Hardide Share News (HDD)

LONDON (Alliance News) - Surface coating technology provider Hardide PLC said Thursday its Hardide-A coating has met Airbus Group SE technical performance requirements as a potential alternative to hard-chrome plating, meaning it is now able to be used for some Airbus aircraft components.

Shares in Hardide were up 33% at 1.23 pence following the news, one of the best performers in the AIM index.

Hardide said it has been developing and testing the coating as a potential alternative to hard chrome plating for eight years. Hardide's alternative comes ahead of a looming ban on hard chrome plating, to be enforced by 2017 under the EU REACH regulation unless otherwise authorised by the EU Commission.

"After many years of hard work, it is a huge step forward for Hardide-A to have achieved the Airbus technical performance requirements necessary for it to be considered by designers for use on selected component parts for Airbus aircraft. This is a significant achievement and we are absolutely delighted that the coating is now available to the designers for their consideration as a potential alternative to hard chrome within some specific aircraft applications," said Chief Executive Officer Philip Kirkham in a statement.

"This success is a key enabler for the company's further growth in the European, North American and wider aerospace markets which have enormous potential for the Hardide coating technology," Kirkham added.

By Hana Stewart-Smith; hanassmith@alliancenews.com; @HanaSSAllNews

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