Silvergate creates Knowledge Transfer Partnership with Glyndwr University, aided by the Welsh Assembly Government and Technology Strategy Board

30/03/09

Silvergate Plastics, the North Wales colour and additive masterbatch manufacturer, is today able to announce the completion of a knowledge transfer partnership with Glyndwr University. Glyndwr, with a main campus in Wrexham and others throughout North Wales, is the youngest university in the principality; and is named after Owain Glyndwr (1355-1416) the last Welsh Prince of Wales.

This collaboration will be partly funded by a grant from the Welsh Assembly Government and the Technology Strategy Board, totaling £72,600.00. The aim of the partnership is to improve the overall efficiency of pigment masterbatch colour matching and manufacturing through increased knowledge of process rheology and formulation chemistry.

Knowledge transfer partnerships between academic institutions and businesses, large or small, allow the business to acquire and embed knowledge that will improve productivity and increase competitive advantage. Knowledge is delivered on a full time basis by a recent graduate supported by an academic. The graduate is known as the associate and is backed up by a supervisor at the academic institution. In Silvergate’s case the associate will be Dr. Ka Lun a materials chemist and his supervisor at Glyndwr will be Dr. Rob English.

Tony Bestall, Silvergate’s managing director, said:

“Over the last year, we have made tremendous strides in improving our manufacturing performance using systems imported by our operations executive Joe Dourneen. It’s my intention that the ideas Ka Lun will bring with him will similarly transform the chemistry, both operational and developmental, of our business."