University News Last updated 28 January 2013
Academics from Birmingham Institute of Art and Design (BIAD) have been praised for an innovative design project in collaboration with AGA Rangemaster Group PLC.
BIAD – part of Birmingham City University - teamed up with AGA for two Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) in honour of last year's Made in the Midlands Awards which recognise local manufacturing firms who have made a difference to the region.
The partnership was praised by the Technology Strategy Board and graded as outstanding by a panel of independent assessors. In addition the project team were awarded a KTP ‘Certificate of Excellence’.
The first of the two projects saw the team develop a concept model of a heat storage AGA stove, using low carbon renewable energy and sustainable technologies, resulting in the development of a new range of energy efficient products. The products, including the 'Night Storage Stove' and '60cm Cooker' were displayed last summer at the University's IDEA Birmingham exhibition and during the 2012 Conservative Party Conference and proved so successful that they are now being manufactured by AGA.
The second project which is still on-going, will see the development of a digitally accessible design archive gallery, allowing flexible, secure access to AGA and Rangemaster product histories which could be used to simulate new markets and communicate design developments.
Dr Panch Suntharalingam, lead BIAD academic and supervisor said: “To receive an award for being instrumental in the company’s new product development, combined with technological innovation and its impact in the development of the company’s knowledge base, was very rewarding.”