Swedes license microspheres for paint additives

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Jul 2, 2008

Microsphere Technology and Trelleborg Engineered Systems are to collaborate on the development of new paint additives for the global civil aerospace market.

Microsphere Technology, the Edinburgh-based technology company, has signed an intellectual property licence deal worth in excess of us $1 million with Trelleborg Engineered Systems.

Microsphere Technology, which specialises in the coating of hollow glass microspheres, secured the deal with the global industrial group that will ensure the companies collaborate on the development of new paint additives for the global civil aerospace market.

The technology firm, based at the Pentlands Science Park outside Edinburgh, has been developing microsphere-related technology for use in a series of applications.

In this case, the technology is aimed at weight reduction of aircraft paints with the subsequent advantage of significant savings in fuel consumption and carbon foot-printing.

Tom Johnston, Microsphere Technology's Operations Director, says that the deal signed with the help of Glasgow based IP specialist Metis Partners, provides yet another opportunity to push the company's innovative research towards full commercialisation: "Signing a licence deal with a company of the reputation and standing of Trelleborg is an invaluable validation of MTL's low density pigment technology".

"The environmental and economic requirement for weight-reducing technologies in the aerospace industry is clearly understood and Trelleborg have seen the value of MTL's new material in addressing these requirements".

"We look forward to working closely with Trelleborg to move the technology towards the market as rapidly as possible".

"MTL is currently pursuing other exciting opportunities in the areas of water treatment, cosmetics and fluid dynamics".

"Our coated microspheres offer innovative solutions across many sectors and we have been very encouraged by the level of interest we have received to date".

Microsphere Technology uses hollow glass microspheres as a platform on which to layer other materials such as metals and pigments for specific technology applications.

Technology products under development include titania-coated microspheres for use in sunscreen, fluorescent microspheres for use in the flow visualisation design industry, as well as coated spheres for breaking down many organic and inorganic pollutants in wastewater.

Lennart Johansson President of Trelleborg Engineered Systems said: "To combine both companies technologies and application know how opens up new interesting opportunities in this market".

The Trelleborg Group views the low density white pigments as a radically new approach to aerospace and automotive paint production.

Tom Johnston added: "We see the Trelleborg deal as an important first step in the company's strategy to develop successful partnerships to support the commercialisation of our intellectual property with leading global corporates".

"We are already focused on securing other new licence deals to further our ambitious growth plans".