Engineers TV

Three Kilkeel manufacturing SMEs are investing more than £650,000 collectively to grow their businesses in Great Britain and RoI. J N Hire, Mourne Craft and Anachem Hygiene will also create 12 jobs as part of their investments.

'Investments like these align with The Department for the Economy’s 10X Economic Vision as they ensure Northern Ireland will become a more enterprising region that supports business development, particularly in a regional area.' Mark Bleakney, Invest Northern Ireland’s southern regional manager

L-R: James Norris, managing director of J N Hire; Joe Annett, Founder and managing director of Anachem Hygiene; Mark Bleakney, Invest Northern Ireland’s southern regional manager; and Ronald McConnell, partner, Mourne Craft

Mark Bleakney, Invest Northern Ireland’s Southern Regional Manager, said: “It was great to meet with J N Hire, Mourne Craft and Anachem Hygiene today to hear about their plans to grow their businesses in the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council area. Each of these SMEs is well established in Kilkeel and has contributed positively to the economic growth of the area for many years.

'More enterprising region'

“Investments like these align with the Department for the Economy’s 10X Economic Vision as they ensure Northern Ireland will become a more enterprising region that supports business development, particularly in a regional area.

"Our southern regional team has worked closely with each of these companies to offer specific advice and support tailored to their individual business needs to help them invest in local job creation and secure global sales.”

Combined, the companies will create 12 local jobs, which will contribute more than £320,000 in additional annual salaries to the economy.

“We look forward to continuing to support these businesses as they grow and enhance their international competitiveness, while adding value to the local Kilkeel business community, and the wider Newry, Mourne and Down Council area.”

Invest NI has offered £78,750 of support towards the new jobs, and marketing activities.

Manufacturing hydraulics

James Norris, managing director of plant hire and manufacturing company J N Hire, said: “We’ve steadily grown our business over the years, and have recently started manufacturing hydraulics and specialist PPE for the fishing and marine sectors, which has boosted our exporting potential.

"To capitalise on growth opportunities in GB, RoI and across Europe, Invest NI is supporting us to create six jobs that will expand our team’s expertise and capacity. It has also provided support for marketing activities that will help us build our brand in international markets.”

Invest NI’s wide range of business support can be explored at investni.com.

'We’ve been working with Invest NI’s Southern regional team since 2018, and its advice and guidance has been instrumental to our growth so far.' Ronald McConnell, partner, Mourne Craft

Mourne Craft specialises in the design, manufacture and installation of external stainless steel and glass balustrades and internal staircases for commercial and residential projects.

The company is currently selling in GB and RoI, and Invest NI support is helping to strengthen this success. Ronald McConnell, partner, Mourne Craft, said: “We’ve been working with Invest NI’s Southern regional team since 2018, and its advice and guidance has been instrumental to our growth so far.

New-build construction market

"We’re now experiencing an increase in demand for our products in the new-build construction market and hiring three new staff will enable us to target this new market in both GB and RoI and secure more sales.”

Anachem Hygiene is also investing in its business to increase its exports in RoI, and break into the GB market. Founder and managing director Joe Annett said: “We’ve been developing and manufacturing cleaning chemicals for professional, industrial and automotive sectors from our Kilkeel facility for over 20 years.

"To expand our product portfolio and keep up with our competitors, we’ve developed new environmentally friendly cleaning solutions. This has created a significant market opportunity for us to target new business in RoI such as care homes, schools, and hospitals, and also build our presence in GB.

"Invest NI’s support to grow our team with three new staff will allow us to continue innovating and increase production, which will in turn increase our sales success.”

The north's economy minister, Gordon Lyons, has announced that Queen’s University Belfast and NVIDIA will invest £5.4m in a joint research and development (R&D) project with the aim to accelerate artificial intelligence, machine learning and cyber security research in Northern Ireland.

Part of the project will be funded through a £1.7m R&D grant by Invest Northern Ireland. 

