A SCOTTISH student and inventor behind revolutionary bagpipe technology has his sights set on the “untapped” global market for Scotland’s national instrument after receiving a wave of overseas orders.
Robbie MacIsaac hit the headlines last week when he appeared on TV’s Dragons’ Den.
The 22-year-old, who is in his final year of the University of Strathclyde’s BEng Product Design Engineering course, pioneered the FLUX Blowpipe when he was just 14.
He says the device could ultimately prevent respiratory issues for bagpipers as well as preserving the instruments themselves.
While still a schoolboy, MacIsaac, from Falkirk but who now lives in Glasgow, was named the UK’s Most Innovative Young Engineer by the Manufacturing Technologies Association.
He went on to land a series of awards and closed out the main stage after the Red Hot Chilli Peppers at T in the Park in 2016.
Since leaving school, MacIsaac has grown FLUX Solutions into a business that has generated more than £85,000, with increased interest and custom from the US, Canada, France, Germany, Australia and New Zealand complementing sales in the UK.
Speaking after his Dragon’s Den appearance, MacIsaac, who pipes competitively himself, said: “We have sold more than 500 FLUX Blowpipes and had enquiries coming in from across the world.
READ MORE: Glasgow student stuns BBC Dragons' Den with bagpipe performance
“Although now our biggest market is in Scotland and the UK, the business we’ve received from abroad is a reminder that throughout their long history, bagpipes have travelled to every corner of the globe.
“There are more than 140,000 competitive bagpipers worldwide and 146 bands took part at last year’s World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, coming from the likes of Argentina, Austria, Australia and Israel.
“When you also take into consideration the number of people who play the pipes at weddings or parades, the opportunity for the Scottish bagpipe sector to succeed overseas is huge, and an opportunity I think is still largely untapped.”
MacIsaac’s revolutionary invention, which can be used universally with any bagpipe, has been engineered to remove moisture from the instrument.
The blowpipe prolongs the lifespan of the bagpipes without having any detrimental effect on the sound quality or airflow.
The device could reduce the risk of Piper’s Lung disease – hypersensitivity pneumoniti – caused when the lungs are exposed to moisture and fungi living in the instrument.
MacIsaac, who attended Strathallan School in Perth, added: “Although bagpipes have existed for hundreds of years, there’s always room for improvement. I’m constantly pushing to invent new products that challenge the ordinary and bring them to the bagpipe community.”
MacIsaac works closely with the renowned McCallum Bagpipes which manufactures Highland Bagpipes in their factory in Kilmarnock. It also makes FLUX Solutions products.
Managing sales director and co-founder Kenny MacLeod said: “Bagpipes are crying out to be updated and modernised.
“Robbie’s enthusiasm for the project is inspiring and great to see. The future is looking very bright for him."
MacIsaac has been supported by the RBS Accelerator programme and the University of Strathclyde Entrepreneurial Development Scheme.
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