Manufacturing & Supply Chain Vol 1 Issue 3

VOLUME 01 / ISSUE 03

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Top 30 Medtech Companies in Ireland Building agility in UK manufacturing Challenging times for meat and poultry processors

Manufacturing Online 365 Exhibition is open

Enterprise Ireland Technology Gateway Network

What will 2021 mean for logistics and supply chain?

C o n t e n t s

- 3 M ANUFACTURING

- 27 M EAT & P OULTRY

Building agility in UK manufacturing.

Challenging times for meat and poultry processors.

- 5 A DVANCED T ECHNOLOGIES Manufacturers say COVID-19 has made them more open to innovation.

- 7 R ESEARCH D EVELOPMENT & I NNOVATION

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Top 15 Meat & Poultry Processors in the UK & Ireland.

Stephen Phipson CBE, CEO, Make UK.

- 29 I NNOVATION Unilever and Innova Partnerships one step closer to self-cleaning surfaces.

Supporting Irish Business - The Enterprise Ireland Technology Gateway Network.

O NLINE

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Logistics and supply chain.

R EGULAR D EPARTMENTS

P AGE 25

James Wall, Founder, 3D Technology.

Information Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

- 9 E XHIBITION & W EBINARS

Robotics & Automation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Manufacturing Online 365 Exhibition is open.

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Online 365 Manufacturing & Supply Chain Webinar Series.

Cara Haffey, Manufacturing and Automotive Leader, PwC UK.

Processing & Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . 16, 17, 19 & 26 Storage & Logistics . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 & 23

- 11 D ATA S HARING

Energy & Environment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

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Small but Mighty -One small barcode that packs a ‘bunch’.

Materials & Packaging. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Nick Allen, CEO, BMPA.

- 15 P HARMACEUTICALS Pfizer to invest €300 million in Irish operations.

- 21 M EDTECH Ireland’s Medtech Sector aims for greater share of €530 billion global market.

Managing Director: Colin Murphy Editor: Mike Rohan Group Operations & Awards Director: Sylvia McCarthy

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Paul Reid, Managing Director, Pfizer Healthcare Ireland.

3D printing delivers savings of over €100,000 in under eight months.

Production Manager: Sylvia McCarthy

Manufacturing & Supply Chain is published by Premier Publishing Limited, 51 Parkwest Enterprise Centre, Nangor Road, Dublin 12.

Tel: + 353 1 612 0880 Fax: + 353 1 612 0881 E-Mail: info@prempub.com Website: www.manufacturing-supply-chain.com 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!

Top 30 Medtech Companies in Ireland.

- 25 3D PRINTING

Advertising: Rachel Howard, Keith O’Brien

Design, Origination and Separations by Fullpoint Design (086) 1573510

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Printed by W&G Baird.

John Power, CEO, Aerogen.

MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN, VOL 1 ISSUE 3

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I MANUFACTURING

Building agility in UK manufacturing Fears over the impact of the UK’s new trading relationship with the EU and the attractiveness of the UK for both investment and talent are clouding the outlook for manufacturers in 2021, as more companies believe the opportunities outweigh the risks.

Stephen Phipson CBE, Chief Executive of Make UK.

hile many are investing in an effort to boost productivity and build agility and are confident about the prospects for their own companies and UK manufacturing as a whole, they are not so confident about the prospects of either the global or UK economies in 2021.

The Make UK Executive Survey 2021: Building Agility in Manufacturing, in association with PwC, shows that a third of companies believe the investment prospects for UK businesses will decrease having left the EU with just 18% of companies believing they will increase. In addition, just over a quarter of companies believe exports to the EU will fall with just 16% believing they will increase.

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UK will be a more attractive destination outside the EU. This potentially puts at risk the ambition of the Government’s new immigration system which is specifically designed to encourage the best talent to come to the UK. The survey also shows that customs delays are seen as the biggest risk to companies (47%) while the increased costs of regulation is reported as the biggest risk by just under forty per cent (39%). Over one in 10 companies (14%) also believe a relocation of a major customer out of the UK is their biggest risk.

going to be the biggest challenge facing manufacturers this year and the fact we have an agreement in place doesn’t alter that. However, just as the sector rose to the challenge of aiding the national effort at the start of the pandemic, it is clearly set Building resilience to do so again as we re-build To prepare for the chalthe economy and take advanlenges in 2021 Make UK’s tage of the opportunities new report in association from digital technologies. with PwC UK shows manu“To ensure we cement the facturers are building role of industry in the future resilience by: economy we need to see a * Investing in people strategic vision from * New products Government for the whole * Markets and economy across the UK.” Cara Haffey, Manu-factur* Technology. ing and Automotive Leader at “In fact, two fifths of companies are looking to Cara Haffey, Manufacturing and PwC UK, comments: “I found it heartening to see invest in green technologies Automotive Leader at PwC UK. that so many respondents are in an effort to reduce emissions and acknowledging that it is the right focusing on strengthening business resilience thing to do for future generations. And a by investing in their people and diversifying further 44% of manufacturers are planning their trade models in 2021. UK manufacturon investing in training, to help to boost ers are resilient by nature and, with the right productivity,” points out Stephen Phipson investor and government support, their agility and drive will enable them to build CBE, Chief Executive of Make UK. new trade networks and embrace the clean, Transition green digital revolution, ensuring the UK He continues: “The transition to new trad- remains a go-to destination for many more ing arrangements with the EU was always years to come.” J

Furthermore, a third also believe the UK’s ability to attract international talent will decrease with just 11% believing the MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN, VOL 1 ISSUE 3

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I ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES

Manufacturers say COVID-19 has made them more open to innovation New research commissioned by Digital Catapult and the Made Smarter Technology Accelerator reveals that COVID-19 could prove to be a turning point when it comes to UK manufacturers implementing advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, the internet of things or 5G, with 77% saying that the pandemic has made their business more open to change and innovation. et, despite recognising such technologies would benefit their manufacturing operations (71%), design and engineering processes (60%) and procurement and supply chain performance (49%), a third (32%) of senior manufacturers have admitted that the UK is behind its international competitors when it comes to adopting advanced technologies.

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The seven partners joining the programme are Babcock International Group, BAE Systems, GAF, Northumbrian Water Group (NWG), O’Neills Irish International Sports Company Limited, Safran Landing Systems and Sainsbury’s.

Barriers

The research revealed that the key barriers for accessing these benefits include lack of budget – particularly pertinent in light of the economic impacts of the pandemic – with 40% of respondents saying it is stopping them investing. This was closely followed by cyber security concerns (32%) and a lack of skills within the company (30%).

To help manufacturers overcome these hurdles, as well as fast-forward and shape the UK’s technology innovation directly into industry, the Made Smarter Technology Accelerator empowers established manufacturers to join forces with innovative technology start-ups and scaleups to develop technology prototypes and minimum viable products in order to drive productivity, digitalisation and innovation and ultimately push forward the fourth industrial revolution for the UK manufacturing sector.

Industry partners

Digital Catapult recently announced the seven industry partners – including BAE Systems, Babcock International Group and Sainsbury’s – which have partnered with the match-funded Made Smarter Technology Accelerator programme and have set 14 challenges for the technology companies to respond to. The challenges range from increasing shelf life and sell through of products while reducing waste (Sainsbury’s) to scalable artificial intelligence for visual inspection (BAE Systems).

The successful start-up and scale-up applicants selected to respond will be provided with up to £20,000 funding each and a platform to grow as they develop prototypes to address these challenges. In return for both match-funded financial and inkind contributions, partners will gain direct access to the outputs and learnings of the programme as well as have proof of concepts developed for challenges they set.

Made Smarter Technology Accelerator

Dr Jeremy Silver, CEO of Digital Catapult, said: “Digital Catapult is dedicated to working hand in hand with industry and the UK’s vibrant tech start-up community, and it’s really encouraging to see so many organisations from the sector seize this opportunity to embrace innovation as an important means of building back better.

The Made Smarter Technology Accelerator will make visible how a range of disruptive emerging technologies will really work to benefit early industrial adopters. It will also clarify routes to market for digital innovators. The outcomes from this programme are really positive, we will see new and traditional businesses working together - makMANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN, VOL 1 ISSUE 3

ing enormous savings, significantly improving productivity, developing new business models, boosting exports and delivering on challenging net-zero targets.”

