One of the first projects to launch from A2O Manufacturing will see a pioneering wind-assisted propulsion system go through manufacturing and into a full testing programme.
A2O Manufacturing is a joint venture between A|2|O Technology Group and Axentia Group, two businesses based on the Sci-Tech Daresbury campus.
The prototype build promises to help the maritime transportation industry improve its performance in greenhouse gas emissions reduction and sustainability.
The AirWing programme for GT Wings is A2O Manufacturing’s most extensive project to date. GT Wings is well-established in the maritime industry as wind assisted propulsion engineering experts, with the AirWing project program focusing on optimising materials and reducing GT Wings’ carbon footprint.
To uphold this goal, A2O Manufacturing supported GT Wings through design and manufacture of their 20-metre AirWing using steel and composite materials, all sustainably manufactured in the UK.
The prototype will undergo trials later this year, with the AirWing set to be installed in December. The pilot route will take the vessel across the Atlantic to the Canadian Great Lakes, where A2O Manufacturing will be present to celebrate the ship’s successful voyage.
FIDO raises Series B to ‘create a world without water scarcity’
A2O Manufacturing and GT Wings’ innovation aims to showcase how to maximise thrust and reduce fuel consumption through pioneering design, creating a global shift in the way that greenhouse gases are reduced in maritime transport and commercial shipping.
They predict that AirWing technology will be widely adopted on ships worldwide in the future. The system will be uniquely suited to vessels with restricted deck space and allow them to be powered by wind – a free, unlimited, zero-emission source of energy.
This includes most of the 23,000 container ships and oil tankers that have more than 10 years of operational life remaining.
Founders of A2O Manufacturing, Dr Chris Berg and Nigel Allman, met on campus at Sci-Tech Daresbury through a mutual colleague. After meetings on-site and various coffee breaks, they found joint interests in growing sustainable technology and kickstarting a stagnant UK market with new products and technologies.
“I’ve been at Sci-Tech Daresbury for nearly eight years now, and I can wholeheartedly say that the innovation and collaboration on campus is what made A2O Manufacturing possible,” said Dr Berg.
“This joint venture between myself and Nigel is testament to the opportunities that are just down the hall here.
“The AirWing programme alone demonstrates our highly capable supply chain and strong manufacturing expertise. But of course, the best is yet to come. We can see A2O having a tangible impact on the advanced material and composite market in the UK, and even globally.”
Ameba targets ‘sprawling supply chains’ with £5.4m seed funding