TRU Assignment Examples

Engineering & Operations

USA Photonic Optoelectronic Components Manufacturing
TRU managed engineering and installation of photonic laser erbium doped fibre amplifier fabrication packaging line, specialty telcom-optical-fibre-drawing-tower and the plant clean room. Managed design & engineering of advanced edfa's. Also worked with founders to set strategy, prepare investor business plan, financial modeling, do market research on photonic fiber optic devices, implement product, find investors and build the firm in Tucson, AZ. Obtained $20 million in Silicon Valley financing, managed built clean room construction ran start-up.

Coal Gasification for Chemicals - Engineering Bankable Feasibility

Coal Synthesis Gas for Ammonium Nitrate Fertilizer + New Urea Fertilizer Plant
TRU undertook a bankable feasibility study on the viability of a $700 million coal-based synthesis gasification gas plant to produce gas suitable for the production of ammonia and the upgrading of existing facilities for the production of nitric acid and ammonium nitrate fertilizer. TRU engineered synthesis gas production and purification including shifting, acid gas removal and any other required processes.

Also determined requirement and design for capacity enhancement of the air separation, ammonia synthesis, nitric acid and new urea fertilizer facility for urea granules. See also TRU Coal Gasification Team. and assembly plant, and grew aggressively.

Techno-Marketing & Competitive Positioning

Surgical Operating Microscope - Medical Devices
TRU surveyed surgeons at health care establishments to establish the product/market characteristics and technical advances in surgical operating microscopes. Segmented the market by end use, end user and product types. Examined product development, pricing, distribution and promotion. Recommend design. Positioned Wild Leitz in each segment and advised the company on a competitive technical and marketing strategy to build market share.

Plant Detailed Bankable Feasibility Study

Ferrosilicon & Silicon Metal
TRU undertook a comprehensive feasibility study of a silicon and ferrosilicon plant based on the most advanced engineering. Considered various technologies and configurations for the plant based on optimal economics and market considerations. Engineered process and plant and modeled alternatives. Bankable feasibility study - financial, marketing, business plan, engineering, plant, operations, location and utilities.

Export Marketing & Trade in Brazil

Electronic Components
TRU surveyed the Brazilian market and international competition for electronic components. We worked out market penetration strategies for the foreign based manufacturer and subsequently accompanied their salespeople on a Brazilian visit to promote their products.

New Product Positioning & Launch

Spectrometer with Spectral Hyper Adapter
TRU assisted small R&D company to launch a Spectral Hyper Adapter that can extend the spectral resolution of Spectral Hyper Adapter conventional grating spectrometers by a factor of ten. Boosted visitors to Photonics West with pre-show targeted telemarketing campaign. Product was a strong success and later acquired by leading optical instrument company.

Competitor & Investment Search

Oil & Gas Field Equipment
TRU examined market, searched for and ranked oil and gas field equipment manufacturing investment prospects based on investor's own criteria. We conducted preliminary evaluations of target companies, made introductions to our client and participated in investor negotiations.

New Technology Commercialization

Novel Photo-Thermal Laser Marking & Printing
TRU examined the commercialization potential of a new diode laser printing method on a specially photo-thermal coated substrate. The method would replace CO2 laser marking and be competitive with industrial thermal printers and ink jet printers, for direct printing and labels. Position in RFID marking and variable digital printing.

Strategic and Operations Review

Metal / Plastics Producer
TRU, for the CEO of a Metal/Plastics Producer, worked with the President of a Division which was experiencing operational and management difficulties. Conducted a financial, marketing and operations strategic assessment. Set business objectives and detailed implementation tasks. The Division was transformed and achieved profitability, including profitability through recession.

Product Substitution, Strategy & Planning

Plastics Vs Metal Bathware
TRU recommended a competitive approach to plastic bathware manufacturing, for American Standard. This involved a detailed marketing research project on bathware, especially with respect to the threat of plastics to traditional metal products, the preliminary design of a plastic bathware manufacturing facility, a production cost analysis of plastics versus metal, and recommendation for production.

Industrial Techno-economics

Photovoltaic Solar Cells
TRU assessed the state of technology and industry development of the photovoltaic solar cell, solar panel and solar hybrid systems market.

Examined methods of manufacture and compared products. Cost competitiveness evaluated. Technology reviewed and long range market forecast prepared.

Market Potential Maintenance Software

Process and Discrete Manufacturing
TRU assessed the applicability of an operations and machine troubleshooting management system for manufacturing plants. The management system was designed to assist plant managers particularly when operations break down are, or are not, meeting target outputs. Reviewed its potential use in a variety of plants - automotive, plastics and smelting and provided recommendations.