Press Fold Ltd
Director, Dr. Graham Crymble, Lisburn

The Benefits:
Developed a new range of Acoustic Doors providing a sound reduction of 45dB in a typical masonry wall construction. The new product line opened a high margin, specialised market to the company which resulted in £150,000 sales increase and has the potential to increase further.

The Company:
Powershield, a division of Pressfold Ltd, manufacture a range of standard and high performance doors and windows for commercial and industrial use. Acoustic doors are designed to provide fire protection, security and cleanroom situations, particularly for the pharmaceutical, food processing and microelectronics sectors of industry.

The Project:
An MTP Field Officer visited Dr Graham Crymble, Managing Director of Pressfold Ltd. They discussed the services available from MTP. At the meeting it emerged that the company wished to introduce a new range of acoustic doors. It was necessary that the doors should retain the fire protection or other properties but in addition have significant sound reduction properties.

Making it Happen:

  • MTP
  • Invest NI - Innovation Credit
  • Invest NI - Compete Programme
  • University of Ulster

MTP arranged for Oliver Hetherington, an expert in acoustics at the University of Ulster, to discuss with Graham the company’s requirements in detail. Oliver recommended a programme of noise testing and Pressfold manufactured the prototypes. The work was supported by an ‘Innovation Credit’ which is sponsored by Invest NI.

The Result...
As a result of this collaboration, Pressfold Ltd is currently using the Invest NI Compete programme to help with product development. This has resulted in the doors being produced for a Rolls Royce Gas Turbine installation in Liverpool. Based on the success of the Invest NI Programmes, the University of Ulster and MTP, Powershield now has a new range of acoustic doors, which provides a sound reduction of 52dB. This door range would expand the Powershield door design capabilities and allow the company to tender for a wider range of contracts. This new innovative product has been installed in the Hardy Room at Queen’s University’s music building.

Dr Graham Crymble (Director):
“We talked about the need for a new range of doors for a long time, but it wasn’t until MTP got involved that things started to move. MTP introduced us to Oliver Hetherington who had the expertise and test facilities we needed. As a result we are now able to tender for work in a new specialised market.”