Engineering firm become heavy lifters with help from NWRC BSC team

By Aoife Curran

A local engineering company has developed an innovative new lifting device with help from North West Regional College’s (NWRC) Business Support Centre (BSC)

Globaltec NI, based in Derry~Londonderry, sought help from NWRC BSC to create a unique lifting device (A-frame) which can lift 2000kg (2 tonnes) and fit through doorways as small as 600mm (2ft),  as most lifting devices are unable to get through doorways less than 1500mm (5ft).

The unique device was developed with support from NWRC’s Product Design Centre who provided 60 hours of one to one mentoring and training to the company through the Department for the Economy’s Innovate Us programme.

NWRC Product Design Centre Manager, Philip Devlin explained: ‘The support and mentoring involved training on Solidworks, beginning with basic shapes and parts, creating assemblies, mates, progressing to skills in design for manufacture (DFM) and assembly.

‘’We also assisted Globaltec NI to successfully apply for an Invest NI innovation voucher which allowed the progression to a full-scale manufactured prototype of the new A-frame.’’

Dr Fergal Tuffy, Technology Innovation Manager at NWRC’s BSC said: “This project exemplifies the engineering support that is available at NWRC and the benefit that it can be to a local business like Globaltec NI.  They had an idea for a new product and we were able to leverage InnovateUs funding from the Department for the Economy to give them the skills to develop this new product.

‘’We also accessed an Invest NI Innovation Voucher to develop a manufactured prototype product that they have been able to bring to the market and sell. I’d like to wish Globaltec NI well with this product and hopefully we’ll continue to partner with them in the future.

‘’This shows the skills and expertise that exists at the NWRC. We work with businesses across the areas of engineering and product design, ICT and Creative and Digital Media and Food and Drink product development and I’d encourage anyone who has an idea to contact the BSC and see if we can help make your idea a reality.”

David McGarrigle, Managing Director, Globaltec NI said: ‘’The support from NWRC has been great to help us make our ideas a reality. At the outset we had an idea and knew what we wanted to do but didn’t know how to do it. The NWRC assisted us to get the funding and then gave us skills training in 3D CAD and development of the new A-frame.

‘’They then worked with us to get the prototype manufactured and we have gone on to sell the product which is great. The support from the College has been excellent and I’d encourage more businesses to engage with the NWRC’s Business Support Centre and avail of their help.’’

For more information about NWRC’s Business Support Centre visit https://bsc.nwrc.ac.uk or call 02871276170