collaboration nation · supply chain collaboration processes with scalable cloud-based systems...

Collaboration Nation

Technology Strategy BoardDriving Innovation

New business models in high value manufacturing

November 2013

The development and use of new technologies drive economic growth, but early-stage innovation can be too high risk for many small and medium-sized businesses to undertake without support. Our feasibility study funding enables new ideas to be transformed into demonstrable technologies and techniques that can attract the partners, investors and future customers needed for successful and timely commercialisation. This directory showcases the feasibility studies we have funded as part of the Business Models theme within our High Value Manufacturing Strategy.

Index of companies 3D Industries Ltd ...................................... 4

Acidophil ................................................... 5

Advanced Laser Technology Ltd ............ 6

AeroDNA Ltd ............................................ 7

Applied Nanodetectors Ltd ..................... 8

Auxetix Ltd ................................................ 9

C4 Carbides Ltd ..................................... 10

Croft Additive Manufacturing Ltd ...........11

DNAcoders Ltd ....................................... 12

DZP Technologies Ltd ............................ 13

EPL Composite Solutions Ltd ................ 14

European Thermodynamics Ltd ........... 15

i3d robotics ltd ........................................ 16

Medibord Ltd .......................................... 17

Optical Metrology Services ................... 18

Pre Chasm Research Ltd (PCRL) ......... 19

Pre Chasm Research Ltd (PCRL) ......... 20

Real Insight Ltd ....................................... 21

Searu ....................................................... 22

New business models in high value manufacturing | 3

The UK is among the world’s top 10 manufacturing economies, well placed to exploit high-growth opportunities here and overseas for our high value manufacturing capability. Manufacturing businesses employ 2.5 million people in this country, contributing 10% of UK gross value added and accounting for 54% of our exports as well as three quarters of business R&D.

Innovation in high value manufacturing frequently creates the need for new business models – new and varied ways of creating, delivering and capturing value. In line with our High Value Manufacturing Strategy 2012-15, the Technology Strategy Board invested £470k in 19 feasibility study projects in June 2013 to stimulate new business models supporting innovations in high value manufacturing. The project work took place between July and October 2013.

This directory describes these feasibility projects and how they have progressed with our support, all with the aim of boosting the UK’s capability in high value manufacturing. The future success of these projects rests on their ability to develop further their innovations, often with others as industrial partners or investors. That might include you.

Dr Will Barton Head of Manufacturing

Introduction

4 | Collaboration Nation

3D Industries LtdEnd-to-end 3D design, search, source and additive manufacture fulfilment channel

11 Rivermill151 Grosvenor RoadLondon SW1V 3JN

3D Industries is a London-based web company developing a next generation 3D shape-based search engine. This has disruptive applications in the manufacturing and 3D printing sectors. 3DI consists of an international team of IT and industry experts.

Chief executive officerSeena Rejal

[email protected] 07870 442050 @3dindustries

What was the business need that motivated the project?

With the rapid rise in additive manufacturing and 3D printing, the 3D web and ecosystem have exploded. A number of world-class players in the 3D value chain – from modelling and searching to sourcing and fabrication – are located in the UK. An end-to-end platform can create and capture value in additive manufacturing for the UK economy.

What approach did you take to address the challenge?

Initially, we carried out a landscaping exercise to map the players in the UK 3D ecosystem. We also created a list of non-UK players to investigate global links where there is a current gap in the UK value chain. A series of questionnaires and interviews gathered detailed information and insights from potential platform partners and users. We also created and reviewed mock-ups of such a platform.

What are the potential benefits?

The global 3D printing / additive manufacturing industry is expected to reach $5.2 billion by 2020. An end-to-end platform in the UK would capture a larger portion than a piecemeal chain can. This would trickle down into the economy, creating a hub with sustainable regional competitive advantage. It would create knowledge and additional benefits to further strengthen individual players. The 3D web is the future and the UK can lead.

What are the next steps?

