Foreword from Richard Gregory OBE
Chair of Yorkshire Science

Welcome to the second edition of the Yorkshire Science e-zine. Yorkshire Science is an independent advisory council set up and funded by Yorkshire Forward. Our primary role is to develop a long term innovation strategy for the region that will advise Yorkshire Forward where best to direct future funding to support a knowledge-based economy for Yorkshire and the Humber.

We are pleased to report that the first phase of this has been completed. Our draft strategy document was sent out to local and national government organisations, key business leaders, associations and academic centres for consultation.

Yorkshire Science is very pleased with the volume and quality of the responses received, delighted that there was an overwhelming endorsement for the strategy, and grateful for the detailed comment and feedback much of which has now been written into the revised strategy. We would like to thank everyone who contributed to the consultation.

The strategy has now been endorsed by the Yorkshire Science Council and we are on target to present this to the Board of Yorkshire Forward in November for approval.

For Yorkshire Science, innovation is key to creating a strong, vital and sustainable economy for the region. In this issue, we are pleased to feature examples of companies that have successfully embraced a culture of innovation in the workplace. Both Sound Leisure and Gripple are great advocates of best practice and continuous improvement. Schemes such as the Inside Industry programme give other businesses a chance to see first hand, how innovation in practice can help to deliver creative and sustainable businesses.

I hope that you find our second issue interesting and that we can help to sow the seeds of innovation by creating the right environment and culture for research, universities, businesses and entrepreneurs to thrive.

Yorkshire Science Members

Outline Regional Innovation strategy

The role of Yorkshire Science is to develop an innovation strategy for the Yorkshire and Humber region, and to identify and suggest ways to implement and deliver the strategy with partners and stakeholders.

The document has recently returned from consultation and is in the process of amendment following some of the suggestions received. The strategy identifies a need for more businesses in the region to be driven by innovation and knowledge, to be competitive in the global market place.

The region has to embrace a radical strategy to encourage and stimulate enterprise in an environment where innovation is the norm and can flourish and evolve with ease. To realise these high aspirations, the strategy identifies four main pillars of activity, Innovation support, Incubation and technology parks, European engagement and Pan Northern activity

Innovation Support should concentrate on creativity, design and exploitation of ideas. Encouraging and supporting businesses to be more creative in finding solutions to challenges and opportunities for growth. Businesses should be encouraged to collaborate with other businesses and to access knowledge, facilities and research from the region’s successful universities.

Creativity Mentors would be established with the role of encouraging businesses to use creative thinking to underpin growth. Ideas Translators would transform an idea into a design model and act as mentors between the ideas generators and the ideas translators and intermediary between the generators and those who own the knowledge (e.g. universities). We know that this works as the concept is already in practice through partnerships with Business Link, Knowledge Transfer Networks, CICs and KnowledgeRICH.

Incubation and Technology Park Provision

For innovation to flourish, it has to have the right climate so alongside the creative support, the right place also has to be in position. The provision of innovation zones for business start ups, and technology parks for accelerated growth of companies in the region is necessary.

Innovation zones would comprise of Innovation Houses that provide an open shop front where anyone with a high-tech idea can find expert advice from mentors and translators.

Incubation Centres, concentrate on the front of house business and financial support for incubation and start up and would be positioned close to universities and other research centres and medium to large businesses.

Technology Parks would develop to support businesses moving up from incubation. Parks would have embedded technology areas and associated scientific excellence and expertise within the hub forming the basis of a strong cluster.

These centres of scientific and technological expertise would act as a magnet for the establishment of international joint ventures between the private sector and the regional universities. In turn this would help to attract medium/large corporate R&D facilities to the region, world leading academics and ensure that the region is a strong contender in the future location of large-scale science facilities with the ability to secure joint ventures with international companies

European Engagement

This has a strong emphasis upon collaboration and the process has already begun. We work with European partners to share examples of best practice and to attract major funding opportunities through cooperative research. The draft strategy proposes stronger collaboration with Europe for Framework Programmes (FP7) sharing ideas, people and capacity.

The strategy document promotes closer working with Europe to combine talents to attract more funding and to foster competitiveness of enterprises, particularly for SMEs. Joint working should speed up the process of encouraging innovation and assist the nurturing of sustainable competitive businesses across the continent.

