Alpha wins Innovation Award in the UK

26 Jun 2009 Southampton, UK

Lucite International (LI) has won the Chemical Industry Association's (CIA) prestigious 2009 Innovation Award for its Alpha technology. The award recognises the way in which Alpha revolutionises the production of methyl methacrylate and the wide spread potential that this brings to a whole range of global industries. LI opened the first in a series of planned Alpha technology plants in Singapore in November 2008. It was ahead of schedule, within budget and up to its initial 120kte capacity immediately after the commissioning phase. David Johnson, who began the scientific development work for Alpha in the early 1990s and who has played a major part in its successful translation into a world-scale plant said: “The Alpha team is delighted to receive this important recognition from the CIA. For most of us, seeing something through from a basic idea to a brand new production facility is a once in a lifetime experience and one that we’re all immensely proud to have been a part of.”

Steve Elliott, Chief Executive of the CIA, paid tribute to LI and other members. He said: "This year the quality of entries reflects the outstanding contribution made by the chemical industry to a better quality of life for us all despite tough trading times. The CIA awards are about recognising that excellence. This offers tremendous encouragement and visibility to an industry which is largely unsung. All of the entrants should be proud of their success."

The Innovation Award was sponsored by Innospec. Alpha technology offers a revolutionary new way of manufacturing methyl methacrylate, which is the main building block for acrylics used for many everyday applications from baths and LCD screen to signage and furniture. LI's chemists and engineers developed the Alpha technology to increase production flexibility and to achieve a more environmentally sustainable route to MMA. Further Alpha plants are planned by the Company.

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