Pressure Technologies Plc : Chesterfield BioGas wins Upgrading Plant Contract

Like the first successful UK venture of its kind in Didcot, which opened in October 2010, this latest system in Stockport will feature, at its heart, an upgrading unit designed and manufactured by CBG's partner, Greenlane® Biogas of New Zealand. The modular 'Kanuka' unit will take the raw biogas produced by anaerobic digestion of food waste from local hotels and restaurants and, using the proven water-wash process, upgrade it to 98% pure biomethane. The unit is capable of processing up to 300 cubic metres of gas per hour and features a newly patented water-flooded screw compressor.

The facility, which will open in Autumn 2012, will be operated by Fairfield Bio Energy - a partnership between green energy firm Bio Group Ltd and Centrica, the owners of British Gas. It will generate enough renewable gas to supply the natural gas requirements for 1,400 homes. CBG's contract, including ancillaries and remote monitoring services, is worth approximately £1 million.

CBG's Managing Director, Stephen McCulloch, said: "This is a considerable vote of confidence in our technology and performance. Our unit uses the proven Greenlane® water-wash process which is successfully operating at over 60 sites around the world.

"CBG established a firm working relationship with Centrica in the course of our work at the first UK project, which opened in Autumn 2010, and we are delighted to be their preferred supplier once again.

"Our first project at the Thames Water site at Didcot used raw biogas captured during the treatment of waste water. The fact that the new Stockport site will use gas derived from a completely different waste material is a significant testament to our upgrading system and its versatility in coping with variable inputs from the anaerobic digestion process."

Group Chief Executive, John Hayward, said: "Chesterfield BioGas is firmly established as the market leader in upgrade technology in the UK. As the only UK based supplier and installer of this type of technology, we have the experience and expertise to manage projects to the exacting engineering and health and safety standards demanded by large utility companies and gas grid operators. We look forward to further progress in this market over coming months."

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Company description:

Pressure Technologies is an AIM listed, leading designer and manufacturer of speciality engineering solutions for high pressure systems serving large global markets. The Group is organised into three divisions: Cylinders, Engineered Products and Alternative Energy.

Cylinders: Chesterfield Special Cylinders Limited ("CSC") designs, manufactures and offers retesting and refurbishment services for a range of speciality high pressure, seamless steel gas cylinders for global energy and defence markets. The business is conducted under the "Chesterfield" brand which is a long established name in the cylinders and specialised pressure vessel market.

Alternative Energy: Chesterfield BioGas Limited was formed in November 2008 following the signing of a co-operation agreement with Greenlane® Biogas Limited, the world leader in biogas upgrading. This gives Pressure Technologies exclusive rights to market and manufacture Greenlane® equipment in the UK and Eire. Chesterfield BioGas provides turnkey solutions for the cleaning, storage and dispensing of biomethane for injection into the gas grid or use as a vehicle fuel.

Engineered Products: This division comprises Al-Met Limited ("Al-Met") and the Hydratron group of companies ("Hydratron").

Al-Met is a niche manufacturer of specialised, precision engineered valve wear parts used in the oil and gas industries, which was acquired by Pressure Technologies in February 2010. Its products are used in high-pressure choke and flow control valves, designed to regulate flow volumes in extremely demanding applications in the subsea and surface oil and gas industries. The business, which was established in 1985, has developed a leading edge capability in precision machining carbides, high grade stainless steels and super alloys.

Hydratron, acquired on 15 October 2010, designs, manufactures and sells a range of air operated high pressure hydraulic pumps, gas boosters, power packs, hydraulic control panels and test rigs. Hydratron has sales and manufacturing companies in Altrincham, UK, and Houston, USA and a spread of third party distributors in key locations around the world. Formed in 1981, Hydratron has since established itself as a leading supplier of quality high pressure equipment to the oil and gas industries. The full range of Hydratron products may be viewed at www.hydratron.co.uk.