Trane Technologies, headquartered in the United States, has partnered with the University of Galway, Ireland, to advance sustainable and innovative manufacturing processes.

The collaboration aims to enhance productivity while reducing environmental impact across building, home, and transportation manufacturing systems.

Co-funded by I-Form, Taighde Éireann, and Trane Technologies, the three-year initiative combines academic research with practical engineering applications. Thermo King’s Galway R&D teams will work alongside University of Galway researchers to design, develop, and validate automated systems for brazing operations, proof-of-concept prototypes, industrial trials, and virtual simulations.

The project emphasises digitalised manufacturing, replacing traditional physical experimentation with predictive modelling to speed product and process development. By integrating automation, robotics, and advanced predictive tools, Trane Technologies intends to deploy solutions across its global manufacturing network.

University of Galway’s academic leadership, including Dr Noel Harrison and Pádraig Conneely, will guide the research while creating opportunities for students and engineers to engage in high-impact, hands-on learning. Professor Laoise McNamara highlighted the value of combining cutting-edge academic research with real-world industrial application.

Professor Denis Dowling of I-Form described the collaboration as part of Ireland’s commitment to transforming advanced manufacturing through sustainable research partnerships. The initiative supports a resilient manufacturing ecosystem and reinforces Galway’s reputation as a hub for innovation and engineering excellence.

Trane Technologies has a long-standing presence in Galway, where Thermo King has operated for over 45 years. The company is recognised globally for integrating sustainable practices into manufacturing and reducing customer carbon emissions by 237 million metric tons since 2019.

The project will advance robotic system programmes, develop virtual simulations of processes and tooling, and demonstrate system capabilities in production-representative environments, ensuring solutions are ready for deployment across Trane’s international operations.

Explore the full details of Trane Technologies’ sustainable manufacturing collaboration with University of Galway in the complete story.