Gallagher & McKinney Ltd and NWRC hunt for design engineer for KTP project

By Aoife Curran

North West Regional College (NWRC) and local firm Gallagher & McKinney (GMck) are searching for a new Design Engineer to develop and implement a new Digital Fabrication Process at the company’s premises at the Skeoge Industrial Estate.

The team from the college’s Business Support Centre (BSC) are working with GMcK as part of a new Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) funded by InnovateUK and Invest NI.

This 2-year project, worth over £150k, aims to develop and implement a new Digital Fabrication Process (D-FAB) for GMcK using BIM and 3D CAD technologies.

The project funding was unlocked with the support of the Connected programme which provided funding for NWRC to scope the business and market needs and collaborate with Gallagher & McKinney Ltd to develop a business case and funding application which has now been successful. The NWRC – Gallagher & McKinney Ltd collaboration is now looking to recruit a Design Engineer based at the Gallagher & McKinney Ltd in Skeoge Industrial Estate, to support the company and academic partnership to deliver this innovation project.

Dr Fergal Tuffy, Technology Innovation Manager at NWRC’s Business Support Centre said: “Gallagher & McKinney Ltd has been operational for over 40 years and are leaders in the manufacture and installation of piping systems and steel fabrication industry. Philip Devlin and our Product Design Centre connected with Gallagher & McKinney Ltd who mentioned that they wished to develop a revolutionary new and innovative D-FAB process, combining 3D CAD, BIM and Virtual Reality. Following an application to InnovateUK’s KTP programme and support from Stephen McComb, one of the KTP advisors in Northern Ireland, the project was successful in being funded and we are now progressing to recruit a Design Engineer to lead the project.”

Fergal added: ‘’Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) are the UK’s leading programme helping businesses to improve their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills that reside within the UK knowledge base. It also enables businesses to access highly qualified people to spearhead new projects and experts to take their business forward with innovative solutions to help them business grow, and the Gallagher & McKinney Ltd is a prime example of this.”

Kevin Robinson, General Manager, Gallagher & McKinney Ltd said the development of the D-FAB system, will innovatively design, demonstrate and deliver technical solutions in a very customer centric way.

He added: “In addition, it will significantly streamline our internal processes, support improvements in our procurement and tendering capabilities whilst reducing our carbon footprint. A big thank you to our partners at NWRC, we’re delighted the funding has been secured and we look forward to continuing this mutually beneficial relationship.’’

Details of the KTP Design Engineer role can be seen via the Get Got Jobs website on https://nwrc.getgotjobs.co.uk/registerJob/5a5532fa-5026-4fe3-a78f-a91b75503b2a (applications close on October 18) and for further details on how the BSC can help your business contact the NWRC BSC on businesssupport@nwrc.ac.uk or visit https://bsc.nwrc.ac.uk/

A group of men and a woman sitting around a table at a business meeting. — (L-R) Philip Devlin, NWRC Product Design Centre Manager pictured with Seamus Mellon, Gallagher & McKinney Managing Director, Stephen McComb, Knowledge Transfer Partnership Adviser for Northern Ireland, Kevin Robinson, Gallagher & McKinney General Manager, Mark Duffy, NWRC Renewable Energy Lecturer and Catherine O’Donnell, NWRC Technology & Innovation Administrator, at the launch of the project.