Abingdon: Zircotec wins award for innovation in materials

Abingdon-based Zircotec has won the 2014 Innovation in Materials Award from the trade body for the UK composites industry, Composites UK.

Zircotec’s durable coating offers a considerably lighter solution than metal to protect the rising number of electronic systems housed in composite enclosures from electromagnetic interference (EMI).

The award tops a successful year for the company, that has seen it grow by 25%, recruiting staff including two apprentices from the Abingdon area. The firm supplies 10 of the 11 current F1 teams.

“The judges recognised the technical excellence behind the innovation along with the benefits the product will bring to both the composites industry and end-user sectors,” said Dr Sue Haliwell, operations manager at Composites UK.

Zircotec’s EMC coating is already in use within motorsport, driven by a surge in electric hybrid powertrains, and is likely to transfer to similar applications within the automotive sector. The firm is now discussing applications for the new coating in future defence, aerospace and marine applications with projects set to start in the next 12 months.