Allied and intelligent use of Structural Funds would have a notable impact on the strategic elements of innovation support and incubation and technology park provision. These funds could be used to leverage considerable finance from, for example, the Regional Development Agency, the European Investment Bank, and private investment.

Pan Northern regional activity

Yorkshire Science is leading the Horizon Scanning exercise in collaboration with North West Development Agency and One North East. The process involves investigating future joint opportunities for development, leading the northern regions as part of the northern way, to develop a strong programme of strategic activity.

Part of this strategic activity identifies a potential Technology Park that combines the research talents, resources and knowledge of all three regions, linking Manchester and Yorkshire and would form the basis of an M62 innovation corridor.
We shall continue to track the progress of the Outline Regional Innovation Strategy in future editions of the e-zine.

Horizon Scanning Activity

On 20th October 2006, the National Museum of Film Photography and Television, Bradford, played host to a Horizon Scanning event led by Yorkshire Science.

Member delegates from The Science & Industry Council (North East of England), North West Science and Yorkshire Science are working together to find ways to join forces to stimulate a positive culture to drive the economic development of the northern regions. The Science councils are working together to identify potential barriers and opportunities to stimulate innovation in the public and private sector in the future and beyond.

The joint science councils were looking at ways to influence the UK Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review and regional Corporate Plans to move towards removing potential barriers that may stand in the way of strong, cross-regional activities. The event at the museum was an opportunity for delegates to get together to identify potential pan-Northern initiatives where the three northern regions can combine their science, technology and innovation strengths.

Using collaborative strengths the three northern science councils will work together to find ways to create critical mass, synergy, and added-value between scientific excellence and innovative companies. Shared logistics, knowledge, research and development capabilities and facilities, skills and combined businesses would give the north of England a greater opportunity to punch its combined weight in the area of innovation and the knowledge driven economy.

Dr Trevor Gregory, the Director of Yorkshire Science and leader of the pan-Northern horizon scanning exercise, said:

“Horizon scanning is not about predicting the future – rather, it is about exploring ranges of possible futures to challenge and inform strategy. We shall be working with the North East and North West Science Councils to ensure that opportunities are extracted from our collective knowledge through innovation.

“By working in close partnership, we can strengthen our offering and remove unnecessary duplication. We can work towards improving the GDP of the North, and play a vital role within the continued development of the Northern Way.

“This unified approach also allows us to broaden our horizons; we can exchange ideas and best practice, and share good and bad experiences.”

Jim Farmery, Head of Innovation at Yorkshire Forward comments;
“Yorkshire Forward is committed to making sound interventions based on solid research and knowledge.

“The Horizon Scanning exercise provides us with an excellent opportunity to work in collaboration with the other northern regions to inform the direction of innovation strategy in Yorkshire and Humber, and ensure our actions are addressing real needs, opportunities and challenges within the region.

YFM & MAS Inside Industry Site Visits unlock the Key to Innovation

For Yorkshire Science innovation is a key theme for competitive sustainability in business. Innovation is not just confined to new products, it can also be new processes and management techniques. Education through example is a great way for businesses to witness and take on board best practice.

Inside Industry, a DTI initiative managed by YFM and MAS and funded by Yorkshire Forward, is one such scheme. An ongoing series of site visits take place throughout the year. A wide range of leading manufacturers are involved across a broad spectrum of industries, offering a behind the scenes look into some of Yorkshire’s prominent manufacturing successes. Participants are able to share best practice in production, process and management and gain an understanding of what these companies do to stay ahead of the game.

Peter Faccanda, Regional Manager of YFM recommends businesses to take part in Inside Industry events either as a potential site host, or as a visitor, he said:

“The feedback we get from manufacturers following a visit is always very positive. They are able to see first hand, elements of best practice and innovation throughout the production process and this experience is invaluable to transfer into their own workplace. It’s also a very valuable networking opportunity and we frequently see business relationships forming between companies that have met at one of the Inside Industry events.”

Spaces are limited, and very popular so it is advisable to book places in advance. The remaining schedule for 2006 is below. More information about Inside Industry is available from visiting the website at www.insideindustry.co.uk or calling 0870 125 3311

Sound Leisure

has been family owned and run for over 30 years, employing over 130 people in two sites across Leeds and Nottingham. Sound Leisure began as a service agent for vinyl jukebox manufacturers, and began its own in-house production in the mid 1970s, progressing to CD, DVD and now digital pc based jukeboxes.

