Rolls-Royce and ICI Paints take sustainable strides in R&D - 26 September, 2012.
Brand leaders such as Rolls-Royce and ICI Paints
are strengthening their sustainability credentials by taking part in a
government funded research and development scheme.
Seventy companies, universities and research
organisations will share £7m of funding in order to undertake 17 projects that
aim to develop sustainable manufacturing for the process industry.
The grant aims to improve sustainability in a range of sectors including food
and drink, chemicals, construction and aerospace.
The total value of the projects, which includes contributions from the
participating companies, will be in the excess of £14m.
Rolls-Royce will research and develop a more sustainable process for
electropolishing aerospace castings using ionic liquids. Conventional methods
involve the use of toxic inorganic acids; whereas, ionic liquids are greener
and operate with higher energy efficiency.
ICI paints will collaborate with other groups in an attempt to eliminate
solvents in paint. Meanwhile, C-tech Innovation and its partners seek to
develop a baking process that could reduce the overall energy consumption of
the sector by 20%.
The projects will be funded by The Technology Strategy Board (TSB) and the
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
Technology Strategy Board chief executive Iain Gray said: "This research
and development will lead to innovations in manufacturing that will improve
economic performance, benefit the environment and have a positive social
impact."
Source: www.edie.net
26 September, 2012.