A WIRRAL 3D printing project has been honoured with a national industry award.

Birkenhead's Heap and Partners teamed up with the University of Liverpool's Virtual Engineering Centre to create an augmented reality app to show customers the inner workings of the company's valve designs.

The pair also called on the Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) Hartee Centre and Campus Technology Hub to create a 3D printed valve which will revolutionise how the Corporation Road business develops and showcases new prototypes.

At an awards ceremony held at the Lowry Hotel in Manchester last week, the collaboration was honoured at the Made in the North West Awards.

Heap and Partners managing director David Millar said: “Now more than ever before, innovative digital technologies are transforming how we do things in manufacturing on Merseyside.

"This really is the age of the fourth industrial revolution.

“The team at the Virtual Engineering Centre and STFC did a stellar job at helping us use 3D printing and augmented reality to transform how we go about our business.”

Founded in 1866 Heap and Partners is one of the UK's leading manufacturers and distributors of fluid control equipment.

Andrew Borland, commercialisation manager at the Virtual Engineering Centre at the University of Liverpool said: “This collaboration led to a very exciting project.

“Heap and Partners are such an innovative company.

"They were a pleasure to work with, eager to explore digital opportunities for their business to remain competitive within industry whilst enhancing their customer experience.”