Due to its diverse product portfolio, and application of innovation on a continual basis through its products, processes, and management techniques, Sound Leisure was the inaugural host for the first Inside Industry event. Partner Mike Black explains:

“The majority of the manufacturing takes place in Leeds and our R&D work which is the computer hardware, software, design and build of our own profile and interface boards, takes place in Nottingham.

“As we have our own in-house facilities we found it easy to adapt to our technologies to include digital juke boxes, and now the company has split again to form Sound Leisure Retail. This puts the benefits of the technologies we have already learned into new retail environments, such as touch screen displays, and sound and video. For instance, we have the technology placed in shop windows so that even when they are closed, customers can access the touch screen information displays.

Sound Leisure also manufactures reproductions of the classic 40s and 50s bubbler machines that are mainly bought by individuals for their homes. Third parties are using some of the R&D technology, such as a potential classic jukebox that houses an Apple i-pod, and the company is constantly looking for new markets.

Chris Black organised the Inside Industry site visit to Sound Leisure, he said:

“We were used as a good example of manufacturers of a diverse product range. As a company we have a wide spread of products that covers a varied market from pubs and clubs with the jukeboxes, to high tech retail with the touch screen technology.

“Delegates really enjoyed the visit as they were able to see a plank of wood coming in at one end of the factory with a full blown juke box appearing at the other end”.

“Sound Leisure is a good case study of how we are using the same style technology in many different fields and people could see how, with just a slight adjustment to the production line, we have new products that take us into an entirely new market place.

“This is exactly what we have done with the retail element of the business; we applied many of our existing technologies and knowledge but applied them in an innovative way. We are now working with international market leaders such as Arcadia and Xscape, providing advertising material, audio/video hardware and intelligent signs.

“This is our latest development which is taking things that people are used to seeing in shops, such as signs and shelving and completely modernising them, so the contemporary sign or shelf will talk to you as you walk by. We are using traditional objects that have been around for a very long time and giving them a contemporary edge.

“I’m very pleased that we took part as a site visit for Inside Industry. The feedback was really positive and quite a few of the visitors have turned into customers. On the other side, the visit was a real confidence boost for our staff too; they got a real sense of pride at being chosen as an exemplar manufacturer and thrived on it. As a company, we are learning every day and always looking at ways to improve, if we can pass this onto other businesses in the region, then that’s even better.”

Gripple

Gripple, winner of the Manufacturer of the Year Award - 2006, is a fast growing, innovative company involved in the design, manufacture and marketing of gripple joining, tensioning and terminating products for agricultural and mechanical and electrical services. The company was formed in 1988 and has sold over 220 million units worldwide in more than 65 countries.
People empowerment has been key to Gripple’s success, and the company has won many awards over the years in recognition of its achievements. Nurturing a culture of innovation, has meant that staff absenteeism is less than 1.25% and each member of the workforce is actively engaged in the continuous improvement of their product and working environment.

The company hosted an Inside Industry event in the summer of 2006, Chris Middleton, Managing Director of Gripple and member of Yorkshire Science explains why they were involved.

“The wonderful thing about this programme is that it gives you a chance to have one to one coaching and mentoring for people wanting to take on your best practices. Unlike if you were delivering a lecture on lean techniques or something similar, you can actually show them how things have changed.

“Being on site means that you can walk and talk people through where you have made changes, how they have worked, how the culture of innovation has encouraged people to look after their own work stations, improve their own areas within the factory. A site visit lets people touch and feel the experience rather than a lecture.”

“I really enjoy giving site visits too, I know people will get far more out of them, we can see that straight away as they ask real questions. You can tell that they have real issues in their own place of work and really want to learn.”

Chris is a big fan of the Inside Industry programme and would encourage businesses to take part in site visits and discover how a culture of innovation can help companies to create a competitive edge. He says:

“It’s an excellent working vehicle for getting these messages across. There is no one way with innovation, it comes in many guises, from the sales team, or your customers. When people come along to Gripple, they can see we have open offices without any hierarchy, no structures in the way of people communicating and voicing their aspirations and ideas. It creates an environment where people can let loose their ideas, more companies should do it and we are very happy to pass back our experiences onto others.”

Yorkshire Science sponsors Innovation through Yorkshire Business Insider’s Top 100 Growth Awards

Yorkshire Science sponsored the Innovation Category of the Yorkshire Business Insider magazine’s Growth 100 Awards. The innovative capacity of companies was debated at some length by the judges. Two companies stood out in our list; first the Hesley Group, which has managed to make a successful business out of the unlikely scenario of providing education for children with special needs. But the judges felt that Sheffield-based A4e had shown true innovation by applying new business thinking to the world of training, something that was often assumed to be public sector territory only.

Yorkshire Science Council member Barry Dodd had the task, along with the other judges, of deciding upon winners from a very impressive batch of entries. He said:

“As a panel we were very impressed by the quality and high standard of entries. For Yorkshire Science a key message is innovation and I was pleased to see that, regardless of sector, innovation was a common thread running through all of the category winners.

“Both shortlisted companies had applied innovative techniques to their businesses, through products, performance and processes, often a combination of all three. We chose Action for Employment (A4e) as the Innovation category winner, because the company continually chooses to push out the boundaries and look into new techniques and new territories. We felt that it was an excellent example of the principles of innovation applied as best practice and I’m pleased we were able to recognise its achievements.”

A4e has recently taken on a large tranche of business in Israel. Receiving the award, A4e's group chief executive Mark Lovell said: “A4e’s aim is to help improve people’s lives and create positive social change. Delivering services to help give people the skills to improve their life chances and social mobility is fundamental to improving social and business communities. Over the past 20 years we have worked hard to achieve this goal and it is an honour to be recognised for this by our peers across the county.”

“We have achieved success where traditional forms of public interventions have failed. The work we do helps to benefit both the local community and the local economy and by working with a range of partners including Local Government and private companies such as HBOS we can create a positive social change.”

Based in Sheffield, A4e is an outsourcing organisation delivering training and employment services to the public and private sectors. It has grown to become one of the largest providers of employment support to the unemployed and delivers over 200 different qualifications from entry level basic skills to higher level management and development training.

R & D Close up - SPORT

Shin Splint

With gimmicks and gadgets created to help golfers improve their swing, fast bowlers gauge their speed and tennis players maximise the power of the stroke using lighter but stronger racquets, the science of sport becomes an increasingly high-tech arena.

Innovations regularly spring forth to improve the performance of participants. Inventive solutions are constantly created to extend the longevity and quality of sports facilities. Extensive R&D takes place to discover and manufacture equipment that will protect athletes and sports men and women regardless of their discipline.

One such invention, originally created in Yorkshire, is the technology behind global leaders Nike’s innovative shin-guard made from a ”self reinforced” composite material. Derek Riley, Market Development Manager of Propex Fabrics, tells us about the rise and rise of Curv.

“Curv originates back in 1989 when the Interdisciplinary Research Centre (IRC) was created by Leeds, Bradford and Durham Universities (www.polymer.irc.org). The virtual research centre, led by Professor Ian Ward FRS of the University of Leeds, specialises in polymer science and technology to further the frontiers of polymer science.

The Polymer IRC had a number of thematic research areas, one of which was damage resistance composites creating highly damage tolerant materials for a range of applications. This lead to a particular technology known as hot compaction, a technique, which takes thermo plastic fibres with high stiffness and strength, and through a combination of heat and pressure, creates tough but flexible material.

It was obvious from the start that the new material could have wide range applications from automotive to sports to aerospace. The technology was patented in late 1992 through the Knowledge Transfer office of the University of Leeds.

In order to further the technology, we created a spin out company called Vantage Polymers with the sole intention of taking the product from the lab, and processing it into commercial applications, finding routes to market and manufacturing on a large commercial scale.

In this particular guise, it was supported by the Ford Motor Company who sponsored the characterisation of the materials from 1996 until 1999 and during this time we demonstrated a hot compacted composite offering all the desirables of the automotive industry in that it was light and recyclable.

Ford is not a manufacturer of raw materials so we began discussions with BP as they were producing the fibres and fabrics we were using in the composite material. BP took an exclusive license to the technology and placed it in a German based company with an initial investment of some £10 million in capital production equipment. The large-scale manufacturing plant was up and running by May 2002.

Able to manufacture in commercial numbers meant that we could work and deliver on a global scale. One of the first major orders was with Nike to create and deliver high-end shin guards.

Nike put the material into its top of the range contour body protection equipment. Using Curv technology (part of Propex fabrics), they were able to demonstrate the highest level of impact protection against the weight ratio, equating incredible strength and protection from a surprisingly lightweight material.

Nike went into production in 2003 with the soccer shin guard, and Richard Avis, Director of Advanced R&D for Nike Soccer Equipment heralded the use of Curv technology by saying:

“Nike is a performance company. We supply performance products made with performance components. This guard is extremely light, very thin in profile, perfectly anatomical in shape and yet very rigid and strong.”

Curv technology also plays an important role in Samsonite suitcases, described as “The lightest, strongest Samsonite ever.” Samsonite’s USP is the ruggedness of its product range and the company was suitably impressed by the durability of Curv and its incredible lightness, a boon for any seasoned traveller.

The future seems very rosy for Curv as the applications for the material grow. It already forms an important part of some niche products in the automotive industry, such as the air bag, and playing an important role in the Subaru world car rally.

Sustainable and recyclable using current techniques, its flexibility, durability and pure ruggedness make Curv technology a contemporary solution. Current developments will see Curv providing a modern alternative to plywood, an important component in antiballistics in body armour and armoured cars, and as a hardwearing, and highly tolerant protection against corrosion for underwater oil and gas pipes.


Turf at the Top

It isn’t just sports professionals that need to be in peak physique to compete. Innovation and research is not restricted to equipment, technique and materials, sports surfaces are just as high-tech. The Yorkshire based Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) is the independent market leader in turf grass research and agronomy. It is the UK's national centre for consultancy in Sports & Amenity Turf and a recognised world centre for research.

STRI's consultancy team advise at over 2000 turf facilities, including golf, soccer, rugby, cricket, racing, bowling and tennis and have worked with Wimbledon since 1952 monitoring pitch wear and tear on court after every game. The STRI has played an important role in some of the UKs high profile sporting fixtures, grounds and amenities and were the specialist consultants for the City of Manchester Stadium.

The STRI headquarters has its roots in Bingley, West Yorkshire and is home to world leading specialists in turf technology. Over the last ten to fifteen years, research and development has gone into management, maintenance and construction of the pitch of a playing surface.

Whilst natural turf is the surface of choice, agronomists work closely with major sporting organizations to find innovative ways to maximize the lifespan of sports surfaces. Techniques such as turf trays allow for small areas of turf to be replaced individually instead of an entire pitch.


Moveable turf combines man-made fibers with natural grasses that help to fix the root system in place, maximizing root growth and encouraging turf regeneration for sporting disciplines from golf, to rugby to horse racing.


Current Agronomist studies are concentrating on three main areas: Root zones, looking at how different elements affect root growth beneath the surface, soil science and finally, the durability and suitability of different types of grass.


Much study has already taken place about how grass grows in a stadia environment. Due to the sheer size and scale, problems are created through restricted light and shade stopping natural warmth and compromising air circulation and the damage this can bring to turf regrowth. Advisors work with stadia and owners to find the best management and growth programme to maintain the best grass cover.


John Lockyer is the agronomist advisor for central southern England. He advises on a wide variety of work, such as golf courses, bowling greens, cricket wickets, football and rugby pitches; both natural and artificial.


“There is a movement towards and acceptance of hybrid pitches as the way forward. Natural continues to be a surface of choice for professional 25 and over teams, younger youth teams are practicing on academy pitches, which are a combination of natural and artificial surfaces. The artificial surface has moved on from its earlier incarnations when it was crude, abrasive and ball bounce was ridiculous, professional clubs had major problems with it.


“The industry has progressed into what is called third generation artificial surfaces. This is much more natural turf like and has an infill with a rubber and sand mix, providing a kinder surface with a more realistic ball bounce than before. It is becoming an accepted surface by FIFA and EUFA in international tournaments.


“We also find that we can have better control and maintenance of the environment, light and airflow coupled with the improved quality of the stronger ryegrass mixed in creates a sturdier, longer lasting natural surface in difficult growing conditions Stadia etc.
“Whilst natural turf is preferred for use in stadiums; there is also the ability to inject plastic fibres into natural pitches and extend their effective working limits from roughly 300 to 900 hours.


“The technological innovations made by STRI and others over the last ten to twelve years mean that there has never been a better time to successfully grow natural grass in a range of environments. We have developed a Stadia management service to cope with unusual events like pop concerts in a stadium environment, where it is important for a facility to have maximum use.