L-R: Professor Sakir Sezer, principal architect at NVIDIA; vice-chancellor of Queen’s University Belfast Prof Ian Greer; economy minister Gordon Lyons; and Dr Vicky Kell, Invest NI’s director of innovation

NVIDIA’s Belfast office will become a research hub for advanced network intelligence, with 10 new highly skilled engineering and research roles being created. 

Investments like this are supporting my department’s 10X Economic Vision and positioning Northern Ireland on the global innovation map among the best small economies. Gordon Lyons, economy minister

The minister said: “Northern Ireland is enjoying a growing international reputation as a region with expertise in cyber security. This R&D project will enhance this reputation by making a significant contribution to the next generation of cloud communications infrastructure.

“Collaboration between industry and academia is an important driver of innovation and growth in technology and I’m pleased to see this partnership between Queen’s University Belfast and NVIDIA. Investments like this are supporting my department’s 10X Economic Vision and positioning Northern Ireland on the global innovation map amongst the best small economies.”

Redefined modern computer graphics

NVIDIA graphics processing units, or GPUs, have redefined modern computer graphics, high performance computing and artificial intelligence. This new R&D project will include efforts to develop additional innovative functionality on NVIDIA’s next-generation data processing units, or DPUs.

This partnership with NVIDIA is an excellent opportunity to work collaboratively on world leading research and it is vital that we continue to do this in tandem with our industry partners. Professor Ian Greer, vice-chancellor of Queen’s University Belfast

Professor Sakir Sezer, who also serves as principal architect at NVIDIA said: “We plan to tap into the highly skilled researchers and PhDs at Queen’s University Belfast, as well as state-of-the-art labs at the Centre for Secure Information Technologies and the Global Innovation Institute, to explore research challenges around AI-centric cloud and data centre security.

"This project is an important step in greater engagement between NVIDIA and the university, and we look forward to welcoming the new engineering staff joining us for it.”

Vice-chancellor of Queen’s University Belfast, Professor Ian Greer, said: “The allocation of this funding will have a hugely positive impact on the cyber security sector, both locally and globally. At Queen’s, we are very proud of the work that takes place through our Institute of Electronics, Communications and Information Technology and are looking forward to further developing cutting-edge research through the Global Innovation Institute.

“This partnership with NVIDIA is an excellent opportunity to work collaboratively on world leading research and it is vital that we continue to do this in tandem with our industry partners. In doing so, we are investing in the skills of the next generation of leaders in cyber security and progressing the Northern Ireland economy.”

Securing such a prestigious project for Northern Ireland is testament to NVIDIA’s confidence in its Belfast workforce and what it can achieve in Northern Ireland. Dr Vicky Kell, Invest NI’s director of innovation, research and development

Dr Vicky Kell, Invest NI’s director of innovation, research and development, said: “Securing such a prestigious project for Northern Ireland is testament to NVIDIA’s confidence in its Belfast workforce and what it can achieve in Northern Ireland. The company has a proven track record for using innovation to stay ahead of its competitors and translating ideas into successful commercial reality.

"This project, which we are supporting with a £1.7m grant for R&D, will strengthen the skills, technical capabilities and standing of NVIDIA’s Belfast engineering team and encourage a knowledge spill over within the Northern Ireland development community.”

West Belfast based The Electric Storage Company is expanding its team with 10 jobs in a £780,000 investment to help it meet the growing demand for renewable energy across Northern Ireland, RoI and Great Britain. 

L-R: Anne Marie McGoldrick, co-founder, the Electric Storage Company and Eddie McGoldrick, director and co-founder, the Electric Storage Company with Grainne McVeigh, director of advanced manufacturing and engineering, Invest NI

The company offers a new service to domestic energy users, which gives them the tools to maximise energy produced from renewables such as solar or wind from their homes. Its customers can choose to use the energy generated whenever it is needed or trade it in the energy market through a provision of battery storage hardware and Internet of Things technology.

