NEPIC Focul Point Magazine - Issue 35

1. FOCALPOINT
© ©
NEPIC brEaks
through thE
£1 bIllIoN
barrIEr
ISSUE 35 2011 www.nepic.co.uk ISponsored by

2. Marketing & Design Services
FOCALPOINT
Public relations &
Marketing Team
Let NEPIC take care of your marketing, design ISSuE 35 2011
and print needs:
• Strategy
• Public Relations We understand the industry
• Media Relations 19 - 23 New Members Section
• Public Affairs As a not-for-profit organization profits are re-invested 16 - 17 Sponsors Feature - Abb
• Event Management
back into the sector NEPIC NEWS MEMbErS NEWS
• Engagement Campaigns
• Copy Writing & Proof Reading 4 NEPIC Breaks through the £1 Billion Barrier 24 Chemical Refocus for William Tracey
• Direct Mail
5 Process Industry Award Evening Success Group
• Print and media buying – our prices To discuss a project or arrange a consultation call:
are hard to beat 8 2011 Evening at the Races – Places Available!
0191 516 4400 24 Battling Corrosion in Refineries
9 Aesica a high growth Company
Digital Team 9 Green Policies Threaten British Industry
25 Industry Roundup – Snippets from
around the region
Marketing
• Digital Campaigns Paul Butler: GrEEN NEWS 26 Social Media Partnership se for Rapid Rise
• Web Design and Development to Power
paul.butler@nepic.co.uk 10 Green Power for the future
• Animation 27 Metro Radio’s £1 Million of Work in
• Presentations 10 Harvest Energy announce 10 year deal
North East
• E-newsletters Digital
11 PYReco – Moving Forward
Darren Timby: 27 CPD Secures Asbestos Contract
Design Team darren.timby@nepic.co.uk MEMbErS NEWS
28 EMSS Supported from Highest Levels
12 TVIP – A Review
Could you inspireDesign Walker: Einstein?
• Graphic Design
• Marketing literature the next
Victoria
14 Aker Solutions in share purchase agreement
with Jacobs Engineering Group
28 Durham Business School Financial Times
Ranking
• Exhibitions stands, banners & pop-ups
victoria.walker@nepic.co.uk 14 Innovation at Adtronik 29 Launch of Durham Centre for Soft Matter
4
• Advert design
Event branding
• Flyers and POS 15 How will the new LEP help the low 29 Teesside Graduate pursues career
• Business stationery in engineering
NEPIC Breaks Through carbon economy?
• Branding
£1Billion Barrier 18 Lotte Group – One Year On
5
30 Fujifilm to acquire MSD Biologics
Bespoke brochure design
19 Sembcorp Powering towards Greener Future 30 Aesica Completes European Acquisition
Annual Awards Success 19 - 23: NEW MEMbErS:
31 NEPIC Events
Camair Freight Solutions Ltd, Casper
8 Shipping, nuplas, MMI Engineering Ltd, 32 NEPICResources for Members
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3. 4 5
Issue 35 Sponsored by
“It is crucial to the success of the wider regional economy that process industries continue to In the BOC Environmental Awards, the
rejuvenate and grow. This can only be achieved through collaboration and knowledge-sharing, standard of entries within the primary school
facilities by NEPIC and its partners, who give us the detailed intelligence we need to win more category was so high that two entries were
inward investment.” worthy of this year’s title. Springwell Village
Primary School in Gateshead and Startforth
Ian Swales MP for Redcar said “NEPIC has achieved outstanding success over the last 6 years and Morritt Memorial at Barnard Castle were both
played a key role in driving this vital sector of the local economy. I know from talking with NEPIC awarded winners. Framwellgate School of
and their client companies how valuable their work is. As a former manager in the process industry Durham took the secondary school prize,
I recognise the value of clustering and look forward to continuing to work with the industry as it whilst SRC Bede 6th Form College walked
plays a key role in driving future economic success in our region”. away with the new Post-16 award. Each
winning school was takes back £2000 in
“The Process and Chemical Industry is an important part of the private sector employment base prize money to use towards a STEM related
of the North East of England. Before the creation of NEPIC there was no organisation that focussed project.