We have identified and engaged with partners, developed the framework for a platform, and collected the technical details to underpin the integration. In the next step, we will commission developers to build and test such a platform. We will secure funding for this, based on our study.



Our business model is aimed at reducing the time and cost of developing patent-protected therapeutics to address pressing threats to human health. This project will allow for further development and evaluation of our business model and a comparison with models used by competing companies.


We will continue working to establish a bioactive therapeutics synthetic biology company. We will dedicate the majority of our cash resources to proof-of-principle studies while holding discussions with potential corporate and other strategic partners.


There is a pressing need for new therapeutics to solve a number of threats to human health, including multidrug-resistant bacteria and cancer. Although a number of promising biotechnologies developed in the UK hold great promise for solving these critical problems, few biotechnology companies achieve commercial success.


We are pursuing an innovative virtual business model which can exploit existing academic and commercial capabilities to combine recent advances in synthetic biology with synthetic chemistry for the development of novel therapeutics. We identify unmet needs through discussions with strategic and financial partners, often corporations, and then develop solutions together with a network of experts. Compelling opportunities are co-funded by Acidophil and our partners and we then manage the project.

Acidophil is a development company working with corporate partners to create and develop patent-protected products and processes for the healthcare, agriculture, industrial chemicals or consumer product industries. These products and processes are based upon synthetic biochemistry technologies.

Vice president operations and IPSimon Aspland

[email protected] 01223 790164 www.acidophil.com

Salisbury HouseStation RoadCambridgeCB1 2LA

Virtual lab model for novel natural product-derived therapeutics

Acidophil



We envisage reduced transport costs and less time needed to repair damaged components, leading to reduced downtime.


Our project has already aroused interest among owners of very large components. We will be following up these leads.


We identified a need to reduce the cost of remanufacturing or repairing very large components on site, removing the requirement for costly transport.


The challenge is based on cladding powder recipes, cladding laser optics heads and post-cladding work to smooth the repaired section on a damaged component. Regulatory and customer standards for the repaired/remanufactured products are a vital issue.

Advanced Laser Technology develops ways of using lasers to reduce manufacturing costs. We develop and integrate complete systems, and design hardware. Inventya is our marketing partner, finding beta testers for the new technologies among the engineering industries.

Managing directorRoger Hardacre

[email protected] 0161 273 3880 www.altlaser.co.uk

Partner: Inventya Ltd

9 Piccadilly Trading EstateGiddings RoadManchesterM1 2NP

Mobile laser cladding and re-manufacturing

Advanced Laser Technology Ltd



Our study will result in five high value manufacturing companies using our cloud-based software package ‘Tender’, to unlock collaborative work package opportunities. The companies will become more competitive and responsive to opportunities and we expect the quotation conversion rate will increase from 48% average to 60%. That would grow revenues of the five companies by more than 10% and lead to around 15 jobs being created.


We will continue the piloting and specification refinement at the five companies to develop a commercial software solution and generate tangible case studies and testimonials which will support the commercialisation phase. We will develop a sales network by partnering with organisations already supporting our target market.


High value manufacturing SMEs do not have the tools, processes and behaviours to openly collaborate with supply chain partners, which can result in a fragmented and disjointed service to the customer. The ability to respond proactively to sales enquiries through a robust tendering process is critical in securing new order book from UK and overseas customers.


We looked to develop a cloud-based tendering platform to streamline collaborative work package tendering processes in high value manufacturing networks. By combining best-practice supply chain collaboration processes with scalable cloud-based systems integrated with disparate ERP systems, we could help UK advanced manufacturing businesses to compete more effectively in global markets as extended enterprises.

AeroDNA provides cloud-based supply chain management software solutions to high value manufacturing sectors such as the aerospace, oil and gas and automotive sectors.

