The Innovation Network Award for early stage collaboration can result from many types of interaction between business and the University. Long-term relationships are often founded on training projects, graduate placements or academic staff consultancy.
The 2005 Innovation Network Award is awarded to Ledwood Mechanical Engineering Ltd, which has been working with Cardiff University’s Centre for Research in Energy, Waste and Environment (CREWE), a WDA accredited national Centre of Excellence.
Ledwood Mechanical Engineering serves many sectors, from petroleum to pharmaceutical, and is a major independent mechanical construction company. This collaboration with Cardiff University centred on the operation of low motion marine buoys. Developing a sustainable energy source to provide the necessary power load combined with the need for highly secure supply along with minimal impact on the motion characteristics of the buoy, provided a considerable challenge.
Dr Mark Spratt, together with colleagues, Steve Morris and Allan Mason-Jones of CREWE, provided a bespoke solution which, in addition to improving the product’s market potential, has also allowed for a broad market to be developed for the company.
The project has developed highly successfully through a multi-collaborative approach involving Pembrokeshire College, Cardiff University, Ledwood and another SME, Sustainable Energy Ltd, with funding support from the WDA's Knowledge Exploitation Fund
Webpage links:
Ledwood Mechanical Engineering
Centre for Research in Energy, Waste and the Environment (CREWE)Edwards Geldard
Pembrokeshire College