06 May Innovation, Insight & Industry Connection at IMR’s Industry Members Network Event
On April 30th, over 110 attendees from more than 80 companies gathered at Irish Manufacturing Research’s (IMR) Mullingar facility for a day of collaboration, cutting-edge tech, and meaningful conversations at our first Industry Members Network Event of 2025.
The energy on the day was unmistakable — from early-morning welcomes to hands-on technology demonstrations and workshop discussions, this was a deep dive into real-world challenges and the transformative opportunities shaping the future of manufacturing in Ireland.
Setting the Tone for a Powerful Day
Setting the Tone for a Powerful DayIMR’s Chief Technology Officer, Micheal Cassidy, opened the event and acted as MC throughout the day. In his welcome address, Michael highlighted the importance of events like this in connecting industry stakeholders, technology providers, and IMR experts in a meaningful way.
“There’s incredible value in bringing together such a broad cross-section of industry leaders and innovators. The insights shared — from panel discussions to casual networking — feed directly into IMR’s roadmap. Understanding the challenges, goals, and needs of Irish manufacturers helps us shape the services, research and technologies that will support their future growth.”
— Micheal Cassidy, CTO, IMR
A Packed Agenda of Innovation & Practical Learning
The day featured five interactive and topical workshops, two inspiring panel discussions, and a mix of live demonstrations showcasing technologies already making an impact on Irish shop floors.
Morning Workshops:
Shop-Floor & OT Cybersecurity
With cybersecurity becoming a critical issue for manufacturers, this session took a hard look at the risks of connecting shop-floor equipment to IT networks. Facilitated by IMR’s Alan Kavanagh, the session included a powerful real-world case study from Michael Holton, Operations Director at Kent Stainless, who openly shared their experience of a cyber-attack and the lessons learned. The session concluded with a high-level panel discussion chaired by Donal Óg Cusack of DePuy Synthes, featuring expert contributions from Michael Holton (Kent Stainless), Michael Smartt (Enterprise Ireland), Pat Larkin (Ecko Security), and Eoin Byrne (Cyber Ireland).
Augmenting Human Workers – Exoskeletons and Wearables
IMR’s Court Edmondson and Charlie Behan showcased how wearable tech and robotic exoskeletons can enhance worker safety and productivity. Attendees were especially engaged by the practical use cases and future potential of these technologies in Irish manufacturing environments.
Digitalisation for Sustainable Performance
Led by Diana Vaz, this workshop demonstrated how digital tools like twins, monitoring systems, and Digital Product Passports are key to sustainability and regulatory compliance. The two-part session included real project examples (iBecome, ICEhouse, EcoFact) and discussions around implementation challenges.
Demos, Discussions, and Real-World Applications
During lunch, attendees gathered for a Robotic Welding Demonstration led by Cian McCorley, IMR’s Senior Industrial Applications Specialist. The demo featured insights from IMR’s ACCESS project, showing how AI and machine learning are being used to optimise welding processes.
Afternoon Workshops:
Supporting your Product Development Journey – from Demo to Scaling
Chaired by Ken Horan, this session brought together voices from startups and scaling companies to share their product development journeys. Panelists included IMR’s Denise Thomas ( on behalf of Sibark), Jacqui O’Connor (MedScan), Fletcher Thompson (TurboTem), Konstantinos Kokosis (MBRYONICS) and Richard Jenkins (Nexalus) — each offering candid reflections and practical advice.
AI for Industry
IMR’s Head of AI Strategy, Carlos Garcia, delivered a dynamic and highly interactive session on deploying AI in manufacturing. Carlos “worked the room”, engaging directly with attendees to understand where they were on their AI journeys and uncovering key challenges and opportunities for real-world application.
More Than Just Sessions – It’s About Connection
Throughout the day, there were numerous opportunities for networking, with OEM members showcasing their latest technologies and services, and IMR’s expert teams available for in-depth conversations. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with many attendees noting the event’s openness, practical value, and opportunity to connect with peers.