Washington news
New product proves breath of fresh air for Washington ’ s FEG
Business bought by celebrity-backed US firm
Washington-based firm Hyperdrive Innovation has been bought by giant eco-energy company Turntide Technologies in a move which will see £ 100m invested in the region in the next few years .
The California-based buyer – backed by star investors including tycoons Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos and Iron Man actor Robert Downey Jr - is committed to finding ways of reducing carbon emissions as part of the battle against climate change .
Hyperdrive Innovation , which neighbours the Nissan car plant at Barnston Lane in Washington , was bought in the same deal which also saw the US company buy BorgWarner in Gateshead - both acquired with a view to putting them at the heart of the impending electrical vehicle revolution .
And where the new company will score is in finding ways to reduce climate-damaging
emissions by utilising and scaling cuttingedge technology under the newly-created Turntide Transport company .
Ryan Morris , Turntide ’ s chairman and CEO , said : “ North-East England has a strong track record of industrial and automotive innovation , which we are keen to be part of with the formation of Turntide Transport . “ By assembling a robust , technologyled supply chain here in the North-East to expand the application of our technologies into multiple transport sectors we will be able to help drive the electric revolution while supporting the creation of high quality , sustainable jobs .”
Turntide ’ s technology has dramatically improved the efficiency of building control , electric vehicles , and industrial processes – boosting bottom lines and smoothing the global path to 100 per cent renewable energy .
A Washington-based engineering consultancy is looking to cook up a storm with a new , patent-pending odour elimination product that it hopes to export across the globe .
Washington-based FEG Global ’ s Liquid Gas Contact Scrubber ( LGC ) has been designed to tackle complex odours from high-temperature frying and cooking environments .
FEG managing director Chris Williams said : “ We worked with customers in the food sector and kept seeing our customers in high-temperature frying environments having the same issues with odour removal .
“ We believe we ’ ve developed a unique solution that solves those problems – all while remaining flexible to ensure we can tailor it to each user ’ s requirements .”
A start-up with a face fit for purpose
Council leaders back £ 450m electric battery development
Robot tech on the rise in Washington
Both Sunderland and South Tyneside councils welcomed the planning application from Envision AESC that paved the way for a £ 450m development on the International Advanced Manufacturing Park ( IAMP ) near Washington .
The company submitted plans for the UK ’ s first at-scale battery manufacturing plant , proposing a 9GWh-capacity gigafactory , with state-of-the-art battery technology .
And both councils threw their weight behind proposals which will propel the Wear region into the heart of the UK ’’ s ‘ green revolution ’.
The electric battery plant forms part of a £ 1bn partnership with Nissan UK and Sunderland City Council to create an electric vehicle hub supporting nextgeneration EV production and accelerating the transition to net-zero carbon mobility .
Specialist fabricators , Almet , is expecting turnover to increase by almost half as it invests in state-of-the-art robotic welding technology and increases its factory size .
The Washington-based business is also increasing its factory footprint by 12,000 sq ft as it invests in technology to enhance processes .
Almet is also expanding into the adjoining unit , increasing its current 17,000 sq ft factory to 29,000 sq ft .
This will allow the business to move and expand its paint plant – currently based across the road – keeping everything under one roof .
From one-off bespoke prototypes to batch production items , Almet manufactures and supplies products to customers including Nissan , Komatsu and Caterpillar .
A health and safety expert , who lost several family members to workrelated respiratory diseases , is helping prevent others from falling victim to similar illnesses .
Paul Ness , 57 , from Washington , launched SafeNess Safety Support after identifying a gap in the market for the provision of professional face-fit testing to those working in high-hazard industries .
He said : “ The problem is that many people are either wearing the wrong RPE or are fitting it incorrectly , meaning that the level of protection offered is severely compromised ; they are unwittingly exposing themselves to hazardous substances .
" Safeness Safety Support works cross-sector – anywhere where RPE users are working with hazardous substances .”
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