Frontier Ip Share News (FIPP)

(ShareCast News) - Intellectual property commercialisation specialist Frontier IP announced on Friday that its portfolio company Alusid has been awarded this year's IChemE Global Award 2016 for Best Business Start-Up.The AIM-traded firm said the IChemE awards celebrate excellence, innovation and achievement in the chemical, biochemical and process industries.Alusid is based in Preston, Lancashire, where it manufactures SilicaStone - a proprietary eco-architectural material made from 100% recycled glass and vitrified ceramic that would otherwise end up in landfill.Frontier said tts unique process allows for materials to be created without the use of resin, cement or other binders, making it fire and heat resistant as well as making it recyclable at the end of its life.SilicaStone was designed as a uniquely adaptable alternative to natural stone products for use as feature walls for interiors and exterior cladding or as solid surfaces.It can be colored and finished in a variety of different shapes and textures all of which are UV stable and durable.Alusid is currently working on the design of an automated production plant with a major Italian tile equipment manufacturer in preparation for considerably upscaling production, it added."To be recognised in such a strong field for this prestigious award is fantastic," said Alusid operations manager Dr Alasdair Bremner."For our work to be recognised for its innovation is testament to the dedication, enthusiasm and commitment of our team in creating a new benchmark for sustainability in construction and architecture."Neil Crabb, director at Alusid, said it is extremely satisfying to have secured the engineering award for a product which is manufactured from recycled materials, "in a low environmental impact manufacturing process that produces zero waste, at a time when ethical manufacturing and sourcing is increasingly important for large corporations and public contracts."