attention on the sector, its needs, and its importance to our region. I worked very closely with NEPIC
during my time as the regional minister. NEPIC do a first rate job for the people of the North East of MSD Cramlington were worthy winners of
England.” – Rt Hon Nick Brown MP the BOC Industrial Environmental Award,
whilst Shasun Pharma Solutions also of
“NEPIC is currently working on a list of 62 new investment opportunities, collectively worth over Cramlington took top prize in Innovation
£5 billion,” said Bob Coxon, Chairman of NEPIC. “It is crucial to the success of the wider regional and Cleveland Biotech of Stockton came
economy that process industries continue to rejuvenate and grow. This can only be achieved out on top to clinch the Manufacturing
through collaboration and knowledge-sharing, facilities by NEPIC and its partners, who give us the Sustainability trophy – each company
detailed intelligence we need to win more inward investment.” donating their £2000 prize to a local school
of choice.
2005/6 2006/7 2007/8 2008/9 2009/10 2010/11 Totals
But it was certainly Sembcorp Utilities night,
Jobs Created 191 84 413 689 17 268 1662 as George Ritchie took the main prize of
Jobs Secured 112 280 383 59 1059 79 1972
the evening, making it four awards in total
for the Wilton site landlords. George was
Total Jobs 303 364 796 748 1076 347 3634 recognised in the Outstanding Contribution
category, which acknowledges those
whom have not only made a significant
@ £92k GVA/ contribution to the North East process sector
annum/Job 27876000 33488000 73232000 68816000 98992000 31924000 N/A but also inspired others to achieve greater
NEPIC brEaks through thE
things.
years of benefit 6 5 4 3 2 1 N/A
Total GVA £ 167256000 167440000 292928000 206448000 197984000 31924000 1063980000 George is credited by nominators TTE
Middlesbrough and NSAPI Darlington for
£1 bIllIoN barrIEr
saving apprenticeships for the young people
of the region and for tirelessly promoting
apprenticeships as a route to a successful
career within the process sector.
Despite being in existence for just six years, NEPIC – the regional cluster for the
chemical and process industries in the North East – has now contributed more than
“I hope that the value of this work will be
recognised by the coalition government, as
Process Industry Award The fifteen award trophies, which were
produced in Teesside manufactured Acrylic,
were handed out over the course of the
£1 billion of added value to the regional economy. our ability to achieve similar results in future
will depend on receiving some support from
the public purse.”
Evening Success evening.
Costing just £1 million per year, provided jointly by industry and the public sector, NEPIC has Dinner guests were also addressed by NEPIC
generated over 166 times the investment made into its activities, providing a significant boost • 450 leading industrials gather for awards night in support of process sector Chairman Bob Coxon, in which he talked
to the regional economy and the UK plc as a whole. One of the companies attracted to the about sectors ability to rejuvenate itself and
region by Stan and his team is Banner • £23,000 awarded to support STEM project & career advancement
the need for industry support through this
“A key part of our success has been bringing together the huge pool of talent that exists in the Chemicals, a specialist chemical distributor • Eight individuals; fours schools and three companies honoured time of political change.
North East and using this to help attract investment into the region,” said Stan Higgins, Chief and supplier.
Executive of NEPIC. “It is doubtful whether any other industry-led organisation can match our Friday 14th January 2011, Hardwick Hall Sedgefield. NEPIC once again held a very successful Annual Mr. Coxon said: “Our industry is always
success rate or the value for money that we offer to the UK economy.” “We had to find a new home when it was Awards Dinner. More than 450 leading industrialists gathered in support of the regions process rejuvenating itself and inevitably sometimes
decided that the Olympic Stadium would industry and celebrated the outstanding achievements of the local schools, young talent and there are regrettable closures. I can tell you
By seeking feedback and statistics on every project it is involved with, NEPIC has been able to be built on our former site in London and it companies. these have been outweighed by many
build an accurate picture of its performance throughout the last six years. Working closely with seemed like only seconds before Stan was new investments – in the last four years
private and public sector partners, the Cluster has helped to win new investments that have on the phone,” said Mottie Kessler Chairman In total, £23,000 pounds was awarded to support STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & there have been 8 closures but this has
secured or created 3,364 jobs. This impressive performance has helped the organisation grow and CEO of Banner Chemicals. Mathematics) related projects in North East schools and to support career advancement of young been countered by 32 new investments,
to 550 members in just six years. achievers and apprentices. acquisitions and reinvestments.
