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South West RDA invests £50k into world’s first 3D structural
testing system
31 March 2010
The South West RDA has awarded a £50,000 grant to Bristol-based
Imetrum Ltd to develop the world’s first 3D system that will
monitor movement of structures such as buildings and bridges.
The company, based in Flax Bourton, currently makes a 2D system,
which is used to assess the properties of materials during their
design and manufacture.
Having secured more than 50 material testing orders from
high profile companies such as Airbus and Rolls Royce, Imetrum will
use the grant to develop the first 3D product specifically tailored
to monitoring structures.
Using real time digital video processing, it will give engineers
a better knowledge of the way structures behave and move when a
load, such as cars on a bridge, is applied. It also measures the
affects of different environmental conditions, for example wind and
temperature.
As well as being used in civil engineering projects, such as
bridges, dams and buildings, the system could also be used in the
automotive and aircraft industries to test large structural
components, such as car chassis and aircraft fuselages.
Charlotte Lane, business innovation manager from the South West
RDA, said: “It’s great to see a growing company like Imetrum grab
an opportunity to innovate. We are delighted to have awarded this
grant for a project which could ultimately lead the company to
break into a lucrative new area and create new jobs.”
Because of the UK’s ageing infrastructure, hundreds of bridges,
dams and public buildings need to be tested regularly for safety
and to develop more efficient maintenance strategies.
Network Rail has over 50,000 bridges in its network, 50 per cent
of which are over 100 years old. The new 3D monitoring equipment
will give the engineers measurement data in a matter of minutes
compared to traditional measurement techniques that take days to
set up, dramatically reducing costs and increasing efficiency.
John Brewster, managing director at Imetrum Ltd, said: ”This
grant will enable us to be the first to develop a unique product
and open up a growing new market that is expected to be worth £1bn
within the next few years.
“The 3D system will give the structural engineer a system that
is easy to set up and will give the necessary data to guarantee the
safety of a whole range of structures from bridges and power
stations to aircraft and wind turbines.”
Imetrum was founded in 2003 as a spinout from the University of
Bristol. More than 15 years of research and development has made
them experts in the field of video-based, remote precision
measurement. The 2D Video Gauge product was first launched in 2007
and is now used both within academia and industry.
The Grant for Research and Development, delivered regionally by
the South West RDA, is part of a Department for Business,
Innovation and Skills (BIS) Solutions for Business initiative. The
scheme provides funding to help small and medium-sized businesses
research and develop technologically innovative products and
processes.
For more information on the Grant for Research and Development,
go to www.southwestrda.org.uk/grd
Ends
For more information contact Sue Amiel at Spirit Public
Relations on 0117 944 1415 or samiel@spiritpublicrelations.co.uk
Notes to editors
The South West RDA leads the development of a sustainable
economy, investing to unlock the region's business potential. It is
helping companies respond to the economic crisis and charts a
course for recovery. The RDA is developing or expanding initiatives
which include: establishing a Business Loan Fund; coordinating the
response to large companies in difficulty; preparing for economic
recovery.