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Since 1995, Loughborough's research into vibro-impact systems (VIS) has made handheld breaker tools safer for operators and has also increased machining efficiency. Users have been prone to detrimental `hand arm vibration' effects of multiple impacts, including the debilitating condition `white finger'. JCB applied the research findings in its HM25LV breaker design, introduced in 2008, which despite being more powerful exhibits half the hand arm vibration of competitors. JCB has sold more than 1,800 units in the UK and abroad.
The Centre for Business, Innovation and Enterprise (CBIE) has conducted extensive research that has significantly, positively impacted upon the health and safety management of plant and machinery, throughout businesses in the UK and internationally. The outputs of this research are firmly embedded within an academic multi-collaborative framework that has profited from tangible contribution via partnerships with business, industry and government stakeholders. The impact has benefitted original equipment manufacturers (e.g. JCB); the equipment supply chain (e.g. Hilti UK Ltd., A-Plant plc.); end users (e.g. the US and UK armed forces); and society at large, by making people's workplaces safer.
University of Bradford research has enabled a material manufacturing company, Armacell, to reuse up to 95% of its production waste to produce new, high-value acoustic products with up to 50% better acoustic performance than any competition products of similar size. We protected the developed IP through several international patents and set up a spin-off company, Acoutechs Ltd, to explore this technology commercially. These materials are now used to reduce noise levels below the recommended limits and to improve the general acoustic quality of spaces at home and work for the benefit of public health. The products generate an annual turnover of more than €4 million for Armacell and prevent more than 500 tonnes of plastic waste from going into landfill annually.