Accsys Tech Regulatory News (AXS)

1 Apr 2008 07:00

Accsys Technologies PLC01 April 2008 1st April 2008 AIM: AXS NYSE Euronext Amsterdam: AXS Titan Wood Wins Prestigious Double - Brings Home National Awards for Sustainable Production Technology and Innovation Accsys Technologies PLC ("Accsys" or "the Company") announces that its 100%owned subsidiary, Titan Wood Limited ("Titan Wood"), has won the Dutch NationalAward for Innovation - "The Columbus Egg" www.ei-van-columbus.nl - with itspioneering Accoya(R) wood product. Titan Wood also took home the award forSustainable Production Technology. This year's awards were opened by the Dutch Prime Minister, Jan PeterBalkenende, and are granted by the Dutch Government bi-annually to rewardsustainability innovation in the Netherlands. Wim Quik, one of the judges, commented: "Titan Wood's Accoya(R) woodmodification process is truly innovative. Thanks to this production technologyAccoya(R) wood has become a real alternative to increasingly scarce tropicaltimber. The ability to make high performance timber from fast-growing,sustainable wood species will help to protect threatened species andrainforests. Further advantages are that Accoya(R) wood can replace lessenvironmentally friendly materials in demanding exterior applications and thatit requires less frequent maintenance due to its improved durability anddimensional stability." Finlay Morrison, CEO of Accsys, added: "These awards recognise Accoya(R) wood'sinnovative nature and its environmental credentials. It is a solid wood productmade from certified sustainable sources and has multiple long-term environmentalbenefits as it is non-toxic, recyclable and acts as a carbon sink. We areenormously proud of the hard work that the Titan Wood team has put into thedevelopment of Accoya(R) wood and appreciate the growing recognition of itsbenefits." ENDS For further information, please contact: Accsys Technologies PLC William Paterson-Brown, +44 (0) 20 8150 8836 Executive Chairman Collins Stewart Europe Limited Tim Mickley / Michael O'Brien +44 (0) 20 7523 8000Parkgreen Communications Justine Howarth / +44 (0) 20 7851 7480 Bex Sanders-HewettCitigate First Financial B.V. Wouter van de Putte / + 31 (0) 20 575 4080 Laurens Goverse Notes to Editors: Titan Wood Limited (www.titanwood.com) is a wholly owned subsidiary of theAccsys Technologies PLC (www.accsysplc.com) group of companies. AccsysTechnologies PLC is listed on the London Stock Exchange AIM market and onEuronext Amsterdam by NYSE Euronext, under the symbols 'AXS'. Accoya(R) wood (www.accoya.info) is produced using a patented process thateffectively converts certified sustainably grown solid softwood and non-durablehardwood lumber into what is best described as a 'new wood species' viaacetylation. Distinguished by its durability, dimensional stability and, perhapsmost importantly of all, its reliability (in terms of consistency of both supplyand quality), Accoya(R) wood is particularly suited to exterior applicationswhere performance and appearance are valued. Unlike most tropical and temperatehardwoods, its colour does not degrade when exposed to ultraviolet light.Moreover, the Accoya(R) wood production process does not compromise the wood'sstrength or machinability. The combination of UV resistance, dimensionalstability, durability and retained strength means that Accoya(R) wood offers awealth of new opportunities to architects, designers, specifiers, builders andmanufacturers Leading applications include external doors and windows, shutters/shading, siding and cladding, decking, outdoor furniture/equipment and glulambeams for structural use. Wood Acetylation is a process, which increases the amount of 'acetyl' moleculesthat naturally occur in wood, thereby changing its physical properties. Theprocess protects wood from rot by making it indigestible to most micro-organismsand insects, without - unlike conventional treatments - making it toxic. It alsogreatly reduces the wood's tendency to swell and shrink, making it less prone tocracking and ensuring that when painted it requires dramatically reducedmaintenance. ACCOYA(R) and the Trimarque Device are registered trademarks owned by Titan WoodLimited and may not be used or reproduced without written permission. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange