Kilkenny company Prochem Engineering has launched a new capability – Prochem Cleantech Services, which utilises specialist software to provide a one-stop-shop for energy reduction projects within cleanrooms and warehouses. The new offering will lead to additional revenues of up to €2 million over the next 3-5 years and a 10% increase in its employees as well as attracting international opportunities for the company, according to Prochem Engineering director Donal Higgins.
Prochem Engineering, an engineering consultancy specialising in biotech and pharmaceutical projects, undertook a detailed 18-month assessment of computer modelling software in engineering design before investing in specialist software to assist in energy reduction projects.
“Our design engineers, using our specialist software, will be able to optimise the performance of client’s facilities at design stage, resulting in reduced energy consumption and optimal cost savings,” points out Donal Higgins.
Prochem Cleantech Services has already received business enquiries from as far away as India and Afghanistan. The company, founded in 1995 by Matt O’Brien, currently employs 60. Its turn-over in 2009 was in excess of Eur5 million.
Prochem Cleantech Services is the result of a the company’s successful participation in FUSION, InterTradeIreland’s all-island technology transfer initiative that allows companies to make strategic advances in innovation through a partnership with a college or university on the other side of the border. The partners work collectively to plan a specific project that will solve a technology need within the company and a high calibre graduate is employed to spearhead the project for 18 months, acting as the link and agent of technology transfer between the university and the company.
Prochem’s graduate student through the FUSION initiative was John George Butler who is still employed at Prochem Engineering. He worked under the direction of Prochem director Kevin Lynch with external academic input from the University of Ulster to ensure the success of the project.
CAPTION:
Pictured are Prochem directors Donal Higgins (back left) and Kevin Lynch (back right) with engineering graduate John George Butler (front) who worked on the project as part of FUSION, a technology transfer initiative between the company, InterTradeIreland and the University of Ulster.