“We have been able to work with the sports science industry for 10 – 15 years. Previously the concentration of efforts has been upon the pressures that different surfaces have upon the players such as stresses from footwear and ground impact. Moving ahead, we are finding that investment is now shifting towards improving pitch and playing surfaces, and the STRI turf technologies has an important part to play in this development.”

Photo Descriptor: Image from a Hemiview the tool used to measure the amount of light that falls onto a pitch throughout the year, this allows designers to plan stadia appropriately for maximum light available.

R & D Close up - FOOD

Thought for Food – Eating up Innovation

Yorkshire and the Humber is the food and drink capital of the UK. The region produced almost a third of the UK’s beers, is responsible for 60% of the country’s fish processing output and currently 60,000 people in the region are employed in food manufacturing.

The food industry plays a vital role in the economy of Yorkshire and the Humber, and the area is rich in science and technology resources to help the expansion and sustainability of the food industry in the region. Yorkshire Science, the independent body set up and funded by Yorkshire Forward, is encouraging businesses in the region to be innovative in products and practice, for commercial value and sustainable growth. It is championing collaboration between academic research and the use of knowledge transfer as a route to profitability and increased production.

Food and food technology, is an area where innovation and collaboration through science and technology is already working. The Food Chain Centre of Industrial Collaboration (CIC), in association with Yorkshire Forward and The Food Technology Advisory Service has developed the Functional Foods Forum (FFF).

The Functional Food Forum brings together a multidisciplinary group of scientists, and researchers from leaders from academic institutions throughout the Yorkshire and Humber region. They meet on a monthly basis to generate and develop theoretical functional food innovation.

Results are presented to industrial member representatives from food, drink and allied companies, who discuss which of the ideas, should be taken forward. As consumers and customers become more discerning and nutritionally literate, e-numbers, additives and fake colourings are no longer acceptable. Pressure from retailers to keep foods fresh, and palatable, as both a taste sensation, and of nutritional benefit, has led to a dramatic rise in functional foods.

In simple terms, adding new functionality to existing food stuffs brings it new value above its nutritional value, be it extra vitamins added to bread or friendly bacteria added to diary produce.

Some of the functional foods with which we are already familiar are pre-biotics, and omega 3, which help mental activity. Anti-oxidants contained in red berries and fruits such as strawberries, raspberries and blueberries are already known to help joints.

Oats are known to have beneficial anti cholesterol properties, and cereals have added folic acid to benefit fertility and Alzheimer’s disease. There is a raft of science behind the ingredients which can be added to improve the nutritional and health value of foods. The Functional Foods Forum is working towards finding ways to develop this and add ingredients to make food healthier.

For Barnsley based bakers Fosters, The Functional Foods Forum will help them to build on some of the changes they are already making in the baking industry.

John Foster is the Managing Director of Fosters,
“We think the idea of bringing together academic expertise and know how, with manufacturers providing the application, is a great idea.

“We have already experimented with functional foods, for example, we carried out a survey about school dinners, and surprisingly found out that kids want to eat chips and pizza. Instead of trying to encourage more greens, we looked at providing pizza bases that look like the real thing, but with enhanced nutritional qualities, that is the equivalent of high fibre wholemeal bread. They are happy with what looks like pizza and we have made a score providing a nutritious balance of fresh vegetables, high fibre and cheese.”

“We want to expand the idea of taking a well known product and changing its function to meet the customers’ needs. We shall be looking at other ideas of this nature with the Functional Foods Forum, where we can add value to our products.”

Spinning Plates for Faster Results

The Food Chain CIC has worked with the Food Processing Faraday (FPF) and Newcastle-based company, Protensive, to investigate applications of ‘spinning disc’ technology, originally developed for the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Possible applications include replacing existing methods of product mixing, preventing contamination during food and drink production and creating new flavour systems for products such as sauces.

Dr Graham Clayton, Commercial Manager of the Food Chain CIC explains: “Many of today’s food and drink products are made using processes that are, in effect, the same methods we use in our kitchens at home, scaled up to factory size; this includes products such as custard, ketchup, mayonnaise, fruit juice and smoothies. The process begins with putting ingredients in giant bowls or vats, mixing them and often heating and reducing them, using mega-size cookers. The actions of stirring and heating are key – and on an industrial scale they cause constant problems – ensuring that mixing is thorough, temperatures are consistently correct and the finished food or drink comes out the same every time; not too runny, not lumpy, not too thick. And, whilst the food industry has embraced huge technological advances, these batch production methods have changed very little over decades.”

