Industry & business vol 1 issue 2

Vol 1 Issue 2

Promoting Manufacturing Excellence

Sustainability Rapid Prototyping Lean Manufacturing Industry & Business Website:

Energy Efficiency Materials Handling Medical Technology www.industryandbusiness.ie

C o n t e n t s

- 3-6 R APID P ROTOTYPING

- 21 I NDUSTRY & B USINESS

Ribworld unveils €8 million investment project.

RS Components highlights product sourcing functionality, range and customer service as key to cost efficiencies.

New President for IBEC.

Inspire 3D provides professional 3D printing products and services.

3Dcreationlab – The specialist in 3D printing.

- 8 FACILITIES M ANAGEMENT

P AGE 10 PAGE 3

Gary Bradley, Country Manager, RS Components.

Grosvenor Services - Delivering the highest standards in total facilities management.

VistaMed prepared for further growth with €7 million investment.

Dr Lorcán Ó hÓbáin, Senior Programme Manager, ManagementWorks.

Boston Scientific is celebrating twenty years in Ireland.

Bright prospects for medical technology sector.

- 9-10 L EAN M ANUFACTURING

- 27 L IFE S CIENCES

Lean – Fit or anorexic?

LEAN can be for all businesses!

- 23-26 M EDICAL T ECHNOLOGY

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Rapid Prototyping.

- 11-12 S USTAINABILITY Cream of Irish business win at 2014 Responsible Business Awards.

Sustainability.

EirGen Pharma is flying high.

Challenging times for the pharmaceutical sector in Ireland.

- 28 R ESEARCH & I NNOVATION Fulbright Commission in Ireland launches Fulbright TechImpact Awards.

Ireland is second ranked in Europe for packaging recycling.

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PAGE 21

Larry Murrin, President of IBEC.

- 13-14 E NTERPRISE R ESOURCE P LANNING Avnet Services supporting ERP in manufacturing.

Herbst Software offers state-of-the-art enterprise management solutions.

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Managing Director: Colin Murphy

Facilities Management.

Group Operations Manager: Sylvia McCarthy Advertising: Adrian Murphy Production Manager: Sylvia McCarthy

Industry & Business is published by Premier Publishing Limited, 51 Parkwest Enterprise Centre, Nangor Road, Dublin 12.

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- 17 E NERGY E FFICIENCY

Premier Publishing Limited can accept no responsibility for the accuracy of contributors’ articles or statements appearing in this magazine. Any views or opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Premier Publishing and its Directors. No responsibility for loss or distress occasioned to any person acting or refraining from acting as a result of the material in this publication can be accepted by the authors, contributors, editor and publisher. A reader should access separate advice when acting on specific editorial in this publication!

Harold Engineering delivers energy savings for the medical/pharmaceutical industry.

- 19-20 M ATERIALS & H ANDLING Calor driving innovation and R&D for the Irish forklift truck sector.

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Design, Origination and Separations by Fullpoint Design (057) 8680873. (086) 1573510 Printed by W&G Baird.

Contax has wide ranging experience in production automation.

Mary Donovan, Principal Consultant, Caragh Consulting.

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INDUSTRY & BUSINESS – VOL 1 ISSUE 2

1

I RAPID PROTOTYPING

RS Components Highlights Product Sourcing Functionality, Range and Customer Service as Key to Cost Efficiencies In an industry gathering real pace in a time of economic recovery and increasing demand, never in recent times has it been more important for operations to run smoothly, continuously and cost-efficiently. he importance of working smarter can often be sidelined in the quest to make financial savings, with price becoming the key focus. However, concentrating on effective procurement, using a supplier offering impeccable customer service and product sourcing functionality, will soon start having an effect on the bottom line without even thinking about product price, according to Gary Bradley, Country Manager for RS Components (RS), previously known as Radionics.

T

Gary

Bradley,

Country

Manager

for

RS

Components.

Recognising that the procurement process can have a significant impact on a company’s expenditure, RS has made significant investment over the last few years in an eCommerce solution that ensures product sourcing is easy, product range is available, speed of delivery is feasible and customer service is high on the agenda – all of which leads to a more efficient sourcing process which in turn generates cost savings. We have ensured that our 77 year heritage in the electronics components market, being renowned for a strong global inventory, reliability and speed of delivery, has not got in

the way of our drive to innovate. eCommerce Solution Our eCommerce solution has become a kingpin in our offering. Since eCommerce is an increasingly important area for many customers, we wanted to differentiate our solution and so combined a highly technical approach with a human touch. After three years of development and piloting, the rollout of our Live Chat real-time service took place in the last quarter of 2013 throughout Europe and Asia Pacific. The service is now live in 29 markets in 19 different languages.

Helping to guide customers through their purchasing journey and assist them in their decision-making, ‘chat agents’ educate customers, make the process smooth and help them to make cost savings, both in effective product sourcing and reduction of downtime. Furthermore, the service is non-selective; customers of all sizes can access the same level of support. With more than 20,000 chats per month, Live Chat has improved our customer satisfaction levels and helped increase our average order values, driving online sales conversion.

Not only does the Live Chat service help our customers but it enables us to gather insights, which are fed back into the business to ensure we are constantly creating a service that customers want and need. It can assist in updating our product range, since products that are regularly requested can be passed to our product teams to be considered for our inventory. Listening to customers is important and provides the best route to innovation.

Broad Range of Products This is one of the reasons why we have built up such a broad range of products; listening to what our customers want and need and using our global capabilities and supplier relationships has ensured we can always deliver what is needed, when it’s needed.

Our other significant investment has INDUSTRY & BUSINESS – VOL 1 ISSUE 2

been in the development of the end-to-end process focusing on key areas such as product, supplier and process optimisation, among others, to create significant cost savings for customers. Our huge data capability means we can analyse customer usage and make recommendations to them based on their own consumption data. Whether it’s looking at reducing the number of products used or simply substituting for energy saving products, which lower maintenance costs, training and educating customers on these efficiencies can make a real difference to the bottom line for those wanting to overhaul their Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO) procurement process.

Value Process Executing this value process in a business can reap great rewards – and when it’s applied to a multi-site organisation the cost savings can be dramatic. Our process has been developed following a study in partnership with Manchester Business School, which has assisted in the development of White Papers on our findings.

The results and savings our customers are seeing through the investment we have made are evident, the great feedback we are receiving is remarkable and our increased sales and customer acquisition is proving that our investment has been worthwhile.

Investing in a strategy for the long-term is important. Putting innovation at the forefront of that strategy is key in staying ahead of the competition. I 3

I RAPID PROTOTYPING

Inspire 3D Provides Professional 3D Printing Products and Services Established in 2011, Inspire 3D is a fully serviced 3D Print Bureau and also provides the latest technologies in 3D Printers, 3D Scanners and the associated software.

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ith one of the most advanced service bureau operations available, Inspire 3D can offer a top class service to both model makers and everyday consumers. It has the ability to print both full colour prototypes and fully functional parts. Indeed, the company is dedicated to bringing affordable and cost efficient technology and materials to the Irish market.