“We now have a site in Middlesbrough
According to research undertaken by the Chemical Industries Association in conjunction with where we have built our new plant and Gareth Powell of Aker Solutions and Dean Carney of Sembcorp Utilities scooped the top prizes Bob continued “The coalition government
the Office of National Statistics, each job in the process sector in the UK generates more than created many jobs. The knowledge and in the newest award category – Apprentice of the Year. The awards, which are sponsored by has publicly stated their support for these
£92,000 per annum of value to the UK economy, around 25% more per job than other high business intelligence that NEPIC offers were Cleveland Scientific Institute, recognise the achievements of the regions brightest young process growth areas but we will need industry’s
earning sectors such as Aerospace. vital to our investment decisions.” sector apprentices – one from manufacturing and one from the supply chain. support to make sure that they understand
the role of NEPIC, in bringing investment to
“Winning new investment is never simple and each new project has its own complexities,” “NEPIC is currently working on a list of 62 This year’s five Young Achievers were once again of the highest quality. Winners spanned the the region”.
added Dr Higgins. “The NEPIC team benefits hugely from the great support and know how new investment opportunities, collectively region, with awards and one thousand pound prizes being handed out to Uyi Uwagboe of MSD
provided by our Industry Leadership Team and our members, as well as our public sector worth over £5 billion,” said Bob Coxon, Biologics Billingham; Alnwick based COVANCE pharmacologist Mhairi Anderson; Katy Ramirez & continues...
partners, such as One North East and Tees Valley Unlimited. Chairman of NEPIC. Dean Mitchell both of Sembcorp Utilities at Wilton; and Keri McCall of PETEC at CPI in Sedgefield.
www.nepic.co.uk www.nepic.co.uk

4. 6 7
Issue 35 Sponsored by
Supply Chain & Support Services – Dean Mitchell, Sembcorp, Wilton – winning £1000 bOC Environmental Awards 2010
-Industrial Award
Dean completed a Modern Apprenticeship Programme at TTE in 2001 and amongst
awarD winners other valuable learning opportunities provided by the company Dean has was involved Merck Sharp & Dohme , Cramlington -
in commissioning projects before being integrated into the shift team as a Shift Senior Project: Ecological Development of a Wind
Operator. He quickly learned all aspects of the role, and in 2010 at the relatively young age Turbine Installation, School Beneficiary:-
of 27 he has been appointed Utilities Shift Manager, becoming the youngest ever shift £2000 prize donated to Bedlingtonshire
Cleveland Scientific Institute - Apprentice manager in Sembcorp. Community High School
of the Year 2010
bOC Environmental Awards 2010 - Primary School Award – winning £2000 each Apart from the carbon benefits achieved
Supply Chain - Gareth Powell, Assistant by a new wind turbine installation which
Cost Engineer/Project Controller, Aker The standard of entries was very high and it was decided to award two prizes in this category as the will achieve a reduction of 5500 tonnes per
Solutions – winning £1000 judges felt that these two entries were each very worthy of winning. annum of carbon dioxide and the resulting
bottom line contribution to the business of a
Since joining Aker Solutions in September redhall Engineering Five Young Achievers Startforth Morritt Memorial CofE Primary School, barnard Castle – This school submitted 4% reduction in operating costs; every effort
A warm welcome was also given to the some 2007 Gareth has gained invaluable 2010 a plan to build a chicken coop and stock it with chickens to allow the pupils to study the was made during this project to examine the
of the regions newest companies, which experience within the Estimating, Cost development of chickens, and to use eggs within the school for food. The school also intends to use local wild life and ecology. This has resulted
included Mr NY Lee, CEO of Lotte Chemicals Control, Procurement and Planning biotechnology - uyi uwagboe, MSD the chickens to help in the teaching of literacy, numeracy, science, art, and PHSE as well as helping in the discovery of new colonies of Great
UK Limited who have acquired and restarted departments, whilst successfully biologics, billingham – winning £1000 the school to achieve Eco School status. Crested Newt and an three species of Bat on
the PTA assets at Wilton; Mr Ben Imoe of completing the BTEC National Certificate the site. MSD have now planted 4000 trees
Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation who in Construction & the Built Environment Uyi is a microbiologist who has manages and shrubs as well as new wild life habitats
have just announced they are building with a Double Distinction. technology transfer projects, process and which can now be used for guided
their European Battery Chemicals Unit in developments and manufacture of wildlife walks as part of an environmental
Billingham; Dr Sally Old the Director of With an exemplary work ethic, he became biotechnology based active pharmaceutical education programme.
