Ceram hope for energy-considerate ceramic production
Ceram, the Stoke-on-Trent materials technology consultancy has secured the first step in its plans to change technological advances in the ceramics industry.
They have secured the Governments Regional Growth Fund to secure funding which will allow them to develop new energy-reducing firing technology.
The project will enable Ceram to scale up their testing to date to a commercial level. If the technology works, it is hoped it will helps ceramics manufacturers cut energy consumption - great potential impact for such an energy intensive industry.
The technology has been developed in direct response to calls from the ceramics industry in its awareness of the high-energy consumption that follows ceramic production.
Tony Kinsella, CEO at Ceram, said: "This is fantastic news, not just for Ceram, but for the ceramics industry and the local area. The funding will allow us to fully test the new technology at an industrial scale and, if successful, will mean that ceramics manufacturers can cut their energy costs by a possible 25%, allowing them to compete more effectively in the global market. We've estimated that, in the Stoke-on-Trent area alone, the industry could cut energy costs by £2 million, resulting in hundreds of new jobs locally.
"An added bonus is, of course, that lower energy usage results in a reduced carbon footprint, something which now forms part of most organisations' sustainability strategies and which consumers are increasingly demanding."
www.ceram.com
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