Operating from over 3,000 sq ft of office, production and warehousing space, the innovative company has grown rapidly since being formed. From its base at Ashford in County Wicklow, Inspire 3D now provides machine sales to the whole of Ireland and has carried out print on demand work for companies with offices across Europe.

“Inspire 3D is the first fully Irish-based supplier of additive manufacturing equipment,” points out Mark Rowan of Inspire 3D. “What I mean by this is that Inspire 3D has sales personnel, designers, warehousing, and an on call service department giving both phone and on-site support all based in Ireland.”

Blueprinter Inspire 3D recently launched on the Irish market the latest in additive manufacturing technology - the Blueprinter, which uses cutting edge SHS(selective heat sintering) to melt particles of a nylon composite thermoplastic powder specifically designed to work with SHS. The technology offers two

main benefits over other additive manufacturing techniques. Firstly, because it uses a powder system there are no ‘supports’ required as the parts are supported by the surrounding powder. Furthermore, the powder that is not used in the build can be recycled and re-used.

Secondly, SHS uses low cost thermal print heads as opposed to expensive lasers and gas typically found in SLS machines.

“This coupled with the reusable powder makes the Blueprinter the most environmentally friendly sintering machine on the market,” says Mark Rowan.

Da Vinci 1.0 Inspire 3D also offers the Da Vinci 1.0, the first in an exciting range of printers being released by XYZ Printing. It has won the CES 2014 ‘Editor’s Choice’ and ‘Best of’ awards for being the most approachable and affordable 3D printing of its class. It was also recognized by Tom’s Guide Readers Choice Award in the same year.

According to Mark Rowan: “It’s the most reliable and affordable ‘plug and play’ 3D printer we’ve found.” Building in a range of ABS colour plastics and selling at Eur650, it is literally a ‘plug and play’ machine, out of the box and running in 15 minutes.

Service Bureau Inspire 3D also offers a full print on demand/service whereby clients come with their design/project and Inspire 3D can produce one-off prototypes for them or short run parts for testing/PR. This service has proved to be very popular with product designers, R&D and sales departments throughout Ireland. “This service allows people to simply email us a .STL file of the

INDUSTRY & BUSINESS – VOL 1 ISSUE 2

part or project they require. Once we have a design passed and depending on material timing and demand they could be holding their part within 3-5 days, with detail in some materials down as low as 16 microns (0.016mm),” he says.

The company’s 3D scanning service is also growing in popularity. Here a client provides an actual part and Inspire 3D can then reverse engineer it and either provide the client with CAD drawings or recreate the part using 3D printing.

Inspire 3D is one of a few service bureaus that have an integrated uploader on its website, allowing customers to send files with information on the material quantity and finish required.

“The biggest benefit for our customers has to be that we’re based in Ireland, as well as our commitment to deliver a reliable and high quality service through our knowledge of the industry (materials and equipment),” says Mark Rowan. “We are also committed to helping people find the best option for them. If we feel a project would be more cost efficient and beneficial to the customer to use injection molding or CNC we would point them that way.” I 5

I RAPID PROTOTYPING

3Dcreationlab – The Specialist in 3D Printing 3Dcreationlab has been 3D printing since 2006, and now has acquired ten 3D printers to service customer needs. With five complementary technologies, 3Dcreationlab can offer 3D printing in over 100 different materials that takes into account the geometry of the model and which particular one best suits the customers’ requirements.

D printing has become very popular, because having a model that you can handle communicates so much more than an old conventional 2D drawing.

3D printing is so fast, you can create a conceptual design on Monday and have it 3D printed on Tuesday and, depending on the post processing time, have it despatched

by Fedex for delivery on Thursday. It really is that simple.

3D printing can save you so much time to qualify design issues with your customers and can help internally in an organisation by ensuring your design’s form and fit and before you go to tooling or programming for production on a CNC.

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Additive Layer Manufacturing Another reference for 3D printing is additive layer manufacturing. It all starts with the generation of a CAD model created either by design software or by a 3D scan of

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3D printing has become very popular, because having a model that you can handle communicates so much more than an old conventional 2D drawing.

an object. 3D printing is a technology that turns 3-Dimensional digital designs into actual physical objects that can be used for prototypes, tooling components, TV/film special effects, decorative items, production or heritage display and even finished production parts in special applications.

3D printing transforms 3D model data files into actual physical reality 3Dcreationlab has been 3D printing models of Trains, Planes, Automobiles, Rockets, Speed boats, Houses and many other industries, all from the push of a computer button and a lot of investment.

Every 3D printer has a computer attached to it with the 3D printer manufacturer’s software controlling it. The checked data is loaded into the control software, which calculates the material usage, the overall print time and the time the 3D print will finish.

The 3dprinter software cuts the data into layers, each layer is printed just like a 2D printer in specified layer thickness, then when the layer is finished, the print bed is lowered by the same layer thickness, so the next layer can be printed on top. 3Dcreationlab’s layer thicknesses vary over the technologies from 250 microns on the FDM (fused deposition modelling) down to 16 microns on the ProjetHD3000 and the Objet 500V. New Developments A new development in the electronics industry is that more and more PCB design software has the capability for the introduction of 3D models of the components that can be placed in the correct position and be saved as a 3D printable file. While the PCB obviously won’t function, you can test the PCB model in the enclosure and check to INDUSTRY & BUSINESS – VOL 1 ISSUE 2

see if heights of components and PCBs supports are correct. LED and connector alignments can be determined before any tooling created.

There are many new innovations coming out all the time in the 3D printing and scanning world. New applications in medicine, now mean that 3D data from an MRI scan can, for instance, be used to actually print out models of any bone in your body, you just selectively choose the density of the scanned part you want to print and because we are largely symmetrical, assistance in creating CAD models for prosthetics is now easier than ever before.

3Dcreationlab was recently asked by the London Science museum to 3D print the skull of a mummy that is residing in the Birmingham Museum Trust. So 3Dcreationlab now has on exhibition a copy of a Skull that dates back to 320 AD. I

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There are many new innovations coming out all the time in the 3D printing and scanning world.

I PACKAGING

Delta Opens Factory Extension in Belfast elta Print and Packaging has officially opened an extension to its plant in West D Belfast, which forms part of the company’s £40 million expansion plans. Delta designs and manufactures printed carton packaging primarily for the retail food, consumer electronics, household goods, dairy, pharmaceutical and food service sectors.

Terry Cross, Delta’s Chairman says: “With this new facility on line we can grow sales across a number of existing customer accounts, in particular with McDonald’s, as well as developing new accounts. It is part of our growth strategy, which also includes

opening a 100,000 sq ft production plant in Poland next year. The Polish plant will further cement Delta’s credentials as a leading European packaging supply partner, enabling us to extend services to major European brands.” I

Northern Ireland Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Arlene Foster pictured with Delta Print & Packaging Chairman Terry Cross at the official opening of the company’s new plant in Belfast.

The new 55,000 sq ft building houses one of Europe’s most advanced carton manufacturing environments, providing flexible, high-speed productivity. The project was part financed by the European Regional Development Fund.

“This impressive new facility will allow Delta to further increase export sales and continue to offer an excellent service to its clients, which include global giants such as McDonald’s, KFC, Greiner Packaging and Kelloggs,” says Arlene Foster, Northern Ireland Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister, who officially opened the new facilities. “It will position Delta as one of the best equipped suppliers in the industry.”