COVANCE who have recently taken over the the first project controls apprentice to ingredients. Uyi has been committed to
sanofi-aventis research facility in Alnwick; complete the NVQ Level 3 in Project gaining new technical skills and is also CPI Innovation Award 2010
and the new Northumbrian Water CEO, Controls within 8-9 months. Gareth is now working towards his MBA at Durham
Heidi Mottram. currently completing a Foundation Degree University. He also supports engagement Shasun Pharma Solutions, Dudley
in Project Controls at Darlington College. in programs aimed at encouraging and Cramlington
Dr. Stan Higgins commented upon the Gareth is also a STEM Ambassador and supporting young scientists. Project: 4th Generation HydroKinetic
success of the event: has shown enthusiasm at all stages of Resolution (HKR) Catalysts, School
“
his Apprenticeship and as a result and Pharmaceuticals - Mhairi Anderson, Beneficiary:- £2000 prize donated to
The NEPIC Awards Dinner has enthusiasm and skills has been promoted COVANCE, Alnwick – winning £1000 Cramlington Learning Village
become a leading industry event. Thanks to Assistant Cost Engineer.
to our sponsors ABB, CSI, BOC, CPI, Redhall Mhairi is a Pharmacologist and now has
HKR catalysts are used to support the
Engineering; Lucite & Teesside University 6 years experience as a researcher and
application of kinetic resolution in the
we can give substantial prizes to promote
“ works on a diverse range of studies in
synthesis and manufacture of complex chiral
the fantastic careers that are available in pre-clinical drug development. Her ability
molecules. Shasun has developed more
the world leading companies that make to communicate to a variety of audiences
robust catalysts that are more tolerant of
up our sector. and strong commitment to taking on
contaminants arising from raw materials etc,
new management and language skills has
they also show improved reproducibility
Steve Bagshaw, General Manager at MSD resulted in her promotion to Study Director,
and economics. These new catalysts are
Biologics Limited, commented on the managing projects across international
typically 5-10 times more reactive than earlier
evening’s success: boundaries
generations and have shown cost of goods
“ Commodity, Petrochemicals & Energy - Katy Springwell Village Primary School, Gateshead– This entry, which was submitted with an improvements of greater than 25%.
