Accsys Tech Regulatory News (AXS)

2 Aug 2006 07:00

Accsys Technologies PLC02 August 2006 2nd August 2006 AIM: AXS Titan Wood and Roggemann sign exclusive agreement to launch AccoyaTM wood in the German market Accsys Technologies PLC ("Accsys" or "the Company", www.accsysplc.com) announcesthat its 100% owned subsidiary, Titan Wood BV, has entered into a cooperationagreement with the Roggemann Group, of Germany (www.roggemann.de) The exclusive agreement, between AccoyaTM producer Titan Wood, based in Arnhem,the Netherlands and the Roggemann Group from Bremen, Germany, one of the leadingGerman timber traders, is to bring an innovative new product in the woodindustry to the German market. AccoyaTM, a "new wood species" is extremelydurable, reliable and dimensionally stable. It is created by the modification ofsustainable wood species, with low natural performance attributes, through aprocess of acetylation. AccoyaTM wood, with its extraordinary technical and ecological benefits, is theultimate wood for high quality outdoor applications such as doors, windows,cladding, decking and external wooden constructions. The cooperative agreement,signed earlier this month, will result in the first deliveries of the product toGermany this year. Carl Jastram, Business Development and Purchasing Manager for Roggemann, said, "Looking at the outstanding technological and environmental benefits, theRoggemann Group is convinced that AccoyaTM wood will shortly achieve aconsiderable market share in Germany. We see this product meeting the demand forhigh performance wood that satisfies the expectations of quality end productsthat German consumers have come to expect". He went on to say, "The work that Roggemann has done with trial customersindicates that the performance is sufficiently good that it should not only givea strong selling advantage, but that it should also help to reverse the tide ofmanufacturers (and consumers) switching from wood to plastics and other lessenvironmentally friendly alternatives". Bert Kattenbroek, Sales & Marketing Manager at Titan Wood, added, "It is theexceptional material properties of acetylated wood which convinced the expertsat Roggemann to work with us. Early in 2005 the Roggemann business developmentteam established workgroups with leading window manufacturers. This exclusiveagreement with Roggemann for selling AccoyaTM wood in Germany, with rights alsoto sell in Poland, is the culmination of eighteen months of close co-operation". The company group Enno Roggemann was set up in 1948 in Bremen and later onexpanded with additional outlets in Luneburg, Harsum, Ellerbek, Basdorf,Niemberg (g) Coesfeld and Georgensgmund. With their eight warehouses the Roggemann Group has a turnover of more than300,000 m3 per year. A fleet of over 100 trucks delivers the products to tradingcompanies, joineries and industrial producers. In total Roggemann employs over400 people. A group of nearly fifty sales staff from the Roggemann Group has receivedtraining at Titan Wood's Arnhem facilities which include both a pilot productionplant and a new commercial-scale production facility which is nearingcompletion. Carl Jastram concluded, "Roggemann can see the situation where AccoyaTM wood,produced from consistently available, 100% sustainable forested wood, replaceslarge parts of the tropical wood that is used in joinery, decking and claddingapplications. We believe that demand from our German customers couldrealistically exceed 10,000 m3 within a year and more, once the end-users becomefamiliar with the many performance benefits of AccoyaTM wood". (www.titanwood.com)(www.accoya.info) ENDS For further information, please contact: Accsys Technologies PLC Willy Paterson-Brown / +44 (0) 20 7598 4040www.accsysplc.com Jacquie DuncanCollins Stewart Limited Michael O'Brien / Stephen Keys +44 (0) 20 7523 8000Parkgreen Communications Justine Howarth / Ana Ribeiro +44 (0) 20 7493 3713 Notes to Editors Accsys Technologies - owns the rights to a number of processes, including hightemperature cracking and cellulose modification. Accsys' core technologies haveeither existing patent protection or pending patent applications. Accsys isfocusing its energies on the launch of its Titan Wood business: once thisbusiness has been established, the Directors intend to pursue other technologieswithin its portfolio. Wood Acetylation - Wood acetylation is a process which increases the amount of 'acetyl' molecules in wood, thereby changing its physical properties. Theprocess protects wood from rot by making it "inedible" to most micro-organismsand insects, without - unlike conventional treatments - making it toxic. Italso greatly reduces the wood's tendency to swell and shrink, making it lessprone to cracking and ensuring that when painted it requires dramaticallyreduced maintenance. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange