News
Knowledge Dock, the University of East London's enterprise development service, has been awarded nat
21 August 2008
Thursday 21 August 2008
Knowledge Dock, the University of East London’s enterprise
development service, has been awarded national honour for
enterprising industry partnership
development service, has been awarded national honour for
enterprising industry partnership
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) is Europe's leading programme, helping businesses to improve their competitiveness and productivity, through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills. Knowledge Dock helps to deliver these projects, which are funded by the Technology Strategy Board, alongside seventeen other funding organisations.
Over the last three years, University of East London Academic, Professor Devapriya Wijeyesekera, supervised UEL Civil Engineering graduate and PhD student Eric Loh (33), of Wanstead, with his work-based KTP project at Liverpool-based manufacturer Rawell Environmental Ltd.
The brief was to enhance the performance of one of the company’s best-selling products, which involved developing their ‘Rawmat’ membrane, a Bentonite clay mat used for structural water-proofing and to cover contaminated land.
Eric, who was named one of the UK’s top 100 young engineers in 2005, said:
“I had a great time doing my undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at UEL, so I jumped at the chance to get involved with this project when Rawell approached the University in 2004.
“I had a great time doing my undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at UEL, so I jumped at the chance to get involved with this project when Rawell approached the University in 2004.
“To work effectively, their Rawmat product needed to be both flexible and entirely waterproof. It’s a pre-hydrated clay mat, which meant that, in particularly hot or humid conditions, it tended to dry out before it could be properly laid.
“Rawell asked me to develop a new formula that could delay moisture loss, something I’ve happily been able to achieve – the new design offers fourfold better performance. The company have now taken me on as a Technical Development Manager, and I’m really enjoying the job.”
Professor Devapriya Wijeyesekera said:
“Our Certificate of Excellence follows receipt of the highest possible grading of 'Outstanding' from three independent KTP assessors.
“Our Certificate of Excellence follows receipt of the highest possible grading of 'Outstanding' from three independent KTP assessors.
“We kept the project on time and delivered everything we promised and more. The new product is already being manufactured, and we’ve developed a very good working relationship with the company.”
UEL’s School of Computing and Technology has state-of-the-art laboratories and a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes offering invaluable opportunities for placement within industry.
Internationally recognised areas of research include satellite guidance systems, manufactured aggregates and pipeline technology. UEL's civil engineering programmes are highly rated and the Geo-information Research Centre provides consultancy services world wide.
Further Information
Kate Ashenden
Communications Executive
Knowledge Dock
020 8223 7076
Knowledge Dock, the University of East London’s enterprise development service, has received a Certificate of Excellence (awarded by the Department of Trade and Industry) for it’s role in facilitating the Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with Rawell Environment Ltd. Communications Executive
Knowledge Dock
020 8223 7076