George Ritchie’s speech was a fitting
tribute to both the work he has done ramirez, Sembcorp, Wilton – winning £1000 excellent 3D model is to develop an area of the school into a “Global Garden with different areas
having a different theme, including a World War II vegetable garden, a Victorian herb garden, a NEPIC Manufacturing Sustainability
and to the role of NEPIC in being a great Award 2010
ambassador and champion of work being Katy is a Chemical Engineer who has story-telling area with toadstool seating, a play area with woven willow wigwams and a water
“
done in the North East. I am proud to be
associated with it. My thanks to Stan and Manufacturing - Dean Carney, Apprentice
the position of Performance Engineer
responsible for compliance and operational
feature. The garden will be used to develop many skills in the children including enterprise,
healthy eating, social skills etc. Cleveland biotech, Stockton on Tees
Project: Investing into their business in
the NEPIC team - a great evening! Process Technician (TVPT), Sembcorp – performance particularly on the company’s
biomass power station. Katy can trace her bOC Environmental Awards 2010 - Secondary School Award – winning £2000 surfactant supported biological treatment
winning £1000 products, School Beneficiary:- £2000 prize
The evening pulled together senior contribution to the business bottom line as in
excess of £1.5M/annum. As well as taking on Framwellgate School, Durham – This entry by a group within the school called the Green donated to Billingham South Community
industrialists from the Process Industry, Dean is in the final year of the Tees Valley Primary School
a sector which underpins 35% of the board new managerial skills, she is studying Beings proposes to develop a dramatisation to take into primary schools across Durham to
Production Technician apprenticeship, pass on the message about recycling and energy efficiency. The pupils submitted an outline
whole industrial economy of the North with the first two years of the programme to gain her Master’s Degree and ultimately
Chartered Engineer Status of a script for a news bulletin presentation highlighting issues around global warming and the Cleveland Biotech is the country’s market
East. Companies attending the evening carried out within the training centre at leader in ‘environmental biotechnology’
represented some of NEPICs 550-strong environment, and intend to follow this with a creative workshop for the younger pupils around
Teesside Training Enterprise (TTE) at the what small steps they can make. utilising biological processes in the treatment
member companies, and included SABIC, Fine & Speciality Materials - Dr Keri McCall
South Bank and Wilton site locations. The of a wide variety of pollution issues, including
Johnson Matthey, MSD Limited, Exwold, PETEC @ CPI, Sedgefield – winning £1000
final two years have involved working at his bOC Environmental Awards 2010 - Post 16 School Award – winning £2000 contaminated land remediation, bio-
Sembcorp Utilities, K Home International sponsor company, Sembcorp Utilities, as augmentation of failing sewage treatment
Keri is a PhD Chemist who is who is building
and Dickinson Dees but to name a few. well as completing academic qualifications plants, the biological removal of ammonia
new supply chains in plastic electronics. As SrC bede 6th Form College, billingham – This group of pupils submitted a plan to develop
at his college. Dean has gained a vast Organic Electronic Materials Scientist, she an eco-garden within the grounds of their newly built college, to create a wildlife habitat and and nitrite from effluent streams, and the
Our thanks once again goes to our sponsors array of experience, with skills acquired degradation of fats, oils and greases in
works with synthetic chemists employed by increase the biodiversity of the grounds. To get support for the programme they have had to
– ABB, Cleveland Scientific Institute, Redhall in Engineering, Electrical, Pneumatic & commercial kitchen drain lines.
potential suppliers of new materials such as learn to deal with indifference, resistance and many other barriers, including a lack of funds. The
Engineering, BOC; CPI; Teesside University & Hydraulic Systems, He is held in high organic semiconductors. Some of the new garden will be organic, and will use water butts and composters to minimise environmental
Lucite International – whom without their regard by his management team due to his continued...
products she has helped to develop are now impact. Produce form the garden will be used in the college refectory, so reducing food miles.
support this reinvestment into the sector commitment and enthusiasm to learn and being used in the development of the next
would not be possible. develop. generation of electronic display products.
www.nepic.co.uk www.nepic.co.uk

5. 8 9
Issue 35 Sponsored by
continues...
Recent manufacturing investments, growing
2011 NEPIC Evening at the Races Aesica Pharmaceuticals named as High Growth Company
its microbiology, fermentation and controlled
mixing capabilities, have enabled the company
Thursday, May 26th, 2011 - Newcastle Racecourse, High Gosforth Park,
to more than meet market growth estimates. Newcastle upon Tyne Six years after their launch in Cramlington, Aesica Pharmaceuticals have been named by Deloitte in the Sunday
Times as one of the fastest private equity backed firms, with the fastest growth in profits.
