Case Studies
Packaging integrity and quality systems optimisation for a functional beverage brand
Hytropics is an Irish functional beverage brand producing a sugar-free electrolyte drink formulated for balanced energy and better focus. The product contains electrolytes, B vitamins and Ginseng, is sweetened with stevia, and is manufactured in Ireland. Since launch, Hytropics has focused on building a strong retail footprint while maintaining high quality and food safety standards.
As Hytropics scaled production and expanded retail distribution, the company sought to further strengthen its packaging integrity and internal quality systems to ensure consistent product performance and compliance at scale.
MiCRA provided technical expertise to assess can and packaging performance, supported root-cause investigation at a systems level, and assisted in strengthening standard operating procedures. The Gateway also supported the development of formalised quality documentation, including SOPs and a quality manual aligned with best practice.
The project helped Hytropics improve confidence in its packaging and quality processes, reduce technical risk as production volumes increase, and put robust systems in place to support ongoing retail growth and future market expansion.
MiCRA’s expertise made a real difference in strengthening our processes and supporting our expansion plans. The work was done quickly and thoroughly, keeping us informed every step of the way, ensuring the project ran smoothly and effectively.
Anna Malsam
Director, Hytropics
Monitoring of Water Quality in Poultry Farming
PE Services (Head office, Crubany, Co. Cavan) is an Irish company involved in the sale and distribution of agricultural technology. Established in 1997, it has grown steadily and has earned a reputation as an innovative solutions provider within its three main business divisions – Agricultural Solutions; Wash & Environmental Services; Safety Systems.
PE Services operates a comprehensive nationwide service and has expanded to serve the UK market. They are committed to supplying their customers with quality solutions supported by the highest levels of customer service possible.
The company identified an unmet industry need for on-site monitoring of feed water quality in poultry farming. Issues of water quality and risks of bacterial contamination (in grow houses) were known to represent a major headache for the poultry industry and led to increased risk of infection and generally of poor avian health.
PE Services contacted MiCRA, having learned of their expertise in R&D and micro-biological sensors. The project partners got together and quickly set about describing an R&D roadmap – from early-stage exploratory research (proof-of-concept), follow-on development, and ultimately through to research commercialisation and market – to develop feed-water sensor technology.
The implementation of advanced biosensor technology would allow poultry technicians to gauge water quality on-site, in real-time, and so make informed decisions with respect to the use of chemical disinfection and antibiotics. The success of the initial proof-of-concept study has since led to engagement by both parties in follow-on collaborative research projects.
We were impressed from the outset with the hands-on approach and “can-do” attitude of the MiCRA team. Working closely with MiCRA researchers, we were able to co-author and achieve funding support for a project of direct and immediate economic relevance to our business. All said, we are delighted with the progress to date, so much so that we are committing to substantial ongoing research in the area and would highly recommend MiCRA to any firm looking for access to scientific research expertise.
Killian Cawley
Managing Director, PE Services
Development of a Prototype Rapid Deployment EEG Sensor for Neonatal EEG Brain Monitoring
Incereb is an EI High Potential start-up that graduated through the New Frontiers Programme to incubate in the Synergy Centre in TU Dublin in 2012. Incereb has developed a rapid deployment multi sensor EEG device for use in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit on infants at risk of seizures following Oxygen Deprivation, infection or neurological abnormality.
This device, named ‘neon’ (Neonatal EEG Optimised for NICU), reduces the time taken to set up the brain monitoring investigation from 1 hour to less than 2 minutes. This reduction in application time is less stressful for the infant, and is more accurate than current techniques. Neon EEG devices are designed to interface with all brands of EEG and CFM recording equipment. The Incereb neon device has CE and FDA certifications, and is now being used by clinicians in Europe and the US since the product launch in October 2015.
Incereb collaborated with TU Dublin based Technology Gateway, MiCRA, through a series of EI Innovation Vouchers and 100% funded projects from the company to co-develop the electrode which was incorporated into the neon EEG sensor array.
MiCRA produced prototypes for Incereb, with full functionality, and were very close to the final design iteration. The Micra staff were fully engaged with this project, the documentation and final report on the project was top class, and slotted immediately into our technical and design history file. We have absolutely no hesitation in recommending MiCRA to any interested party.
Jim Roche
CEO Incereb
Bee Hive Health: Developing Real-Time Monitoring Solutions
Advance Science Ltd. is based in Connemara in the West of Ireland, one of the most scenic areas in Europe, as well as having offices located in the National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG). The company is committed to safely improving bee health worldwide and making new technologies available to beekeepers. Its goal is to create a more sustainable future for bees and pollinators. The company has a clear research focus and strives to provide innovative, effective, and practical solutions that are cost-competitive for the beekeeping industry. The company is focusing on the areas of disease, nutrition, and gut health.
The Bee Hive Health Project drew on the expertise of MiCRA in the R&D of bio and electrochemical sensors. The project partners outlined an ambitious programme to design and engineer sensor technology to facilitate detection and differentiation between specified target entities – or biological markers of the health of the beehive. They sought to develop a solution capable of performing with high analytical sensitivity and low time-to-result.
A variety of chemical analysis techniques were validated for their detection capabilities including molecule differentiation and concentration dependence for the relevant signalling molecules. The research led to the development of prototype sensors and incorporated testing of early-stage prototypes in a live beehive environment.
We were delighted with the outcome of this short turn-around research engagement. The results achieved went beyond our expectations and vastly exceeded the initial scope and objectives of the project. We are excited at the possibilities and look forward to further advancing these concepts under future research collaborations with the team at MiCRA.
Dara Scott - Managing Director, Advance Science
Evaluation of Anti-fungal Formulations for Use on External Walls
Chamco International Ltd specialises in anti-bacterial and anti-fungal sanitising products. With over 30 years of experience in both food safety and chemical manufacturing, Chamco offers end-to-end solutions for manufacturers, retailers, and individual clients. Chamco products are 100% natural and biodegradable and contain no alcohol or harsh chemicals. They are environmentally safe, eco-friendly, and ideal for use in the home, healthcare, farming, and manufacturing applications.
Chamco contacted MiCRA for assistance with R&D in the area of natural product biocide development. The company wished to study the composition and efficacy of innovative formulations for the control of fungal and algal discoloration, as commonly found on the exterior walls of residential dwelling houses, commercial buildings, and infrastructure.
MiCRA researchers met with Chamco and set out a plan of work initially to be carried out with funding assistance under the Enterprise Ireland Innovation Voucher programme. The partnership scoped out a challenging, time-constrained project that involved in-field work, microscopic & spectroscopic sample analysis, and efficacy studies of Chamco’s biocide formulations.
The project was delivered by MiCRA scientists and made possible by the use of high-end scientific facilities & equipment; such as microbiology-cell culture labs, fluorescence microscopes, and UV-vis spectroscopic instrumentation – as available on-site at TU Dublin. The project exceeded its objectives and has since led to exciting research and development of natural product algaecides.
We were blown away by the level of research expertise and capability, as made readily available to us, during this project. We, ourselves, could never have delivered this project in-house – not economically and certainly not in the time available – given the need for access to high-end analytical equipment and specialist expertise. This was a real eye-opener and we are more than delighted to continue this research collaboration and to commend the excellent work of the MiCRA team.
Brendan Chambers
Managing Director, Chamco Ltd.