© R53 Engineering. Roger Estrada, CEO of R53 Engineering, speaking at an event during the GBIP visit to Canada, with Gordon Jolly, Industrial Technology Adviser - National Research Council Canada (left).
A Warwickshire engineering firm has joined forces with a Canadian company to develop a novel additive manufacturing process after being introduced by Enterprise Europe Network through the Global Business Innovation Programme (GBIP).
The tie-up between R53 Engineering and Winnipeg-based Precision ADM arose from a GBIP visit to Canada in April 2018 organised by EEN.
R53 Engineering has now secured £129,000 from the EUREKA programme to pursue its collaborative project with Precision ADM, partnering with researchers from the Warwick Manufacturing Group at Warwick University. Total project costs are £530,000.
That funding has created an extra job at R53 Engineering's premises in Warwick and safeguarded two more, raising staff numbers to six. The company has also benefited from an IP audit through EEN and the Intellectual Property Office and is planning to join the innovate2succeed programme.
The project partners’ aim is to develop metal additive manufacturing processes and materials to produce lightweight shock absorbers and hydraulic actuators for the motorsport, aerospace and medical sectors. Eventually, they hope to supply in larger volumes to automotive suppliers.
International funding opportunities
After successfully applying to join the GBIP programme, R53 Engineering attended a pre-visit workshop organised by EEN. It included modules on the technology landscape, protecting IP, developing a value proposition, pitching and international funding opportunities.
It was during the visit that discussions began with Precision ADM. The Winnipeg company operates globally in providing engineering and manufacturing solutions through the additive process.
R53 Engineering applied for EUREKA funding in May 2019.
EUREKA supports international projects led by SMEs involved in innovation through research and development. EEN advisers can offer support through its partnering database and the i2s programme to those firms looking to form collaborations for EUREKA projects.
R53 Engineering CEO Roger Estrada said: “EEN support has been instrumental for R53 to access new partners in Canada. The UK-Canada trip was extremely well organised, with high calibre delegates from the UK and Canada.”
