University assistance leads to ‘game-changing’ technology

3rd April 2017

Anna Flockett

0 0

Thanks to the assistance from Teesside University, a North-East engineering firm is developing ‘game-changing’ technology. Stockton-based Carroll & Meynell Transformers, which designs and manufactures electrical transformers, is building a prototype of a new multi-vehicle electric vehicle charger which can charge up to ten vehicles at a time.

The University worked with Carroll & Meynell to help the company secure a grant of £100,000 from Innovate UK which has made the development of the prototype possible.

Omar Al-Janabi, Business Innovation Manager at The Forge, the University’s business hub, assisted Carroll & Meynell by bringing the funding to the company’s attention and helping with the bid-writing process by drafting and editing sections of the document.

The successful bid now means the company can take their concept from the drawing board and test a real-life version of the charger.

The company plans to continue working with the University as the prototype is developed

Mike Meynell, Managing Director, said: “We’ve always had a very good working relationship with Teesside University and have worked with it on everything from student placements to a staff member completing a PhD.

“Without this Innovate UK grant we wouldn’t have been able to develop the multi-charge and Teesside University has been integral to the process.

“Everybody in our industry is looking towards the electrical vehicles’ market. It is something that is growing all the time and is not going to go away.

“The multi-charge has the potential to be a real game-changer for our company. It will allow us to move into that market and put the company on a global footing.

“As an SME we wouldn’t have been able to do this by ourselves and we’re very grateful to the University for its help.”

Lee Marshall, Commercial Manager, added: “More businesses like ours should consider working with the University. We are able to access cutting-edge facilities and expertise which, as a relatively small company, we would not normally have access to on our own.”

As an SME developing a new product line, Carroll & Meynell was given assistance by Teesside University through the Innovate Tees Valley initiative.

Omar Al-Janabi said: “We’re delighted that Carroll & Meynell has been successful with this bid and we look forward to working with them further as the multi-charge is developed.

“It promises to be a really exciting development as it means that electric-vehicle charging points could be upgraded to cater for more vehicles without the need for a huge investment in infrastructure.”