BEST PRACTICE CASE STUDY
XOPTIX 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: Xoptix Ltd
Xoptix Ltd
Malvern Hills Science Park
Geraldine Road
Malvern
WR14 3SZ
Telephone: 01684 585241
Email: stuart.barton@xoptix.co.uk
Website: www.xoptix.co.uk
Main Contact: Stuart Barton
Xoptix are based in the Spa town of Malvern famous for its mineral water since 1622 and in modern times famous for its high technology. During World War II, Malvern became the home of the Telecommunications Research Establishment, renowned for its role in the development of radar. It has been said that World War II was won on the playing fields of Malvern.
Since then Malvern has become a centre for many high tech companies, and they are proud to be a part of this tradition.
Xoptix manufacture in-process particle size monitoring systems which are used in industry, to control processes which involve the production of microscopic particles.
Historically particle size measurement has largely been done off line outside the production process. This has been because of:
- The cost of the technology.
- The difficulty in integrating the technology on-line.
- The lack of availability of appropriate products.
Xoptix bring in-process particle size monitoring technology to industry in an easy to integrate, small footprint, easy to use package at a fraction of the cost of existing technology.
There is a wealth of experience within the company and the development team is an international collaboration of specialists in particle characterisation and associated fields.
INNOVATION
Innovation (7) Process Industries
THE BUSINESS CHALLENGE
Assistance in reducing the turbulence in the purge air in the sampling section of Xoptix’s particle analysis equipment.
This will enable them to keep the sensing area clean, and improve the up-time of their products. The objective of this project is to continue CFD simulation of an existing project
WORK UNDERTAKEN
For mostly smaller particulate size powders, the windows in the measurement cell were not staying clean. The INDEX voucher paid for the time of Dr Serafim Bakalis at Birmingham University to mathematically model the flow characteristics of the sample cell, and suggest improvements. An automatic cleaning process for the system was then developed. Xoptix are currently seeking patents for this.
The final result is an in-process particle size analyser with a performance exceeding competitors products which can be sold to end users at half the previous cost, with less downtime for maintenance.
Before the interaction of the INDEX voucher and Birmingham University’s academic expertise, the company struggled for several months to solve some of the issues surrounding the project. They are now more focussed in identifying the right support to allow innovation to take place and to ‘get things done’ as a result of university collaborations.
The collaboration has allowed the company to take the project from the design and planning stage to the marketing and selling of the product. Early indications are that the unique product is going to be extremely successful as a result of the innovation allowed by the INDEX project.QUOTE
“It was extremely easy, user-friendly and the application form was very straight-forward. We look forward to continuing the association”, Stuart Barton, Managing Director, Xoptix Ltd
ABOUT THE HEI: University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
ABOUT THE ACADEMIC
Serafim Bakalis, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham
Dr Bakalis’s research spans a range of engineering related aspects with an emphasis in understanding the effect of processing on microstructure control and extension of traditional unit operations to include performance of formulations of various consumer products.