order to overcome this issue, Cracker Utility Solutions, made contact with North West Regional College (NWRC) Business Support Centre (BSC) who supported them through the InnovateUs programme which is funded by the Department for the Economy.
This provided 60 hours of 1:1 mentoring support from NWRC Creative and Digital Media Consultant, Aaron McKeever, who provided upskilling in VR technologies, VR headsets, VR recording equipment, how to optimise VR content for various outputs, how to place custom built animations and motion graphics in a VR environment.
On completion of the project, the company successfully developed a Virtual Reality based simulation, bespoke to their new utility product which they hope to exhibit at trade shows and conferences.
John Friel, Company Director of Cracker Utility Solutions, described the benefits of working with NWRC’s Business Support Centre via the InnovateUs programme: “I found Aaron to be extremely prompt and professional both at the shooting and also in his technical follow-up. At all times, his manner was extremely polite and courteous. The upskilling was indeed extremely useful.’’
