NanoKTN Support Enables Breakthrough in Nano Cluster Technology

Teer Coatings has recently been awarded a share of £480,000 via a scheme run by the Technology Strategy Board, to fund the ‘SuperREACT Project’ with Johnson Matthey. The two companies will work together with academic partner, the University of Birmingham, to develop innovative technologies which can upgrade research tools into production equipment for the cluster technology market. Central to the project, is Teer Coating’s new equipment which can deposit nano-clusters at high rates, with the ability to size select and deposit on a range of different substrates including powders and other particulates. This provides users with a route to enhanced catalyst and photo catalyst performance. Separately, Teer Coatings is working on multi-layer and nanostructured coatings which can improve both the electrical and corrosion resistance characteristics of bipolar plates in PEM fuel cells.



The NanoKTN has worked closely with Teer Coatings for the last four years and throughout that time has helped deliver significant benefits to the company to assist its growth and success. Both Teer Coatings and Johnson Matthey attended the NanoKTN’s mission to Germany & Switzerland in 2010, with discussions on the mission helping to cement their relationship, which now includes their collaboration on the SuperREACT project.



Two other successful projects emerged from the NanoMission 2010 to Germany and Switzerland. Teer Coatings met UCL and has subsequently won a share in an industrial grant from the Technology Strategy Board with UCL and others, worth a further £444,000 in funding for industry, and PSI Switzerland with whom a successful bid for a FP7 project 'NOVEL' will be worth approximately €280,000 to Teer Coatings when it starts later this year.



“The benefits we have seen from working with the NanoKTN as an active member have been incredible. By meeting companies and individuals with similar interests at NanoKTN events and international missions, we have been able to find potential collaboration partners for joint development projects and secure significant funding which is now enabling us to carry out research which will benefit not only UK industry but ultimately also the European economy,” comments Kevin Cooke, R&D Technology Centre Manager at Teer Coatings.



“The NanoKTN has provided us with excellent opportunities to demonstrate our technology to relevant and receptive audiences and by presenting at events; we have found a crucial platform to raise the profile of the company and our technology. The NanoKTN Theme Managers are always willing to go the extra mile and have provided invaluable information about the industry and potential business opportunities. The role of the NanoKTN is without a doubt, extremely valuable to the future success of the UK nanotechnology industry.”



The UK has long been a pioneer in technology innovation and the NanoKTN is dedicated to supporting the growth of UK capabilities and raising awareness of nanotechnology both in the UK and to an international audience. The NanoKTN’s primary aim is to encourage collaboration and knowledge transfer between key players in the UK industry, as well as start-ups and SMEs. One of the methods to ensure networking between these players is to facilitate interactions through networking at events.



Martin Kemp, Theme Manager at the NanoKTN adds, “At the NanoKTN, we are dedicated to facilitating the transfer of knowledge within industry. As seen with the success of Teer Coatings, our events and missions have been hugely advantageous to our members and have helped many UK organisations develop new business and generate new partners. It has been a pleasure working with Teer Coatings and we look forward to seeing them go from strength to strength.”