Chief executiveTom Dawes

[email protected] 01772 336944 www.aerodna.com

Room 6, Business Resource CentreAdmin Road, Knowsley Industrial ParkLiverpoolL33 7TX

Collaborative work package tendering platform for SME extended enterprises

AeroDNA Ltd



Some 5.4 million people in the UK are currently receiving treatment for asthma and hospital admissions account for a large portion of the direct costs of uncontrolled asthma. Using our asthma device within an intelligent system for healthcare will help patients better manage their asthma, reduce healthcare costs and improve the quality of care, by providing real-time data and feedback to patients and providers.


The project will enable us to engage with different stakeholders and to find potential partners to develop and validate this technology. We will then build the technical and economic evidence for successful deployment within the NHS and also for use in the worldwide medical device market.


The NHS spends around £1 billion a year treating and caring for people with asthma; an estimated 75% of hospital admissions for asthma are avoidable. The NHS is looking for new solutions to manage asthma patients in the community in order to improve patient outcomes and reduce the financial burden.


We engaged with NHS consultants to understand their requirements to manage asthma patients in the community. We then analysed and produced new business models based on the nine elements of the business model canvas (Osterwalder and Pigneur). We evaluated each model using business development criteria and presented to the NHS consultants to get their feedback. We then selected the most appropriate model to use for further business development.

Applied Nanodetectors Ltd is a leading supplier of nanosensors for the healthcare and medical markets. Our main focus is to develop point-of-care diagnostics for respiratory disease, based on breath analysis.

Managing DirectorVictor Higgs

[email protected] 020 7989 0117 www.applied-nanodetectors.com

Innova Science Park Electric AvenueEnfieldMiddlesexEN3 7XU

Integrated systems and embedded electronics for an asthma diagnostic device in the home

Applied Nanodetectors Ltd



Technology Strategy Board funding of the project has enabled Auxetix to cross the risk gap between the abstractions of a platform technology to a credible business plan for an investible product. The aim is to create a UK-based world-leading sportswear enterprise with a novel ‘living’ fabric product range. This would have very positive impacts for the company, employment and sections of the textile industry willing to engage with smart fabrics.


Next steps will be to determine the optimal fabric(s) that need to be created for energy sportswear and to refine the business model accordingly to ensure that it is investor-ready.


The need was to explore the attractive sports/medical opportunities presented by Auxetix's platform technology. The company's auxetic fabric technology presented the chance to create novel materials with many desirable properties: highly controlled, graduated compression to potentially enhance sports performance; improved breathability/heat control; comfort and wearability as well as assisting in training/injury recovery.


The technical challenge was to determine the feasibility of creating a material of sufficient fineness via spiral wrapping and weaving (coarser materials suitable for blast mitigation/ballistic protection have already been woven). This has involved challenging textile industry norms and finding machinery and UK manufacturers capable of spiral wrapping for mechanical, not for normal covering, purposes, also weavers with sufficient skills on positive rapier looms.

Auxetix Ltd is a bespoke research and development company that invents, refines and licenses its novel patented auxetic platform technologies. Auxetic materials, unlike most materials, get fatter when stretched, and thinner when compressed.

Managing DirectorPatrick Hook

[email protected] 01884 861522 www.auxetix.com

The Mill House 23 Fore StreetWitheridgeDevon EX16 8AH

Energy Sportswear

Auxetix Ltd



There is a $1.4bn market for tungsten band saws, hole saws and drills, yet the use of diamond as a substitute is still relatively undeveloped. Diamond blades offer longer lifetimes and better performance but are more costly and cannot normally be used to cut ferrous metals. Having an innovative product will bring us closer to customers, thereby shortening the supply chain.


We want to experiment with a new, direct, business model. Our plan is to set up a band-saw innovation centre in China. This centre would bring together a band- saw manufacturer and three blade suppliers, and will have the capability to test different blades and materials with customers’ active involvement.


Tungsten is number two on the ‘risk list’ minerals on account of China’s domination of supply. Prices have been rising steadily. We saw a need to reduce our use of tungsten by substituting alternatives such as diamond where possible. We also want to use an innovative product to get closer to customers and challenge the existing supply chain.


