News: Xeros targets leather industry
Xeros Ltd, an innovative cleantech company based in Rotherham, is developing their technology for the $65 billion global leather industry.
Based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, the Leeds University spin-out is best known for its "virtually waterless washing machine" that uses a unique method of special polymer beads rather than the usual large amounts of fresh water to clean clothes.
With the backing of a £75,000 research and development grant from the Technology Strategy Board (TSB), Xeros is testing the use of the polymer beads in the processing of leather. Firstly to attract and absorb soiling, and then to dramatically improve the incorporation of tanning chemicals into the leather thanks to the significantly more uniform and gentler mechanical action.
Building on its success in the commercial laundry market, Xeros is using the grant to design leather processing equipment of comparable cost to conventional machines that are used across the world. It is also envisaged that the Xeros technology may be retro-fitted to existing machines.
Traditional leather processing machines can consume approximately 90 tonnes of water to produce one tonne of leather. If all leather processing machines were converted to using Xeros technology, the potential global fresh water savings would equate to four billion litres per day.
Bill Westwater, chief executive of Xeros, said: "The TSB grant allows us to explore an entirely new application of our patented bead cleaning platform. Today we have a proven system for a superior laundry cleaning application. In the near future I hope to say the same for leather processing."
The Technology Strategy Board is a business-led government body which works to create economic growth by ensuring that the UK is a global leader in innovation.
The grant was one of ten awarded in a competition that aims to not only find innovative solutions that we need to ensure future water security, but turn that challenge into a market opportunity by funding companies that can find profitable new ways to use current water sources more effectively.
Xeros Cleaning website
Images: Xeros
Based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, the Leeds University spin-out is best known for its "virtually waterless washing machine" that uses a unique method of special polymer beads rather than the usual large amounts of fresh water to clean clothes.
With the backing of a £75,000 research and development grant from the Technology Strategy Board (TSB), Xeros is testing the use of the polymer beads in the processing of leather. Firstly to attract and absorb soiling, and then to dramatically improve the incorporation of tanning chemicals into the leather thanks to the significantly more uniform and gentler mechanical action.
Building on its success in the commercial laundry market, Xeros is using the grant to design leather processing equipment of comparable cost to conventional machines that are used across the world. It is also envisaged that the Xeros technology may be retro-fitted to existing machines.
Traditional leather processing machines can consume approximately 90 tonnes of water to produce one tonne of leather. If all leather processing machines were converted to using Xeros technology, the potential global fresh water savings would equate to four billion litres per day.
Bill Westwater, chief executive of Xeros, said: "The TSB grant allows us to explore an entirely new application of our patented bead cleaning platform. Today we have a proven system for a superior laundry cleaning application. In the near future I hope to say the same for leather processing."
The Technology Strategy Board is a business-led government body which works to create economic growth by ensuring that the UK is a global leader in innovation.
The grant was one of ten awarded in a competition that aims to not only find innovative solutions that we need to ensure future water security, but turn that challenge into a market opportunity by funding companies that can find profitable new ways to use current water sources more effectively.
Xeros Cleaning website
Images: Xeros
0 comments:
Post a Comment