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HW-IMRC
Spin-out Companies
In this section, a brief outline is presented describing
the formation and activities of three companies
which have been spun-off from the research conducted
within the HW-IMRC.
MicroStencil Ltd
MicroStencil Limited18 was created as a spin-out
from the Microsystems Group in January 2003, to
exploit unique new technology developed and patented
by the group for the fabrication of advanced electroformed
stencils, based on novel seed conductive layer deposition
techniques and bipolar electroplating. Key applications
of the new stencil technology are in microelectronics,
e.g. for wafer level bumping and as double layer
stencil structures used in the photovoltaic industry.
After several years trading in the UK during which
time it attracted considerable attention, MicroStencils
Ltd moved to Singapore to be closer to its markets
in the Far East. In 2006 it formed a joint venture
with DEK, the world leading manufacturer of stencil
printing equipment, which is commercialising the
MicroStencil Ltd stencil technology under the trademark
Stencil Platinum.
www.microstencil.com
PowerPhotonic Ltd
PowerPhotonic Ltd19 was formed in 2004 as a spin-off
from the Photonics Group within the HW-IMRC to develop
micro-optic phaseplates that enhance the beam performance
of high power diode lasers in bars or stacks of
bars. The company brings together two innovative
technologies of novel stack wavefront measurement
techniques and the capability to fabricate custom
(purpose-specific) refractive micro-optic elements
using a novel laser direct-write process developed
by the Photonics Group. Following first round funding
in December 2007, PowerPhotonic moved to new production
facilities during the spring of 2008. The company
has steadily expanded its product range to include
a range of application-specific components as well
as more general purpose high-precision micro-optics.
In particular, the company has developed he capacity
to design and fabricate multi-function micro-optical
components, and is ramping- up its production capabilities
for larger scale manufacture and extending its customer
base.
www.powerphotonic.co.uk
Totallytextures Ltd
Totallytextures Ltd20 was spun out in 2005 to commercialise
research from the HW-IMRC Texture Lab and to provide
effective solutions for web-based product presentation.
For example, the t3D software suite is partly based
on patent-protected technology for which Totallytextures
has an exclusive licence from the University. Since
incorporation the company has enhanced its product
portfolio with web presentation technologies such
as SmarterSwatch for which a further patent is pending.
SmarterSwatch is a modern interpretation of the
sample swatch in digital format. It provides an
interactive digital experience which mimics that
which takes place when a customer inspects merchandise
in a hands-on mode. In essence any product configured
in this way is given a starring role in its own
movie. The result is an interactive digital experience
which gives customers a highly accurate impression
of merchandise featured. This digital content has
the potential to transform a ‘passive’
marketing website into an effective direct sales
tool. The overall goal of our company is to provide
solutions for on-line product presentation which
recognise the importance of texture and how to communicate
it effectively.
www.totallytextures.com
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