Juergen Maier, Chair of Digital Catapult and Co-Chair of Made Smarter, added: “Our newly announced partners have set ambitious challenges, and the UK’s vibrant and diverse digital technology innovation community is incredibly well-placed to respond. By creating bonds between technology start-ups and scale-ups and the manufacturing industry we have the opportunity for the UK to lead the way in the fourth industrial revolution – as advanced technology radically alters, and improves, the way we approach manufacturing.”

Andy Schofield, Technology Delivery Director at BAE Systems, said: “BAE Systems is on a continuing mission to be a front-line developer and instigator of future manufacturing technology. Our customers’ demands for ever more complex and flexible products along with ever shortening timelines and challenging cost targets makes alignment with the Made Smarter Accelerator and Digital Catapult a clear match to achieving our long term goals, thereby sustaining us as a driving force in both UK and global manufacturing markets.”

Those in the digital technology innovation community can register to join the programme – and the UK’s manufacturers can stay up to date – via www.madesmartertech.uk. J

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I RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT & INNOVATION

Supporting Irish Business – The Enterprise Ireland Technology Gateway Network The Enterprise Ireland Technology Gateway Network has been in operation since 2013, providing a range of innovation solutions and supports to over 2500 Irish based businesses. ith locations nationwide, the 15 Technology Gateways that make up the network are run in partnership with Ireland’s Institutes of Technology and Technological Universities. The Network provides Research Development and Innovation services and supports to Irish companies in areas such as mobile, polymers, photonics, coatings, industrial design, mechatronics, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, wireless technologies, manufacturing and precision engineering.

Companies can leverage the expertise of over 300 industry-focused researchers and engineers, together with the specialist equipment and facilities available within

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aged inhouse by the lead Gateway Manager. This level of continuity creates efficiencies in the process as well as adherence to budgetary and timeline projections.

Regardless of your geographical location, the Network is designed so that you can discuss any initial investigative stages with your regional Gateway Manager, who will take you through the process of engaging with the Network as well as discussing all funding options available to you. If the resources/expertise required for your project are not available through your regional Gateway, they will arrange an introduction to the Gateway best equipped to suit your needs.

Industry Clusters

the Gateways. The Network is open to businesses of all sizes, so whether you are a sole-trader, start-up, SME, or multinational, our dedicated Technology Gateway managers and staff are available to assist with all aspects of your RD&I journey. You do not have to be a client of Enterprise Ireland to collaborate on a project.

Cross-collaboration

One of the Networks unique selling points is our structure which promotes cross-collaboration between member Gateways, enabling a company to work with more than one Gateway on larger innovation projects. If your project requires the expertise and/or specialist equipment from multiple Gateways, this transition will be man-

All 15 Technology Gateways are grouped into 3 clusters which were developed to enhance the ease of engagement and collaboration within the Network. Since 2016 these industry focused research & development clusters have specialised in the areas of Internet of Things (Applied IoT), Engineering, Materials & Design (EMD Ireland) and Food & Beverage Technologies (Irish Food Tech). The clusters provide a one stop shop for industry by providing access to research and engineering professionals, equipment and expertise through a single point of contact.

Funding mechanisms

In addition to companies directly funding their innovation projects, the network offers a range of Enterprise Ireland funding options to suit companies of all sizes.

Current funding mechanisms available include Innovation Vouchers, Innovation Partnerships and the Agile Innovation Fund. Some terms and conditions may apply in respect of some funding options but our Gateway teams are always on hand to explain the requirements and processes.

If you have an idea for a new product, service or process or are experiencing difficulties with an existing process, get in touch to see how the Technology Gateway Network can assist you in developing an innovative solution.

For further information and contact details visit www.technologygateway.ie. J

The 15 Enterprise Ireland Technology Gateways and their areas of expertise are: APT Gateway - Applied Polymer Technologies CAPPA Gateway - Applied Photonics COMAND Gateway - Connected Media CREST Gateway - Coating Innovations DESIGN + Gateway - Applied Design IMaR Gateway - Intelligent Mechatronics and RFID MET Gateway - Medical & Engineering Technologies MiCRA Gateway – Biodiagnostics

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NIMBUS Gateway - Embedded Computing & Software Systems PEM Gateway - Precision Engineering & Manufacturing PMBRC Gateway - Pharmaceutical & Healthcare SHANNON ABC Gateway - Applied Biotechnology SEAM Gateway - Engineered Material Technologies TSSG Gateway - Mobile Services WiSAR Gateway - Wireless Solutions

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I ONLINE EXHIBITIOIN & WEBINARS

Manufacturing Online 365 Exhibition is open The Manufacturing Online 365 Exhibition has been launched by Dublin-based Premier Publishing & Events in order to keep the manufacturing and supply chain community in Ireland - North and South - connected while travel and meeting restrictions remain in place.

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he Online Exhibition has been created to connect buyers and suppliers in a dynamic and safe environment.

While virtual exhibitions will never replace a face-to-face events, there remains a strong demand from key manufacturing buyers and decision makers to learn about new products and services in the market place and to source new suppliers.

Virtual Exhibition

Manufacturing Online 365 is a virtual exhibition which gives buyers and suppliers an opportunity to connect - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year - with access to an exhibition of companies that supply technology solutions and services.

Manufacturing Online 365 provides participants with an opportunity to showcase their latest technology using videos, brochures, hyperlinks and chat functions all designed to connect them with existing and new buyers. Visitors will be able to navigate the exhibition hall by searching for company name or category. The various halls are divided into the following sectors -Pharma, Food & Bev, Medtech, Electronics, Energy & Sustainability, etc.

Manufacturing Online 365 Expo also hosts news, articles, interviews, reviews,

product videos – content intended to inform and inspire.

No registration is required to visit the site. Your privacy is assured - you decide who you want to contact and who you want to contact you. Visit www.manufacturingonline365.com.

Online Webinars

To complement the Manufacturing &

Online 365 Manufacturing & Supply Chain Webinar Series The Online 365 Manufacturing & Supply Chain Webinar Series has been created specifcally for the manufacturing and supply chain community in Ireland, North and South. The online webinar series aims at bringing the manufacturing community together from industry, Government and academia to form a narrative and a platform to pivot to the new normal. The Online 365 Manufacturing & Supply Chain Webinar Series will also help all the sectors in accelerating the change of global value delivery models, with unprecedented consequences for manufactures and supply chains.

Delegates attending the webinar will: * gain industry insights to help their business plan ahead; * share good practice and learn from each

other’s experience; * connect with senior business leaders to find new business opportunities; * meet with key technology providers in the dedicated exhibition area.

Online Webinars The events within the Online 365 Manufacturing & Supply Chain Webinar Series are: Future MedTech – February 18 Transport Logistics & Warehouse/Supply Chain – February 25 Sensors Testing & Measuring – March 4 Future of Food – March 11 End of Line – Materials Handling- March 18 Future of Pharma – March 25.

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Supply Chain 365 Online Exhibition, Premier Publishing & Events has also organised a series of Online Webinars covering topics such as Future MedTech; Transport Logistics & Warehouse/Supply Chain; Sensors Testing & Measuring; Future of Food; End of Line – Materials Handling; and Future of Pharma. See Panel.

The Manufacturing & Supply Chain 365 Online Exhibition and the Online Webinar Series are organised by Premier Publishing & Events. In addition to producing successful business-to-business magazines for almost a quarter of a century, the company is also the organiser of some of the largest conferences and exhibitions tailored to the specific requirements of the manufacturing industry and its associated supply chain in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. J

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I DATA SHARING

Small but Mighty – One small barcode that packs a “bunch” It may be small and quite discreet, but it holds a world of possibilities for enabling data sharing applications across the supply chain. hether you need to share data across continents or just between you and your customer, the GS1 DataMatrix barcode offers many benefits despite its diminutive size.

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Increasing rates of adoption of DataMatrix will see us all become much more familiar with this unique square barcode. From pharmaceutical drugs to surgical instruments and medical devices; and from milk, fish and meat; to even air conditioning units, gas canisters and spare parts for machines; the GS1 DataMatrix barcode is used to encode and share vital product and asset data in across the globe and from end-to-end of the supply chain.

What is a GS1 DataMatrix symbol?

