Success is in the Air (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Success is in the Air

3:11pm Thursday 9th February 2012 in Hampshire Business By Richard Garfield

AIR Products celebrated 21 years of innovation success in Basingstoke with a special exhibition.

Called The Spirit of Innovation, the exhibition was on show at its European Technology Group’s headquarters, at Hampshire International Business Park, in Chineham, where around 55 people are employed.

It ran for three days last week and was attended by Year 10 science students from The Hurst Community College, as well as a host of customers, research and industry partners from across Europe.

Exhibits included some of Air Products’ most significant and award-winning R&D success stories, since the facility opened in 1991, and the exhibition – which was opened by deputy mayor of Basingstoke and Deane, Councillor Martin Biermann – focused on the company’s impact in the global marketplace.

Two of the exhibits – Air Products’ BIP technology and the Integra cylinder, with its complementary Maxx gases range – have achieved Queen’s Awards for Innovation in 2004 and 2007.

The company’s technology has many industrial uses ranging from food freezing to emissions control solutions. At the exhibition, this technology was demonstrated using a cryogenic freezing tunnel supported by a liquid nitrogen demonstration that included the quick freezing of fresh flowers.

Industrial gas cylinders and cylinder packs also featured, and these are used in everything from underwater construction to laboratory analysis and welding applications.

Jon Trembley, from Air Products’ European Technology Group, said one of the key aims of the event was to bring the company’s innovations to life and inspire young people towards science, technology and engineering.

He said: “Over 100 people visited the exhibition over three days and it was great to welcome youngsters from The Hurst who share an interest in science and our technologist enjoyed explaining the inventions to them.”

Speaking at the event, John Marsland, Air Products’ senior vice-president and general manager of global merchant gases, said: “Some of the company’s brightest research scientists and engineers are located at this centre, working on collaborative initiatives with research and industrial partners to find solutions to global engineering and technical challenges. This exhibition has been organised to showcase innovation at all levels.

“We hope that celebrating achievements in this area will help to foster a spirit of innovation which will inspire people both inside and outside of our business.

“The exhibition also underlines our business strategy, which is to focus on continuing to invest in core activities in order to further strengthen our position as a leading industrial gas supplier.”

To mark the occasion, Air Products announced a new community innovation fund for local secondary schools, to support them in the delivery of science and or engineering courses. Details of the fund will be announced later this year.