Complete Laboratory Solutions An Exemplar of Innovation
25th January 2017
Complete Laboratory Solutions (CLS), based in Galway has today been awarded ‘Exemplar’ status by InterTradeIreland. The award recognises exceptionally high levels of innovation and collaboration between a company, their graduate and an academic as part of InterTradeIreland’s FUSION programme.
Complete Laboratory Solutions (CLS) a leading provider of sampling and analysis to the food, environmental, pharmaceutical and medical device industries, was amongst 5 SMEs recognised by InterTradeIreland at an event held in Carton House in Maynooth. The other companies nominated are Novegen Ltd, Dublin, Tyrone Fabrication, Ballygawley, Aspira, Cork and Copper Industries, Toomebridge.
Between them, the companies have reported sales of over €1.7m (£1.5m) and savings of over €76k (£65k) during the duration of the FUSION projects and have projected sales of over €6.74m (£5.75m) and savings of €546k (£466k) over the next 3 years.
InterTradeIreland’s technology transfer and innovation programme, FUSION, partners companies north and south with a third-level institution and provides them with the specialist expertise of a high calibre graduate who works directly in the organisation to deliver a new product or process improvement project. Through the Programme, CLS has benefitted from the services and support of Queen’s University Belfast and graduate, Maria Nevin. Through FUSION this collaboration has helped the company to develop a new technological approach to the analysis and forensic interpretation of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons in soils and water aimed at the environmental industry.
Complete Laboratory Solutions (CLS) is a privately-owned company that was established in 1994 with only a handful of employees, focusing on providing laboratory solutions for both the public and private sectors. Today it is a successful business with around 130 employees and has grown to be the leading provider of laboratory services to global brands based in Ireland, as well as to customers in Northern Ireland, GB and Europe. CLS is a practitioner style laboratory provider, with all key staff having industry experience, helping them to understand clients’ expectations.
CLS supplies contract laboratory sampling, accredited testing and support to the medical device, pharmaceutical, environmental, food and water industries. The company also supplies trained analysts on contract to client sites.
Caecilia Terloh, Director of Environmental Services at CLS explains “We found participation in FUSION extremely rewarding and believe that while we are strong in clinical and analytic expertise, we wouldn’t be where we are today had it not been for the programme, as we didn’t have the in-house skills or knowledge to measure the method for value add aspects, such as risk assessment modelling and forensic interpretation elements by GCGC-FID. Due to the support from academia and the full-time graduate resource, this became possible.
“This innovation has made the company more profitable and has secured CLS’s standing as a leader in its field. Thanks to the project’s success, we hope to increase revenue streams and grow our market share across the board. We are also focusing specifically on growing this side of the business and launched the service at the end of summer 2016’’
Speaking at the event Margaret Hearty, Director of Programmes and Services for InterTradeIreland said – ‘These ambitious SMEs are a testament of what can be achieved through enterprise and innovation and North South collaboration. It is important that we recognise their success which we hope in turn will encourage other SMEs to participate in the FUSION Programme, to improve their productivity, increase their revenue potential and to create real jobs for graduates. I am delighted to congratulate all of our Exemplars on their achievements and I wish them every success in the future.’
Pictured (L to R): Rory Doherty, Queen’s University; Caecilia Terloh, Director of Environmental Services, CLS; and Maria Nevin, Fusion graduate receiving their Awards from CEO, InterTradeIreland, Thomas Hunter McGowan.
InterTradeIreland, is the cross-border body that supports SMEs with funding, information, advice and helps businesses to identify and develop trade and business opportunities across the island. Visit: http://www.intertradeireland.com
