£4 M PROJECT AT CPI BRINGS INVESTMENT TO TEESSIDE IN UK-FIRST

Added: (Sun May 15 2005)

Pressbox (Press Release) - The Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) at Teesside is creating a £4 million ‘smart’ flexible electronics facility that could lever billions of pounds to the UK by creating a manufacturing and supply chain in this fast-growing area of science.

The groundbreaking project means that the UK will have a specialist resource to speed up ‘smart’ thinking projects of ultra-thin, roll up computer screens, flexible solar panels and smart labels.

CPI announced today that the facility has attracted DuPont Teijin Films as its first partner and tenant. The world-leading polyester films company DuPont Teijin Films, with sales of around $1.4 billion worldwide, chose CPI as its preferred location worldwide for development of tailored substrates for this industry. Regional development agency One NorthEast provided start-up funding for the cutting-edge resource.

CPI’s pioneering flexible electronics resource will open opportunities for worldwide projects to be developed from the north east of England in this exciting, emerging area. CPI’s new facility includes a clean room and laboratory and test equipment with open access for EU-based companies who will pay daily rates to use its specialist facilities and expertise.

The market for flexible electronics is forecast to grow globally at an exceptional rate, with the UK leading the world in research and development into flexible substrates. Japan and America are, however, investing heavily in this race.

CPI Chief Executive Nigel Perry said: “The potential for our new facility to enable UK manufacturing in this global market is very real. We aim to encourage display and smart tags manufacturers to make their products in this region, to create a cutting-edge cluster for the country in this important area of science.

“DuPont Teijin Films’ decision to invest is a fantastic boost for us. To have an acknowledged world leader as our first tenant gives us a running start in attracting other leading industrial partners.”

Dr. Gary Rhoades of DuPont Teijin Films said: “CPI understands our needs extremely well. We have the best possible surroundings in an ultra-modern area, and access to acknowledged experts in flexible electronics. It gives us the ideal platform from which to grow our business.”

One NorthEast’s Director of Business Services, David Allison, said: “We’re delighted to be involved with this exciting project which is encouraging significant investment in the north east by leading industries such as DuPont Teijin Films. CPI’s presence at Wilton was a deciding factor for the company, and the door is now open for other companies worldwide to take advantage of the unique facilities and open access policy at CPI’s flexible electronics resource.”


DuPont Teijin Films is installing a coating facility to produce defect free, coated samples of plastic film for the flexible electronics industry. The coater uses an extension of the technology employed to produce metallic coatings to keep food fresh.

The new flexible electronics facility will be completed by September 2005.

Further information from Christine Holland, Holland PR & Marketing Ltd. Tel 01670 790 246 or 07711 698 246.



NOTES TO EDITORS

Ÿ CPI - the Centre for Process Innovation - is based at the Wilton Centre, Redcar, Cleveland. It is one of five centres of excellence established as part of One NorthEast’s Strategy for Success. It was set up to consolidate, build on and exploit the North East’s knowledge base in the process industries.
Ÿ CPI has four technology platforms:
Ÿ Functional Materials led by Dr Tom Taylor
Ÿ Advanced Processing and Manufacturing led by Dr Chris Dowle
Ÿ Fuel Cell Applications Facility led by Graham Hillier
Ÿ Business Development led by Dr Mike Anderson

The unique formation of the Centre for Process Innovation means it is able to guide process industry innovations to market from companies and universities who have the ideas but not the process for transforming them into products.

CPI takes the initiative in collaborative projects, and stimulates innovative behaviour by making it much safer to take risks. That speeds up the route from innovation to marketable product.