Spinning disc reactor (SDR) technology, which was invented in the 1970s by Protensive co-founder and former ICI engineer Colin Ramshaw, works by passing liquids across the surface of metal discs which can be set to spin, heat and cool at optimum speeds. The accuracy and speed with which ingredients can be mixed, the ability to strip water from substances and the high temperatures that can be achieved have made SDRs invaluable to the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. “It is clear that the food and drink sector will benefit from this technology. Even at this early stage, the response from companies is very encouraging” comments Ian Blakemore, Regional Manager for FPFP.

Now, Dr Mahmood Akhtar of the Food Chain CIC in Leeds has completed research experiments to test the SDRs’ performance making fruit juice, mayonnaise and ketchup. These have shown that rapid process times, controlled mixing and heating mean that there is less risk of ‘overreaction’ and that end products can be produced at speed, on demand. Other tests have shown that it is possible to remove allergens, such as those present in peanuts, which are so dangerous to people with an intolerance.

The design of the spinning disc unit also means that it can be cleaned down in a matter of seconds – enabling manufacturers to use the same equipment for any number of products or variations in quick succession. So, Just-In-Time manufacture becomes possible, over production disappears and warehouse requirements are vastly reduced.

Yorkshire Science out and about

YORKSHIRE SCIENCE PROMOTING THE REGION AT EUROPEAN ASSEMBLY

Yorkshire Science delegates attended the OPEN DAYS European Week of Regions and Cities (9 – 12 October 2006) in Brussels recently.

Amidst a bustling schedule of debates and deliberations, Dr Ceri Williams, Senior Manager for Science & Innovation at Yorkshire Forward, presented an outline of strategic choices and key issues for Yorkshire and the Humber, before an international audience.

Dr Williams made the case for competitiveness and sustainability on a regional level, highlighting the importance of preserving natural resources for the future of the planet, and outlining the crucial role regions have to play in creating a culture for new technologies to support sustainability.

Before an international audience of delegates from across Europe, Dr Williams presented the experiences of the Yorkshire and Humber region and illustrated the four main pillars of the draft regional innovation strategy.

The OPEN DAYS event, organised by the Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the European Commission’s Regional Policy Directorate General, brought together representatives from more than 130 European regions.

Featuring 115 workshops the Brussels programme involved over 600 speakers from over 30 countries. A record number of 15,000 delegates from across Europe attend this increasingly important annual event.

The Yorkshire Science team went along to tackle different areas of activity and interest, seeking out good practice and connecting with other innovative regions.

Dr Williams said: “The event provided a great opportunity to meet up with other European nations to find suitable partners for future collaborative projects. One of the main pillars of the regional innovation strategy is for improved European relationships. The Open Days event was an excellent vehicle to network with our European peers and look for examples of best practice that we can share and transfer.

“We were able to make some useful and interesting connections during the Open Days and it was good to be able to promote some of the work we are already doing here in Yorkshire and the Humber.”

Yorkshire Science sponsors Innovation at Yorkshire Post Excellence in Business Awards

Yorkshire Science was pleased to support the inaugural Yorkshire Post Excellence in Business, held at the Queens Hotel (19 October 2006) by sponsoring the Innovation Category.

Director of Yorkshire Science, Dr Trevor Gregory commented:

“The fact that Yorkshire Post has included Innovation as a category within its latest awards, show how important this is becoming as part of the business agenda. We were very pleased by the standard of entry and all those that took part, and in particular the short listed companies, were innovative, not only in their products, but also in the processes they employed.

“We have to work hard to ensure that more businesses understand the importance of innovation for competitive edge and work towards a knowledge driven economy.”

This hard fought category was won by Huddersfield based firm, Myfotowall, which allows customers to create bespoke wallpaper form their favourite photographs or images. Its impressive client portfolio includes global brands such as IKEA, Bentley Motor Cars and the Aston Martin Heritage Trust. The company has ambitious plans for growth, aiming for a turnover of £5m in 2007 with anticipated orders in the region of 136,000 per year by 2009.

Stephen Armitage, MD of Myfotowall said:

“We are extremely pleased to be awarded Innovation of the Year at this years prestigious Excellence in Business Awards. It marks recognition of the patented myfotowall process and encourages our dream to grow and further develop the company.”

Sheffield based SME Gripple took on the best of British Industry and was crowned the triumphant winner of the Manufacturer of the Year Award 2006, at the Manufacturer Live event held at Ricoh Arena, Coventry (20th September 2006).

