HOWORTH RAMPS UP FOCUS ON INNOVATION IN HEALTHCARE SECTOR WITH NEW TEAM

A clean air technology company is ramping up its focus on innovation with a new department specialising in the research and development of products for the healthcare sector.

Mike Dunne has been promoted to head the new medical technical team at Howorth Air Technology and has joined the company’s operating board.

The department will spearhead the design and implementation of new products for operating theatres at both NHS and private hospitals as well as the commissioning and handover of equipment.

Mike’s team will also offer training, education, guidance and consultancy to support customers in the UK and overseas, and will work with clients to help them reduce energy consumption and maximise environmental efficiencies.

The first recruits to work alongside Mike are Dean Crowder and Torr Salkeld, who have joined Howorth as a medical commissioning manager and medical commissioning engineer respectively. Further appointments are planned to grow the team over the coming months.

Howorth, which has its headquarters in Farnworth, Bolton, and a facility at Raven Locks in Little Hulton, Salford, designs, manufactures and assembles ultra clean air equipment for use in operating theatres, and for the pharma, biotechnology and life science industries.

The company is currently installing more than 30 ultra clean ventilation systems in operating theatres across the UK and its new medical technical team is working on barn theatre projects in the UK and overseas.

The group turns over more than £20m a year and employs over 130 staff across its operations in the UK and the United States.

Managing director Jim Liptrot said: “Mike will play a leading part overseeing the continuous development and improvement of the existing Howorth medical product range to ensure we remain the leader in our field, and will review, develop and plan the implementation of new products with the support of the design team.

“He will also be building a commissioning team capable of increasing the quality and experience for end users in collaboration with the medical operations team. Mike will promote, engage and support Howorth customers in the UK and globally as well as representing the business at national and international forums and industry-related forums.

“Mike, among many others, is an outstanding example of the development offered by Howorth in its quest to be the employer of choice across Greater Manchester and the whole north west. We wish him every success in his new role.”

Mike, 37, joined Howorth in 2009 as a newly-qualified electrical engineer and became a team leader before being promoted to become a service and aftersales technical manager in the company’s medical division.

He has helped to deliver scores of medical projects for Howorth across the UK, Ireland, North America and the Middle East.

Last year he was elected as a fellow of the Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estate Management. It is the highest status awarded to members of IHEEM, which helps to promote best practice among healthcare engineers and facilities managers and support the advancement of the industry

Mike, whose new title is medical technical director, said: “Howorth has a strong reputation for developing innovative technologies with a great focus on R&D and to be appointed to lead our new department is a fantastic honour and exciting challenge to ensure we remain at the forefront of our industry, while also presenting the opportunity to mentor and guide our team members, work with internal and external stakeholders, supply chain, and help to develop the next generation of engineers.

“Bringing in Dean and Torr as our first recruits is a key strategic step for the wider business. “Both are fully-qualified electrical engineers, and both are already familiar with our equipment and standards that we expect our teams to function at. I am thrilled that they have both accepted positions and look forward to supporting their positive impact Howorth.”