Invest NI recognises the increasing significance of the green economy as a key driver of growth and it is companies like The Electric Storage Company which are supporting Northern Ireland to play a pivotal role in encouraging a green sustainable recovery and in rebuilding our economy. Grainne McVeigh, Director of Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering, Invest NI

Congratulating the company on the new expansion, Grainne McVeigh, Invest NI’s director of advanced manufacturing and engineering said: “The Electric Storage Company is an early stage company which is playing a leading role in helping Northern Ireland to become more energy efficient by creating a new concept for the domestic energy market.

“We’ve worked with the company since it was established in 2017 and have supported it to invest in R&D to develop its data analytics platform, PARIS. This is helping to bring renewable energy to households across Northern Ireland with the potential to grow its business further in RoI and Great Britain. To continue this success, we’re now supporting the company to grow its team with specialised data analytical skills and expand its sales and customer support teams to help deliver a strong sales pipeline. 

“Invest NI recognises the increasing significance of the green economy as a key driver of growth and it is companies like The Electric Storage Company which are supporting Northern Ireland to play a pivotal role in encouraging a green sustainable recovery and in rebuilding our economy. I wish the company well for the future.”

By combining knowledge of the market, issues with the rural aspects of electricity supply, factors that create fuel poverty and the recent improvements in relevant technologies, we have created a new business model which we are confident will appeal to domestic consumers in Northern Ireland and beyond. Eddie McGoldrick, Director and Co-Founder, The Electric Storage Company

Invest NI has offered the company £206,000 of support towards the new jobs, support to participate on its collaborative growth programme, technical development assistance and R&D. Two of the new jobs are now in place.

Eddie McGoldrick, director and co-founder of the Electric Storage Company, said: “Our business is based on moving customers towards cheaper, smarter, greener energy. By combining knowledge of the market, issues with the rural aspects of electricity supply, factors that create fuel poverty and the recent improvements in relevant technologies, we have created a new business model which we are confident will appeal to domestic consumers in Northern Ireland and beyond.”

First ‘micro-grid’

The Electric Storage Company is also the lead company in the Girona Collaborative Growth Network which recently won UKRI funding to enable Girona to bring the first ‘micro-grid’ to Northern Ireland by combining Northern Ireland’s expertise in power engineering, fintech and big data. 

The project, which is due to complete next year, aims to create a revolution in the energy market, giving customers an easy, inexpensive way to incorporate smart solutions like solar panels with battery storage and support the decarbonisation of heat and transport in their daily lives. 

Co-founder of the Electric Storage Company, Anne Marie McGoldrick, added: “Essentially, with every install of a smart energy device we are helping our customers start their journey to net zero.

"Our investment of almost £800,000 is supporting our expansion plans and we are really looking forward to growing our team with 10 new staff. Invest NI has supported us from the get-go with business advice, R&D and now support for the new jobs. It’s an exciting and promising time for our company and we are very excited for the future.”

The north's economy minister, Gordon Lyons, has announced 120 jobs for Northern Ireland during a visit to a new manufacturing facility set up by Tribe Technology.

Minerals industry

Based in Perth, Australia, Tribe Technology designs, manufactures and sells autonomous drill rigs to the minerals industry. It is opening a new design and manufacturing facility at Enterprise Way Mallusk. 

'We are pleased to have been able to support and secure such a pioneering manufacturing project for Northern Ireland.' Anne Beggs, director of trade and investment, Invest NI

Minister Lyons said: “Northern Ireland has a diverse advanced manufacturing and engineering sector which, in recent years, has grown almost three times faster than the rest of the UK. I am delighted to welcome Tribe Technology to this vibrant and highly sophisticated sector. 

L-R: Gordon Lyons, economy minister with Anne Beggs, director of trade and investment, Invest NI and Charlie King, managing mirector, Tribe Technology

“Tribe Technology plans to create 120 engineering jobs over the next five years. These roles offer the opportunity to be involved in developing and manufacturing innovative new drilling systems, as well as attractive salaries. Once all the roles are in place this investment will generate in excess of £3 million in annual salaries to the NI economy.”

