Engineers from the Wolfson Centre for Bulk Solids Handling Technology, at
the University of Greenwich, have been highly commended in the prestigious international 2006 Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) Awards.
The team, which specialises in developing technology to preserve particulate quality in manufacturing processes, took second place in the Chemistry
Innovation Award for Innovation in Applied Catalysis and Colloid Particle Science. They beat off strong competition from such international pharmaceutical giants as Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Merck & Co.
The award was presented to the University of Greenwich team by the popular science broadcaster Adam Hart-Davies, at the IChemE Annual Awards ceremony, at London¹s Banqueting House, in Whitehall.
Engineers at the Wolfson Centre have been working with a team from the University of Surrey and seven companies to develop Quality in the Particulate-based Manufacturing (QPM) technology.
The technology has already helped one UK-based multi-national pharmaceutical company cut manufacturing losses by £1 million at a new processing plant.
QPM aims to reduce the many problems in handling particulates in manufacturing processes including particulate lumping, breakage and separation.
Professor Alan Reed, Director of the Wolfson Centre, said: ³We are delighted that the Wolfson Centre has been Highly Commended for its QPM work.
³It is recognition from our peers of how our business-facing research has, through a well-planned programme of knowledge transfer, been used by a
number of multi-national companies for competitive advantage.
³We are convinced that the potential for further roll-out of QPM technology to business is huge.²
For further information about the Wolfson Centre for Bulk Solids Handling Technology and trouble-shooting powder handling problems, visit www.bulksolids.com