GS1 DataMatrix is a matrix, 2D or twodimensional, barcode which may be printed as a square or rectangular symbol made up of individual dots. It consists of a grid of dark and light squares bordered by a finder pattern which indicates the orientation and structure of the symbol. GS1 DataMatrix barcodes can be read by camera or imaging scanners – there are even apps for your mobile phone! The data typically encoded in a GS1 DataMatrix includes the product code (GTIN/barcode number), batch number, serial number, best before/expiry date, together with special use-case specific data such as location identifiers, service relationships or coupons ids, to name but 3 examples.

reduced print footprint. Use of data matrix is not limited to printed labels but can be laser etched directly onto metal objects – such as medical instruments or beer kegs and able to withstand intensive cleaning and sterilisation processes.

ports both commercial teams and consumers with their demands for extended product information, such as food provenance, allergens, organic and other certification criteria, best before and expiry dates or product recall notices.

Retail innovation cuts costs and waste and enhances customer satisfaction

Data carriers helping to transform the healthcare supply chain

Innovative retailers such as Woolworths in Australia have started to roll out “data embedded barcodes” such as GS1 Databar and GS1 DataMatrix on products, starting with fresh produce. The project has helped Woolworths deliver much greater accuracy on product identification, especially in terms of fresh produce varieties and has speeded up time at the checkout, benefitting the customer and retailer alike.

Additional benefits have accrued to the inventory management and procurement teams, reducing in-store waste, enabling more accurate supplier orders and facilitating better traceability processes.

European Fish Traceability protocols use GS1 DataMatrix symbols to help share information electronically about fish types and the date, time and location of catch.

Airfield Estate in Dublin has adopted the GS1 DataMatrix barcode as part of its initiative to share the full story of its Jersey Cow Milk with its customers.

Construction and Clothing are two further industry sectors adopting GS1 Data Matrix to realise benefits for their product and asset management programmes.

The unique identification of healthcare products for track and trace purposes, from the point of manufacture, to the point of administration, is a key objective of regulators and healthcare providers around the world. Increasingly legislation requires the use of unique, standards-based identifiers encoded into machine-readable barcodes and often GS1 DataMatrix is selected as that data carrier.

The compact size of the symbols, combined with their greater data capacity sup-

For example, GS1 DataMatrix is already widely used on pharmaceutical product

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What are the benefits?

Depending upon the product, industry sector, or business application the benefits include the encoding of additional product information in a machine-readable format (traditional retail barcodes for example usually only contain the product code), increased read/write accuracy and a greatly

packaging in all four corners of the globe.

It is a required part of the European Commission’s regulation on medicines verification in Europe. In addition to patient safety measures, the use of identification codes and barcodes can help in the fight against counterfeit healthcare products.

Today as we watch world efforts to develop, distribute and track COVID-19 vac-

cines, the need for traceability and accurate, detailed patient records will be front and foremost for many health departments, distributors and healthcare providers.

Learn more

GS1 DataMatrix offers all stakeholders across the supply chain, a unique opportu-

nity to encode and share product and asset information quickly, accurately and efficiently.

For help on identifying the opportunities for your business and the steps to get started, contact one of our industry experts today. Email ask@gs1ie.org or visit our online resource centre at www.gs1ie.org/datamatrix. J

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

I QUALITY MANAGEMENT

Siemens extends Xcelerator portfolio with enterprise-wide quality management system iemens Digital Industries Software S has launched Teamcenter® Quality software, a new suite of solutions that provide a closed-loop approach for quality management, from design to manufacturing on the shop floor and back again. Teamcenter Quality helps keep product development, quality planning and continuous improvement processes in synchronization to help maximize the value of change management and configuration management capabilities on the Teamcenter collaboration platform.

“Given today’s product complexities and time to market agility needs, leading manufacturers include quality management into their collaboration, change management and data backbone, such as Teamcenter represents today,” says Matthew Littlefield, President and Principal Analyst at industrial transformation analyst firm, LNS Research.

In today’s market, companies are continuously challenged to reduce product and operating costs, while still improving quality, to distinguish products and gain a competitive advantage. Every effort must be made to improve efficiencies among teams that may be distributed across the globe. On the other hand, consumers are requesting more innovation, faster delivery and cheaper products to the market, while still ensuring their quality and safety. This new extension to the Teamcenter portfolio allows engineers to set quality requirements early in the design process and establish the parameters required to help ensure the product realized during the production phase will meet the necessary quality standards.

Cebi, a worldwide manufacturer of electromechanical components for the

automotive and household appliance industries, has recently engaged in a long-term partnership with Siemens in order to accelerate its digital transformation throughout the entire development process, starting from the concept phase through quality execution at the shop floor up to the customer service. “An important aspect in our digital transformation is to set up a common approach for managing product information and improve collaboration across Cebi’s global network, in which all the actors bring in their added value to meet customer expectations in terms of product innovation and quality,” says Paul Elvinger, member of the Executive Board at Cebi.

“Teamcenter Quality provides a digital thread throughout the design and

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production phases, creating aligned workflows between quality, manufacturing and engineering teams to help improve collaboration and reduce the need for coordination,” said Dr. Raffaello Lepratti, vice president of Business Development and Marketing for Manufacturing Operations Management at Siemens Digital Industries Software. “Creating this single source of truth for product, process and quality data can help ensure each step of the process is synchronized and compliant, while also offering traceability and a high level of transparency within the process.”

Teamcenter Quality is accessed through a modern web interface and includes AI-enabled user guidance with Teamcenter Assistant functionality. J

AUTOMATION & ROBOTICS I AUTOMATION & ROBOTICS

Rockwell Automation evolves its OEM Partner Program Rockwell Automation, the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, has announced the next evolution of its global Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Partner Program. The enhanced offering now provides increased market access opportunities, simplification, and standardized product alignment for manufacturers, enabling participants to fully leverage Rockwell Automation technology. ockwell Automation works with OEMs (also referred to as Machine and R Equipment Builders) across the globe to design, develop, and deliver innovative equipment with Rockwell Automation solutions. Those OEMs that show a commitment to use Rockwell Automation offerings across their portfolio, and then effectively partner to create innovative solutions for their customers are recognized as OEM Partners. The OEM Partner Program is designed to better align customers to partners and foster increased innovation through Rockwell Automation’s technology and domain expertise.

OEM Partner Program

First established in 2010, the OEM Partner Program now includes almost 3,300 manufacturers worldwide. The latest evolution of the program builds on the successful technical-driven relationship between Rockwell Automation and its member companies, and now incorporates even greater alignment to better position OEMs as delivery partners of Rockwell Automation products.

“For Manufacturers, the OEM partner program is a simple route to reaching manufacturing goals,” explains Jason Minto, EMEA Manager OEM Segments at Rockwell Automation. “The program is utilized to align requirements and support the right selection of machine builders for the demand. This naturally leads to a shorter time for plant expansion and upgrades with the latest innovative machinery.”

Cama Group, an international engineering company based in Italy that builds custom packaging automation systems, has been an OEM Partner for more than 10 years. According to Annalisa Bellante, CEO of the Cama Group: “The OEM partner program demonstrates a commitment to

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working closely with customers in order to create real added value. Of particular importance is the time to market, both of us are very focused on the right time for innovation.”

Continued Evolution

Jason Minto notes that the OEM Partner Program has continued to evolve based on both the evolving needs of customers and program participant feedback.

Enhancements to the program include: * Co-Marketing & Information Sharing: A robust co-marketing platform for OEM customers to utilize information, industry case studies, and successes with products to benefit the community at large.

Training and key industry plays have been added to increase the value of the co-marketing between OEM Partners and their customers, further formalizing business alignment. * Elevated Level of Support: Increased technical resources and supply chain alignment, in addition to discounts and rebates that enable OEM Partners to create differentiation and overcome business challenges.

The enhanced OEM Partner Program is now open for enrollment in North America, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. For more information, visit the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Partner Program site. J 13

I PHARMACEUTICALS

Pfizer to invest €300 million in Irish operations Having already spent over €8 billion in Ireland since becoming the first pharmaceutical manufacturing multinational company to locate in the country in 1969, Pfizer is to invest a further €300 million across its Irish operations. he world’s largest biopharma company currently operates six sites across the country at Ringaskiddy and Little Island in County Cork, at Newbridge in County Kildare, and at Grange Castle, Ringsend and City West in Dublin. Pfizer’s operations in Ireland encompass manufacturing, shared (financial) services, scientific research and development (R&D) and commercial operations. Pfizer’s Irish operations contribute over Eur2 billion to the local economy annually.

The latest capital investment programme will support the further development of Pfizer’s existing manufacturing sites in Grange Castle, Newbridge and Ringaskiddy.

The investment will provide additional manufacturing and laboratory capacity creating approximately 300 roles, with additional anticipated construction roles in Ringaskiddy, Cork. The investment and additional roles will be completed over the next two to three years.

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Innovative Medicines

Pfizer’s Irish operations play a central role in delivering innovative medicines to patients in over 100 countries around the world. On the manufacturing side, the Irish facilities are involved in the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients, solid dose pharmaceuticals, sterile injectables, vaccines and biopharmaceuticals. Part of Pfizer's Worldwide Research & Development (WR&D) is also

Pfizer’s Irish operations play a central role in delivering innovative medicines to patients in over 100 countries around the world.

based in Ireland - the Global Biotherapeutics Technology group at Grange Castle was established in 2006 and is part of a worldleading protein drug discovery unit within Pfizer Worldwide R&D. The new investment and roles being created will upgrade and enhance existing facilities, expand manufacturing and laboratory capacity and add new technologies to ensure Pfizer is ready to support the next wave of medical innovations. Part of the investment includes the initial stage of a project to construct a development facility on the existing Ringaskiddy site to manufacture pharmaceutical compounds for Pfizer’s clinical trials globally. This is a very important development as it expands Pfizer’s role in Ireland from the manufacture of already approved medicines into supporting the earlier phases of new medicine development.

The Irish sites manufacture leading medicines and vaccines in the areas of arthritis, inflammation, cancer, anti-infectives, haemophilia, pain and stroke. The roles being recruited for comprise a broad range of highly skilled roles including; analysts, technicians, engineers, scientists, technologists, quality specialists, data analysts and chemists.

Paul Reid, Country Manager of Pfizer Healthcare Ireland.

wide. Currently we are focused on our COVID-19 efforts, including our vaccine development program. Pfizer is also significantly investing in other innovations across healthcare – such as gene therapy and complex biologics targeting some of the most debilitating medical conditions.”

Investment in Ireland

Dr Paul Duffy, Vice President of Pfizer Global Supply, comments: “Pharmaceutical manufacturing in Ireland continues to perform very well contributing strongly to exports and economic growth and provides excellent career opportunities.” The new investment will strengthen Pfizer’s Irish operations and bring our total headcount in Ireland to 4,000.

He adds: “It is also particularly exciting that our Ringaskiddy site has been chosen as the location to manufacture investigational compounds for our clinical trials globally and we look forward to seeing that new facility become operational.”

Paul Reid, Country Manager of Pfizer Healthcare Ireland, says: “Our purpose is to discover breakthrough medicines that change patients’ lives and these new positions are key roles within the organisation and play an important function in the manufacturing and delivery of medicines to patients world-

According to An Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheál Martin: “Pfizer’s footprint in Ireland was first established in Ringaskiddy in Cork in 1969, marking the beginning of a new era of pharmaceutical investment in Ireland. Over the past five decades, there has been a huge expansion of the sector in this country, creating thousands of jobs and solidifying Ireland’s reputation as a world leader in pharmaceutical innovation and manufacturing. Pfizer has made a significant contribution to the Irish economy and this latest investment is a testament to the quality and experience of the workforce here.”

Martin Shanahan, CEO of IDA Ireland (The agency responsible for the attraction and retention of inward foreign direct investment (FDI) into Ireland), says: “Pfizer is one of Ireland’s largest pharmaceutical investors.

This investment announcement and the substantial number of additional highly skilled roles across its three Irish sites is a huge vote of confidence in Ireland’s investment environment and again underscores Ireland’s reputation as a global location of excellence for biopharmaceuticals.” J

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Pharmaceutical manufacturing in Ireland

PROCESSING & MANUFACTURING

Data Rich Processing – The growing necessity of R&D to GMP Manufacture mproved diagnosis is driving precision in Iulation treatment, accompanied by increasing regstringencies from the likes of the MHRA and FDA. This, in turn, ensures processes as well as the products themselves, are fully understood during every step of the manufacturing process.

The requirement for both the R&D and manufacturing processes to be ‘data-rich’ has become a pre-requisite for drug product manufacturers, and purchasers of drug products, alike; a phenomenon driven not only when things go well, but where an irregularity might have occurred, even when confirmed to be within the validated ‘Design Space’ parameters.

Where the products are usually very expensive to manufacture, manufacturers are always keen to use the data to prove, even if an irregularity took place, the batch can still be released rather than simply quarantined and/ or rejected. From a regulatory perspective, the above method of data interpretation and auditing for corroborating a product is safe for release, is also hugely beneficial.

From Theory to Practice

US based, SP Scientific, has put data necessity at the forefront of its breakthrough suite of new lyo/freeze drying technologies named Line of SightTM, supported in the UK, Ireland, and France, by Biopharma Group.

Line of SightTM encompasses process analytical technologies (PAT), designed to assist pharmaceutical developers/ manufacturers in achieving drug commercialisation objectives, whether for scale-up or scaledown.

All aspects of the range are designed for use at R&D scale, but capable of use at full GMP production too.

patible at manufacturing scale. ­ ControLyo® Nucleation Technology o Precise control of the freezing point in all vials simultane ously, including vials with a thermocouples o Increasing nucleation tempera ture, lowering supercooling, saving time and money o Larger ice crystals – giving a reduced cycle time and faster reconstitution times o To discover more about the improvement in cake appear ance, reduced protein aggregation, skin formation, and vial cracking, watch a short video https://youtu.be/JM00HTm8XaU This allows scientists to know from the outset of an R&D programme that the technology can be scaled up successfully – it is imperative technology can work at the commercial scale, as well as R&D. Some of the most significant freeze drying data interpretation tools for key data post-processing are: ­ AutoMTM/SMART™ Freeze Dryer Technology This is a primary drying cycle optimization tool for in depth product information to determine: o The ice interface temperature o Product resistance (Rp) o Cycle optimisation ­ LyoFlux® TDLAS Sensors Available for use at any scale for the accurate measurement of vapor mass flow in the calculation of critical product attributes such as: • Primary and secondary endpoints • Average product temperature & resistance • Heat transfer coefficients, such as Kv • Assists with engineering freeze dryer performance qualification ­ Tempris® Wireless Sensors All Line of SightTM freeze dryers are compatible for use with Tempris probes. Wireless probes allow the same probe type to be used for R&D and production, whereas wired probes used for R&D are not com-

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­ LyoCapsule™ This freeze dryer enables accelerated freeze drying cycle development with as few as 7 vials and has all of the functionality listed above which is particularly beneficial when small scale development is required due to: • High costs of the product being trialled • Low availability of the product itself – allowing R&D to occur with very small sample volumes, creating data that can be used efficiently at larger scale.

As can be seen from the importance of PAT at the heart of Line of SightTM, whilst the science of freeze drying remains King in the production of viable product, it is apparent that one of the most necessary/ critical elements of processing is the availability of auditable data, which, no matter how good your product looks and performs post-process, generates both regulatory and consumer confidence in the product and subsequently the manufacturer.

To discover more about PAT and Line of SightTM, speak to a Biopharma Group specialist http://bit.ly/BPS Contact or see freeze drying equipment via www.bpscrowthorne.ie. J

PROCESSING & MANUFACTURING I PROCESS SENSORS

Pressure Transmitters For Hygienic Applications new PRESSURE TRANSMITTER for hygienic A applications including features and benefits such as; IO-Link and 0.2% accuracy is the latest addition to the extensive range of process sensors available from ifm electronic.

High accuracy is crucial for many applications and the PM16 series pressure transmitters are designed to provide a total accuracy of 0.2%. Furthermore, temperature compensation for fast temperature changes such as in CIP & SIP processes is significantly improved, so it’s ideal for many food applications. It also features an overload-resistant ceramic capacitive measuring cell which ensures outstanding long-term stability.

The transmitter has a rear hexagonal nut for easy installation in tanks and vessels with double walls and blind fittings. Furthermore, its range of adapters to most common process connections such as: Tri Clamp, Varivent etc and weld bosses ensure simple and flexible fitting with a reduction of article numbers.

It is also designed for a simple zero point calibration via a teach button or IO-Link interface.

As part of its support for customers, ifm provides a download facility for every PM16 sensor enabling a free factory certificate to be downloaded to meet standards and approvals including EHEDG and FDA.

For more information visit www.ifm.com/ie/en/shared/product-news/2018/hmi/pressure-transmitter-for-hygienic-applications J

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PROCESSING & MANUFACTURING I BREWING

Endress+Hauser – The art of brewing beer Beer is brewed using naturally grown products that vary from year to year and from harvest to harvest. The brewer must react to these changes to produce a beer of stable quality, and moreover, the beer must also taste the same year after year in order to meet the customer's expectations. To hit this moving target, a lot of experience is necessary. And that is the art of brewing beer. or decades, global and local producers, F as well as plant and machine builders have profited from our support and innovations designed to increase productivity and reduce costs.

Globally, Endress+Hauser actively partners with Breweries and Brewery equipment providers in more than 100 countries to share experience and knowledge.

Endress+Hauser is here to help you run your process consistently on a high-quality level day and night. Our state-of-the-art sensor technology supports the brewing process. Constantly improved accuracy of process sensors, along with high repeatability enables you to run your process in the most efficient manner.

We help to ensure food safety, quality and compliance. With Endress+Hauser you can meet global hygiene regulations for food safety with robust proven in-use products. Benefit from traceable and accredited calibration services at your facility or in our lab.

Accurate, hygienic inline measurements help conserve resources. Get real-time,

accurate data from your critical processes and save money on raw materials, water, energy and labour, without interrupting your production. Receive quality guidance of the optimum-fit products for your specific needs from a network of global and local experts who stay by your side through the entire life cycle.

Smaller breweries benefit from instrumentation in the same way as larger operations. The challenge is to know where to start and how to justify the initial expense.

Endress+Hauser supports small as well as large scale breweries with high quality measurement solutions that are scalable to your needs. The first challenge for a smaller oper-

MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN, VOL 1 ISSUE 3

ation is to achieve stable quality. Small breweries also need the critical information about their brewing process. This includes the amount of water they use in mashing and sparging as well as how much beer is moved in the cold block. High accuracy temperature sensors in brew house and fermenter ensure stable production conditions.

Trust our reliable instruments for quality measurement that supplies the necessary data for ideal processes, supports suitable solutions for tracking and tracing your beer and minimizes product losses. Our experienced team of industry and application experts helps you select the right process instrumentation for your critical parameters.

Contact Endress+Hauser today to see how we can help improve your beer quality control. Whether you are a larger or a smaller brewery, we can provide custom solutions to fit your application.

If you are interested in measurement solutions from Endress+Hauser for your brewery contact us today on 045 989 200, or email us at info.ie.sc@endress.com.

Visit www.ie.endress.com for more information. J 19

I MEDTECH

Ireland’s Medtech Sector aims for greater share of €530 billion global market Ireland has become one of the largest employers of medtech professionals and exporters of medical products in Europe. mploying over 40,000 people, the Irish medtech sector has expanded steadily since the early 1990s from 50 firms to more than 450 today, with nine of the world’s top ten medtech companies now based in the country.

Ireland’s medtech industry also has a thriving indigenous element as 60% of businesses are home-grown and 80% are either start-ups or SMEs. Indeed, Ireland contin-

E

Top 30 Medtech Companies in Ireland Company

Revenue

1 Medtronic plc . . . . . . . . . . . .€27.6 billion 2 Boston Scientific . . . . . . . . . .€3.9 billion 3 Icon Plc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .€2.5 billion 4 BD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .€1.9 billion 5 Depuy Ireland . . . . . . . . . . . .€1.3 billion 6 Teleflex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .€788.3 million 7 Cook Ireland . . . . . . . . . . .€572.1 million 8 GE Healthcare . . . . . . . . . .€390.9 million 9 Stryker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .€366.9 million 10 Liberty Medical Services . . .€351.6 million 11 Baxter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .€335.8 million 12 Alere International . . . . . .€258.8 million 13 Bausch & Lomb Ireland . . . .€255 million 14 Hollister . . . . . . . . . . . . .€174.4 million 15 Zimmer Orthopedics . . . . .€147.4 million 16 Tech Group Europe . . . . . . . .€133 million 17 Merit Medical . . . . . . . . . .€129.7 million 18 Johnson & Johnson Ireland €101.2 million 19 Natus Nicolet . . . . . . . . . . .€92.5 million 20 Trinity Biotech . . . . . . . . . .€88.7 million 21 Wright Medical . . . . . . . . . .€81.4 million 22 Integer Holdings . . . . . . . . . .€80 million 23 Aerogen . . . . . . . . . . . . . .€72.8 million 24 Trulife . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .€62 million 25 Alcon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .€58.7 million 26 Randox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .€53.3 million 27 Cardinal Health Ireland Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . .€52.8 million 28 Abbott Laboratories . . . . . .€51.6 million 29 Siemens . . . . . . . . . . . . . .€40.9 million 30 ArcRoyal . . . . . . . . . . . . . .€37.5 million Source: Irish Times Top 1000.

Medtronic plc is Ireland’s largest medtech company.

ues to consolidate its position as a global hub for medical technology, attracting over €557 million worth of investments by FDI multinationals and funding for start-ups in 2019.

The sector is characterised by a strong services and contract research and manufacturing base with half of the companies operating in the business to businesses sphere. The sector invests heavily in R&D and innovation as it chases a bigger share of the global medtech market which is predicted to be worth €530 billion in sales by 2024.

Top 30 Medtech Companies in Ireland

The Top 30 Medtech Companies in Ireland, based on revenue, are listed in the Table. They range in scale from Medtronic plc with annual turnover of €27.6 billion down to ArcRoyal with sales of €37.5 million. Established in 1992, ArcRoyal is an Irish-owned company that makes a number of products, including custom procedure trays and essential surgical products.

Medtronic plc became Ireland’s largest medtech company in 2015 when it commenced trading on the New York Stock Exchange following its $42.9 billion acquiMANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN, VOL 1 ISSUE 3

sition of Covidien plc. The deal significantly advanced Medtronic’s position as the world’s premier medical technology and services company, and the business subsequently moved its corporate headquarters to Ireland. Medtronic plc currently employs more than 4,000 people in Ireland across five sites in Galway, Dublin and Athlone.

The Dublin site features a Centre of Excellence for Operations and R&D to support Global Cardiac & Vascular Businesses, as well as a Customer Innovation Centre. The Galway operations focus on the development of Respiratory & Monitoring Solutions, while Medtronic Athlone manufactures airways products and

John Power, CEO and founder of Aerogen.

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This accolade is given to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the development, growth and success of the medtech sector in Ireland.

Aerogen is Irish Medtech Company of the Year 2020 Boston Scientific ranks 2nd in the Top 30.

also features an R&D Center of Excellence.

Covid-19 Response

Medtronic plc won the Covid-19 Response Recognition Award in the 2020 Irish Medtech Awards, after increasing its ventilator production by 5 times in less than 5 months at its Galway plant which moved to 24/7 operations, and sharing full designs for a Medtronic Galway engineered ventilator.

Organised every year by the Irish Medtech Association, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, the Irish Medtech Awards recognise the achievements and reward excellent performance in Irish-based medtech companies.

Omar Ishrak, who was CEO of Medtronic from June 2011 to April 2020, was the winner of the Outstanding Contribution to Medtech Award 2020.

Aerogen, ranked 23rd in the Top 30, was named Irish Med Company of the Year for 2020. Established in Galway more than 20 years ago, Aerogen has become internationally synonymous with the effective treatment of respiratory illness among patient groups of all ages playing a critical role in emergency departments and intensive care units in over 75 countries worldwide.

Accepting the award John Power, CEO and founder of Aerogen, said: “In a year of unprecedented worldwide turmoil Aerogen product utilisation surpassed the 10 million patient mark for the first time and recorded 30%+ growth across our business. This could only have been achieved with the dedication and passion of our team both in Ireland and globally and their unwavering commitment to bring the very best solutions in drug delivery to the most vulnerable of patients in acute care.”

Scientific won the Best Value of Medtech Campaign Award. The award recognises companies that lead innovative initiatives to help improve the awareness of the life changing medical technologies they develop as part of the European ‘Value of Medtech’ campaign.

