ENERGENICS’ SMART TREATMENT FOR WOOD IS GOOD

A nanotechnology spin-out from Oxford University which is developing and commercialising novel speciality chemical additives, is celebrating a three-year anniversary of a durability performance trial for its new smart treatment for exterior wood, with the proof evident to all.

In Spring 2019 a new timber enclosure was built to screen wheelie bins at Begbroke Science Park opposite Energenics’ laboratories. Having just developed the innovative wood treatment (which has strong environmental credentials, being water based, non-hazardous and containing no biocides) the new bin enclosure provided a perfect opportunity for a long-term weathering trial for Energenics’ CerPlus P101 under real world conditions.

One half of each external length of timber was treated, the other left untreated for comparison. Since then, the bin enclosure has been left to weather naturally. As expected, the untreated timber rapidly changed from its natural brown colour to a weathered deep grey. After three years all treated areas still show the attractive natural brown colour of new wood.

Energenics CEO Mike Attfield, said: “This result has exceeded our initial expectations of what CerPlus P101 could achieve. In this sector there’s no substitute for realworld weathering trials and this level of performance three years on, together with the environmental credentials, is gaining the attention of the timber and wood coatings industries.”

To celebrate the anniversary, Energenics invited the Oxford University Begbroke Science Park community for afternoon tea on the lawn by the bin enclosure – with the wheelie bins temporarily relocated elsewhere for the occasion.

Energenics also produces Envirox, a fuel borne catalyst for diesel fuel. Major transport operators including Irish Rail use Envirox to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions.

Envirox has also achieved a strong market position as a performance component in aftermarket fuel additives for regenerating Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs). Several of the leading UK retail brands of DPF Cleaner contain Envirox.

Juicy result for mobile phone accessories

manufacturer

Banbury-based mobile phone accessories manufacturer Juice beat multi-national industry giants such as Belkin, ZAGG and Reboxed to win ‘Best Accessory Manufacturer’ and ‘Best Environmental Sustainability Initiative’ at the annual Mobile News Awards,

Launched as Gusto Telecom Solutions in 2010, Juice became the top brand for all charging cables in January 2022, selling four times more lightning cables than Belkin and out-performing tech giant Apple – according to a market data source.

After becoming the first UK mobile phone accessories manufacturer to remove single-use plastic from its packaging, Juice is aiming for its entire range to be plastic-free by the end of this year.

In April, Juice shipped £70,000 worth of charging devices to Ukraine. Working with the Polish Red Cross, Juice delivered enough equipment to fully charge 7,070 mobile phones provided to families trapped in besieged cities and to those crossing the Polish border.

Major planning application submitted for £80 million global R&D facility for Siemens

Developer Tritax Symmetry has submitted plans for a 600,000 sq ft global research and development facility for German medical device company Siemens Healthineers.

The proposed facility at Oxford North, would replace its current site at Eynsham and provide superconducting magnets used in MRI systems.

The facility, on land close to Junction 9 of the M40, will support 1,100 skilled jobs for physicists, engineers and cryogenic experts.

Siemens Healthineers said the site search was international before deciding on Oxfordshire, which was the only location that could meet its operational requirements and timescales.

The company is facing increasing demand for its superconducting magnets.

Ralph Seidler, Managing Director of Siemens Healthineers Magnet Technology, Oxford, said: “Subject to a positive planning outcome we will commence a phased transition from Eynsham to Oxford North, anticipated to complete by 2030.”