North West Regional College’s (NWRC) Business Support Centre (BSC) has announced details of a new Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project with Wafer Ltd.
Funded by InnovateUK and Invest NI, this 2-year project, worth over £150k, will see the recruitment of a graduate Mechanical Engineer to lead a two-year project focused on introducing modern manufacturing techniques and smart manufacturing to enhance Wafer Ltd’s production process.
This strategic project will support Wafer Ltd in its journey towards becoming a more efficient, high-output manufacturer, improving productivity, product traceability, and responsiveness to market demands.
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The KTP funding was secured following support from the Connected programme, which enabled NWRC to work closely with Wafer Ltd to identify business needs, explore opportunities for innovation, and prepare a successful funding application.
Philip Devlin, Manager of NWRC’s Product Design Centre, said: “Wafer Ltd has been a key player in Ireland’s ice cream sector for over 30 years, supplying everything from ingredients and flavours to packaging and soft-serve mixes. We are delighted to partner with them on this exciting project, which will introduce new levels of design, automation and efficiency within their production process. This KTP will bring a talented graduate engineer into the business to lead the project, supported by NWRC’s academic expertise and facilities. Together, we’ll deliver meaningful innovation that strengthens Wafer’s competitiveness and supports sustainable growth.”
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships are a UK-wide initiative designed to help businesses innovate and grow by connecting them with expertise from academic
institutions. Through the programme, companies gain access to specialist knowledge and skilled graduates who deliver transformative projects.
Patrick McLaughlin, Chief Operating Officer at Wafer Ltd, added: “We’re thrilled to have secured this funding and to be collaborating with NWRC. This partnership will help us enhance our production processes, boost efficiency, sustainability and position the company for future growth. We’re excited about the impact this project will have on our supply chain and the opportunities it will provide.”
Applications are now open for the KTP R&D Smart Manufacturing Engineer role which closes for applications on the 14th of October, and which will be based at Wafer Ltd’s site in the Skeoge Industrial Estate, can be seen via the NWRC website on http://www.nwrc.ac.uk/jobs-at-nwrc/ . For further details on how the BSC can help your business contact the NWRC BSC on businesssupport@nwrc.ac.uk or visit www.nwrc.ac.uk/bsc
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