She adds: “A strong manufacturing industry is fundamental to a strong economy and companies like Delta, through innovation, high productivity, a focus on high value added, and an outward looking approach, are making an important contribution to achieving that.”

Invest NI continues to work with the company to review how it can help it further enhance its competitive position and enable it to take advantage of growth opportunities outside Northern Ireland.

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I FACILITIES MANAGEMENT

Grosvenor Services – Delivering the Highest Standards in Total Facilities Management rosvenor Services are celebrating a major achievement in the G development of the company, having recently been recognised for their high standards and excellent service in a prestigious award scheme. They are proud to have been short-listed in the ‘best cleaning provider’ category of the Facilities Management Awards 2014, an indication of their increasing experience in the facilities management sector.

Whether manufacturing glass, building cars or developing food and drink, outsourcing facility management to a specialist provider, enables companies to focus on their core business activities, rather than dividing focus between work and building infrastructure.

Grosvenor Services provide a range of soft and hard facilities management services for a wide range of organisations in manufacturing, industrial and commercial settings in Ireland, the UK and the US. These include mechanical and electrical services, grounds maintenance, reception, mailroom, security, cleaning, waste disposal and window cleaning.

Founded in 1959, Grosvenor Services is a family-owned and run facilities management organisation. Well-established in Ireland, they have a strong management team experienced in the delivery of total facilities management. They provide the highest levels of support and commitment to clients, aiming to set, rather than just comply with standards. This dedication to quality has

earned them their recent nomination, as well as many other awards and accreditations.

For further information, please visit www.grosvenorservices.com, call 01 295 4866 or email ireland@grosvenor.ie. I

Expertise you can rely on Providing a complete range of facilities management services to companies across Ireland.

01 295 4866

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www.grosvenorservices.com

INDUSTRY & BUSINESS – VOL 1 ISSUE 2

I LEAN MANUFACTURING

Lean – Fit or Anorexic?

By Mary Donovan, Principal Consultant, Caragh Consulting Lean and Lean Six Sigma are both methods of process improvement that identify value streams, standardise work practices, take out waste and variability.

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any organisations can point to the benefits they have delivered by the application of such management tools. Indeed organisations such as Toyota and General Electric (GE) have become synonymous with delivering operational effectiveness through the use of these tools.

At a time of significant business change and a rapidly changing technology landscape, management of business today is a complex task and there is no one approach or methodology that can act as a panacea. Michael Porter in his article ‘What is Strategy?’ states that operational effectiveness is necessary but not sufficient.

What is important therefore is that Lean and Lean Six Sigma are used in the right context and that their role is understood as part of an overall set of management disciplines.

First Challenge The first challenge for any organisation is to ensure that it has the right strategy – understands its market and competitive positioning and has made real choices on the its unique value proposition, its target customers, the channels it uses to reach them and how it makes a return on its investment.

If the strategy is clear then an organisation needs to define its operating model –

the core capabilities on which the execution of the strategy is dependant. The operating model will include the processes, information systems, people, organisation structure, culture and governance required to both effectively and efficiently align execution with strategy.

It is the integration and consistency across all elements of this operating model that are key to sustained efficiency and effectiveness.

Focus on Process A focus on process is often the area most of ignored when designing operating models. The priority here is to identify the small number of key end-to-end processes that an organisation needs to excel at and that are the key to its competitive advantage. Designing and integrating these core processes to incorporate best practice and lean principles creates a distinctive organisational asset.

These strategic processes will vary from business to business and with the level of business maturity.

Key processes maybe brand building, creating consumer insights, managing customer relationships, managing pricing or attracting, developing and retaining talent.

Organisations do not need to be world class at all the processes and those that are not critical to strategy can often best be provided by third parties.

The identification and design of these processes will also identify the people and technology capabilities necessary to execute these processes.

Business Process Management (BPM) The application of the business discipline of Business Process Management (BPM) will bring executive ownership to these core processes and ensure consistency in INDUSTRY & BUSINESS – VOL 1 ISSUE 2

Mary Donovan, Principal Consultant at Caragh Consulting.

the design, implementation, execution and monitoring activities. The setting of targets and measuring and monitoring the performance of the process will ensure the cost effective delivery of desired outcomes. In defining the metrics and setting targets it is critical to minimise trade-offs – ensuring that an increase in quality does not lead to an increase in cost and vice versa.

If process metrics are measured and monitored then lean tools can be used as part of the root cause analysis of variance from target and a lean initiative mobilised to address the variances.

The risk of starting with a lean initiative without the broader strategic context is that a lot of effort can be wasted on focusing on activities that are not core to strategy. Focusing on the efficiency of manufacturing activity will ensure that an organisation can more cost effectively make products but without a unique value proposition, these maybe products that customers don’t wish to purchase!

Lean will deliver incremental business improvement but risks creating ‘anorexic’ organisations without the excellence of both strategy and execution necessary to create competitive advantage. I 9

I LEAN MANUFACTURING

LEAN can be For All Businesses!

By Dr Lorcán Ó hÓbáin, Senior Programme Manager, ManagementWorks pplying Lean can make a huge differA ence to how small and medium sized businesses perform. ManagementWorks, a Skillnets initiative, has helped almost 100 businesses apply a “Lean” approach over the past 18 months.

Companies from a very wide range of sectors have taken part, including retail, professional services, services and manufacturing. The projects have examined issues as diverse as storage areas layout, workflow to fulfilling prescriptions, the preparation of monthly accounts and processes in a busy solicitors office. All have benefitted from applying the tools and ways of thinking of Lean to their businesses.

The ManagementWorks Lean programme allows a participating firm to send a team of 3 or 4 people onto a programme

with 3 other non-competing businesses.

The programme combines 5 days of workshops with 8 half day mentoring visits to assist the team members to implement what they are learning in a pilot project within their organisation. This allows the participants to test what is being discussed in the workshops and also ensures that the firm gets real and measurable benefit from the programme as it evolves.

The cost of the programme is heavily subsidised by ManagementWorks which, as part of Skillnets, is funded from the National Training Fund through the Department of Education and skills.

Participating businesses pay Eur3,500 to include all workshops and the one to one mentoring visits on site.

The programme is proving so successful,

Dr Lorcán Ó hÓbáin, Senior Programme Manager at ManagementWorks.

that many firms send a second and third team of employees onto the programme to broaden the number of staff with the formal training as they seek to become more lean and to apply the techniques to all of their activities and ways of thinking.

ManagementWorks also offers a range of management development programmes which are designed for the owner manager of SME firms. Full information is available at www.managementworks.ie. I

Make LEAN a reality in your Business

Have you considered the ManagementWorks high impact, project oriented Business LEAN programme which combines workshops and in-company mentoring?

Take the next step Visit our website at www.managementWorks.ie or call Brian Colleran on 087 2928900

ManagementWorks is an initiative of Skillnets Ltd. funded by member companies and Skillnets from the National Training Fund through the Department of Education and Skills.

