David Binns

Throughout my career my art practice and research have been inter-dependent, each informing the other.

Over the last eight years my research has focussed on utilising recycled waste from the ceramic, glass and stone industries. Research funded by two Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) awards (£242,0000), was in direct response to the unsustainable depletion of virgin material stocks and excessive landfill of waste materials. 

My research has followed two inter-related paths of investigation: one involving developing art-work made from 100% recycled waste and another exploiting the commercial potential of the material as an architectural surfacing material.

 

Following an initial £260K of venture funding ALUSID was established as a UCLan spin-out company, involving a manufacturing facility in Preston, Lancashire. Currently employing 9 people, ALUSID has now fulfilled numerous UK and overseas client-based projects, including feature interior and exterior walls and restaurant surfaces - whilst continuing ongoing R&D with the field.

In Spring 2019 high street retailer Topps Tiles launches an exclusive range of ALUSID tile products in their boutique stores - 'SEQUEL'. This will be Topps Tiles first ever truly sustainable product range.

ALUSID has recently received a further £1.7 million in venture funding, which will be used to undertake further development work, leading to a stock market flotation to fund a large manufacturing facility, capable of high volume tile production.

ALUSID has undertaken projects for a number of prestigious clients including, Nando's restaurants, Wells Fargo Bank, Amazon, Selfridges, and Harrods, and numerous private clients in the UK and Middle East.

Early in 2023, ALUSID will be launching an exclusive range of glazed tiles supplied by high street retailer, Topps Tiles.

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ALUSID manufactures SilicaStone, a range of unique, award-winning architectural and interior tiling and cladding products - made from 100% recycled glass, ceramic and mineral waste.

Based in Preston Lancashire, ALUSID is a spin out company from the University of Central Lancashire, grown out of a research project led by Professor David Binns and Dr Alasdair Bremner.

Their research was driven by a belief that architects, artists, designers and manufacturers must find ways to ensure their creative practice is increasingly sustainable and environmentally responsible.

 

The primary aim of ALUSID has been to develop a range of architectural surfaces that combine aesthetic beauty, functionality and sustainability, through innovative product design development and environmentally responsible manufacturing.

Through utilizing locally sourced low-value, sometimes problematic waste materials otherwise destined for landfill, the manufacturing objectives are to:

• Offer the construction industry a sustainable alternative to natural stone or synthetic polymer-based surfacing products

• Reduce landfill volumes of glass, ceramic and mineral waste

• Maximise levels of energy efficiency and minimize reliance on non-replenishable raw materials

• Avoid the environmental damage commonly associated with quarrying

• Avoid high levels of carbon emission associated with long distance transportation of raw materials.

 

The fundamental principles that have defined the development and manufacturing of SilicaStone have been:

• Creativity

• Functionality

• Durability

• Adapatbility

• Sustainability

• Eco-responsibility

 

As ALUSID’s strategic plan is to upscale over the next two years, the aims will broaden to include:

• Significantly increased volumes of production – up to 20,000 sq mtrs per month.

• Increased emphasis on energy efficiency and levels of product consistency – employing continuous firing production

• Greater diversity of product range

• Ongoing R&D to further exploit IP (European Patent No.: 13786716.4)

• Utilization of lead-bearing CRT glass – a global waste problem, due to the hazardous nature of this material