Depuy Ireland (ranked 5th) won the Women in Leadership Company Initiative Award for its Re-Ignite program, a paid ‘returnship’ initiative.

Start-ups and SME’s play a key role within Ireland’s dynamic medtech ecosystem.

The 2020 Emerging Medtech Company of the Year was Galway-based Perfuze, which is developing a catheter-based solution to Acute Ischemic Stroke with the potential to help millions. J

Omar Ishrak, who was CEO of Medtronic from June

Other Winners

2011 to April 2020, was the winner of the

Ranked 2nd in the Top 30, Boston

Outstanding Contribution to Medtech Award 2020.

STORAGE & LOGISTICS

I MEDTECH

Kuehne+Nagel Ireland awarded Medtech Partner/Supplier of the Year with West Pharmaceuticals at Medtech Rising 2020 uehne+Nagel Ireland and West K Pharmaceuticals were recognised at the recent Medtech Rising Global Awards 2020 as the Medtech Partner/Supplier of the year.

The virtual event, which took place from December 2nd to December 3rd, was opened by the Executive Chairman of Medtronic, Omar Ishrak and was attended by over 200 MedTech professionals around the globe.

“We are thrilled to have won the Medtech Partner of the Year Award 2020 and the collective recognition it brings for both West and Kuehne & Nagel for our vision, strategy and partnership,” said Martina Doyle, Sales & Business Development Director at West Pharma. “Dublin was delighted to lead the way as the pilot for the global roll-out of this partnership and to work with a worldclass leading provider of logistics like Kuehne+Nagel who continue to add value

to our business daily.”

This award puts further emphasis on Kuehne+Nagel’s commitment to provide supply chain excellence to its partners.

Kuehne+Nagel also continues to invest in world-class facilities to enhance the offering to the broader Medtech and Pharmaceutical industries in Ireland.

“We worked towards simplifying com-

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plexity to allow West Pharma to focus on what matters most, their end customer. We are delighted with this recognition, as it demonstrates the commitment and collaborative partnership we have with West Pharmaceuticals. We have a customerfocussed approach which allows us to consistently deliver world class logistics strategies,” said Adam O’Sullivan, Head of Pharma and Healthcare at Kuehne+Nagel Ireland.

With 78,000 employees at more than 1,300 locations in over 100 countries, the Kuehne+Nagel Group is one of the world's leading logistics companies. Its strong market position lies in the sea logistics, air logistics, contract logistics and overland businesses, with a clear focus on providing IT-based integrated logistics solutions. Further information can be found at www.kuehnenagel.com. J

STORAGE & LOGISTICS

What will 2021 mean for logistics and supply chain? ued with their online shopping. Now, we are seeing the curve grow once more and businesses who operate in such markets are requiring flexible supply chains to suit them both in terms of bringing goods into the UK, storing them and shipping them to the purchaser. It has proved to be a highly complex operation but one which has stepped up to the demand of the consumer and delivered.

Agile and adaptable is what is winning in the current climate and it is important that we continue to support customers and each other during this unusual trading period.

Sustainable operations

uring the COVID-19 lockdowns, the D supply chain network of the UK was not only put under immense pressure, it also proved its unswerving resilience as it adapted to the new and ever changing needs of the nation. Alistair Plant, Divisional Operations Manager at Carlton Forest 3PL, who together with the team expanded the businesses operations to cope with the uplift in demand, appraises what the future holds for the industry and how we can all be best prepared to succeed both now and in the future.

Even industry stalwarts will say that they have never seen such demand on the logistics sector as in the past year. A combination of a global pandemic and Brexit, both of which we were woefully underprepared for, has seen the logistics, freight, warehousing, haulage and supply chain businesses placed under extreme pressure to keep food on shelves and goods being delivered or stored.

Now, as we begin 2021 with a similar raft of challenges as we had in spring last year, here’s our take on how we see the year unfolding and the three things that we think will be critical to our industry.

Increased facility demand

Retailers at this time of year are typically

Coupled with the increase in storage is the increase in flexibility for more agile supply chains where needs are based on current demand rather than strategic, cost effective lean supply chains. A prime example of this is the ecommerce market and how that shifted in 2020 to ensure retailers were still able to trade when non-essential retail was closed.

Even towards the end of the year, when non-essential retail enjoyed a period of being able to open, consumers contin-

An increasing number of business sectors are seeking ways in which they can make their operations more sustainable.

Logistics and supply chain is no exception. Packaging reduction or the removal of hard to treat packaging from all elements of the supply chain continues as both third party businesses and consumers drive this demand. In addition, businesses are choosing local firms for storage and distribution where possible, reducing product miles and driving efficiencies in terms of cost and time.

Those that are at the real cutting edge of visionary sustainability are seeking new ways to reuse waste, generate energy and we are no exception. Our onsite waste to energy plant will become fully operation in 2021 and will generate enough energy for our Worksop headquarters to become fully self-sufficient.

2021 looks to be another uncertain year for many British business sectors but, by working together and supporting each other I feel confident that the supply chain sector can continue to be a calming anchor in the storm that we find ourselves in.

Carlton Forest 3PL is a Warehousing, Distribution and Logistics business based in North Nottinghamshire, serving the whole of the UK and Ireland. The company provides accredited 3PL supply chain services to companies nationwide which include tailored distribution & delivery services, copacking, packaging, labelling, value added, pick & pack, fulfilment, stock management, storage and RH&D co-ordinated by its comprehensive warehouse management system. J

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selling off festive and winter stock and gearing up for the new season and whilst many can continue trading online, there are a good number who don’t have that option or have found that consumers prefer to shop in person rather than online for certain products. Consignments of new stock are arriving almost daily and with decreased levels of stock turnover it is necessary for companies to find places to store these products. This is seeing the demand for empty warehouses grow considerable across all areas of the country to support this element of the supply chain and other such as food and drink as eating and drinking habits continue to be entirely home based.

Agile supply chains

I 3D PRINTING

3D printing delivers savings of over €100,000 in under eight months As 3D printing continues to revolutionise global manufacturing, Irish companies are recognising how the technology can transform both their supply chains and their processes. hile 3D printing is not necessarily a new phenomenon, recent technological advances have made stakeholders across Ireland, and indeed the world, sit up and take notice of the benefits available to companies.

The advantages of 3D printing begin right at the start of the design process, with peak performance available through unparalleled design freedom. Furthermore, this design freedom is achieved in a way that is significantly more cost effective than traditional manufacturing, allowing invaluable flexibility to meet modern manufacturing requirements. As a market leader in the supply of 3D printers in Ireland, 3D Technology Ltd. founder James Wall is seeing a significant increase in demand for 3D printing services amongst Irish companies: “More than ever we are being contacted by businesses seeking to learn more about the process of 3D printing and how it can benefit their business. Without exception these businesses are surprised to learn the extent to which 3D printing is now the norm across global manufacturing.”

In addition to the benefits of design accuracy and shorter lead times, 3D printing is also driving significant cost savings for companies around the globe, including marine and technology leaders Wartsila.

they wanted to expand to a larger and more industrial printer to increase throughput, so they purchased an Industrial Series X7 printer for their Italian facility.

Working alongside Markforged, they redesigned the lifting tool for additive manufacturing. The new design included splitting the tool into a number of parts to best leverage continuous carbon fibre reinforcement and enabled the lifting tool to lift a 240 kilogram engine piston on the first try.

Wartsila’s embracement of additive manufacturing has already more than paid off, with the additive manufacturing team estimating that in just eight months they have saved over €100,000 in tooling alone, which they believe can scale with more Markforged printers in more facilities around the world.

W

The Challenge

Wartsila is a global leader in smart technologies and complete lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets, with a portfolio of products that spans from engines to propulsion and renewable solutions.

James Wall, founder of 3D Technology Ltd.

Looking Ahead

The Finnish factory in Vaasa and Italian factory in Trieste oversee the manufacturing of large engines that power a third of the world’s largest cargo ships. The teams often need to fabricate tools to solve problems and optimize the efficiency of both the field and factories, and usually have to rely on third-party suppliers to manufacture them.