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INDUSTRY & BUSINESS – VOL 1 ISSUE 2

I SUSTAINABILITY

Cream of Irish Business Win at 2014 Responsible Business Awards lanbia Ingredients Ireland G Limited (GIIL) and Diageo were voted cream of the crop, as

‘Sustainable Cream initiative’. The success of the initiative has demonstrated that an uncompromising they took home first prize for ‘Best focus on sustainability can have Business to Business Partnership’ at long-term commercial benefits.” the recent annual Responsible Over the course of the Business Awards ceremony in Sustainable Cream Initiative, London for their ‘Sustainable Diageo and GIIL worked together Cream initiative’. to deliver a truly transformational Over 400 European companies programme resulting in best practice entered the awards, of which there guidelines contributing to a reducwere 91 finalists shortlisted and 13 tion in the environmental footprint overall category winners. The two Joseph Maguire, Global Sustainability Manager, Diageo; Luis Rangel, of the industry. companies were recognised for Global Head of Commodities and Raw Materials, Diageo; Audrey O’Shea, Luis Rangel, Global Head of jointly creating a benchmark sus- Sustainability Manager GIIL; Sean Molloy, Director of Strategy GIIL, and Commodities and Raw Materials for tainability programme, for the Jim Bergin, CEO, GIIL. Diageo, says: “It is a great honour to entire process chain from the fresh be recognised for our outstanding milk supplied by Glanbia’s farmers, all the world, it is made with Irish cream from B2B relationship with Glanbia. For Diageo, way to the final product - Baileys Irish Glanbia in Virginia, County Cavan. it is important that our business partners Cream liqueur.

Jim Bergin, CEO of Glanbia Ingredients share our values with respect to sustainabiliGlanbia Ingredients Ireland is the sole Ireland Limited, says: “It is a huge achieve- ty, responsible sourcing and ethical business supplier of cream to Baileys – a partnership ment for both Diageo and Glanbia practices. Glanbia has been an outstanding which is in existence since 1974. Wherever Ingredients Ireland to be internationally example for everything this award reprea glass of Baileys is consumed around the recognised for our B2B partnership, the sents.” I

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I SUSTAINABILITY

Ireland is Second Ranked in Europe For Packaging Recycling reland has jumped from fourth to the Icomes second most successful country when it to packaging recycling. Eurostat,

actually aware of the names of any manufacturers and retailers who make pay-

the European Commission’s statistical organisation, has upgraded Ireland’s packaging recycling rate from fourth to second within the EU. Repak is celebrating 17 years of packaging recycling success in Ireland based on the consistent commitment of its 2,120 members who are now responsible for the funding the recycling of packaging which is placed on the market by them and ensuring consumers are now recycling more than ever. To date Irish businesses have invested Eur300 million through Repak to ensure that their packaging is recycled. In fact, Repak has collected 712,054 tonnes, or which 39% is paper, 28% is glass, 27% is plastic and 5% is metal.

Repak recycles 3.72 kgs per household, per week, the equivalent of 5 cereal boxes, 10 pizza boxes, 2 wine bottles wine, 15 butter tubs, 40 yoghurt pots and 15 drinks cans per house per week.

However, Repak has commissioned a study with Amárach Research which reveals that 7 out of 10 Irish people are major green bin sinners, disposing of incorrect and downright dirty household materials in their recycling bin, including nappies, razors and cigarette butts. Other incorrect items that frequently crop up in the green bin are greasy cooking foil, glass containers, unrinsed food containers, garden waste, shoes, clothes and handbags.

The good news is that 98% of people in Ireland recycle. Munster residents are officially the best recyclers in Ireland with 74% in Munster recycling over half of their household waste, compared to 63% in Dublin, 68% in the rest of Leinster and 62% in Connaught and Ulster.

The majority (72%) of Irish adults feel that manufacturers and retailers should pay towards the recovery and recycling of packaging they supply. Despite this strong view, just 13% of Irish adults are 12

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ments towards material recycling and recovery. I

I ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING

Avnet Services Supporting Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) in Manufacturing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is not a new concept for manufacturing.

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xternal factors and trends within the market continue to evolve and shift at a fast pace, creating implications for businesses. In order to be prepared, leading manufacturing companies should anticipate and embrace change.

Identifying and understanding drivers of change can support businesses in doing so, as well as formulating a plan for success.

These external factors include: • Increasing globalisation • Highly sophisticated customers and fluctuating demand • Need to reduce time to market on products and services • Increased effectiveness of the after sales processes and services • Sustainability and resource management • Mobile workforces Once these external forces are acknowledged, the next step is for businesses to assess existing in-house ERP capabilities and how these can be adapted to accommodate change.

Understanding existing business challenges is vital in establishing effective ERP. There are a number of challenges for organisations who operate at enterprise level to consider. These include: • Existing solution effectiveness within product areas • Real time visibility of production data C02 footprint reporting • Access to core production system • Complexity of internal and external supply sources/supply chain network.

SAP solutions offer best in class applications that support your company in overcoming these challenges, managing business evolution and adopting an integrated

business process that works.

Avnet Services provide SAP solutions that support you in overcoming market challenges and trends to establish an ERP system that works for your business. Avnet Services provide on premise solutions that can be deployed in record time using our Rapid Deployment Solutions. These solutions include: • SAP Manufacturing Integration and Intelligence provides real time access to critical production data and mobilise your workforce • SAP sustainability solution provides deep insight into company performance and processes • SAP HANA allows you to gather and analyse large volumes of streaming data • SAP collaboration solution seamlessly integrates and synchronises your supply chain for both internal and external operations.

Whatever your business size SAP and Avnet Services work with you, to find a suitable option that supports your success.

For more information on our SAP offerings for manufacturing; contact Denis O’Leary, SAP Practice at Avnet Services on denis.oleary@avnet.com. I

Avnet Services Avnet Service work with SAP to deliver all-in-one Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) that supports your business success.

Avnet Services is a global organization comprised of IT, lifecycle, business and education experts that collaborates with customers, partners, integrators and suppliers to maximize the potential of IT and data systems. We address complex business needs with advanced technology solutions to accelerate growth. Avnet Services is a single-source provider of enterprise software, hardware and services -from procurement through integration, operations, management and disposal.

About Avnet Inc. Avnet Services is part of Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT), one of the largest distributors of electronic components, computer products and embedded technology. We are built on global scale and scope, rocksolid stability and world-class relationships.

• Ranked 117 on the Fortune 500 (U.S.) • $25.5B in annual revenue (FY13) • AVT listed on NYSE since 1960; founded in 1921 • 300 locations worldwide, selling into 80+ countries • 18,000+ employees across the globe • One of Fortune® Magazine's Most Admired Companies for eight years in a row (2007-2014) • Named as a 2014 World's Most Ethical Company by the Ethisphere Institute.

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I ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING

Herbst Software Offers State-of-the-art Enterprise Management Solutions erbst Software is a new generation softH ware provider, offering all the software components your business needs to operate efficiently and effectively. Herbst provides your business with a veritable one stop shop for all your software and business information needs including accounting, finance management, CRM, bank and cash flow management, logistics and haulage, stock management, point of sale and pricing.

