GnoSys UK Ltd
GnoSys UK was established from the Polymer Research Centre (PRC) at the University of Surrey. The PRC was launched in 1994 with the aim of establishing effective research partnerships with industry. Since then, the PRC has grown in activity and diversity and GnoSys UK is the latest step in providing industry with a high quality, customer-focused, science and technology service.
GnoSys UK is a multidisciplinary science and technology company specializing in research support, technical services, innovative materials, product and software development.
We maintain relationships with a great many organisations from across academia, government and industry. View a list of clients and partners.
Environmental and Sustainability Consultancy
RoHS, WEEE, EuP, REACH, SEA and other environmental legislation are putting an increasing burden on industry. GnoSys UK can help to make sense of these directives and assist industry with managing them and their consequences.
For example we have developed the compliance reporting and resource management tool REMAT, which is currently being developed as a web service. This tool coupled with our approach to life-cycle economic and environmental assessment provides support for both business process and technology assessments.
Nano-Materials
In the last 10 years polymer nanocomposites (PNC) and nanoscience technologies have emerged as a revolutionary new class of materials that have demonstrated vastly improved properties without the drawbacks associated with the formation of conventional composites. We have developed a number of thermoplastic and thermoset based materials and also the nanoscience techniques required to study them. The development and use of PNCs promises to benefit current applications and extend the use of polymers into new areas.
Specialist Software Design
Many of the challenges faced by our clients require innovative solutions. Some of them have also been implemented in software, resulting in useful software tools. An in-house software team undertakes development work for long-term projects as well as short-term contracts.
Fire Safety and Risk Assessment
Fire continues to have a major impact on society with loss of life, personal injury and loss of property. Those who experience fire in their homes endure much personal suffering as well as incurring significant direct and indirect costs.
we have carried out studies to assess the current and future potential benefits arising from the introduction of the Furniture and Furnishing Fire Regulations. We have also assessed the use of flame retardents in the UK in consumer products and devised methods for measuring their release in support of formal risk assessments.
Condition Assessment
Assessing the condition of materials, products and operating plant in critical applications is essential for effective asset management and in some cases operational safety. GnoSys UK has both methodologies and technical assessment tools to achieve this.
Networking
Networking is a key business skill and one that GnoSys UK uses extensively. A clear demonstration of this is the EPSRC-funded sustainability network designed and operated by GnoSys UK. This network uses web services as a foundation on which centralised resources and communication facilities are built. We also interact strongly with research and technology organisations, serving most key industrial sectors.
Quality Systems
Quality assurance of materials, products and processes is critical to both product and material producers. GnoSys UK have a wide range of physical, chemical and statistical methods for ensuring appropriate and cost effective quality assurance. We can also investigate the reasons for manufacturing faults and failure. We also operate our own quality system and are accredited to ISO 9001:2000.
Plastics Recycling
There are many technical, economic and market challenges affecting the re-use and recycling of end of life products containing plastic materials. GnoSys UK has experience with all of these challenges and has developed methods to quantify the technical, economic and environmental benefits of recycling to extract the highest value. Rapid identification and qualification of recycled plastics is a key component to achieving these benefits.
Understanding market factors and supply chain issues is critical to long term sustainable markets in recycled plastics having the highest possible economic value.
Power Systems
GnoSys UK has a long history of working with the power industry and sustains many contacts. On-going projects include:
- Plant condition assessment - transformers, generators, cables and accessories.
- The development and evaluation of insulation materials.
- LCA tools, including CHAMP and LEETS