We have been investigating the relationship between blade characteristics, cutting performance and the supply chain. Diamond is a good substitute for tungsten carbide. It can displace toothed blades in applications, such as cutting the mixed hardness composite materials used in the construction and automotive industries. We are also looking at the extent to which re-coating worn blades with new diamond coatings is viable.

Founded in 1985, C4 is at the forefront of linear edge brazing technology. We produce innovative, brazed diamond and tungsten carbide grit, best-in-class power tool accessories and industrial band saw blades. 90% is exported to the USA, Europe and Pacific-Asia.

Materials scientistOzan Osman

[email protected] 01223 426 361 www.c4carbides.com

9 Nuffield RoadCambridgeCB4 1TF

Diamond re-tooling

C4 Carbides Ltd



Implementing the enhanced, structured business model will enable Croft to rapidly enter high value supply chains as well as driving customer adoption. The energy saving AM filter potentially decreases customers’ energy use as well as lowering by 10% their carbon footprint for filtration (30m tonnes a year in the UK). The increase in revenue streams will lead to company expansion and further employment.


We are utilising the business model to effectively target specific market sectors. We will evaluate the effectiveness of our model, and review and update it to reflect new knowledge. This allows us to react quickly and further develop our strategies to successfully enter the marketplace.


Since our AM filters require less energy for pumping, industrial sectors that use them will reduce UK pumping industrial electrical energy usage, currently £700m per year. Being a new product, we need to establish a new market place, which will be driven by increased customer adoption.


We generated a business model, developing key components from Osterwald’s Business Model Canvas. We identified entry levels for specific supply chains, such as nuclear, leading to specific target customer streams and changes to our value propositions. Engaging with external providers led to development of a more effective website, a defined marketing strategy, and identification of specific market sectors that would benefit from AM filters.

Croft Additive Manufacturing uses the technology to produce innovative additive manufactured (AM) filters. Less pumping energy is required for effective filtration through these filters so customers use less energy for pumping, benefit from lower energy costs and reduce their carbon footprint.

DirectorNeil Burns

[email protected] 01925 767 070 www.additive-manufacture.co.uk @Croft_AM

Unit 1, Taylor Business Park Risley, WarringtonCheshireWA3 6BL

Capturing the value of additive manufactured filters

Croft Additive Manufacturing Ltd



The study will monitor and measure the quantitative and qualitative impact of the NPI virtual reality demonstrator system and capture continuous improvement opportunities to refine the user experience. It will ensure the system is simple to use, has breadth of functionality and provides the user with data required to make NPI supply chain decisions. We have proved that the demonstrator can reduce NPI lead times by an average of 30%.


Our NPI virtual reality collaborative platform development will continue, paid for by the collaborating partners. Once a commercial grade system has been developed then DNAcoders will target commercial opportunities with other high value original equipment manufacturers that use VR for new product introduction.


If an NPI tool can be integrated with virtual reality simulation software, multiple stakeholders from multiple disciplines within multiple businesses can view concurrently simulated product designs. They can dynamically monitor critical success factors such as efficiency of the manufacturing process and material costs, through to aesthetic finish and desirability, from a customer’s perspective.


We developed a cloud-based demonstrator system focused on NPI and integrating multiple simulation software packages between disparate advanced engineering SMEs. The demonstrator provides automated workflow and customised user task consoles to enable collaborative supply chain networks to streamline the NPI process between disparate stakeholders. All parties could then view iterative simulated product designs and provide feedback from multi-disciplinary perspectives.

DNA Coders is a technology business providing business planning and reporting software for manufacturers.

