University research partnership helps SME develop aerospace tech

amseptember16news-photon-fire
amseptember16news-photon-fire

A research partnership with Teesside University has helped a North-East SME develop technology for aerospace.

A research partnership with Teesside University has helped a North East SME develop technology for aerospace. Newcastle-based Photon Fire manufactures electronic equipment and sensors for a range of industries, particularly offshore and energy.

However, thanks to its work with the University, the company has been able to develop new intellectual property (IP) which has attracted interest from a multinational company which works in the aerospace industry.

Photon Fire is working with cable manufacturer Leigh Cables to develop fire detection sensors which could be incorporated in aerospace systems made by Meggitt, a FTSE-250 engineering group with manufacturing facilities across the globe.

The work has also been supported by the National Aerospace Technology Exploitation Programme (NATEP) which helps SMEs develop innovative new products.

Photon Fire was initially given assistance by Omar Al-Janabi at The Forge, Teesside University’s business hub, to access innovation vouchers which provide up to £5,000 funding to companies to pay for an external expert to help their business grow.

Al-Janabi then helped Photon Fire connect with two of the University’s leading engineering academics, Professor Simon Hodgson and Dr David Hughes, to develop new IP for the company while supporting Photon Fire draw up an application to NATEP helping the partnership develop the crucial IP further.

As a result of this work, Photon Fire is working with Meggitt to look at ways in which the new technology can be used in fire detection equipment on-board aircraft.

Bill Shepherd, managing director of Photon Fire, said: “Working with Teesside University and our other partner, Leigh Cables, we are developing detectors which can measure hotspots at extremely high temperatures.

“Using the different skills and experience of our partners we’ve been able to create a technology which hasn’t been done anywhere else and can hopefully be taken forward to create much safer aircraft.”

Steve Parker, director of engineering at Meggitt, added: “This is a very interesting project and, as a potential end user, we’re very excited about its potential.

“Aircraft fire detection is a significant part of our business and we’re very keen to take this technology forward.”

www.tees.ac.uk/theforge

www.photonfire.com

Company

Photon Fire

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