Member Article

Derbyshire businesses first to benefit from Enscite technology fund

Three Derbyshire businesses operating in the UK transport engineering supply chain are amongst the first SMEs to be awarded funding by Enscite.

Bowler Motorsport in Belper, SDC in Alfreton, and new company Pentaxia Research has each been awarded investment from Enscite’s £1m Technology Fund, which will support their growth and development in a diversity of ways.

Enscite provides a range of support to growth-focused SMEs operating within or wanting to access the aerospace, automotive and rail sectors.

Recognised as the market leader in the production of high performance all-terrain vehicles, Bowler is continually looking at how engineering design can improve the performance of their vehicles. To help them in this, Enscite is providing capital funding to support the purchase of next generation CAD and MRP software and will work with Bowler on ensuring that the company has the right skill base to make the most of this new investment.

In addition, Enscite is funding research into a new market opportunity and supporting brand development by investing in the acquisition of new camera technology for capturing Bowler’s vehicles in action, the editing of which is being carried out by videography students from the University of Derby, one of Enscite’s delivery partners.

The Seat Design Company specialises in the design, prototyping and production of seating.

Founded in 2003 and with its roots in the automotive sector, SDC has been successful in applying many of the tools and techniques to other market sectors such as military, medical and rail. With a client base including Bentley, Nissan, Aston Martin, Rolls Royce and BAE Systems, SDC employs thirty staff and has an annual turnover in excess of £2 million.

In order to build on its unique offering spanning concept design, development, and manufacture, SDC identified the addition of a CNC foam cutting machine which would double capacity. Enscite has provided the funding to purchase the second-hand machine SDC has located, which has the larger dimensional bed it was looking for and allows cutting of larger foams. The machine also enables the development of a lightweight seat which will meet the needs of low volume vehicle manufacturers.

Pentaxia Research is a new business based in Derby, specialising in the microwave curing of composites. Traditional techniques require the use of a large oven and careful monitoring of temperature, but using microwave technology uses significantly less energy and reduces the processing time from six hours to less than sixty minutes. Enscite will provide support to Pentaxia to help the company protect its intellectual property and purchase equipment to further develop the technology. Enscite will also assist Pentaxia to develop partnerships with experts in Enscite’s partner Universities to further exploit the technology.

“Enscite’s main aim is to help manufacturing businesses to grow and thrive,” explains Enscite MD Colin McKinnon (pictured). “It offers a range of support services to SMEs, including access to a £1m Technology Fund to help firms invest in new cutting edge equipment and specialist resources, and each of these Derbyshire-based businesses typify the kind of innovation Enscite’s fund exists to support.”

Enscite is a unique organisation, committed to becoming the UK’s leading national centre for supply chain innovation in the transport engineering sector, and to improving the performance of supply chain companies in the transport engineering sector. A collaboration between Derby City Council, The University of Derby, Aston University, and Cranfield University, it offers a range of support services to SMEs operating within or wanting to access the aerospace, automotive and rail sectors.

Enscite has its official launch in Derby on the 10th April. For more information: Tel: 01332 593551, web: www.enscite.co.uk, Twitter: @EnsciteUK

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Enscite .