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 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 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.
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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:
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Offer the construction industry a sustainable alternative to natural stone or synthetic polymer-based surfacing products
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Reduce landfill volumes of glass, ceramic and mineral waste
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Maximise levels of energy efficiency and minimize reliance on non-replenishable raw materials
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Avoid the environmental damage commonly associated with quarrying
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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:
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Creativity
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Functionality
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Durability
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Adapatbility
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Sustainability
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Eco-responsibility
As ALUSID’s strategic plan is to upscale over the next two years, the aims will broaden to include:
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Significantly increased volumes of production – up to 20,000 sq mtrs per month.
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Increased emphasis on energy efficiency and levels of product consistency – employing continuous firing production
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Greater diversity of product range
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Ongoing R&D to further exploit IP (European Patent No.: 13786716.4)
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Utilization of lead-bearing CRT glass – a global waste problem, due to the hazardous nature of this material