The Department for the Economy unveiled its '10X economy' vision in May. It is centred on the ability of innovation to deliver a 10 times better economy with benefits for all our people.

The minister said: “Using innovative technologies and methodologies for improved competitiveness is central to continued success in manufacturing. This is exactly what Tribe Technology is doing for the mining industry.

'Smart autonomous drilling system'

"The work it plans to do here in Northern Ireland is highly innovative – designing and manufacturing a new, smart autonomous drilling system for the mineral industry. I have very much enjoyed my visit to the new facility and meeting the first members of the team starting work on this exciting project.”

Charlie King, managing director of Tribe Technology, is a Northern Ireland native, originally from Crossgar.

'We took to decision to locate the manufacturing in Northern Ireland as there is a wealth of heavy manufacturing industrial expertise here.' Charlie King, Managing Director, Tribe Technology

He said: “I have spent more than a decade working in the contract drilling industry in Australia. We identified the opportunity to develop an innovative new product which will revolutionise the drill rig industry for the global minerals industry. Tribe Technology will remove all operators from the dangers of drilling operations, reduce drilling costs and increase drilling uptime.

“This new drilling system will be manufactured in our new Belfast manufacturing facility here at Enterprise Way Mallusk, and then shipped to our first customers in Western Australia and later globally. We took to decision to locate the manufacturing in Northern Ireland as there is a wealth of heavy manufacturing industrial expertise here.

“It is great to finally see the new factory up and running and work well under way to manufacturing these new rigs. Even though we are just getting started we have already recruited 14 people to the team already. The market demand for our technology has been outstanding and we look forward to ramping up to full production capacity ahead of schedule.”

Invest Northern Ireland has been working with Tribe Technology since late 2019, showcasing what Northern Ireland has to offer. The agency has also offered £984,000 of support towards 82 of the jobs.

Anne Beggs, director of trade and investment, Invest NI, said: “There are about 2,200 advanced manufacturing, materials and engineering companies in Northern Ireland involved in a wide variety of activities. This project by Tribe, however, is a new area of manufacturing for Northern Ireland."

The Deluxe Group, a Portadown based bespoke manufacturing company, has created over 30 jobs in a £1.7million investment to support its expansion in its chosen market sectors including luxury property, cruise line and visitor attractions. 

Richard Hill, business development director at Deluxe said: “We are really benefiting from the growth of the world’s ‘experience economy’. Spend is increasing on memorable experiences and our interiors have a common theme in that they tell a compelling story, whether it’s a luxury five-star hotel in a building with a rich heritage or a visitor attraction created from a successful film or TV show.

It’s great to see a Northern Ireland company achieving such global recognition and it’s not surprising that in executing prestigious projects like these, the company needed to hire new staff to keep up with the demand for its services. Brian Dolaghan, executive director of business solutions, Invest NI

“Over the past 10 years, we have been developing our export business in the USA, Japan and the Middle East and we have greatly benefited from the on the ground inmarket support from the Invest Northern Ireland teams. 

L-R: Richard Hill, business development director, the Deluxe Group with Brian Dolaghan, executive director of Business Solutions, Invest NI

"As soon as we got the green light from Invest NI, we recruited 30 new staff quickly in project management, quantity surveying, design and skilled craftsmanship. Our new staff are already helping us to take our art and theme business to the next level and will enable us to offer the most extensive range of experience led design across Europe.

“As we continue to expand our international operations, it is an exciting time to be part of the Deluxe team where we make unforgettable experiences come to life. We are always keen to talk to talented and enthusiastic individuals who are interested in developing their career with a dynamic and innovative company.”

Invest NI has offered The Deluxe Group £240,000 of support towards the creation of the 30 jobs, all of which are in place.

As soon as we got the green light from Invest NI, we recruited 30 new staff quickly... Our new staff are already helping us to take our art and theme business to the next level and will enable us to offer the most extensive range of experience-led design across Europe. Richard Hill, business development director, the Deluxe Group