A GOVERNMENT scheme to promote technology transfer between academic institutions and businesses has seen Southampton institute help the Fareham engineering company WPL set itself up for growth.

A year ago the institute's systems engineering faculty and WPL were awarded a grant under the DTI's business partnership scheme.

Adam Shaw, one of the Institute's own maritime technology graduates was employed under the scheme to develop and implement an integrated computerised manufacturing strategy for WPL.

WPL, which has been operating since 1991 and has 33 staff, manufactures packaged sewage treatment plants for domestic use through to large-scale treatment plants.

The partnership involved a DTI grant of £14,000 with a total project cost of £20,500.

During the project Adam was supported by Institute academics Roy Waldock on computing and Eric Miller on manufacturing. Adam has now been employed on a permanent basis by WPL as a design engineer.

Southampton Institute's head of manufacturing engineering, Associate Professor Richard Penson said: "We see projects such as this as an important part of our role as an academic institution, building links with industry for our mutual benefit in terms of technology transfer and bringing real industry-based case studies into the teaching and research environment.''

WPL managing director Richard Munden said: "An integrated manufacturing IT system means we are able to work in a much more effective way.

"It has had a significant impact on our quality management and will enable us to reduce overheads.

"WPL has done well out of this scheme. It has enabled us to access IT and manufacturing technology and services we would not easily be able to do. "I would certainly participate in another scheme and would recommend others to look at its possibilities."

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