Technical DirectorHaifeng Guo

[email protected] 07805 252011 www.dna-agile.com

Room 6 Business Resource CentreAdmin Road, Knowsley Industrial ParkLiverpoolMerseyside L33 7TX

Collaborative new product introduction (NPI) portal, integrating virtual reality technologies

DNAcoders Ltd



Printed and plastic electronics have the potential to transform lives because of the introduction of additive, energy efficient and low-cost manufacture combined with outstanding functionality (light weight and flexibility). The capability of LITPED to produce such electronics will improve quality of life in modern society, and impact on technology sectors, from aerospace and automotive to lighting and medical devices. Commercialising LITPED will help our company grow and create new jobs.


We have to work with a range of business partners to commercialise the LITPED technology. These include suppliers, technology developers, potential users and distributors, and academic collaborators. During this project, we identified new partnerships and strengthened existing collaborations so that we can implement the new business models in future.


Our project aims to identify new business models for the commercialisation of our proprietary laser transfer technology (LITPED) which was invented in our company. LITPED is a disruptive technology which enables point-of-use manufacture of electronic devices, as well as large-scale manufacture of electronics from digital files, without the need for tooling and masks, and with extremely low lead time.


We collected and analysed both primary and secondary data to develop a new business model, based on the approach of the Business Model Canvas (Osterwalder), We aimed to produce a comprehensive internal report to guide our technology and business development plans. The study helped us to develop new partnerships and strengthen our existing collaborations, which will be useful during the commercialisation stage.

Our company works in the emerging sector of printable and plastic electronics and we specialise in the development of new functional inks and printing processes. We are involved in several key technology areas, including conductive printing, thin film photovoltaics, and graphene.

Managing DirectorZlatka Stoeva

[email protected] 01707 358721 www.dzptechnologies.com

22 Signet CourtCambridgeCB5 8LA

Laser-assisted additive manufacture of plastic electronics

DZP Technologies Ltd



The potential benefit is to enable UK technology rather than import it from the EU or USA. A 1% capture of the EU market equates to 575 direct jobs. A successful outcome would result in a reduction in fuel use – 1% market penetration equates to 12.5m litres of fuel saved – and reducing 33k tonnes of CO2 annually. Establishing manufacture in the UK ensures continuing development, adding to R&D capability and opportunities.


Our intention is to use the outputs as a basis to support the building and validation of road going prototypes. The aim is to successfully de-risk the proposition to attract external commercial capital to build commercial products.


We wanted to construct a business model for the exploitation of new technology in road transport, an industry which is traditionally conservative and resistant to innovation. The project evaluates issues in manufacturing and selling novel semi-trailers in global markets and evolves a business proposition.


The innovation in the business plan hinges on the nature of the product within a conservative market and the associated barriers to entry. We examined case studies from other industrial sectors that experienced disruptive technology to assess methods of bringing innovative products to market. A design process was set in motion to assess key resources and partners, customer relationships and segments, value propositions and potential revenue streams.

EPL Composite Solutions has been in business for 21 years and employs 15 staff. We specialise in research and development dedicated to assisting industry in the application and exploitation of new materials, technology and associated manufacturing processes.

Technical DirectorNick Weatherby

[email protected] 01509 210027 www.eplcompositesolutions.co.uk

Unit 10, Charnwood Business ParkNorth roadLoughborough Leicestershire LE11 1Qj

Lightweight, aerodynamic, composite heavy goods vehicles

EPL Composite Solutions Ltd



PROTEGE has generated new business models for the exploitation of power generation from industrial waste heat using thermoelectric generators. The project has provided two main impacts. Firstly, within ETL’s existing customer base we envisage utilising a ‘long tail’ business model (a way of selling a large number of small volume products to a niche market) for a large number of niche applications, to capture a proportion of the estimated £187 million TEG market. Secondly, we see a new market for large scale power generation.


Firstly we will implement the ‘long tail’ business model. Secondly we aim to continue discussions with investment organisations and utility companies to look at how we can design, create and install our thermoelectric generators on an industrial scale.


Recent advances in materials development, synthesis and manufacture have opened up opportunities for industrial scale exploitation of thermoelectrics. The annual global market for thermoelectric technology applied to waste heat conversion is around £187 million. The UK, based upon defined national competencies, is ideally placed to capitalise upon this rapidly growing market, of which ETL is at the forefront.


