BEST PRACTICE CASE STUDY
FOUR MASTERS LTD
About INDEX
INDEX (Innovation Delivers Expansion) is a unique demand-led innovation voucher scheme led that invites Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to apply for a voucher to purchase academic support from one of the 13 Higher Education Institutions in the West Midlands. The project is funded by Advantage West Midlands (AWM), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Innovation Vouchers allow SMEs to purchase academic expertise knowledge to develop their innovation and enhance their business.
The Innovation Voucher scheme aims to build links between Universities and SMEs to create a demand led approach to innovation.ABOUT THE BUSINESS: Four Masters Ltd
Unit 11 Stafford Court
Stafford Road
Wolverhampton
WV10 7EL
Telephone: 01902 625 477
Main Contact: Mr Graham Powell
Fourmasters Limited was formed in 1988 and has gone from strength to strength within the world of manufacturing.
They have the ability to offer a complete service from the design and manufacture of a new press tool through to the final pressing.
INNOVATION
Innovation (9) Manufacturing
THE BUSINESS CHALLENGE
Management and operator skills development in Computer Aided Design/Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) achieved through a CAD/CAM training programme (Delcam PowerSHAPE and PowerMILL)
Additional support was also provided in the areas of Continuous Improvement and Lean Manufacturing (Kaizen).
ABOUT THE HEI: University of Wolverhampton
University of Wolverhampton
Wulfruna Street
Wolverhampton
WV1 1SB
ABOUT THE ACADEMIC
Gavin Smeilus, Research & Development Associate, Caparo Innovation Centre
Gavin Smeilus, was appointed R&D Associate at the Caparo Innovation Centre in 2003 with responsibility for developing and implementing the marketing strategy for the centre and conducting initial market assessments to investigate the viability of innovative new products.
The Caparo Innovation Centre is a collaborative venture between Caparo plc and the School of Engineering and the Built Environment, located at Wolverhampton Science Park, which specialize in the early stage development of new products; with expertise in design concept development, CAD modelling, prototyping, market research, competitor and patent analysis and business plan development.
Gavin and the team have worked for a very wide range of clients, from plc’s through SME’s to new business startups. The Caparo Innovation Centre have a unique offer, in that as an alternative to working on a straightforward consultancy basis, they are also able to take on some projects on a contingent-on-success basis. The way this works is that their expertise in engineering, design and business plan development can be provided in return for an agreed share in the intellectual property rights to the idea and paid back through a royalty on sales for the product. This can be a very effective route to commercialisation for inventors of new products, and the Caparo Innovation Centre have now got a track record of successful product licences and new company start-ups where the inventors and the University hold shares.
Gavin holds a first degree in Business Studies and a Masters degree in Marketing.