Skill Builder Guides & reviews for building and construction
A nationwide search for ground-breaking products designed to solve problems in the construction industry has resulted in the naming of six innovation champions to watch in 2017. The Travis Perkins Innovation Awards (TPIA), pioneered by the Travis Perkins – the UK distributor of building materials – is said to be the first of its kind for industry.
The successful winners of the first ever TPIA were chosen from over one hundred applicants by an industry panel of judges and announced as: Dr Daniel Simmons, Jonathan Bolton, Jonathan Wood of Johnson Tiles, Mark Singleton of Startlink Systems, Mark Titley, and Russel Armstrong of RA Tech.
The winners’ products range from Johnson Tiles’ ‘CristalGrip’ an innovative tile fixing system, Russel Armstrong’s ‘Hotun’ the UK’s first regulation compatible all in one dry trap tundish, Dr Daniel Simmons’ ‘LeakNet’ a smart solution to water damage prevention, Mark Titley’s ‘Pipe Cone’ a safer and more efficient plastic pipe chamfer tool, Mark Singleton’s ‘Spacelink truss’ made of fiberglass hollow sections, joined without metal or adhesive, that’s as strong as steel but much lighter and rustproof, and Travis Perkins employee Jonathan Bolton’s ‘Stay Safe’ multi cordon bag, which makes cordoning off an area safe and quick without the need for traffic cones.
A TPIA winner was chosen from each of the following categories: university-affiliated, problem-solving, inventors, registered businesses and internal colleagues. Going forward the successful applicants will all work closely with Travis Perkins to access professional advice, support and funding depending on their specific needs.
The winners’ and their locations:
Johnson Tiles – Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
RA Tech – Chellaston, Derbyshire
Mark Titley – Winterton, Lincolnshire
Mark Singleton – Malvern, Herefordshire
Jonathan Bolton – Burnley, Lancashire
Daniel Simmons – Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