NEPIC attracts 200 plus members and guests to its Annual Summer Events , providing excellent
networking and corporate hospitality opportunities, or just simply the platform for a fantastic The company, 3rd in the list of 100 fastest growing companies, was spun out of BASF by Dr. Robert Hardy and his management team in
alternative evening out. Newcastle Racecourse has a reputation as a hospitality venue, with 2006. They have since purchased three other businesses across the UK and are actively seeking acquisitions around the world to achieve
excellent first class facilities and stunning surroundings.
further growth.
Aesica were joined on the list by Quantum Specials of County
Durham (14th), whom manufacture and supply pharmaceutical
products and medicines, along with Darlington based specialist
Healthcare provider Castlebeck (72nd).
Dr. Stan Higgins CEO of NEPIC, the Cluster group representing
Pharmaceutical industry in the region said: “Congratulations to
all these companies that are clearly identifying and providing
the growth our economy needs. In particular, Dr Hardy and
the team at Aesica Pharmaceuticals, who have been NEPIC
members since their formation”.
Dr. Higgins continued “Aesica Pharmaceuticals have grown from
Teesside university Outstanding a £20m company to well over £100m sales in less than six years,
Contribution Award 2010 which has been achieved from their Cramlington base.
George ritchie, Sembcorp utilities, Senior
Vice President for Hr/IT & Industrial Park The company now has several major sites across the UK employing over seven hundred people. It just shows what can be achieved by a
Services, School Beneficiary - £2000 prize determined and imaginative management team, even in a competitive globalised industry such as pharmaceuticals.”
donated to Howletch Lane Primary School.
This is a great event at which to dress up and have fun with colleagues and their partners from The Sunday Times Fast Track 100 league table ranks Britain’s 100 private companies with the fastest-growing sales on their latest three
Surviving the turbulence of ICI exiting industry. As always, events such as these not only provide valuable networking opportunities but years.
Teesside is one thing, but recognising the also they are also an expression of support for the cluster and its activities going forward.
impact that this would have on the long The evening will commence with a drinks reception, followed by restaurant hospitality with full www.aesica-pharma.co.uk
term future of young people in the region views of the racecourse, which includes waitress service and a three course carvery dinner. All
is another. It is no exaggeration to say that guests will enjoy the benefits of a premier admission badge, tote service for betting and private
process apprenticeships might have been lost outdoor seating for those wanting to get closer to action. The evening will conclude with post race
Sunday Times Business Letters The government promised to assess the
to our industry forever without the foresight entertainment.
- Green Policies Threaten cumulative impact of its energy and climate
of our 2010 Outstanding Contributor. change policies on energy-intensive
Sponsors will also enjoy a race named after their company, which will get regional and national British Industry
industries like chemicals, surely it should
Not only has George excelled in his day job, to exposure. You , your employees, customer and suppliers can also get involved in the preparation
complete this work before taking further new
very high standards indeed, he has stood up for a race, as well as making presentations to the winning owners and jockeys. The event opens at Manufacturing and the chemical sector
initiatives.
time and time again to be counted, tirelessly 17.00, with the first of six flat races commencing at 18.25 and the last race running at 21.15. can lead the UK to a sustained economic
cajoling and encouraging business leaders, recovery – and in the last quarter it showed
In the interests of ensuring a sustainable
managers and politicians alike to commit to Places are priced at: that. But the well-intentioned pursuit of
business environment in Britain it really is vital
technical apprenticeship programmes that £650.00 plus VAT for a table of ten; or the wrong energy and climate change
that the government gets its act together.
give so many young people their chance to £75.00 per person plus VAT. policies through the government’s carbon
Our EU competitors cannot believe their
participate in our industry. price support (CPS) proposals will hit
luck that a measure such as CPS is being
To reserve your places, please contact Paul Butler on 07802 255 118 or email: business investment and put at risk jobs in
considered ..... a message we hope the prime
George has always ensured that his company paul.butler@nepic.co.uk. some of the poorest parts of Britain.
minister may have picked up in Friday’s
is first in line to participate in developing Council of Europe meeting on energy.