To interface with the complex features of their engines, many of the tools have unique mating features. Wartsila usually machines its lifting tools out of solid steel, but found the resulting tools to be too expensive, too time-intensive to manufacture, and too heavy for people to use and transport. The teams are also unable to make quick design changes when needed.

Each cost and weight increase has a significant impact when scaled across hundreds of tools — especially when the tool is needed to service or perform maintenance on parts in a large commercial ship where space is limited.

The Solution

3D printed lifting tool.

With three Markforged carbon fibre printers, and now a Metal X 3D printer capable of printing in various industrial metals,

Wartsila is far from done when it comes to adopting an additive manufacturing approach to solving problems. From tool holders and measuring tools to customerfacing production parts, engineers are now empowered to search for new 3D printed applications all around the production floor.

To learn more about the potential benefits of 3D printing for your business contact 3D Technology Ltd. in Galway today via their website www.3dtechnology.ie J

Engineers at Wartsila had been using Markforged carbon fibre 3D printers since mid-2018 to solve similar problems, and had already made several tools for their factories. The Trieste and Vaasa teams decided MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN, VOL 1 ISSUE 3

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PROCESSING & MANUFACTURING

Pneumatics Group - Providing Industry with Engineering Solutions neumatics Group has been providing P Irish industry with products and solutions in the fields of pneumatics, vacuum, process, and automation for 38 years. Still a familyrun business today, the second generation have maintained the high standards of support, technical knowhow, friendliness, and professionalism instilled by its now retired founder, Donal O’Reilly.

Located in Bluebell, Dublin 12, since 1991, its modern office and warehouse facili-

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ty is home to 25 dedicated staff, and over €2 million in stock, by far the largest available from any privately owned distributor in their field here in Ireland.

Pneumatics Group have always aimed to partner with industry leading, innovative, and high-quality manufactures worldwide, including brands such as; Metal Work Pneumatic, Aventics Pneumatics, Piab Vacuum, Festo Process Automation, Clippard, Walker Filtration, Omal, Mikalor, Jubilee, Ludecke, Asco Numatics, TopWorx, John Guest, PCL, Norma, Stauff, JWL, ACL, Aircom, Masterflex, and Tol-O-Matic, amongst many others.

Managing Director, Michael O’Reilly explains the company ethos: “We pride ourselves on the personality and diligence of our team, and constant improvement in our service levels and the features we can offer as added value, to our customer base, is paramount to myself and the management team here.”

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Their well renowned floMAX catalogue and online shop www.flomax.ie is a valuable source to engineers, maintenance and purchasing personnel. “Over the past few years, we have seen consistent growth in online sales, but this has reached new levels since the unfortunate arrival of Covid-19 last year. We are continuing to invest significantly to further enhance the user experience and delivery service levels,” says Michael O’Reilly.

It seems that this longstanding supplier to Irish industry continues to adapt and invest, in order to ensure that it remains a leading player in the fluid power industry for many years to come. J

I MEAT & POULTRY

Challenging times for meat and poultry processors As the meat and poultry sectors in the UK and Ireland become increasingly consolidated and international in nature, the major processors continue to invest in improving efficiency and sustainability throughout their supply chains, as they adapt to changing consumer concerns and intensifying competition, while meeting the challenges of Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic. he Top 15 Meat and Poultry Processors in the UK and Ireland, ranked according to annual turnover, are listed in the Table.

The biggest processors have been investing to enhance productivity and efficiency while also securing more integrated and transparent supply chains, especially in light of the increasing focus on food safety standards in meat and poultry processing.

ing their various processing sites.

Formed in 2018 as a joint venture between Cargill’s fresh chicken operations in the UK and Faccenda Foods’ fresh chicken, turkey and duck business, Avara Foods (ranked 8th) is investing over £11 million in state-of-the-art technology and equipment, along with a major upgrade to

T

Top 15 Meat & Poultry Processors in the UK & Ireland

Capital Investment

For example, in England, Cranswick (ranked 5th), the meat, poultry and convenience food business, recently commenced production at its new £75 million poultry processing facility at Eye in Suffolk.

Cranswick is also investing £20 million in new cooked bacon facility at Hull. Indeed,

Cranswick The red and white spentmeat a record processing £101industry million is worth billionbase a year to last the British economy across£8.2 its asset in its financial year, with exportsthe accounting for a significant part. bringing total investment in infrastruc-

Company Nick Allen, CEO of BMPA.

ture over the last eight years to more than £400 million.

In Scotland, Scotbeef, which is jointly owned by JW Galloway (ranked 15th), the country’s largest red meat processor, and north-east farmers’ co-operative ANM Group, has started construction of a new £20 million abattoir near Inverurie.

Moy Park (ranked 6th), Northern Ireland’s largest private sector company and one of Europe’s leading poultry producers, and 2 Sisters Food Group (ranked 1st), which supplies about a third of all poultry products eaten every day in the UK, have both been both investing heavily in upgrad-

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Turnover

1 Boparan Holdings (incorporating 2 Sisters Food Group) .£2.74 billion 2 ABP Food Group . . . . . . . . . .£2.70 billionE 3 Hilton Food Group . . . . . . . . .£1.81 billion 4 Dawn Meats Group . . . . . . . .£1.80 billionE 5 Cranswick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .£1.67 billion 6 Moy Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .£1.58 billion 7 Kepak Group . . . . . . . . . . . . .£1.35 billion 8 Avara Foods . . . . . . . . . . . . .£1.14 billion 9 Dunbia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .£1.09 billion 10 Tulip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .£1.07 billion 11 Karro Food Group . . . . . . . .£585.2 million 12 Fane Valley . . . . . . . . . . .£558.0 millionE 13 Arrow Group . . . . . . . . . . .£532.3 million 14 Foyle Food Group . . . . . . . .£370.7 million 15 JW Galloway (Scotbeef) . . .£367.8 million Euro = £0.90

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staff facilities at its site in Brackley, Northamptonshire.

Reflecting growing consumer concern, sustainability is now high on the agenda for the meat and poultry processing industry.

For instance, Dawn Meats (ranked 4th), one of Ireland’s leading meat processors, has cut its CO2 emissions by 33% just four years into a ten-year strategy to reduce the company’s environmental impact. Since 2017, Dawn Meats has doubled in size following the strategic partnership and joint venture with Dunbia (ranked 9th) in the UK and the acquisition of the former Dunbia facilities in the Republic of Ireland.

tions has impacted domestic demand and Brexit is now affecting export sales.

Between 75% and 90% of the trade BMPA members do is with EU countries.

The BMPA is receiving a growing number of calls from meat companies highlighting the plethora of problems they have

Nick Allen, CEO of BMPA, explains “We are calling for the current customs and certification system to be modernised and digitised, as the existing paper-based system is a relic from the last century and simply not fit for purpose. It was never designed to cope with the kind of integrated, just-in-time supply chain we have built up over the last 40 years, and if not fixed quickly it will be the thing that starts to dismantle the European trade British companies have fought so hard to win.”

Another major problem facing UK meat and poultry processors is a shortage of vets. In a recent letter to the Secretary of State, CEOs of some of the largest beef, lamb, pork and chicken processors COVID-19 and Brexit in the UK have sent a stark warning that The red and white meat processing if the current shortage of vets in the UK industry is worth £8.2 billion a year to persists, trade volumes of products of the British economy with exports animal origin could drop by 50-75%. accounting for a significant part, Cranswick spent a record £101 million across its asset base in its The export-orientated Irish meat according to the British Meat last financial year, bringing the total investment in infrastructure industry is also being impacted by Processors Association (BMPA), which over the last eight years to more than £400 million.

COVID-19 and Brexit. Despite these is the leading trade association for the challenges, Irish meat exports meat and meat products industry in the been experiencing at the borders - problems increased by 2% to Eur3.4 billion in 2020 UK. BMPA members are responsible for which are now causing a serious and sus- although sales of beef and poultry declined supplying fresh meat and meat products to tained loss of trade with the industry’s by 2%. While the Irish beef industry has retailers, restaurants and food service com- biggest export partner – the EU. Indeed, been successful in reducing its reliance on the UK’s largest meat companies fear a the UK market from 56% of sales in 2016, panies throughout the UK. The closure of the food service and hos- drop in exports due to costly and cumber- it still accounted for 44% of total exports of pitality sectors due to COVID-19 restric- some customs certification.

