Technological innovations
Big Risk Pays off for Imhotep
Everybody knows how important innovation is to business success, but establishing a new technology-based business in the plastics industry is no easy task. Today's business environment is a decidedly risk averse business environment, driven by cost pressures and a decline in key market sectors.
Despite these barriers, Imhotep is already demonstrating some success in new polymer composites markets. It has a developed a processing technology, and has won recognition from its regional development agency as a "Beacon Company" - an example of best practice in innovation.
With a combined experience of 20 years developing composite processing technologies, Imhotep's founders recognised that thermoplastic composites presented massive commercial potential, at that time unexploited by the industry.
So what do you do if you see technology, which you believe will achieve business success, but it is not within the scope of your current employer's operations? Would your commitment be high enough to invest in your own company to develop your ideas?
That was exactly what the founders of Imhotep did. They had enough confidence in their own abilities and judgements to "take the risk" and invest in their ideas. Additional external support, particularly in the form of a DTI Smart Award, proved very useful during the research and development activities.
The technology which they have developed and invested in is a one stage, low cost manufacturing method for production of thermoplastic composite profiles.
The profiles consist of a complex composite core and a thermoplastic coating - which could be described as a gel coated pultrusion. Profiles of a variety of shapes are manufactured with selective continuous fibre reinforcement to give the required performance for each application.
Compared to conventional thermoset composites, Imhotep's thermoplastic based products are more robust, can be welded and reformed after manufacture, offer an enhanced design flexibility and are environmentally friendly. Recycled plastics can be used, no solvents are required in manufacture and the composite itself can be recycled at end of life.
In fact the design flexibility of their thermoplastic pultrusion technology makes it an ideal use for plastic recyclates. Any inferior recyclate properties can be compensated for by the level of fibre reinforcement in the profile.
The technology alone was not sufficient to make a success of Imhotep, the company needed to develop applications that would sell the capability in a real world environment.
"This was the most important lesson we have had". comments Dr Amanda Longmuir, Director at Imhotep. "We had to understand in detail the way which different markets operated and adapt our approach accordingly - flexibility has been one of the main factors in our success.
As a result we have moved a long way from our original objective of being a technology development company. We found this was not really possible within the UK.
Our current priorities are manufacturing and the development of strong customer partnerships. UK companies are particularly disappointing in this respect. They are very interested in our technology but also very reluctant to commit to joint demonstration of products for their particular applications.
Overseas companies are much more proactive and supportive in this respect. For example, they are comfortable investing in tooling to assist in prototype manufacture and testing. We expect our business with overseas partners, many of which were identified using the DTI "Trade UK" Initiative, to dominate in the near future".
The commitment of Imhotep's founders is now paying off. Products manufactured using its proprietary gel coated pultrusion technology have been demonstrated in applications as diverse as building products, horticulture to clothing. With a growing client base in the UK, Europe and North America, some major new wins are expected soon.
This case study demonstrates that new businesses based on plastic processing technology can be successfully established - but highlights that proving that the technology works is only part of the equation. Innovative ideas in marketing and market development, flexibility, customer focus and responsiveness, and a commitment to manufacturing are all in the mix. Most of all, persistence and a will to succeed are essential.
Is it worth it? That's not a question you have to even ask at Imhotep.
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Key Success criteria Several factors lay behind the success of Imhotep. They include:
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Jonathan Wilcox / Dr Amanda Longmuir,
Imhotep Ltd.,
Unit 6, Eco Court
Latimer Way
Sherwood Energy Village
New Ollerton
Newark
NG22 9QW
England
Fax: +44(0)1623 863652
Email enquiries@imhotepcomposites.co.uk
Web-site www.imhotepcomposites.co.uk
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This article is reproduced from the article in PRW- Plastics and Rubber Weekly, February 16, 2001, p11
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