new educational standards and programmes Sponsorship Opportunities: We support the objective of moving
and has also led the sector’s educational towards a low carbon generation mix but
Tom Crotty, Ineos; Mark Williams, Sabic uK
engagement programmes in this region. This • Sponsor a Race - giving high exposure in regional and national press e.g. The NEB Handicap Stakes the CPS and electricity market reform
Petrochemicals; Carol Devlin, GrowHow
former apprentice is now leading many of & present best turned out horse and winner’s trophy. proposals put forward more instruments
uK; Lynton Simmonds, Millennium
these skills issues on behalf of the UK industry • NEPIC Event Sponsor than are needs. We already fear that UK
Inorganic uK; Steve Elliott, Chemical
and we applaud his fantastic contribution • Drinks Reception Sponsor policies could double our energy costs
Industries Association
to the future of our industry and its young • Entertainment Sponsor by 2020 and another tax through CPS will
people. push electricity prices up by a further 20
For further information regarding sponsorship opportunities, please contact Paul Butler on: per cent.
07802 255118 or e- mail paul.butler@nepic.co.uk
www.nepic.co.uk www.nepic.co.uk

6. 10 11
Issue 35 Sponsored by
Green News
Pressure Cooking Green Power Ten year deal to remain PYreco - Moving Forward
for the Future on Teesside
Harvest Energy who took over the
PYreco - how is the project developing and at what stage is it?
former Biofuels Corporation plant
The company has always declared that it
at Seal Sands earlier this year, have
Work is about to start on a plant to convert sludge remaining after sewage treatment will operate alongside the existing collector
announced a ten-year deal to remain
into green electricity which will power Northumbrian Water’s main treatment works on infrastructure responsible for the handling
on Teesside, and in addition sixteen of
Tyneside, in a major move towards environmental sustainability. The scheme at Howdon of the UK’s annual end of life tyre arisings.
the former Biofuels Corporation staff
Sewage Treatment works will compliment Northumbrian Water’s other advanced PYReco has taken the advice of industry
have also been reinstated at the plant
digestion plant recently installed at its largest works at Bran Sands on Teesside. experts and is proposing to build a state-of-
by the company.
the-art tyre shredding process close to the
This change of process at Northumbrian Water’s second biggest five acre treatment works plant to deliver the 60,000 tonnes of tyre
Chris Brookhouse, Development
at Howdon, North Tyneside, is a £34million investment. shred required for phase one of the project.
Director of Harvest Energy said on
Partners are being identified to manage the
the deal: “We decided to make a
Work started on site on 28 January 2011 and the plant will be fully operational by summer facility and provide the baled tyres.
long-term commitment to Teesside.
2012. It will use the emerging new technology of ‘thermal hydrolysis advanced digestion’
This is a world-class plant with a
and keeps Northumbrian Water at the forefront of the water industry. A key feature of the process lies in its
sizeable 250,000 tonne capacity; it’s
More than 500,000 tonnes of sludge - from the treatment of domestic sewage and environmental impact. The Carbon
very efficient and Teesside’s sound
industrial effluent from a population equivalent of 1,000,000 people – will be reduced to Management Energy Efficiency Report
petrochemical background also
about 60,000 tonnes and will generate four mega watts of green electricity. prepared by the Carbon Trust was delivered
appealed. It made a lot of sense and
in November. This report showed that
the timing was fortuitous for us.”
Sludge will be loaded into pressurised reactors and heated at 165 degrees centigrade at the PYReco pyrolysis process has a range
6Bar. This stage of the process can be loosely compared to domestic pressure cookers, of benefits, including producing lower
He continued: “Whatever the world
found in most people’s kitchens. The sludge is then depressurised and cooled before emissions and larger avoided emissions
throws at you, if your plant has
being fed into large concrete digesters for the bacterial process to start. from displacement of resources than any
parameters like this one, then you’ve a
other current “recovery” process. The process
good chance of surviving”.
