Accsys Tech Regulatory News (AXS)

26 Feb 2009 07:00

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Accsys Technologies PLC

Accsys Increases European Presence - Acasolv to Distribute ACCOYA® Wood

Accsys Technologies PLC ("Accsys" or "the Company") announces that Titan Wood B.V. ("Titan Wood"), its wholly-owned subsidiary, has entered into an agreement with Acasolv ("Acasolv") for the 

distribution of Accoya® wood in Switzerland. 

Accoya® wood, a modified wood which is produced only from source-certified sustainable resources, offers outstanding durability, dimensional stability, and reliability. It is non-toxic and produced using an environmentally responsible process. 

Acasolv, located in Neuenkirch near Lucerne, is a major supplier in the Swiss market and is currently active in the trading of wood species which are particularly suited to exterior applications. Acasolv is especially skilled at supplying both raw and machined lumber into end uses such as decking, stairs, garden furniture, cladding, fences and children's playgrounds. Acasolv seeks to offer its customers environmentally sound products which can be used as an alternative to impregnated wood and tropical hardwoods.

Jos Schnyder, Owner of Acasolv, said, "Accoya® wood, with its strong environmental credentials and top-notch durability is perfectly suited to applications in demanding settings. As a company that requires top-notch performance, but also seeks to source products which are sustainable, we believe that Accoya® represents the perfect material."

Finlay Morrison, Chief Executive Officer of Accsys Technologies, added, "Acasolv has long been viewed as a pioneer of sustainable sourcing in the Swiss wood products industry. As a result, Titan Wood is pleased to partner with Acasolv for the distribution of our high performance, low maintenance, sustainable, and competitively priced Accoya® wood. Together we will be able to introduce Accoya® wood into new applications and end-uses once thought impossible for wood."

-Ends-

For further information, please contact:

Notes to Editors:

Acasolv (www.acasolv.ch) is a supplier of a wide range of top-quality solid lumber, including Acacia wood. Acasolv launched its business with a focus on supplying raw lumber, but quickly diversified their interests and soon became a market leader in finished lumber for use in applications such as decking, fencing, and wooden play structures. Acasolv works directly with manufactures to deliver wood sourced from environmentally responsible resources. 

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, a European office in London, and an Americas office in Dallas, Texas. Accsys, headquartered in London, has operations which 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 patents-pending non-toxic 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 woods, its colour does not degrade when exposed to sunlight. Moreover, the Accoya® wood production process does not compromise the wood's strength or machinability. The combination of UV resistance, dimensional stability, increased coatings life, durability and retained strength means that Accoya® wood offers a wealth of new opportunities to architects, designers and specifiers. Leading applications include external doors and windows, shutters/shading, siding and cladding, decking, outdoor furniture/equipment and glulam beams for structural use. 

Wood Acetylation is a process, which increases the amount of 'acetyl' molecules in wood, thereby changing its physical properties. The environmentally responsible 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. Acetylated wood's increased durability offers major carbon sequestration advantages, compared to others woods and especially typical man-made building materials.

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

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