A Co Londonderry-based high-tech business is looking for good ideas - literally.

Kilrea's Hutchinson Engineering, the parent company of consultancy and conceptual design subsidiary, H360 - which focuses on 3D Design - wants new and existing clients to come up with an initial idea that H360 experts will then take to the design phase, and construct a prototype for Hutchinson Engineering to eventually take into full production.

This latest innovation comes as Hutchinson Engineering completes a £800,000 investment in a state-of-the-art Tube laser machine - An Adige LT8 Tube and Section Laser.

According to Managing Director, Mark Hutchinson, this is only the second of its kind to be installed in the UK: "It will process box, pipe, angle and channel with a 3-D head.

"This machine brings with it a new dimension in laser-cutting - with endless possibilities in terms of fabrication techniques and processes and it has the potential to transform fabrication techniques, by bringing a new dimension to issues such as putting holes and profiles in sections."

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Hutchinson Engineering, which operates a 25,000sq ft plant on a two-acre site outside Kilrea, with 40 members of staff, is now going to the next stage of development.

"Traditionally the company was agriculturally orientated, until, in 1996 Hutchinson Engineering turned its attention to the industrial sub-contract market," continued the executive.

"We now have a large customer base serving the transport, agricultural, and construction industry.

"Many of our customers are involved in the waste recycling sector, and it is hoped that by utilising the new tube laser, there will be substantial savings in terms of labour as new methods of fabrication can be utilised," he explained, noting that the LT8 can process box sections up to 200 x 200 and pipe up to 220mm diameter with a loading length of 8500mm.

"Now, we hope that the move will not only strengthen our position as one of Northern Ireland's leading subcontract manufacturing companies but also bring H360 to the fore.

"We now have the facilities to take on a problem - or innovative idea - design a solution and manufacture a prototype from scratch and would urge entrepreneurs everywhere to bring their ideas to us for potential development and manufacture," he said, noting that two new jobs - and a possible two more positions - have developed from the new Tube laser's installation already, with unlimited possibilities from the trawl for new ideas.

See: www.hutchinson-engineering.co.uk

(BMcC/GK)