These tools provide your business with true real-time insight into all aspects of the day to day sales, finance, management and operations and much more.

All features Herbst offers are part of stateof-the-art enterprise management software in a modular form that gives you the control and flexibility to purchase what you need, when you need it. Modules range from point of sale, to EDI, to added security features.

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Specialized modules are also available for the Distribution, Manufacturing, Engineering, Quarry, Agri/Food and Recycling industries.

Herbst Insight, the framework behind the powerful software suite, is built from the

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ground up with the end-user in mind. With the look and feel of a sales and marketing application, designed from a sales and management perspective, Insight is changing the landscape of business accounting making it easier for management to get accurate information, and in turn making educated business decisions. Herbst’s software is always kept up to date, keeping in line with the latest trends and processes within business management software and industry.

Herbst Software is growing rapidly, with a new office in Ballymount Industrial Estate, Dublin with potential to move into new and exciting territories and industries in the future. Herbst Software strives to offer packages and solutions that are in line with your current business and process requirements.

So why wait? Give Herbst Software a call today. I

I ELECTRONICS

Smart Electronics Achieves Leading Quality Certification mart Electronics Ltd, which speS cialises in the manufacturing of bespoke electronic equipment, has

devoted to providing on-going quality.”

He adds: “We are extremely proud achieved ISO 13485:2012 certification to obtain ISO 13485:2012 certificafor its quality management system tion and for an external agency to which will lead to a significant increase independently assess and verify the in business over the next two years and processes we have in place is a credit the creation of an additional 20 jobs. to all of our team.”

The awarding of ISO 13485:2012 To achieve this certification, Smart shows that Smart Electronics operates Electronics worked with leading and maintains a high quality manageassessment, verification and certificament process for the manufacture and tion body NQA. Mo Ghaus, Head of delivery of medical devices - in line NQA, says: “Smart Electronics were with international standards. It is a clear on what they wanted to achieve regulatory requirement for any organi- Pictured at the presentation of the ISO 13485 certificate to Smart and it was a pleasure to work with sation supplying non-invasive devices Electronics by verification and certification body NQA are (left to them to achieve that goal. It was right): Jim Ryan, Sales Director, of Smart Electronics; Stuart clearly evident they already had a very to the medical sector.

Shane Adams, Managing Director Thompson of NQA; and Shane Adams, Managing Director of Smart effective business process in place and of Smart Electronics, says: “Obtaining Electronics. that quality processes were well estabthis certification validates our efforts lished within the organisation.” to ensure high quality at all levels of our award is confirmation of our commitment For further information contact Smart business. We are committed to providing the to improve company performance and pro- Electronics on Tel +353 61 771120, E-mail highest standards and already have ISO 9001 vide our customers with the confidence sales@smartelectronics.ie or vist www. and ISO 14001 certifications in place. This that they are dealing with an organisation smartelectronics.ie. I

Smart Electronics

Tel: +353 61 771120 E-Mail: sales@smartelectronics.ie Web: www.smartelectronics.ie

INDUSTRY & BUSINESS – VOL 1 ISSUE 2

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I ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Harold Engineering Delivers Energy Savings For the Medical/Pharmaceutical Industry With over fifty years of experience in Irish industry, Harold Engineering continues to deliver cost saving solutions to businesses large and small. ffering products ranging from air compressors and air treatment, to dust & fume extraction and heating, the company’s knowledge base enables it to apply the latest technology to best advantage for the client. Air compressors are major consumers of electricity and as such also offer a great opportunity to reduce energy costs. Variable speed drive technology, system controllers and energy recovery systems are some of the tools used

by Harold Engineering to reduce electricity usage and costs.

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Intelliflow valve at Leo Laboratories.

Return on Capital of Less Than 6 Months Energy saving opportunities are numerous and results show cases with return on capital of less than six months. The first step for most clients is to request a free survey of their compressed air plant and Harold Engineering take it from there.

As suppliers to many companies in the Irish medical/pharmaceutical industry, Harold Engineering have particular expertise where technical and commercial standards are stringent. Diarmuid Collins, Facilities & EHS Manager, Boston Scientific outlines his experience of a recent project with Harold Engineering: “In 2012, we at Boston Scientific decided to review the efficiency of our systems and an oppor-

tunity was identified for more efficient production of compressed air.

There were three areas of opportunity: (1) compressor efficiency: the existing compressors operated on a load on/off basis and ran constantly; (2) drier efficiency: the existing driers used air to regenerate the desiccant; (3) compressed air quality: we provided compressed air to the process with a moisture content that Harold Engineering has over fifty years of experience in Irish was of a higher quality than industry. the process needed. We worked closely with Harold installed an Intelliflow valve to regulate the Engineering to develop a single substantial compressed air plant they had package solution – the solution previously supplied. identified consisted of the installaDave McWalter, Facilities Engineer at tion of an Ingersoll Rand Nirvana Leo Laboratories explains: “An Intelliflow® variable speed controlled compressor pressure regulator supplied by Harold as well as an Ingersoll Rand heated Engineering was installed on our comair drier.” pressed air distribution network in April 2013. The aim of this was to allow us to Savings of 25% Realised automatically reduce air pressure in the sysDiarmuid Collins continues: “The tem during weekends. It also provided a installation and subsequent valida- secondary benefit in allowing us to reduce tion of the new equipment was car- the site distribution pressure during normal ried out smoothly with excellent production conditions by over 1 Bar. These support from Harold Engineering two changes, which would not have been and the overall projected savings of 25% possible without the Intelliflow® allowed have been realised over the last 12 months LEO to make significant savings on our that the new equipment has been in opera- compressed air generation energy costs to tion, with the majority of these savings December 2013. Installation of the resulting from the replacement drier. A suc- Intelliflow has also identified a number of cessful project that delivered the expected other energy saving opportunities relating to savings and provides a more efficient means our compressed air system which in conof providing the important clean dry com- junction with Harold Engineering, we are pressed air utility to our medical device hoping to explore further in the coming manufacturing facility.” year.”

This project, where substantial energy Similar results have been achieved in savings were delivered, is but one of many many other sectors with excellent pay-back completed by Harold Engineering over the on capital outlay. With offices in Dublin years. Whilst large installations are typical, and Galway, a full backup service is always often small retrofits can further augment available to ensure total client satisfaction. the efficiency of the legacy compressed air To request a free energy audit on your comsystem. pressed air plant, or for more information In Leo Laboratories, Harold Engineering please visit www.haroldeng.ie. I INDUSTRY & BUSINESS – VOL 1 ISSUE 2

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I MATERIALS HANDLING

Calor Driving Innovation and R&D For the Irish Forklift Truck Sector Calor, Ireland’s leading distributor of LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) has launched their new 13kg propane cylinder which has been developed specifically for the Irish forklift sector, and will see a direct impact on a company’s carbon footprint, with an average reduction of over 30%. alor placed significant R&D investment into the development of the lightweight cylinder. This new innovation followed comprehensive customer research within the sector to develop tailored and complete business solutions for those using forklift trucks as part of their daily operations.

LPG emits almost three times less CO2 than electricity derived from burning peat and coal meaning that it is kinder to the environment and more sustainable in the long term.

