Pictured: Preserving the future: Adrian Roberts, director, Concrete Preservation Technologies Ltd with Charles Meynell, senior business advisor, iNet

A Nottingham-based business, which specialises in the repair and protection of concrete structures, has praised the Sustainable Construction iNet (iNet) for helping it accelerate its product development by up to 12 months.

Concrete Preservation Technologies Ltd (CPT) developed a new coating material to prolong the life of repairs to reinforced concrete structures and, with funding from the iNet, was able to produce prototypes, evaluate the materials and apply for patents to cover the technology. With the £4,400 in-kind* grant from the iNet, CPT brought the project forward 12 months and has already processed sales worth £10,000 as a result of the innovation support from the iNet team.

Nigel Davison, director, Concrete Preservation Technologies Ltd commented: "It is straightforward to repair an area of corrosion on a concrete structure but now we can prevent future corrosion occurring in the vicinity of the repaired patch. This is what the technology behind the new coating material has been developed to achieve."

Charles Meynell, senior business advisor, iNet said: "Concrete Preservation Technologies Ltd is an innovative, research and development company, currently investigating technologies to reduce corrosion, which could save millions of pounds in repairs over the years."

Nigel added: "The iNet funding has allowed CPT to bring forward the new product's development by up to 12 months and get ahead of our competitors. The in-kind structure of the grant helped us to facilitate cashflow, which all small business owners know is essential. We are generating more business in the UK; we have employed two new people at our Nottingham office and we are developing opportunities in the international markets."

The iNet is funded by East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and is based at new headquarters, the iCon building in Daventry, a purpose-built business hub providing office space for start-up companies working in the sustainable construction sector. Interested parties should contact the iNet on info@construction-inet.org.uk or telephone 01327 304817.