Accsys Tech Regulatory News (AXS)

9 Oct 2008 07:00



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Accoya® Wood: A Revolutionary Product For A Revolutionary Design

Titan Wood Limited, the wholly owned subsidiary of Accsys Technologies PLC ("Accsys" or "the Company"), announced today that its high performance Accoya® wood is to be used in the construction of limited edition interactive functional art structures, created by world renowned designer Michael Jantzen and dubbed the M-Velope (www.m-velope.net). The M-Velope will be available uniquely through the 2008 Neiman Marcus Christmas Book, which is known for offering enticing and desirable high quality gifts.

The M-Velope offers a flexible space for use as a garden retreat, a shelter from the heat of the sun, a place to practice yoga or meditation, a party pavilion, or can even be used for a night al fresco as the two benches inside may be converted to beds. The M-Velope's slatted panels, made of Accoya® wood, may be moved to change the shape of the structure. This shape shifting not only alters the aesthetics of the structure, but it also alters the light quality and the opacity of the space. 

Jantzen specified Accoya® wood for use in the construction of the M-Velope because of its sustainability, longevity and non-toxicity. 

Finlay Morrison, CEO of Titan Wood, commented: "The use of Accoya® wood in Jantzen's latest masterpiece recognizes Accoya® wood's innovative nature and its environmental credentials. Accoya® wood is not only strong and durable, but it is also beautiful and perfectly suited for many extraordinary uses. Accoya® wood is a revolutionary product for a revolutionary design."

Additional details on Accoya® wood can be found at www.accoya.info.  

Further reading on Michael Jantzen is available at www.michaeljantzen.com. 

For further information, please contact:

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Notes to Editors

Michael Jantzen is a designer whose work has been featured in numerous articles in books, magazines, and newspapers around the world. His work has also been presented on TV and in many galleries, including the National Building Museum, the Canadian Center for Architecture, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Nieman Marcus (www.neimanmarcus.com) is an upscale US department store group. Each year extravagant and unusual gifts are featured in the Christmas catalog, The Christmas Book. These range from limited edition high performance cars to trips to space, giant topiary dragons and private concerts with Elton John. The catalog is distributed to the most influential families in the world, mainly in North America.

Accsys Technologies PLC (www.accsysplc.com) - is an environmental science and technology company whose primary focus is on the production of Accoya® wood and technology licensing via its 100% owned subsidiary, Titan Wood (www.titanwood.com), which has manufacturing operations in Arnhem, the Netherlands, and a regional office for the Americas in Dallas, Texas. 

Accsys' operations comprise three principal business units: (i) the Accoya® wood production facility located in Arnhem, The Netherlands; (ii) technology development, focused on a programme of continuous improvements to the process engineering and operating protocols for the acetylation of wood which are currently under development and the development of technology for the acetylation of wood fibre; and (iii) the licensing of technology for the production of Accoya® wood across the globe.

Accoya® Wood (www.accoya.info) is produced by using a patented process that effectively converts sustainably grown softwoods and non-durable hardwoods into what is best described as a "new wood species" via acetylation. Distinguished by its durability, dimensional stability and, perhaps most importantly of all, its reliability (in terms of consistency of both supply and quality), Accoya® wood is particularly suited to exterior applications where performance and appearance are valued. Unlike most tropical and European hardwoods, its colour does not degrade when exposed to ultraviolet light. Moreover, the Accoya® wood production process does not compromise the wood's strength or machinability. The combination of UV resistance, dimensional stability, durability and retained strength means that Accoya® wood offers a wealth of new opportunities to architects, designers and specifiers. 

Wood Acetylation is a process, which increases the amount of 'acetyl' molecules in wood, thereby changing its physical properties. The process protects wood from rot by making it "inedible" to most micro-organisms and insects, without - unlike conventional treatments - making it toxic. It also greatly reduces the wood's tendency to swell and shrink, making it less prone to cracking and ensuring that when painted it requires dramatically reduced maintenance.

ACCOYA and the Trimarque Device are registered trademarks owned by Titan Wood Limited and 

may not be used or reproduced without written permission.