PROTEGE was conducted in partnership with Iconiq Innovation Ltd and focused upon the development of new business models for waste heat conversion to electrical power, in terms of materials supply, services, financing and power supply. We utilised Osterwalder’s Business Model Canvas approach and aspects of Blue Ocean Strategy (Kim & Mauborgne) to generate highly differentiated value propositions. We conducted ‘voice of customer’ validation to ensure that the new proposed value chain was viable.

European Thermodynamics Ltd specialises in design, manufacture and supply of high performance thermal management components for manufacturers of enclosure-based electronics/electrical equipment. We are involved in many energy harvesting and thermoelectric generation projects.

ConsultantRobin McIntyre

[email protected] 07970 431639 www.europeanthermodynamics.com

Partner: Iconiq Innovation Ltd

8 Priory Business ParkWistow RoadKibworthLeicestershire LE8 0RX

PROTEGE – PROmoting new business models for Thermo-Electric GEnerators

European Thermodynamics Ltd



The benefits of an improved business model are that we become more closely aligned with the commercial needs of a wider client base, with a greater range of products. This will result in increased revenues from a more geographically and industrially diverse range of clients. Success in creating better communications – an improved website, social media, appointing distributors and press article – will lead to greater market awareness, increased revenues and profits.


We will continue to develop and conduct field evaluation trials to support the value proposition demonstrating commercial viability and product relevance to key client groups. This will run alongside a new communication strategy of developing a new website outlining our product range, product brochures, appointing distributors, joining relevant industry groups.


i3dr is moving from product development to a product delivery stage. While our initial business model is focused on working closely with academia and very large corporates, we needed to re-evaluate the product groupings, delivery mechanisms and communications to the wider market to ensure proper commercial take-up.


First, we deconstructed our systems to investigate what components we have developed that could be marketed separately and at low cost. This expanded our product list. Then we looked at how we communicate to the market and are in the process of appointing distributors in the UK, Germany and Singapore. We have also looked at industry penetration and are talking to a range of new relevant industries.

i3dr, established in 2013, develops collision avoidance and condition monitoring systems for applications, from autonomous control of trains and robotic platforms to monitoring surface deformation in high-temperature furnaces

DirectorNicholas Bantin

[email protected] 01732 457686 www.i3drobotics.co.uk

2 Salters Heath FarmhouseCold Harbour RoadSevenoaksKentTN13 2PR

Multi-data fusion and intelligent connectivity, enhancing autonomous transport for users

i3d robotics ltd



Our project has helped to identify a new coating and understand what needs to be in place to adopt an automated system. It will allow us to further develop the product range and to improve products’ aesthetics as well as performance. Printing marketing identification onto the product will increase its perceived value, and serve as an advertising tool. This will lead to an increase in sales and profit, and have an impact in the market.


We have made extensive efforts to examine, devise and build a new business model. Therefore the next step is to look at proof-of-concept.


Our current manufacturing processes are carried out manually, which is affecting both the quantity and quality of products being produced. We have experienced major issues with the current process of coating our products and current practice is having an adverse effect on product performance and its wear and tear.


One major challenge was to find a coating that would bond well to our material. It is extremely difficult to achieve a strong adhesion onto plastic, owing to its composition. The innovation was to adopt alternative coatings and adhesives normally used in different industries. For example, we looked at materials used in the printing industry.

Medibord Ltd is a small Nottingham-based company founded in November 2009. We have expert knowledge in composite materials, which is applied to design and manufacture of patient positioning devices for the radiotherapy sector.

Research CoordinatorAlexandra Amaral

[email protected] 0115 933 8329 www.medibord.com

BioCityPennyfoot StreetNottinghamNottinghamshireNG1 1GF

Moving away from manual manufacturing to computerised production

Medibord Ltd



The UK can get involved in a significant growth area within an industry which is worth greater than £25b annually for two major players alone. The industry can benefit from more diverse selling opportunities, such as large events, drive-through, airports and stations and other public locations. Customisation will give the customer food which will be delivered to them more quickly, using all available interfaces, including smart phones.


Funding has allowed us to build the case to a level which will allow discussions to take place, initially with a key supplier of equipment to the industry. The next stage will be to approach the big global players with a clear pitch of the automated food production scheme.


The food industry’s methods of delivering food to customers on the high street has remained unchanged for many years. Customer demand for more choice and faster access to food in more diverse locations is the driver for this project. Other market trends on the high street mean it is essential that the industry adapts and innovates.


We took seven steps to understanding the feasibility of providing customised food automatically on the high street: a market survey; a cost benefit analysis; analysis of comparable equipment; testing of feasibility of key elements; simulation of a likely user interface; and discussion with interested parties These have enabled us to talk to other industry parties and build a larger consortium before testing the concept with a global industry leader.

Optical Metrology Services is a specialist technology company that mostly supplies measurement products and services into the global oil and gas industry. We also have a high level of expertise in the systems integration area, which is used here.

Chief executive officerTim Clarke

[email protected] 01279 656038 www.omsmeasure.com

Norfolk House 1 Grange RoadBishop's StortfordHertfordshireCM23 5NG

A new system for automatic food assembly and dispensing on the high street

Optical Metrology Services



It is entirely feasible that new businesses could result from this project. Examples might be: a new HVM original equipment manufacture business and supply chain developing flameless devices for curing thermoplastic surface markings; HSS-style hire centres which could provide PPU hire of the above machines for other applications; surface marking businesses could emerge supplying underground, and hazardous industries in a global market with high-performance surface markings.


The partners have conceived and patented a novel device. Our next step is to proceed through the Smart programme to develop the device to proof-of-concept stage and then match public funds with venture capital investment.


Thermoplastic surface markings are bonded to asphalt or concrete surfaces with naked gas flames. This gives variable results, is time consuming, and presents health and safety issues. It is also banned from use in hazardous industries, confined spaces, and 144 underground applications worldwide. We wanted to determine if additive manufactured (AM) devices could open up new lucrative markets.


The team followed Osterwalder's business model canvas to investigate the validity of an AM pay-per-use (PPU) business model, and used it to underpin R&D in surface marking techniques that build advanced ultra-reflective markings layer by layer, cured using microwave technology.

PCRL is a high technology business with two core activities: generation and commercialisation of intellectual property; and business transformation services.

DirectorTony Rhoades

[email protected] 07920 135259 http://pcrltd.com

Partner: Micropply Limited

44 Hawthorn RdHaleAltrincham CheshireWA15 9RG

New business models in surface markings

Pre Chasm Research Ltd (PCRL)



US firm Staples is now running a pay-per-use AM ‘drop-in’ centre in six of their retail outlets and UPS has followed suit. As yet, no-one has combined 3d scanning. However, we are in talks with Staples to run a trial 3D scanning and AM event in a UK store. There are several other business models possible, including a 3D art café where children create, scan and build while parents drink coffee!


This study shows that consumers are, in general, 3D-aware and 3D-ready. To that end, we are seeking investment partnerships to assist in commercialising UK designed and built 3D scanners into mainstream retail.


3D scanning and additive manufacturing (AM) is currently limited to industrial applications, and specialist hobbyists. Should we make these high value manufacturing capabilities accessible to mass-market high-street consumers? If so, what would the business model look like?


We undertook a feasibility study to answer this question. We assembled work packages structured around Osterwalder’s Business Model Canvas to test consumer readiness for 3D scanning and additive manufacturing on the high street.

PCRL is a high technology business with two core activities: generation and commercialisation of intellectual property through spin-out and licensing; and business transformation services.