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LPG - A Fuel For the Future As a low carbon fuel, LPG is a fuel for the future. When compared to electricity powered forklifts, LPG provides a 53% CO2 savings, and a 12% CO2 saving than a diesel counterpart, and lowering emissions and better for your carbon footprint.

According to independent research by

When compared to electricity powered forklifts, LPG provides a 53% CO2 savings, and a 12% CO2 saving than a diesel counterpart, and lowering emissions and better for your carbon footprint.

Millbrook UK comparing diesel and LPG on emissions, LPG is a versatile and adaptable fuel, allowing forklift trucks to be used indoors, in sensitive environments such as food storage facilities if the forklift is fitted with a 3-way catalyst, high impact emissions including hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide are reduced to virtually zero, and direct reduction in noise pollution of up to 10Db (A).

New Levels of Energy Efficiency Damien Shirkie, Mobility Solutions Key Account Manager, Calor, comments: “The new lightweight cylinder is a complete 360 degree offering for the forklift truck sector in Ireland. Investing in LPG powered forklifts will provide businesses with new levels of energy efficiency, a decrease in overall fuel costs and an increase in productivity as there is no downtime needed for recharging with LPG.” He continues: “A key requirement for companies operating in this sector is efficiency and reducing pressure on fuel costs. This solution provides a more integrated and flexible service, while at the same time having a positive impact on operational costs.”

The lightweight cylinder is portable, and easy for staff to make the manual changeover quickly. A key benefit is the direct improvement in operational efficiencies as the new quick connect adaptor allows for a simple changeover, so there is no resulting drop in productivity. Calor provides a unique onsite bulk refuelling service for large capacity users, direct to the end user ensuring security of supply. For further information visit www.calor.ie. I INDUSTRY & BUSINESS – VOL 1 ISSUE 2

Calor has launched a new 13kg propane cylinder which has been developed specifically for the Irish forklift sector.

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The new lightweight cylinder is a complete 360 degree offering for the forklift truck sector in Ireland. Investing in LPG powered forklifts will provide businesses with new levels of energy efficiency, a decrease in overall fuel costs and an increase in productivity as there is no downtime needed for recharging with LPG. 19

I MATERIALS HANDLING

Contax Has Wide Ranging Experience in Production Automation Contax Production Automation Limited is an Irish company active in helping manufacturing companies to improve their production lines using a variety of customised and standard automated systems.

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orking with European and US machine manufacturers, Contax has helped many well known multinational companies and indigenous companies in Ireland to improve their manufacturing processes. Contax also provides customers with excellent after sales service through their locally based highly skilled technicians.

Shuttleworth ‘Slip-Torque’ Conveyor One of the company’s cornerstone products is Shuttleworth ‘Slip-Torque’ Conveyor. Used in a wide range of industries, ‘Slip-Torque’ technology is used to handle products gently and cleanly through manufacturing and packaging processes. Whether the process requires handling equipment to be certified for use in clean rooms or merely to transport and accumulate delicate or sensitive products, Shuttleworth’s technology and materials can meet your requirements.

The Shuttleworth system allows product to queue under low line-pressure conditions and the numerous clever features allow for unique manipulation, indexing and pattern forming of product. Whether your product is a single unit or multiple units in a carrier, the segmented roller surface can handle bare or packaged products of any materials as long as there are some relatively flat surfaces on the underside of the product or carrier.

With over 50 years experience developing clever features and materials, Shuttleworth conveying systems handle a huge range of products including, wetwipes, bombs, glass solar panels, contact lenses, biscuits, syringes, IV bags, Pacemakers, books, engine blocks, brake shoes, chocolates, cosmetics, cheese and yogurts to mention just a few. There are in 20

excess of 18,000 shuttleworth installations worldwide. Customers frequently comment on what little maintenance their Shuttleworth systems require and it is not uncommon to come across working installations more than 20 years old!

Materials can be conductive or anti-static, surfaces can be soft or hard, round or square.

Systems can be single lane or multi-lane, unidirectional or bi-directional. Systems are suitable for manual or robotic interfacing and numerous standard devices are available for transferring, indexing, stacking, dividing, combining and turning product. Shuttleworth places huge emphasis on material selection and develop and formulate their own plastics to

suit specific applications and to minimise wear.

This is what sets them apart from the competition. Unlike other conveyor technologies, Shuttleworth systems have no power concentration on the surface and are completely safe for operators when working on line.

Excellent Customer Service Shuttleworth is an American company owned

by Pro Mach with headquarters in Indiana and with a European manufacturing plant in Belgium. Contax also have assembly and integration capability at their facility in Clonmel INDUSTRY & BUSINESS – VOL 1 ISSUE 2

and can host customer product tests and FATs. Contax and Shuttleworth are both committed to excellent Customer Service and will go to any lengths to ensure that customers are not disappointed.

Contax always encourages any interested potential customers to engage with them and allow them to test ideas with your samples without any commitment. Because Contax has wide ranging experience in production automation they can extend their offering beyond Shuttleworth’s material handling systems and can help with other related challenges whether in processes such as product assembly, dispensing, soldering, curing, and inspection.

Contax personnel are always happy to discuss your challenges and ideas and will go to great lengths to explore potential solutions without any commitment. Please direct sales enquiries to sales@contaxireland.ie and Service enquiries to service@contaxireland.ie.

Take a few minutes to look at Shuttleworth applications on www.shuttleworth.com.

For further information contact Contax Production Automation Ltd, Unit 5, Gurtnafleur Business Park, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, on Tel +353 (0)53 6129822 or visit www.contaxireland.ie. I

New President For Ribworld Unveils €8 Million IBEC L Investment Project I INDUSTRY & BUSINESS

ood company Ribworld has officially opened its new manufacturing F facility at Fethard in County Tipperary, which is part of a Eur8 million investment programme supported by Enterprise Ireland. The new facility will result in the creation of 100 new jobs to bring employment levels at Ribworld to over 175 people over the next three years.

Ribworld is part of the M&M Walshe food group, and is recognised as one of Europe’s leading sous vide specialists. Ribworld provides top quality cooked products including the company’s speciality which is ribs, to retailers, caterers and consumers in Ireland, the UK and many international markets.

This strategic investment programme will position the company to invest in a major new product development drive and expand operational capacity, all aimed at meeting increasing demand for its products and expanding its market share across Europe and other international markets.

John Walshe, managing director of Ribworld, says: “We purchased Ribworld in 2011. Over the past three years we have grown the business by over 200% and launched a number of new products. It is now a truly international business, selling into such diverse markets as Finland and Thailand.” I

arry Murrin, chief executive of Dawn Farm Foods, has been elected president of the Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC), the national voice of business in Ireland. He is the first person from the Irish food industry to hold the position.

Established in 1985, Dawn Farms employs almost 900 people across its three production plants in Ireland Larry Murrin has been elected and the UK, exporting president of IBEC. to over 40 countries worldwide.

Larry Murrin is a former chairman of IBEC's Food and Drink Industry Ireland, and has been a member of Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board, since its inception.

