QUB & Fast Engineering Limited - Innovating Roof Structures
About The Case - The Challenge
Fast Engineering Limited, based in Antrim, Northern Ireland, was founded over 44 years ago by Seamus Connolly. The company has built a strong reputation for manufacturing high-quality tanks and engineering solutions for a diverse customer base.
As the product range expanded, managing multiple roof cover designs for different tank sizes became increasingly complex. This led to higher stockholding costs and operational inefficiencies. The challenge was clear: develop a single, adaptable roof cover design that could fit all tank models without compromising quality or functionality.
The Innovation
Seamus envisioned a solution using telescopic rods to create an adjustable roof structure. This approach would allow one roof cover design to fit the entire range of tanks, simplifying inventory management and reducing costs while maintaining durability and ease of installation.
Collaboration and Support
To bring this idea to life, Fast Engineering partnered with Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) and Belfast Metropolitan College. Alan Mills from QUB introduced the Connected Competitive Fund, a fund within Connected, designed to support innovative projects and enhance competitiveness thought collaboration with Northern Irelands higher and further education sectors.
“The Connected Competitor Fund is designed to help local businesses develop new products and processes, upskill staff, and enhance innovation capability. By fostering innovation, the program supports company growth, which in turn positively impacts the local economy through increased revenue and employment opportunities. It was the perfect vehicle to enable us to work with Fast Engineering in collaboration with Belfast Met. We started out by setting clear, measurable goals and demonstrating the viability and sustainability of the project, this has resulted in an innovative design that differentiates Fast Engineering in the industry”
Alan Mills, Senior Project Engineer, Queen’s University Belfast