Experts give lift up to engineering company

Ametal working and elevator company has reflected on the success of its collaboration with academics at the University of Northampton.

EES UK, based on the Round Spinney industrial estate in Northampton, worked alongside the university’s engineering team to create fireproof gates that provide a barrier for lift shafts when the lift door is not in place, preventing people from falling and a fire from spreading.

The collaboration took place under the Knowledge Transfer Partnership initiative, which aims to help businesses to improve competitiveness and productivity through the knowledge, technology and expertise at the university.

Businesses work with with a UoN academic team and a graduate or postgraduate student to develop a particular business initiative. The KTP can be as bespoke as required, with up to 75 per cent of the cost funded by Innovate UK.

“With the university’s lift engineering, they were absolutely the right fit’ for us,” said EES’ production manager Neil Clark. “The partnership has helped our research and development department and created a role for an associate here.”

The experience has raised EES’ profile, he added. “It has opened our eyes to new possibilities and opened our doors to other industries we may not otherwise have had access to.”

UoN research assistant Mateusz Gizicki worked with EES on the project.

“The product went from just an idea, through the concept stage, to development of a solution certified for use,” he said.

“The whole process has been very successful. As the associate, I was employed full time to address what EES UK needed and looked at the problem from a new perspective.”

Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce and Innovate UK hosted two breakfast discussion and networking events last month to promote