Title: Challenges to a micromanufacturing industry in Ireland

Authors: Andrew M. Bates, Donal Hughes, Martin Hussey, Patrick T. Connolly

Addresses: School of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering, Centre for Materials and Manufacturing, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. ' School of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering, Centre for Materials and Manufacturing, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. ' School of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering, Centre for Materials and Manufacturing, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. ' School of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering, Centre for Materials and Manufacturing, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland

Abstract: Micromanufacturing is a manufacturing technology platform, inspired by a global pursuit to produce miniaturised products and parts or products and features. This industrial sector is an area of rapid growth with high market share forecast for the future, however, at the moment very few Irish companies are creating microparts or working with microtechnology manufacturing methods. Despite this, many see micromanufacturing as having significant potential for high added-value products that can offset the loss of many traditional areas of manufacturing to other low-cost locations. Confidential interviews were carried out with 19 companies located in Ireland, selected from an industry network for micromanufacturing. The challenges companies faced in implementing microtechnology were discussed across the full range of areas necessary to bring a product to market. The results provide a summary of the various challenges faced by an industry trying to move towards high technology manufacturing methods.

Keywords: micromanufacturing; Ireland; nanomanufacturing; microtechnology; high technology manufacturing; high tech manufacturing.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNM.2007.014573

International Journal of Nanomanufacturing, 2007 Vol.1 No.4, pp.537 - 544

Published online: 16 Jul 2007 *

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