Business
FDA approval
FDA approval.
About this update from Hardide Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n Hardide PLC\n20 September 2007\n\n\nPress Release 20 September 2007\n\n\n\n Hardide plc\n\n\n ('Hardide' or 'the Company' or 'the Group')\n\n\n Hardide approved by U.S. Food and Drug Administration\n for Food Processing\n\n\nHardide plc (AIM:HDD), the provider of unique surface engineering technology, is\npleased to announce that Hardide-T, its unique tungsten carbide-based component\ncoating, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ('the FDA')\nfor use on food processing equipment.\n\nThe FDA approval opens up significant opportunities for the Company to build on\nits existing European position, where Hardide's coating is already being used\nsuccessfully in food processing applications. As a result of the FDA go-ahead,\nthe Company has entered tests with one of the premier manufacturers of\nhigh-pressure homogenisers and homogenisation systems, which has worldwide\ndistribution to the food, dairy and beverage industries.\n\nThe Group intends to leverage its position following the receipt of FDA approval\nand will enter the US food manufacturing sector via its coating facility located\nin Houston, Texas. The opportunities for the Hardide coating in food\nmanufacturing are primarily in valve, pump and actuator applications where the\nCompany has proven success in other industries.\n\nCommenting on the announcement, Jim Murray-Smith, Chief Executive of Hardide\nplc, said: 'This is a major development for Hardide as it opens up a vast range\nof new opportunities for the Group internationally where we can offer a solution\nto the many food manufacturing applications where part failure due to wear,\ncorrosion and galling is an issue.\n\n'We are already working very successfully in this sector in the UK. An example\nis one of the world's largest food and beverage companies which was having\nrepeated failures with a hard chrome coating which was puncturing and flaking\nunder abrasive conditions, causing the galling of critical ball valves and\nseats. The life of the parts was increased in excess of 20-fold after being\ncoated with Hardide-T.\n\n'Hardide's entry into the food processing sector is a natural progression\nfollowing the Group's success in the valve and pump markets within high wear\nindustries such as oil and gas, power generation and chemicals. We are\nconfident that the food processing sector holds c...