Lios noise reduction technology leads to stellar progression
The Dublin-based business started out as a BT Young Scientists and Technology Exhibition entry and is now working with the European Space Agency
Lios began as a project in the BT Young Scientists and Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE) in 2009 and has truly taken to the stars.
“This project is all about reducing the mass of our materials. We already achieved a 50 per cent reduction in the mass of materials used in phase one. We going to do that again, reducing by another 50 per cent,” Togher said.
The early timeline for the business is quite stunning. Rhona Togher and Eimear O’Carroll, its co-founders, first exhibited at the BTYSTE in January 2009. They registered the business the following May, sat their Leaving Cert exams in June, made their first sale in August and started in third level in September.
“It was a very busy few months. We were literally in our school uniforms when we signed the papers,” Togher told the Business Post.
“Fundamentally, we’re trying to build technology to eradicate harmful noise pollution.”
The original focus was on aiding sufferers of tinnitus – which both Togher and O’Carroll deal with – and developed a sound relief device, but this has evolved to the business targeting the source of the sound rather than the person who has to manage it.
“From an early stage of the technology, we found there was overexposure to loud noise in the workplace and environment. The acoustic materials industry hasn’t really innovated in decades,” Togher said.
“That drove our interest in advanced materials and how they absorb energy. We have made a new type of acoustic material. It goes to the root of the problem. We’re targeting machinery and equipment to reduce noise at the source.”
That has moved the company from one focused on hearing protection to one working with the European Space Agency (ESA) to help improve the quality of launches into space.
“We were approached by the ESA and its customers about using our technology around launch vehicle payloads, like satellites. They’re all subject to high levels of noise and vibration. We’re working on the acoustic environment within the launch vehicle. That noise can cause serious damage without protection,” Togher said.
“What they’re currently using is just incredibly thick. If that can be reduced, that space is made available for more payload or cargo, reducing the amount of overall energy required and enabling larger launches.”
The business is in its third year with the ESA, having just completed its first-phase project with the agency.
“Everything that we do for space is applicable in every other industry. Space has really rigorous demands when it comes to regulations and requirements; we can utilise all of that with our other customers.”
The business has recently received an additional €1 million in funding from the European Space Agency (ESA) to support the second phase of its project with the agency.
“This project is all about reducing the mass of our materials. We already achieved a 50 per cent reduction in the mass of materials used in phase one. We going to do that again, reducing by another 50 per cent,” Togher said.
The business has been supported by Enterprise Ireland since its early days, with Togher crediting it as enabling her to focus on the company full time. The business has been through the high potential start-up unit (HPSU) and received support under the competitive start fund.
“We went to Enterprise Ireland in 2012 and that was the first time we got access to mentors – we still work with the first one we got today – and that gave us the opportunity to build our first prototype,” Togher said.
“It gave us all the elements we needed to prove how well everything was working. It also allowed us to build out our IP [intellectual property], which is still important to us to this day.”
This Making it Work article is produced in partnership with Enterprise Ireland.
