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.
​
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