As the national voice of business in Ireland, IBEC represents the interests of business throughout the republic, providing a wide range of direct services to its 7,500 member companies. I

YOUR LOCAL PROCESS AUTOMATION PARTNER

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INDUSTRY & BUSINESS – VOL 1 ISSUE 2

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I MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

VistaMed Prepared For Further Growth With €7 Million Investment County Leitrim-based VistaMed has now completed a new state-of-the-art extension to its Carrick-on-Shannon manufacturing facility as the medical device company continues to conquer global markets. he new facility is part of a Eur7 million investment in research and development and the expansion of production capacity, which is expected to result in the creation of 125 new jobs at VistaMed in Carrick-onShannon and Roosky. The investment, which is supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through Enterprise Ireland, is in response to increased demand in the global medical device market for sophisticated and innovative catheter and stent delivery systems.

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VistaMed, a Helix Medical joint venture company, is a leading extrusion and catheter provider to the medical device sector worldwide. The company was founded in 1999 and has two medical manufacturing operations in Ireland at Carrick-onShannon and at Rooskey.

Products produced by VistaMed include PTFE-lined guide catheters, steerable catheters, balloon catheters, endoscopic catheters, ablation catheters, urological catheters, micro perfusion pain management catheters as well as other ancillary devices such as introducers and dilators.

Working with medical thermoplastics such as PEEK, Polyurethane, Polycarbonate, nylon, VistaMed offers single lumen, multi lumen, tri-layer, co extrusion, micro extrusion, bump, braided and wire-reinforced tubing for complex medical catheter systems. The company is ISO 13485 Certified and FDA registered.

Best-in-class Facility The 35,000 sq ft expansion of the Carrickon-Shannon facility includes 12,000 sq ft of clean room, which is required to meet the growing need for diverse braided catheter assemblies, as well as a new area dedicated to thermoplastic extrusion which is recognised as best-in-class for the stringent catheter tubing requirements for today’s demanding requirements within the medical technology industry. VistaMed has also developed a dedicated R&D Engineering Laboratory which reinforces its continuing support for innovative design and development projects and further enhances the rapid project ‘turnaround’ times currently experienced by the company’s global customer base.

“VistaMed was founded on being a solution provider for technically challenging catheter and extrusion products for a worldwide market,” says Patrick Mulholland, Managing Director of VistaMed. “This new extension will allow us to offer an even more comprehensive design and development service that combined with the addition of sophisticated equipment will enable us to continue to offer a world class service to the global medical device industry.”

Medical Technologies Sector The expansion by VistaMed is in line with Government strategy of supporting the growth of a strong cluster of Irish companies within the medical technologies sector,

INDUSTRY & BUSINESS – VOL 1 ISSUE 2

which is a key part of the Irish economy.

“In recent years despite difficulties we have seen an overall strong performance in this sector,” remarks Richard Bruton TD, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. “VistaMed is a great example of an Irish company, with world-class product offering, performing strongly in highly competitive global markets and employing large numbers of people in County Leitrim.”

Tom Kelly, Enterprise Ireland Divisional Manager Manufacturing and Competitiveness, comments: “Enterprise Ireland’s strategy is to work in partnership with Irish companies to support their plans for growth and help them win new business in global markets. Our focus is on providing client companies like VistaMed with the support they need to expand and internationalise. We look forward to continuing to work with VistaMed as they grow their international business and create employment in Ireland.” I

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VistaMed was founded on being a solution provider for technically challenging catheter and extrusion products for a worldwide market.

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I MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

Boston Scientific is Celebrating Twenty Years in Ireland Currently celebrating 20 years in Ireland, Boston Scientific is the largest medical device employer in the country and is also one of the leading exporters within the medical technology sector.

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ounded in 1979 and headquartered in Massachusetts, USA, Boston Scientific is a global leader in the development of less-invasive medical devices. Boston Scientific was founded on the simple premise that less-invasive medicine could improve patient care.

Boston Scientific’s products are used in a broad range of interventional medical specialties. Employing about 25,000 people globally, Boston Scientific is committed to continued investment in research, development and innovation, investing $1 billion annually in new products and technologies.

Irish Business First established in Ireland in 1994, with the support of the IDA, Boston Scientific now encompasses three sites – located in Clonmel, Cork, and Galway. Boston Scientific exports approximately 10 million medical devices worldwide annually, including stents, balloons, platinum coils, catheters, inflation devices, pacemakers and ICDs. Indeed, the Irish operation is an integral part of the group’s manufacturing strategy and capability. All three Irish sites are an ISO 14001-certified.

Clonmel Operation The Clonmel operation was established in Ireland in 1998 by

Guidant Corporation and was acquired by Boston Scientific in April 2006. The site specialises in the development, manufacture and distribution of implantable pacemakers and defibrillators for the Cardiac Rhythm Management business, which represents a key growth area for Boston Scientific.

The products combine innovative mechanical and electrical technology with cutting edge software algorithms. Boston Scientific recently commenced a Eur26 million research investment in the Clonmel facility in conjunction with the IDA. The investment will enable Boston Scientific to significantly expand its R&D and technical capabilities for the design of the company's next-generation Cardiology Rhythm Management (CRM) devices manufactured at Clonmel. The Clonmel site also supports some products for the Neuromodulation Division.

Cork Site Established in 1998 as part of the company’s manufacturing expansion plans, the Cork site produces a diversified portfolio of

Bright Prospects For Medical Technology Sector Ireland’s expending medical technology sector has developed into one of the leading clusters for medical device and diagnostic products globally. With exports of Eur8 billion, Ireland is the second largest exporter of medical technology products in Europe.

There are currently about 250 medical technology companies in Ireland employing 25,000 people - the highest number of people working in the industry in any country in Europe, per head of population.

Exports of medical devices and diagnostics products now represent 8.5% of Ireland’s total merchandise exports; and the growth prospects for the industry globally remain bright.

Many of the world’s top medical technology companies have invested significantly in Ireland and a number of exciting, research-based, indigenous companies are emerging and competing internationally. Indeed, half of the companies in the sector are

INDUSTRY & BUSINESS – VOL 1 ISSUE 2

indigenous.

Having identified the medical technology sector as one of the key drivers of industrial growth for the future, the Government is providing a wide range of supports to encourage and foster further expansion.

Ireland boasts five clinical research facilities, which support patient-focused research, and is ranked number one globally for the exchange of technology and ideas. Indeed, close collaboration between companies has been behind the medical technology sector’s global success. Over 25% of companies have a shared services mandate, helping the sector to develop world-class operations and technology solutions. The industry is also closely integrated with key academic centres of excellence, including AMBER, Tyndall National Institute, BDI, SEAM and APT.

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products for Boston Scientific’s Cardiology, Rhythm and Vascular Group, Endoscopy, and Urology & Women's Health Divisions.

The site combines leading edge manufacturing technologies with the capability to quickly commercialise new products for its division customers. The Cork facility manufactures more than 5.6 million life saving devices per year, which are shipped to all corners of the globe.

Galway Manufacturing and R&D Facility Established in 1994 as a manufacturing and R&D facility, the Galway site serves Boston Scientific’s Cardiovascular group, manufacturing key product lines that include drug-eluting stents, biliary stents, and catheters. It is the largest Boston Scientific facility in Ireland, and the largest manufacturing facility in the US group’s global plant network.

