LBBC is a family-owned company with over a hundred years’ engineering experience. Now comprising four divisions, the business produces pressure vessels and autoclaves for a range of industries – for example in the aviation, maritime and energy sector.
LBBC is a long-term collaborator with the University of Leeds having participated in three Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) so far, as well as a recent Accelerated Knowledge Transfer (AKT) project. These are shorter (3–4 month) KTP projects usually used as feasibility studies.
The challenge
As an engineering business, LBBC recognises the need to constantly innovate in order to stay ahead of changing market requirements. Industry 4.0 – the fourth industrial revolution – is the most recent driver of change.
Whereas the third industrial revolution saw the computerisation of individual machines, Industry 4.0 represents a move to connectedness: the extraction and use of machine data to drive manufacturing improvements.
LBBC machines, distributed across a global customer base, harvest a huge amount of data that could be used to track, analyse and even predict performance issues; but without robust real-time connectivity the business was restricted to being reactive rather than proactive.
The solution
Each KTP project has an Associate employed by the University to work with the company on the project. Working with Professor Steven Freear and Dr David Cowell from the School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, KTP Associate, Andrew Smith, started researching technologies that would allow him to build a digital infrastructure that could collect, store and process machine data in the cloud.
Andrew engineered a network that connected LBBC's machines and brought their data online. This allowed UK-based engineers to monitor each machine's performance in real-time, identify issues and provide solutions without impeding the client's business operation. This facility is now built into every new piece of LBBC equipment.
The impact
This project has generated huge competitive advantage for LBBC: real-time online product monitoring. The KTP has resulted in a new revenue stream via 'Connected Support' which is provided as an optional extra.
The project has also reduced operational costs. Instead of having to despatch engineers to client factories all over the world, LBBC can problem-solve from their base in the UK which means that any on-site work is completed more efficiently.
As a repeat participant in the KTP scheme, Managing Director Howard Pickard sees this innovation model as hugely attractive to SMEs. Knowing that the business is likely to arrive at a solution helps mitigate the risks associated with R&D investment. LBBC are currently on their fourth KTP in collaboration with the Leeds University Business School.
Video transcript: University of Leeds KTP with LBBC.
To discuss how working with us on a KTP could help your business, email the Knowledge Transfer Partnership team via ktp@leeds.ac.uk.