INDUSTRYNEWS
SMEs urged to use Midlands’ only
environmental test chamber
A consultant in the construction
industry has urged other SME
enterprises in the West Midlands
to use the only environmental
test chamber in the region
to test products in extreme
conditions.
Sustainable Building Futures,
based at Coventry University,
gives SMEs, primarily in the
broad construction industry, the
opportunity to road-test their
products ahead of going into mass
production.
The service is free since the
programme is funded by the
European Regional Development
Fund and Coventry University.
Peter Townend, director of
Telford-based XQLE Ltd, is
testing a product called QuadLock which is used to build walls,
floors and roofs. He said: “We are
testing both the junction between
a tiled roof and the wall eaves and
between a wall and window frame
to make sure they are watertight. Should water get in, it will
dissolve dyes fitted in the tests
pieces which will leave coloured
traces where they flow. Even a
small amount of water can turn
the dye powder into ink.
“We will evaluate the products
in temperatures between
minus 10 degrees to plus 35
degrees centigrade. We will also
be evaluating the test pieces
for thermal movement and
cracking.
“The importance of this free
service cannot be overstressed.
This research can help to
ensure through evaluation that
product designs are functioning
as expected and if not, it gives
companies the opportunity to fix
it at prototype stage rather than
when it has been manufactured.”
Dr Vinh Doan (pictured),
Environmental Technologies
Business Manager at Sustainable
Building Futures, works with each
client to determine their testing
and technology requirements and
how to replicate the environment
and climate conditions needed t