Gripple received the award in recognition of its achievements for successfully combining all of the criteria for excellence including innovation, leadership, people, and manufacturing operations.

Chris Middleton, Managing Director of Gripple and member of Yorkshire Science, is thrilled with the result, he said:

“This allows us to benchmark ourselves against other high quality companies and to come out on top is excellent. This excellent result is all down the hard work of the team. It’s great for the company and for the profile of the business.”

“We were up against top notch companies with world class manufacturing performance. This is a great achievement for a small SME in Sheffield. It’s good for manufacturing, great for the team that work here and a positive result for the region.”

Mr Middleton thinks that the deciding factor for Gripple’s win was the culture of innovation that is encouraged within the company. He said:

“We had ten people at the event and we always make sure that we have representatives to attend from every area of the business. Gripple recognises that ideas and innovation come from all areas and all sorts of people.“

“We had people from the shop floor, the R&D team, and the sales team and they work as our ambassadors. They rub shoulders with captains of industry, pick up a prize from John Humphries, come back to work and tell everyone how good it is. The feel-good factor and the pride of the team is inspirational.”

Yorkshire recycling centre set to take international stage

Picture: (L-R) David Calvert, Steven Carrie, John Adams and Robert Callum

A family-run recycling centre in Yorkshire is set to become an international flagship operation for waste management.

Mytum & Selby Waste Recycling is working with the Environmental Technologies Centre of Industrial Collaboration (ETCIC) at the University of Hull, to create a major compost and recycling centre from a disused brewery in South Milford. Once the site is at full capacity, over 200 jobs could be created.

‘The Maltings’ site in South Milford – which processed food materials for the brewing industry for over 130 years – already has the ideal infrastructure for innovative in-vessel composting and recycling techniques.

Milford Maltings Compost and Recycling Centre has been set up in conjunction with ETCIC, which has given Mytum & Selby academic, analytical, scientific and innovative support for the project. Backing has also been received from the Environment Agency, Recycling Action Yorkshire, Selby District Council, and Yorkshire Forward.

The project has also attracted interest from international investors, with Bermuda-based Interceptor Marketing Corporation planning to invest up to £30 million in the scheme. UK Chairman, Robert Callum said: “This scheme will set the international standard for the recovery and re-use of waste and it is a project we’re very keen to support.”

Steven Carrie, Managing Director at Mytum & Selby Recycling explains: “The site’s ideal location will enable us to provide local businesses with a solution to their waste management needs, cheaper recycling opportunities and the advantage of trading at a more competitive and greener level. This in turn will provide increased employment levels and sustain the industrial sector. In fact, once the site is at full capacity over 200 jobs could be created between both our depots.

“The Government has set out recycling targets for each county to reach by 2015 and this has put pressure on district and parish councils, as they will incur large penalties for targets that are not reached. The Maltings site will reach these recycling targets overnight and help put us at the very forefront of waste recycling for providing a greener, cleaner society.”

ETCIC has also been helping Mytum & Selby to research other possibilities that the site will create, with companies already involved in designing procedures to create green electricity and heat from by-products on the site.

“Creating green electricity or even heat from the site will not only sustain The Maltings but also other industrial and maybe residential areas,” continues Steven. “Link this to the rail sidings the site has access to - which can be used to transport the waste to and from the factory - and we can have a very positive effect on the amount of carbon emissions released. The Maltings project is really set to be the future of recycling and waste reduction.”

The ETCIC is one of 12 Centres of Industrial Collaboration established to bring business and academic expertise together in the Yorkshire and Humber region. Established by Yorkshire Forward, the network is unique in the UK and has so far resulted in 1400 collaborations and generated £50m research income.

Jim Farmery, Head of Innovation at Yorkshire Forward, comments:
“Businesses need to invest in research and development to help them grow and the CIC network was established to provide organisations in need of support, access to a rich source of expertise. The partnership between the ETCIC and Mytum is a perfect example of how a commercial organisation can benefit from the expertise offered by our region’s universities and contribute towards the reduction of carbon emissions into the bargain.”

We are keen to hear from businesses, universities and research centres with a commitment to innovation, science and technology. If you have some news about an innovative product or practice that you would like to share with us, please contact Antonia Kershaw – Antonia.kershaw@yorkshire-forward.com