Eur1.9 billion last year. J

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I INNOVATION

Unilever and Innova Partnerships one step closer to self-cleaning surfaces Unilever and Innova Partnerships have launched a joint venture biotechnology company, Penrhos Bio, to commercialise a technology that means self-cleaning surfaces could become a reality.

T

he world first breakthrough has come with the introduction of an organic compound called Lactam which can block, or prevent, bacteria and mould on everyday surfaces. This patented technology, which Unilever has been researching for over 10 years, is developed from natural chemicals in seaweed biology and has the potential to be used in a range of situations from preventing fungal growth in washing machines and dishwashers to self-cleaning banknotes.

Bacterial contamination

Everyday items including clothing and kitchen surfaces are constantly challenged by bacterial contamination. Over 80% of bacterial infections in people are estimated to involve the formation of biofilms, a collection of microorganisms that grows on many surfaces. These microorganisms are formed and developed through bacterial communications systems, but now research has found that by disrupting these systems it’s possible to not only prevent them from growing in the first place but to keep the surfaces cleaner for longer.

Penhros Bio could help to tackle some of the biggest societal and environmental challenges of the 21st century. It represents signifi-

Dr Jon Hague, Unilever’s Vice President for Science & Technology, Unilever Homecare, says: “The commercialised use of Lactam presents a significant opportunity for cleaning products globally and could revolutionise the industry. However, what we have found is a unique technology in which its uses are almost limitless. We recognise what this technology can represent at scale for many sectors outside of Unilever’s portfolio. Through Penrhos Bio, we want to connect with other industries that would benefit from using this solution.”

Professor Steve Howell, Founder of Innova Partnerships, says: “This is such an exciting and innovative space. We’re currently working with license partners for banknotes and dental applications, but there are so many more uses in which this technology could benefit.” J

cant opportunity across multiple sectors, including healthcare, textiles, and marine and could even be used in medical fields where microbial biofilms are commonplace.

Natural cleaning

Dr Neil Parry, R&D Programme Director - Biotechnology and Biosourcing, Unilever, explains: “This technology replicates the natural cleaning process of seaweed; keeping surfaces clean and repelling unwanted invaders from its direct environment. This biology works in extreme conditions such that it will keep working in dirty waters by blocking the communication between bacteria so that it cannot colonise and build up on healthy surfaces of the plant. This is what we have successfully replicated in the lab, and now we are ready to start trialling this in our Unilever cleaning products.”

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ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT I ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Shell partners with Simply Blue Energy to develop Emerald Floating wind project hell has signed an agreement with Irish S developer Simply Blue Energy to acquire a 51% share of their Simply Blue Energy Kinsale venture, which was set up to develop the Emerald Project, a floating wind farm in the Celtic Sea, off the south coast of Ireland. The Joint Venture will be operated by Simply Blue Energy supported

by Shell floating wind experts, with the project office based in the Cork City Docklands rejuvenation area.

This partnership combines the floating wind track-record and local knowledge of Simply Blue Energy with Shell’s offshore experience, floating wind expertise and an ability to develop large complex projects.

The Emerald Project is a fantastic example of the energy transition, located in the vicinity of the Kinsale gas fields, currently being decommissioned. This project will use state-of-the-art renewable floating wind-powered generators.

The project

The project is in the early stages and aims to exploit the vast floating wind potential in the Irish part of the Celtic Sea. 300MW of installed capacity is planned initially, with the potential to scale-up to a total installed capacity of 1GW. This is equivalent to powering 800,000 Irish homes or the capacity of the Moneypoint power station, Ireland’s largest electricity generation station. This ‘stepping-stone’ approach is designed to build the infrastructure necessary to deliver a project of this scale and ultimately enable Ireland to increase its energy independence, while also reducing emissions.

Floating Wind technology

Floating wind technology can be installed in deeper waters than fixed wind turbines

Shell Offshore Wind engineers at a wind Farm.

allowing this project to be placed 35km–60km offshore, reducing visual impacts. Depending on the size of turbines selected, the first phase of the project will include between 15 and 25 turbines. The assembly, installation and deployment of these turbines could stimulate hundreds of high-quality jobs in the local supply chain.

Long-term operations and maintenance of the turbines will also require local skills and services in Cork Harbour for up to 25 years.

Colin Crooks, VP Offshore Wind, Shell, said: “At Shell we aim to build an integrated power business spanning electricity generation, trading and supply. This project

The Emerald Project will use state-of-the-art renewable floating wind-powered generators.

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could provide green power to consumers and businesses alike and contribute towards Shell’s ambition to be a net-zero emissions business by 2050, or sooner. Working alongside coastal communities to create shared value is key to success and this is why we have chosen and look forward to working with Simply Blue Energy who are rooted in the local community.”

Major opportunity for Ireland

Sam Roch-Perks, CEO of Simply Blue Energy, said: “Floating wind energy is a major opportunity for Ireland to become a ‘Green Gulf’, by realising the benefits of its vast marine and offshore wind resources without negatively impacting our beautiful coastlines. Simply Blue Energy is delighted to work with Shell to further our portfolio of floating wind projects in the Celtic Sea. Our shared vision for Emerald is to do the right thing for our stakeholders, the community and the environment. This announcement represents an important milestone in the ability of the Emerald project to ensure the government meets its climate target of 5GW of offshore wind by 2030.” J 31

MATERIALS & PACKAGING I SUSTAINABILITY

Saica Pack Ireland closing the loop on sustainable packaging ith sites in Ashbourne, Dublin, W Warrenpoint and Lurgan, Saica Pack has established itself as one of the largest producers of corrugated packaging in Ireland. The company has achieved this feat whilst maintaining a commitment towards promoting sustainability and the environment; a value which is at the heart of all its operations.

Founded in 2008, Saica Pack Ireland employs more than 250 highly skilled staff members across its three sites, and the corrugated packaging specialists work alongside a broad range of clients from a variety of sectors including Agriculture, Food & Beverage, Healthcare and General Manufacturing.

Saica Pack Ireland maintains its commit-

ment to the environment with the majority of its paper used to produce corrugated packaging made from recycled materials, most of which is recovered from retail and public waste streams through Saica Natur.

Michael Shaw, Saica Ireland Regional Sales Director, says: “After years of hard work and internal investment, Saica Pack Ireland is leading the way in the sustainable production of packaging materials for the national market. Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do, and this underpins our production process from start-tofinish.

“As Saica Pack Ireland, we are committed to closing the loop with an End to End process and increasingly opening up more opportunities for sustainable solutions.”

The company refrains from using heavy fuel in the manufacturing process, and the division is working with customers both nationally and locally to ensure production is efficient, environmentally friendly and of the very highest quality.

Saica Pack Ireland recently launched its End to End: Cost of Ownership tool, a revolutionary application which provides customers with a detailed analysis of each cost incurred during production, and how they

affect each element of the value chain. In turn, this has streamlined the production process and significantly improved the sustainability of their packaging solutions.

The company has also embraced its Solutions Catalogue, which showcases their extensive array of packaging designs and innovations on a digital, easy-to-use application.

Saica Group is one of the largest European players in the development and production of recycled paper for corrugated board, with a production of 3.2 million tons of paper. The group employs more than 10,000 people across Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, UK, Ireland, Turkey, Luxembourg and The Netherlands. J

A market first – Avery Dennison launches recycled direct thermal paper labels very Dennison has introduced rDT, the first commercially A available direct thermal paper labels to contain recycled postconsumer waste. Direct thermal (DT) paper is a popular material

information visit www.averydennison.com/direct-thermal-paperlabels. J

due to its ease of use, high print speed, high image resolution, and wide range of compatible printers. Avery Dennison’s new rDT is the first recycled uncoated direct thermal paper label material available on the market.

“We’ve seen a sharp rise in demand for sustainable direct thermal solutions, especially in the logistics and eCommerce space,” says Vincenzo Palumbo, product manager direct thermal Paper at Avery Dennison. “That such a widely used material didn’t have a recycled option available showed a big gap in the market, and we’re excited to introduce rDT to meet the clear demand for sustainable labels as well as push the labelling industry towards more regenerative practices.” rDT is a BPA-free, FSC certified direct thermal uncoated paper that contains post-consumer recycled waste. The material’s performance is on par with standard DT paper, including visual appearance, conversion, printability, and barcode readability. For further 32

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CITYWEST HOTEL, DUBLIN