An innovative tensile and fabric structure company has won the 2007 BEX Innovation
competition for its commitment to developing new and sustainable construction
products.
Welsh company Architen Landrell received the award today at the Building Exchange
event which is being held in Valencia, Spain.
Organised by UK
Trade & Investment, the competition was aimed at uncovering the UK's
most innovative construction companies. The competition finalists including
Hambleside Danelaw, Secure Energy Solutions Group and Packexe Ltd were given
the opportunity to exhibit at the BEX conference which attracts industry leaders
from across the globe.
UK Trade & Investment Chief Executive, Andrew Cahn congratulated the winning
company, Architen Landrell and said innovation was vital to the future of the
construction industry.
"The UK construction industy provides more than £7billion worth
of exports every year and has an international reputation for being a leader
in intelligent buildings and sustainable design and construction," Mr Cahn
said.
"It is essential that we continue to support forward thinking companies
who are helping make our living and working environments more sustainable, efficient
and cost effective."
Once a small sailmaking business, Architen Landrell has developed into a technologically
advanced and highly skilled manufacturer of fabric structures through constant
modernisation and improvement.
The company specialises in tensile fabric structures including tensioned sails,
fabric screens, sculptures and ceilings and is recognised worldwide for its
innovative designs.
Architen Landrell Managing Director Lance Rowell, said tensile architecture
is a relatively new industry and there is constant opportunity for research,
development and innovation.
"The products we design, manufacture and install are all tailor-made making
each product an innovation in its own right. Each project requires original
design and engineering before being tested and installed," Mr Rowell said.
Based in Chepstow, the company also has an in-house testing laboratory where
it develops new ways of using materials and tests their strength and performance
in extreme environmental settings.
"We have created a number of ground breaking innovations, the most recent,
and most important being the development of insulated but lightweight fabric
membranes. Through testing and improvement we discovered that by combining three
layers of fabric and insulation material it could create a roof canopy capable
of insulating as successfully as any other roofing system," Mr Rowell said.
Mr Rowell said winning the 2007 BEX competition had given the company the chance
to attract the attention of up and coming industry leaders in the construction
industry.
"Through UK Trade & Investment we've been able to extensively promote
Architen Landrell's expertise in the design, manufacture and installation of
tensile fabric structures to industry leaders and have been given opportunities
to discuss exiting new business partnerships and opportunities."
UK Trade & Investment organised the competition in conjunction with Building
on Business, Construction Products Association and British Expertise.