AXS Accsys Technologies Plc

    
  Accsys Technologies PLC
  22 December 2008
   



    NYSE Euronext Amsterdam: AXS

    Accsys Technologies PLC
    Accoya� Wood Traffic Bridge a Resounding Success

    Accsys Technologies PLC and Titan Wood Limited, one of the company's wholly-owned subsidiaries, recently announced the successful
transportation and installation of the world's first heavy traffic bridge made from the company's revolutionary Accoya� wood. The bridge,
located approximately 125 kilometers northeast of Amsterdam in Sneek, the Netherlands, is chartered as a 60 tonne class bridge and will
support the major Dutch thoroughfare A7. An official opening ceremony and celebration is planned for April 15 in Sneek. 

    Spanning 32 meters and rising more than 14 meters in the air, this impressive structure will serve as a beautiful grand entrance to the
city of Sneek. Commissioned after a 2005 design competition, the EUR3.5 million bridge was designed by Oak Architects and constructed by
German firm Schaffitzel Holzindustrie.

    When designing their masterpiece, OAK Architects specified environmentally friendly Accoya� wood due to its many benefits such as having
a high strength to weight ratio, enhanced durability and dimensional stability, non-toxicity, and aesthetics. The Accoya� wood used in the
bridge's spectacular design is not only beautiful, but strong as well, supporting and bearing the traffic load.

    The Dutch government mandates that every bridge built provides a minimum service life of 80 years. Accoya� wood, which is produced only
from source-certified sustainable species, including FSC (Forest Stewardship Council), was specified after a thorough testing and
verification process. Project Manager, Sieds Hoitinga, said: "Several independent European research institutes were contracted to test
Accoya� wood's suitability for this project.  After rigorous testing, we found that its dimensional stability and incredible durability put
it head and shoulders above other species and showed that it is suitable for laminating in large sections measuring 1080 x 1400 mm.  Accoya�
wood also has superior UV resistance, is non-toxic and made from sustainably grown timber and these things were also considerations."

    Wood, such as Accoya� wood, naturally sequesters carbon helping to combat the effects of global warming. Due to its extended
usable-life, Accoya� wood sequesters carbon for much longer than ordinary wood species, helping architects and builders to minimize the
carbon footprint of their projects.

    Akkerwinde, as the wooden bridge is known, represents a milestone not only for Titan Wood, but for the international building and civil
engineering community as a whole. 

    Willy Paterson-Brown, Executive Chairman of Accsys Technologies, said: "Accoya� wood represents a new era in building technology. We are
taking a traditional building material and improving it, which allows it to be used in new and innovative ways. Accoya� wood, a green
product through and through, allows builders and architects to think out of the box, while at the same time supporting the environment."

    Typically used in applications such as doors and window frames, Accoya� wood is being used in an increasingly wide range of products
including those of decking, cladding and structural building elements.

    -Ends-
    For further information, please contact:

 Accsys Technologies PLC        William               +44 20 8114 2510 
                                Paterson-Brown,       +44 20 8150 8835
                                Executive Chairman
 Parkgreen Communications       Leah Kramer/ Paul     +44 20 7933 8780
                                McManus               +44 7793 244 055
                                leah.kramer@          +44 7980 541 893
                                parkgreenmedia.com
                                paul.mcmanus@
                                parkgreenmedia.com

 Citigate First Financial B.V.  Wouter van de Putte   + 31 20 575 4080
                                / Laurens Goverse 

    Notes to Editors: 
    Oak Architects, is a collaboration between architecture firms ONIX Architects and Achterbosch Architectuur. Hans Achterbosch, Haiko
Meijer and Alex van de Beld joined together to design the wooden bridge.
    Schaffitzel Holzindustrie (www.schaffitzel.de) is a construction and engineering firm which specializes in producing innovative
structures, such as bridges, using timber building materials.
    Titan Wood Limited (www.titanwood.com) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Accsys Technologies PLC (www.accsysplc.com) group of
companies. Accsys Technologies PLC is listed on the London Stock Exchange AIM market and on Euronext Amsterdam by NYSE Euronext, under the
symbol 'AXS'.
    Accsys Technologies PLC (www.accsysplc.com) - is an environmental science and technology company whose primary focus is on the
production of Accoya� wood and technology licensing via its 100% owned subsidiary, Titan Wood (www.titanwood.com), which has manufacturing
operations in Arnhem, the Netherlands, and a regional office for the Americas in Dallas, Texas. Accsys' operations comprise three principal
business units: (i) the Accoya� wood production facility located in Arnhem, The Netherlands; (ii) technology development, focused on a
programme of continuous improvements to the process engineering and operating protocols for the acetylation of wood which are currently
under development and the development of technology for the acetylation of wood fibre; and (iii) the licensing of technology for the
production of Accoya� wood across the globe.

    Accoya� wood (www.accoya.info) is produced using a non-toxic process that effectively converts certified sustainably grown solid
softwood and non-durable hardwood lumber into what is best described as a 'new wood species' via acetylation. Distinguished by its
durability, dimensional stability and, perhaps most importantly of all, its reliability (in terms of consistency of both supply and
quality), Accoya� wood is particularly suited to exterior applications where performance and appearance are valued. Unlike most tropical and
temperate hardwoods, its colour does not degrade when exposed to ultraviolet light. Moreover, the Accoya� wood production process does not
compromise the wood's strength or machinability. The combination of UV resistance, dimensional stability, durability and retained strength
means that Accoya� wood offers a wealth of new opportunities to architects, designers, specifiers, builders and manufacturers. Leading
applications include external doors and windows, shutters/shading, siding and cladding, decking, outdoor furniture/equipment and glulam beams for structural use. 

    Wood Acetylation is a process, which increases the amount of 'acetyl' molecules in wood, thereby changing its physical properties. The
environmentally responsible process protects wood from rot by making it "inedible" to most micro-organisms and insects, without - unlike
conventional treatments - making it toxic. It also greatly reduces the wood's tendency to swell and shrink, making it less prone to cracking
and ensuring that when painted it requires dramatically reduced maintenance. Acetylated wood's increased durability offers major carbon
sequestration advantages, compared to others woods and especially typical man-made building materials.  

    ACCOYA and the Trimarque Device are registered trademarks owned by Titan Wood Limited and 
    may not be used or reproduced without written permission


This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
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