Elddis Goes Into Partnership With Local University

Consett-based Elddis has teamed up with The University of Newcastle upon Tyne in a bid to develop and implement strategic engineering design solutions and systems to optimise the company's product and process innovation.

Jonathan Hill and Tony Lightfoot, Mechanical Engineering graduates from Newcastle University will be working with the caravan and motorhome designer and manufacturer for the next 3 years under the Knowledge Transfer Partnership scheme.

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships provide funding to enable businesses to access skills and resources at the University of Newcastle. Using high calibre graduates to work on a strategic project, knowledge can be transferred into the company, helping to improve and develop key aspects of business operations.

The pair will be working on various projects but their prime remit will be the design and engineering of new product going forward - concentrating on body structure and furniture design.

"Both Jonathan and Tony will be working closely with not only with the development team and with other departments within the company to enable them to gain a full insight into Elddis,” explained Bryan Patterson, design manger at Elddis.

"They will be based on site within our R&D department with support from the engineering lecturers at Newcastle for the majority of the time, but will also spend time off site at various training courses and visiting suppliers, customers and test facilities.

We are hoping to introduce an technical capability for sustained product leadership

The KTP office at the university focuses on embedding researchers within companies to work on strategic projects to add value to the business with continuous input from an academic team.

"Companies can benefit in several ways from undertaking a KTP,” explains !!! "Partnerships are up to 60% funded by the DTI and sponsors. Companies also gain an extra member of staff who isn't on the books and an academic team responsible for guiding the project and visiting the company for a minimum of a ½ day each week.”

"Based on previous KTP's schemes companies have reported a range of benefits including, an increase in the overall value of the company, and an increase in overall sales and profitability.”

Published: 05/05/2005