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Northern Ireland
Ultravisc
Sensor-Base Ultrasonic Viscosity Control for the Extrusion of Recycled Plastics
Tullyroan
Research and innovation
Our aim is to improve processes for the recycling of post-consumer plastic waste, using new technology to compensate for impurities and variations in the physical properties of recycled feedstock. Ultravisc will allow the production of higher grade products from recycled materials, and will reduce costs for plastics recyclers and processors, thus increasing European competitiveness. It will also provide significant environmental benefits, through conservation of non-renewable raw materials, processing energy, and CO2 emissions, and a reduction in landfill use. The lack of highly efficient separation processes for consumer plastics results in materials that are contaminated and inconsistent regarding physical properties. This results in two distinct problems in the processing of these materials by extrusion methods. The first is the presence of small particulate contaminants, which can give rise to serious defects and the generation of scrap product. The second is batch-to-batch variability in the bulk melt flow index, due to differences in the source of the waste materials used. This demands re-optimisation of machine operating parameters, resulting in line downtime and materials wastage. Our process will be based on novel ‘Soft Sensor’ technology, which will monitor the viscosity of the polymer melt during processing and control the selective application of ultrasound to ensure consistent processing, using an intelligent fully closed-loop system. We will also develop an ultrasonically assisted filter pack capable of filtering fine particulate contaminants with a low back pressure, improving filtration of plastics. These innovations will enable consistent processing of variable grade recycled plastic materials.
http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/107640_en.html
Cooperation And Working Together (CAWT)
Healthcare that puts patients, clients and families first
Derry - Londonderry
Health
CAWT involves twelve diverse health and social care projects, bringing together communities from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The objectives of the project are to improve access to services, promote health, well-being and inclusion, and reduce health inequalities in more rural border areas.
The 12 projects range from promoting social inclusion, establishment of cross-border acute hospital services and sexual health (GUM) clinics to dealing with issues such as alcohol, eating disorders, disabilities, diabetes, obesity and autism. Support for older people and enhancing cross-border workforce mobility are also project areas.
Giant's Causeway Visitor Centre
Bushmills, Antrim
Infrastructure
The EU has co-funded the award-winning redevelopment of the Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre, which is making a significant contribution to the development of a vibrant and sustainable tourism industry and the Northern Irish economy. Built to the highest architectural standards, it offers a fully integrated visitor experience with state-of-the-art facilities. Its unique and striking design has won various awards for sustainability, tourism and architecture.
Since opening in 2012, the Centre has proved a huge draw for tourists both at home and abroad, with visitor numbers exceeding expectation. During the first two years of operation there were 1.4m visitors from 178 countries.
http://giantscausewaytickets.com/the-visitor-centre
Belfast Convention Centre at the Waterfront Hall
Belfast
Infrastructure
One of the largest projects supported in the 2007-2013 Programme, the Belfast Waterfront Conference and Exhibition Centre will double the existing space at the Waterfront and put Belfast and Northern Ireland on the international conference circuit. Due to open in 2017, the new conference facility is already taking bookings.
The Centre aims to attract 50,000 annual conference delegates (doubling the existing baseline) by 2020, comprising 35,000 out-of-state delegates (from a baseline of 5,750).
http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/buildingcontrol-environment/regeneration/waterfrontextension.aspx
Enterprise Refurbishment Programme
A faster and more comfortable train journey between Belfast and Dublin
Belfast
Transport
Concerned with the improvement and integration of the line between the two capitals, the two railway companies (Iarnrod Eireann in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland Railways) embarked on a joint study in 1988 to come up with an investment plan. It was thanks to the allocation of European financial aid, aimed at the development of transport infrastructure for the trans-European network, that the project was subsequently launched in the early 1990s.
Under the project, repairs had to be made to the line over a length of 182 km and the tracks in particular had to be upgraded (continuous welding needed to be done), an efficient computerised signalling system had to be installed, 50 bridges, level crossings and junctions in the train stations had to be replaced, and the stations of Drogheda and Dundalk had to be renovated. The line now has new fully automated and air-conditioned trains. The trains can travel up to 150 km/h on certain sections and the trip is about a quarter of an hour less, taking 1h50' with one stop and some 2 hours with stops at all the stations. Despite two new, more powerful motor coaches, the trains cannot travel at maximum speed along the entire length of the line because of geographical obstacles like through-cuts, viaducts and tight curves, and because of the speed limits imposed in Drogheda and along the stretch between Lisburn and the border. The number of trains running daily has nonetheless increased, and the 400 000 people who took the train in 1993 grew to about 700 000 in 1997 and currently stands at 950 000. The two companies have also registered on both sides of the border an equivalent increase in domestic traffic, meaning passengers travelling locally and not going to the other country.
