PAC continue their winning streak by taking home the award for Excellence in Innovation in the 2021 Belfast Telegraph Business Awards.
This year’s awards received more than double the entries ever received in previous years, which not only makes PAC’s win all the more impressive, but is also a great sign of business recovery and resilience in the face of the challenges over the past 15 months.
PAC’s entry focused on the company’s Preformers, or Hot Drape Formers, for which the Group hold 42 unique patents on the hardware and software. The innovative nature of the technology was recognised earlier this year when the company received a Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Innovation, the UK’s highest accolade in recognising business success. The machines are used in the manufacture of carbon composite structures and components, and have been purchased by globally leading companies including Bombardier, Spirit AeroSystems, and McLaren Automotive.
In addition to the Group’s carbon composite preforming machines, reticulators, and resin transfer infusion systems, the award entry also discussed the company’s innovative PAC Automation division, which works with some of the world’s leading companies in areas such as robotics, cobots, instrumentation, and process automation and control.
The company have designed, built, and integrated highly innovative machinery and equipment into bespoke processes and systems to help customers achieve production efficiencies, increase output, and ultimately increase profit.
For one of their clients, PAC Automation designed and integrated a robotic ‘pick and place’ SCARA robot into their manufacturing process, which included the use of a nanotechnology ‘gripper’ tool and an advanced vision system. The robot cell has reduced production time from 8.5 hours to just 90 minutes per cycle.
In response to the COVID19 pandemic, one of the company’s customers involved in medical equipment manufacture needed an additional wire winder machine to support the increased production of ventilators. The OEM was no longer in business, so PAC’s Engineers assessed the original machines before designing a new and improved version. The new machine reduced process cycle time from 6 minutes per cycle to just 27 seconds per cycle.
PAC Group’s Director of Engineering, Elwyn Agnew, said:
“We invest strategically in hiring Engineers with specialist skillsets, and we carry out significant on-the-job training and upskilling to support our innovation objectives. We encourage our Design Engineers to think differently, and to take inspiration from their daily observations, re-imagining ideas for a range of applications.”
Darren Leslie, the Group’s Business Development Director, pictured with category sponsor, OSG Cloud, said:
“One of our six key values is ‘Innovation is Key’. Innovation really is the lifeblood of PAC Group. Being recognised as a Platinum Level Innovator by Innovate NI earlier this year was a great achievement, and winning Excellence in Innovation in this year’s Belfast Telegraph Business Awards is excellent recognition of the hard work and talents of our team.”
“It’s critically important for our business, and the wider sector, to continue to invest in the future of engineering. We support apprentices, placement students, and graduates on a range of pathways to help us grow our own talent to create the Engineers of tomorrow.”
To find out more about how PAC Composites or PAC Automation can help your business, speak to our team today on T: 02893 364600, or email info@pacgroup.co.uk.