DirectorTony Rhoades

[email protected] 07920 135259 http://pcrltd.com

Partner: CADScan Ltd

44 Hawthorn RdHaleAltrincham CheshireWA15 9RG

Pay-per-use 3D scanning and additive manufacturing in retail

Pre Chasm Research Ltd (PCRL)



The use of an on-line tool would increase the global competitiveness of UK inventions by enabling the successful commercialisation of more UK-designed, globally mass-produced products. This on-line capability would enable UK designers, inventors and manufacturers to predict and understand what their conceptual products ‘should cost’ when produced by manufacturing systems typically employed in small, medium and mass-production facilities throughout the world, and evaluate the impact of design changes during development.


We will establish an initial user community from existing customers, industry contacts, and the Technology Strategy Board network. We will use a short explanatory demonstration video to enhance communication about our on-line application, and the report that it generates. User feedback will then shape the launch of the live service.


Obtaining a cost estimate for electronic products conventionally requires the inventor to undertake a lengthy and costly request for quotation process. Potential manufacturers have a vested interest in keeping the estimate high to manage their risk, leaving scope to add costs for every subsequent engineering change. This means some good ideas never get to market, for the wrong reasons.


We have created an on-line ‘should cost’ analysis application whereby a wide range of UK designers, inventors and manufacturers can gain greater understanding of the commercial feasibility of product designs by modelling them from a global manufacturing cost perspective. We have supported more than 30 major clients, accessing over 200 electronic manufacturing service and original design manufacturer facilities throughout the world, and have not identified anyone else offering this service.

Established for over ten years, Real Insight offers specialised consulting services in product costing and manufacturing operations. We use our expertise and unique tools to calculate the predicted manufacturing cost of electronic and electromechanical products during design, development and manufacturing.

DirectorGary Fretwell

[email protected] 01572 822598 www.realinsight.co.uk

70A High Street EastUppinghamRutlandLE15 9PZ

On-line ‘should cost’ analysis service

Real Insight Ltd



We believe we can offer custom garments, designed by the consumer, made in London, delivered to your door in three days or less. We have shown this is possible and believe this would encourage local manufacturing to return to the UK, as you can only start producing the garment once the user has designed it. So lengthy delivery times from the Far East will no longer be sustainable.


We are currently setting up a micro factory in central London to prove the financial viability of the system and are looking for investors to help us develop the concept to the next level.


Between the three directors, we had previously worked in areas such as engineering, product design, interaction design, software development and high-end fashion. We spotted an opportunity to combine our skills to create a new kind of fashion company that gives the user creative control where we can be responsive to their demands – a radical shift from current production methods.


In order to make the proposition affordable, we needed to automate more of the garment production process and create a system that was designed with one-off production in mind rather than mass production. This required a completely new software architecture against what is currently offered. We then combined this with a strong understanding of the underlying machinery and production methods. Finally we are creatively exploiting the opportunities this technology affords.

Searu is a start-up company founded in 2013 by award-winning designers and engineers Ben Alun-Jones, Hal Watts and Kirsty Emery. We aim to exploit new opportunities for custom production of garments, using novel digital manufacturing technologies we have developed.

DirectorBen Alun-Jones

[email protected] 07708 545410 www.searu.co.uk

Studio 331-15 Cremer StreetLondonE2 8HD

Consumer-driven garment creation using additive manufacturing

Searu

The Technology Strategy Board North Star House North Star Avenue Swindon SN2 1UE

Telephone: 01793 442700

www.innovateuk.org

The Technology Strategy Board is the UK’s innovation agency. Its goal is to accelerate economic growth by stimulating and supporting business-led innovation. Sponsored by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), the Technology Strategy Board brings together business, research and the public sector, supporting and accelerating the development of innovative products and services to meet market needs, tackle major societal challenges and help build the future economy. For more information please visit www.innovateuk.org.

Disclaimer

Information for the entries in this directory was provided by the individual companies. The Technology Strategy Board cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any of the information about the winning projects.

© Technology Strategy Board October 2013 T13/083

www.innovateuk.org

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