Methane given off by the bugs digesting the waste will then be collected in 11-metre In December a group of around forty senior industrialists and MPs held a parliamentary meeting has the highest CO2 savings of any of the
diameter biogas storage bags before being used to fuel gas engines to create enough in Westminster to discuss the future of our vital process sector, with particular emphasis placed analysed options and the report went on
In three years, he said, “Harvest Energy
renewable electricity to power most of the entire Howdon treatment works. Any waste heat on the low carbon future of these industries. The industry experts raised the issues of energy to flag up other advantages that do not, at
has moved ‘upstream’ from a buyer to
will also be captured and utilised efficiently within the advanced digestion process itself. prices, energy stability and availability, as well as the subject of the formation of local enterprise present, even feature on Government’s radar.
a manufacturer of biodiesel”.
partnerships, and how business investment will be supported into the future. This pioneering project remains on track
The digested sludge ‘cake’ remaining after the process will be a Class A biosolid - a safe to deliver a sustainable solution to a pan-
The company will make and sell
and low odour product containing no detectable levels of pathogens, such as E-coli, and PYReco was recognised at the meeting as one of the innovative, leading edge industries European issue.
Biodiesel from the Seal Sands plant
will be used as a valuable agricultural fertiliser. using advanced patented pyrolysis techniques to break down end-of-life tyres back to their Recipients of £2 million from the £60 million
and also supply its own operation at
The new process will significantly reduce the company’s carbon footprint as well as component parts of carbon black, oil, gas and steel for sale into new applications. Tees Valley Industrial Programme (TVIP),
Grangemouth.
improving efficiency and the work will also include additional odour control measures on PYReco hope to have a fully operational
the site. Currently, disposal routes for used tyres are problematic. Environmental Agency statistics show tyre pyrolysis plant by the end of 2012. Built
substantial quantities being repatriated from various overseas locations following their illegal incorporating the latest developments
Northumbrian Water’s Technical Director, Dr Colin Price, said: “Development of this export. Indications are that this issue alone costs the UK in excess of £15,000,000 per annum. in eco-design the plant will also have an
sustainable process to re-use and recover valuable resources from sludge and create By contrast, PYReco’s process significantly increases the commercial usage of automobile tyre attached R&D facility looking into the future
renewable energy puts both Howdon and Bran Sands in the national spotlight as centres material and this will be extended to other industrial rubber waste. pyrolysis of other waste materials. Once full
of environmental excellence.” production is achieved, the process will be
PYReco’s plant will be built on the prestigious Wilton International site on Teesside. Many of capable of reaching circa four million barrels
The new Advanced Digestion process at Howdon will treat sludge from Tyneside and the world’s leading chemical and manufacturing companies are already well established at of recoverable diesel fuel, plus 4.5 million
north of the river Tyne. Sludge from sewage treatment from south of the River Tyne Wilton. Planning permission has been awarded and PYReco’s environmental engineers are at barrels of oil equivalent of syngas with an
and in the Tees Valley will continue to be treated by the advanced digestion facility at the second phase of works (Geotechnical Investigation) for the plot while the air quality team energy rating comparable to Propane per
Northumbrian Water’s Bran Sands site at Tees Dock. continue with AERMOD stack emission modelling for the completion of the EPR operating year.
permits. The local Environment Agency is being particularly supportive and working closely with
The current sludge treatment facility at Howdon, which utilises lime stabilisation, will be PYReco on each stage of project permitting to operate. The process presents a “closed-loop” cycle
decommissioned and will remain available as a strategic contingency. of reuse within the motor industry. It also
PYReco has been encouraged by the number of enquiries following their advertisement in the displaces the burning of a considerable
The £34 million contract to design, construct, install and commission the new Howdon Tyre Trade News in July for waste tyre supply partners. tonnage of crude oil. Initial estimates have
plant has been awarded to Galliford Try Infrastructure Services and Imtech Process, suggested that the company may be able to
companies that have a proven track record in delivering advanced digestion plants in show CO2 reductions exceeding 2% of the
the UK. UK Government’s total commitment under
the Kyoto Treaty.
www.nwl.co.uk
www.pyreco.com
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