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Queen's Award for Air Products' revolutionary
innovation
21st April 2004 — Air Products plc has been
awarded the Queen's Awards for Enterprise: Innovation 2004,
for its BIP® technology, rewarding the first real change
made on Industrial Gas cylinder technology for over 100
years. It also validates an impressive commercial track
record, as sales of BIP cylinders have grown tenfold over
the last five years to become the new Analytical Industry
standard.
Compressed gases for high precision analytical applications
such as gas chromatography and mass spectrometry are often
supplied in high pressure cylinders, but frequently experience
contamination problems that compromise performance. BIP
technology uses a unique patented method of removing impurities
as the gas is withdrawn through a self-contained purifier
built into the cylinder itself, providing the ultimate 'zero'
gas. This is critical to the analytical requirements in
laboratories and industry. BIP technology gives improved
analytical detection limits, resolution and consistency,
together with longer chromatographic column life.
The award recognises Air Products' Specialty Gases Group
for its outstanding efforts in developing technology to
meet customers' requirements in such modern analytical chemistry
techniques.
The Queen's Awards for Enterprise are the UK's most prestigious
awards for business performance. The continuous innovation
category recognises UK companies that have demonstrated
outstanding achievement and commercial success over a five-year
period through innovative products or services.
"This award is a wonderful recognition of the innovative
spirit demonstrated by our team and the commercial success
we have achieved in the last five years. The BIP technology
is unique and has positioned us ahead of the competition.
No other technology can guarantee such gas purity and quality
- purchasing a BIP cylinder is like purchasing an insurance
policy on the quality and consistency of your results,"
explains Ivo Bols, vice president, Northern Continent and
Packaged Gases Europe.
The awards are made each year by The Queen, on the advice
of the Prime Minister, who is assisted by an Advisory Committee
that includes representatives of Government, industry and
commerce, and the trade unions, following a rigorous peer
review process.
The award, published on 21st April, will be presented to
Air Products later in the year. A list of the Award's winners
is available at: http://www.queensawards.org.uk
For more details of the BIP technology: http://www.airproducts.com/Products/SpecialtyGases/BIPGases/Default.htm
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