Consultancy Services
The department is at all times approached by the industry to seek solutions for their problems and to assist in enhancing their performance. Department might act like a third party in assisting them while sometimes directly engaged in the research and development work under a contract with the interested party. Students who are enthusiastic in engaging in these work might have a chance to work with the academic staff and gain valuable knowledge and experience.
Field Visits
The department arranges field visits for the students to visit the industries and get an insight into the processes and working environment. This allows the students to expand their knowledge and experience which otherwise would be limited to lectures and books.
Among the most recent field visit destinations are,
• Lakvijaya Power Station, Norochcholai
• Phoenix Industries Ltd., Makandura
• Lanka Sugar Company, Sewanagala
• Nestlé Manufacturing Facility, Pannala
• Lion Brewery PLC, Biyagama
• Haycarb PLC (Virtual tour during COVID-19 pandemic)
Incubators
SIL-UOM Rubber Products and Process Development Incubator
Director – Prof. Jagath Premachandra
UOM-SIL Rubber Products and Process Development Incubator is a model for the University and Sri Lankan industry partnerships in research and development. It was established in the DCPE in the year 2011 in collaboration with Samsons International PLC. Later, Samson Compounds (Pvt) Ltd. joined as a partner of the Incubator. D. Samson Industries (Pvt) Ltd. also became a partner of the Incubator in December 2019.
The incubator is a common platform on which the university academics and members of the research and development divisions in the DSI group of companies engage in the development of rubber products and manufacturing processes. The projects undertaken by the incubator includes trouble shooting, problem solving, new product and process development and process modification.
DCPE undergraduates are also benefitted by the incubator. They can obtain real industrial exposure and improve their theoretical knowledge and practical skills by participating in research and development activities. In addition, they are able to enhance the ability of analytical thinking and the capacity of innovation.