The extensive Galway operation uses over 50 leading edge manufacturing technologies and the site has expanded its capability in the last decade to include areas such as new product development, regulatory affairs, and analytical laboratory testing. It is one of the company’s centres of excellence for the development of Drug Eluting Stent products and has also played a central role in developing products to treat endovascular and gastroenterological diseases. The Galway facility produces more than 3 million devices a year, which are sold globally. I

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I LIFE SCIENCES

EirGen Pharma is Flying High Irish pharmaceutical firm EirGen Pharma continues to expand following recent investment of €4 million in further developing its purpose built high containment facility in Waterford which specialises in the development, registration and manufacture of high potency solid dose products for global markets. stablished in Marc h 2005 by chief technical officer Tom Brennan and chief executive Patsy Carney, EirGen Pharma has become a world leader in its field and now exports its oncology products to more than forty countries globally.

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Rapid Growth The innovative company has exhibited rapid and consistent growth. Having started the construction of its facilities in

In 2012, EirGen Pharma made its first venture into Japan. The following year, EirGen Pharma expanded its facilities in Waterford, doubling its state-of-theart space and futureproofing against ongoing industry demands. EirGen Pharma officially opened its expanded international headquarters earlier this year as it pledged to create forty new jobs to strengthen its then workforce of over 70 people.

Unique Range EirGen Pharma has developed a unique range of in-house and customer capabilities, including advanced formulation development, global regulatory support services, clinical trial management, cytotoxic product production and niche product contract manufacturing.

Its supply chain is world-class, ultra-reliable and continues to be approved by the FDA (US), PMDA (Japan), EMA (Europe) and HPRA (formerly the Irish

Waterford in March 2006 and moving ahead with its initial research and development, EirGen Pharma submitted its first Pan-European License application in 2008.

It achieved its first commercial license approval to sell product from Canadian Health authorities in 2009 and also staged its first commercial product launch in the EU. In January 2011, EirGen Pharma received facility and products approval from the US FDA following inspection in September 2010. Passing the inspection at the first attempt demonstrated the huge commitment to quality made by the company.

Medicines Board) for the supply of drugs globally.

High-end Technology “Official figures show that the life sciences sector is the fastest growing area of Ireland’s export industry,” says Tom Brennan. “We hope that our continuing efforts will inspire other high-end technology companies to invest - and re-invest - in the region, providing further opportunities for employment growth while driving forward efforts to secure Ireland’s future as the location-ofchoice for world-leading, research and manufacturing industries.” I

Challenging Times For the Pharmaceutical Sector in Ireland Although the ‘patent cliff’, which has seen the emergence of generic versions of many blockbuster drugs in recent years, has impacted on export sales, the Irish pharmaceutical industry is still a major contributor to the economy. In 2000, the sector generated exports of Eur22.2 billion and accounted for 26.5% of total goods exported before peaking in 2010, when exports reached Eur46.4 billion - equivalent to half of all export goods.

According to Ian Hunter, Equity Analyst at Investec: “Although the ongoing loss of patents is a concern, there is the potential for Ireland to broaden its pharmaceutical offering into drug discovery. It has the educated population to fuel such development and with a growing reputation as multinationals gain traction in the field in Ireland, this could prove an area of opportunity going forward.”

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I RESEARCH & INNOVATION

Fulbright Commission in Ireland Launches Fulbright TechImpact Awards The purpose of the Fulbright Program is to increase mutual respect and understanding between the people of the United States and people of other countries through educational and cultural exchange. Fulbright now operates in over 155 countries. he Fulbright Program was originally established in Ireland in 1957 and is administered by the Fulbright Commission, a bilateral partnership supported by the US Department of State and the Irish Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs. To date, close to 1,600 Irish citizens have received Fulbright awards to conduct post-graduate study, research or lecturing in the US and almost 700 US citizens have received awards to do the same in Ireland.

knowledge they gained in the US. McKiernan is a social entrepreneur, a technology-for-change innovator, and a Member of the Council of State. As a Fulbright TechImpact Scholar, he spent 3 months at the Citizen Engagement Laboratory in Berkeley, California where he explored online civic engagement, digital democracy development and web-based citizen activism. He said of his Fulbright experience: "It was a rare chance for me to take time away from my day to day work and

Fulbright TechImpact Awards In January 2014, the Fulbright Commission in Ireland launched the Fulbright TechImpact Awards. These grants, the first of their type for the Fulbright Program world-wide, are for early career scholars or professionals in all disciplines to explore how technology contributes to a larger social value. The awards reflect the fast pace of ICT activity and reinforce Fulbright in Ireland’s commitment to cutting-edge research and innovation. The Fulbright TechImpact Awards are for non-commercial short-term research projects in the U.S. across all disciplines. Applications in the areas of Education, Mobile Technology, Digital Arts, Humanities and Culture are particularly encouraged.

The first TechImpact grants were awarded to 6 exceptional candidates in May of this year. Ruairí McKiernan and Dr Ian McLoughlin have already completed their awards and returned home to implement the

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The Fulbright TechImpact Awards are for early career scholars or professionals in all disciplines to explore how technology contributes to a larger social value.

connect with some of the brightest minds in the world that are harnessing the web for the advancement of democracy and community engagement. I had space to reflect, to learn, and to make connections that will support the work I do back home for decades to come.”

Dr McLoughlin, a lecturer in Computing and Mathematics, spent one month at Stanford University researching the provision of online laboratory environments, he noted: “My Fulbright TechImpact Award gave me the opportunity to visit one of the top universities in the world and to immerse myself in the unique entrepreneurial research culture there."

Dr Colm Browning and Dr Jeneen Naji are currently in the US undertaking their awards. Dr Browning, a post-doctoral INDUSTRY & BUSINESS – VOL 1 ISSUE 2

researcher at the Radio and Optical Communications laboratory in Dublin City University, has travelled to Columbia University in New York to undertake research focused on the introduction of high speed optical communication systems to data centres. Dr Naji is the Digital Media Program Coordinator in the Department of Media Studies at NUI Maynooth and has travelled to Brown University’s department of Literary Arts to create a multicultural digital poem in their immersive 3D CAVE. Later in the year Dr David Monaghan, a post-doctoral researcher at the Insight Centre for Data Analytics in DCU, will go to Arizona State University to research computer gaming technology and its application to physical rehabilitation. Dr Orla Murphy, a Lecturer in UCC School of English, and Digital Arts and Humanities, leaves for Boston College in February 2015 to explore Digital Cultural Heritage, 3D model creation, and interactive exhibition environments. Her digital work will enhance access to the Centenary 2016 Celebration of the Irish Arts and Crafts Movement in Boston.

In addition to these 6 TechImpact awardees, 33 other students, scholars and professionals are undertaking Fulbright Awards in the US this year.

The application period for the 20152016 Fulbright TechImpact Awards is now open, with a deadline of Wednesday November 12th, 2014.These Awards are open to Irish citizens and EU citizens resident in Ireland for three or more years. The Awards include a monetary grant, accident and emergency insurance, cultural and professional programming, and visa administration. Please see www.fulbright.ie for more information. I