The PEM Technology Gateway at IT Sligo was recently successful in attaining capital equipment funding from Enterprise Ireland to purchase a new high capacity universal tensile testing machine which will hugely benefit Irish Industries.
The device will enable companies to test the strength of multiple materials.
Currently there is no commercial testing facility in Ireland that offers tensile testing services in the 400-600kN range and several companies that previously came to the PEM Gateway requiring this service have been forced to outsource to the US.
The high capacity universal tensile testing machine will be capable of performing tensile and compression testing, as well as shear, flexure, peel, tear, cyclic and bend tests. The addition of this equipment to the PEM Gateway provides a unique service offering to enable Ireland’s heavy industry in specialist areas, such as:
- Construction equipment
- Heavy equipment
- Automotive & Aerospace
- Agricultural machinery
Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys TD announced the successful applicants of the Capital Equipment Fund administered by Enterprise Ireland through the Technology Gateway Network Programme.
The winners were selected through a rigorous evaluation process based on eligibility criteria for the call which included, but was not limited to, a strong track record of industry engagement, a significant industrial need for the new equipment, and space to service and maintain the equipment according to international standards.
Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys TD said: “Our aim is to build on our strong enterprise ecosystem from across the wide spectrum of academia, research and business communities. This fund directly supports projects that are emerging from the ground up. The successful applicants announced today are housing research projects and initiatives that are at the cutting edge of innovation and I am confident that they have the potential to make a real and lasting impact on enterprise development at both a regional and national level.”
Finola Howe, PEM Technology Gateway Manager said the equipment will help a range of companies, nationally both from a manufacturing and product development perspective in their research;
“We are delighted to have received this funding, our role in the PEM Technology Gateway is to provide solutions to manufacturing industry problems and this equipment will enable us to provide a unique service to the Irish Heavy Industry sector, we look forward to supporting a broad range of companies by providing this new service nationally.”
The Technology Gateway Network Programme funds interactions between local and national industry and the Institutes of Technology and aims to increase the levels of interaction between the IoTs and industry in Ireland. The intended outcomes of the Programme include; more companies engaging in R&D, pilot manufacturing capability for new product/process development, enhanced technology validation and testing capabilities, testbed generation and enhanced training potential for key industry staff on emerging technologies. The €6million fund will assist in buying capital that relates to new technologies such as augmented and virtual reality.
Speaking about the announcement Mark Whelan, Technology Gateway Programme Manager at Enterprise Ireland said “This funding allows our Technology Gateway the opportunity to purchase new technologies in areas such as augmented and virtual reality, mobile robotics and moulding. Successful applicants have a proven track record in industry engagement and the new equipment will assist in increasing their interaction with industry and add value to the SME sector in Ireland.”
For more information about the testing device visit www.pemcentre.ie or email pemgateway@nullitsligo.ie.