Pictured: Jonathan Anderson, project designer, Atkinson
Design explains the designs for the modular solar radiator to
Charles Meynell, senior advisor, iNet
Leicester-based design company Atkinson Design Associates (ADA)
has been awarded £7,000 to assist with the evaluation of the
rapidly growing UK European and International solar radiator
market. ADA is in the process of designing a new line of modular
solar radiators and the company will use the research to develop
what could be a market leading product.
The evaluation project, funded by the Sustainable Construction
innovation Network (iNet), is being undertaken by TBAT Innovation,
in Derbyshire. The research will clearly define market size
and potential growth, giving detailed technical insight into major
competitors worldwide and provide the team at ADA with exact
performance specifications to help with the design of the
radiators. This in turn, will enable the company to analyse the
potential benefits to the business, in terms of employment growth
and manufacturing profit.
Paul Atkinson, managing director, ADA said: "The construction
industry is a massive consumer of carbon energy and the move
towards reducing this in buildings, construction itself or industry
components, is central to the UK Government's carbon-neutral
targets.
"The development of a new range of modular solar radiators will
be a major benefit to the green technology sector and with the
support of the iNet and this new report we can hopefully bring this
innovative product to market successfully."
iNet's senior advisor, Charles Meynell added: "Assisting in the
development of advanced passive energy systems, such as modular
solar radiators, will make another important contribution to
mitigating the impact of carbon emissions and also help enhance the
prospects of ADA as a business. Manufacturing in this sector is
exactly the type of project we seek to support; it's a growth area
and will mean jobs for the East Midlands in the future.
"At the iNet, we know ADA and companies like them wouldn't have
got their project off the ground without our initial funding and
support. We mentor at the inception of an idea and then help to
bring it to fruition. That's what's special about our Innovation
support."
ADA is keen to not only benefit itself from the iNet funding but
also work with an industrial partner to manufacture the new line of
radiators and so over the next two to three months, the firm will
be looking for a UK manufacturing outfit to commence work on the
new products.
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.