Servelec Group Regulatory News (SERV)

23 Oct 2006 07:00

Servocell Group PLC23 October 2006 Advanced technology project backed this year by DTI-led Technology Programme has applied for first patent First patent applied for by Servocell-Led Consortium in £1m project backed by DTI-led Technology Programme Researching piezo effect in extreme environments London, UK. 23 October 2006 - The Servocell-led Consortium, founded in 2006, isdeveloping commercially effective solutions that increase the stability of piezoceramic materials in extreme environments and is already delivering patentableinnovations. Backed by the Department of Trade and Industry-led TechnologyProgramme with a grant in excess of £500,000, Servocell and its partnerspresented preliminary findings from the £1m three year project at twointernational forums for advanced technology in May and June this year. The project, managed by Paul Weaver, development manager at Servocell, isconcentrating on the long term effects of humidity and temperature extremes. "We presented preliminary findings at Ferroelectrics UK 2006 in Birmingham, anda paper describing substantial improvements in low temperature performance of anactuator at Actuator 2006 in Bremen, Germany in June. We have applied for apatent on that paper,' comments Paul Weaver, Servocell development manager andproject leader. 'It is very much our intention to generate innovations andpatents throughout the project.' The success of the project will enable the use of piezo actuators in challengingenvironments initially for the security industry, but ultimately across manyother applications, whether that is for weather extremes from the arctic to theequator, or the more punishing environments in space and in manufacturingenvironments. The consortium includes Servocell, Southampton University, National PhysicalLaboratory and Diameter Ltd. The project brings together academic and commercialorganizations with the aim of driving an R&D project to commercial viability. This project is part-funded by a Collaborative R&D grant under the TechnologyProgramme. The Technology Programme, launched in 2004, is investing directly innew and emerging technologies and has been designed to help businesses workcollaboratively with each other or with academic partners to developtechnologies that will underpin products and services of the future. TheTechnology Programme provides funding using two of the DTI's business supportproducts: Collaborative Research & Development and Knowledge Transfer Networks. Servocell customers are developing innovative security solutions usingServocell's current Active Latch technology - AL1 and AL2 products - benefitingfrom ultra-low power consumption, high reliability and responsive electroniccontrol. The reliable and effective use of components under severe operationalconditions, such as aggressive or safety-critical environments, requires highperforming low maintenance materials. This research project is responding tocustomer interest in the potential of such applications. Device reliability iscrucial in extreme situations particularly when it is dangerous for humans towork in the environment. The programme will allow Servocell to apply advancedcoating and ceramic technology to develop the core actuator technology to meetthe most demanding and extreme of conditions. "The funding of this project by the DTI enables us to bring forward our researchand development programme and will mean the potential market and applicationsfor the use of piezo technology will grow even faster " comments Simon Powell,CEO, Servocell. "We are delighted to be working with the University ofSouthampton, the National Physical Laboratory and Diameter Ltd. Notes to editors About Servocell Servocell (www.servocell.com) specialises in the design and manufacture of lowpower piezo based product for a wide range of electronic security and valvecontrol applications. Servocell's application of novel techniques in design andmanufacture generates low cost piezo based actuators which with low energyinputs produce relatively large movements and motion compared to other existingactuator technology.The applications of the piezo based products range from morereliable electronic locks to gas valves in the 'smart' home, with the productstargeted at both the industrial oem and end user markets. About Active Latch Servocell's Active Latch encapsulates all the benefits of using the piezotechnology into a mechanism making the adoption of the technology easier forlock manufactures to integrate into their product suite. In additional Servocellis developing its own range of cabinet latches and door locks based on theActive Latch technology. Servocell's Active Latch products have already beencommercially launched and target the expanding electromechanical sector of theglobal locks markets, which is valued at $30 billion in annual sales. Diameter Ltd Founded in 2004, Diameter Ltd is a UK registered company formed to exploitpioneering technology based on advanced materials, adding value and improvingperformance. The company consists of two divisions: manufacturing advancedcoatings and high-tech products with main stream commercial potential. For further information, please contactFor Servocell: Simon Powell (Chief Executive Officer) +44 (0) 1279 621 515sp@servocell.com Steven Weaver (Chief Financial Officer) +44 (0) 1279 621 515sw@servocell.com Zoe Biddick +44 (0) 20 7448 1000Biddickszoe.biddick@biddicks.co.uk This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange