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JFC receives award for commitment to Innovation

JFC is renowned for its commitment to innovation and support of rural enterprise. The tables were turned recently when JFC themselves were presented  with a certificate from InterTrade Ireland, the all-island Trade & Business Development Body, in recognition of the company’s commitment to innovation through its participation in InterTrade’s all-island technology transfer programme, FUSION. 

Through FUSION, JFC was partnered with the University of Ulster, and so gained the technical expertise required to set up testing facilities and conduct scientific tests to determine properties of the material systems for processability and in-service performance. In addition, improvements in efficiencies in rotational moulding, reductions in material costs in wood plastic composites while retaining strength, and the introduction of a culture of continuous improvement in productivity, recycling and energy efficiency were implemented.

Niall McSkeane, the FUSION graduate, was employed as an “agent of technology transfer” between JFC Manufacturing Ltd. and the University of Ulster. The FUSION project ran parallel to the company’s own plans for reducing costs, increasing productivity and progressing competitively as a market forerunner in terms of technological and processing advances.

How Fusion works - a Company (SME <250 employees) receives grant aid to employ a high-calibre graduate who champions a technical innovation project for them. Each company is partnered with a university or college (on a cross-border basis) with specialist expertise in the subject area required, who then provides one-to-one tailored assistance to solve the company's technology project. In summary, it's a three-way partnership: Company - Academic - Graduate.

The scope of the innovation may address a range of activities and applications, for example, FUSION can help your business to develop or improve products, processes or services, streamline business processes to increase efficiency and performance, develop and implement new technologies or systems, improve capabilities in innovation, design and technology, reduce costs, increase sales and develop products for export. Most industries are eligible for support - software, food, engineering, furniture makers, manufacturing, medical devices, design, printing and so on. For more information see www.intertradeireland.com/fusion