Frontier IP Group Plc (LON:FIPP) portfolio company Alusid has won a top industry award for its unique range of stone and ceramic replacement material made from recycled television screens, crockery, kitchen and bathroom fittings.
The University of Central Lancashire spin out has created SilicaStone, which is made from ceramics and glass discarded by industry that usually ends up as landfill. The process used to make SilicaStone is also more energy efficient than the methods used to make more traditional materials.
Core patents have been awarded in the US and are pending in other territories. The company is in the process of raising money to support development of a factory for mass production, working with a major Italian tile equipment manufacturer.
But as well as having green credentials, SilicaStone results in high quality materials – a fact recognised by The Furniture Makers’ Company, a charity established to champion excellence, education and support in the industry.
The charity awarded SilicaStone its annual Jonathan Hindle Prize for Excellence for the most outstanding design in 2D. The prize is awarded to the most outstanding design in fabrics, textiles, wall coverings, flooring and carpets out of those given a Design Guild Mark in its year.
SilicaStone picked up a Design Guild Mark earlier in May from a prestigious panel of judges include Professor Clare Johnston of the Royal College of Art and industry peers.
Alusid co-founder and creative director, Professor David Binns, who is also head of head of contemporary ceramics at UCLAN, said: “They validate our aim to create beautiful work surfaces for a wide range of architectural and interior applications. Made from 100% recycled waste, our surfaces offer architects and designers a material with unique properties aesthetic and very significant green credentials”
He co-created SilicaStone with Alusid’s other co-founder, Dr Alasdair Bremner, who is chief operating officer of the company.
Frontier IP chief executive Neil Crabb said: “We’re delighted Alusid has won these awards. They underline the high quality of the company’s products, as well their green and energy efficient credentials.”
During Frontier IP’s first half of the year to December 2017, Alusid completed 10 orders with leading consumer brands and had more than 100 potential projects in its pipeline.
Frontier IP Group Plc unites science and commerce by identifying strong intellectual property and accelerating its development through a range of commercialisation services. These include active collaboration with relevant industry partners at an early stage of development and support for fund raising, in return for equity stakes and licence income.
