Oxford Instruments Regulatory News (OXIG)

26 Jun 2007 07:03

Oxford Instruments PLC26 June 2007 26th June 2007 Oxford Instruments plc Alstom Magnets and Superconductors and Oxford Superconducting Technology announce EU Alliance Oxford Instruments plc, a leading provider of high technology tools and systemsfor industry and research, is pleased to announce the creation of an alliancebetween its wholly owned subsidiary Oxford Superconducting Technology ofCarteret, NJ, USA, and Alstom Magnets and Superconductors of Belfort, France (awholly owned subsidiary of Alstom). The alliance will be focused on winningsupply contracts in the European Union for niobium-tin superconducting strandfor ITER, a joint international research and development project that aims todemonstrate the scientific and technical feasibility of fusion power. ITER will be one of the largest scientific projects ever undertaken. Thefacility will be built in Cadarache, France, a research centre for nuclearenergy created in 1959 by the Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique. Nuclear fusion taps energy from reactions like those that heat the Sun, usingfuel sources that are abundantly available, and accessible to all nations.Fusion is seen as a cleaner approach to power production than nuclear fissionand fossil fuels. The ITER device is based on the tokamak concept, and will make extensive use ofniobium-tin superconducting magnets to contain the fusion reaction. More than500 tonnes of niobium-tin superconducting strand will be used in theconstruction of the ITER magnets, of which at least 90 tonnes, with an expectedmarket value of €47 million, are expected to be sourced in the EU. The Alstom -Oxford Instruments consortium expects to be one of four manufacturers ofniobium-tin superconductors competing to supply EU ITER. Commenting on the agreement, Steven Parker, President of Oxford SuperconductingTechnology, and the Commercial Director for Oxford Instruments plc said, "I amdelighted with the opportunity to collaborate on the supply of conductor toITER. OST's advanced niobium-tin strand design and manufacturing technology,coupled with the strong operational capabilities at Alstom, should provide avery robust platform from which we can jointly supply the ITER project." Enquiries: Oxford Instruments plc Tel: 01865 393200 Kevin Boyd, Group Finance Director Lynn Shepherd, Marketing Manager Hogarth Partnership Limited Tel: 020 7357 9477 Rachel Hirst / Andrew Jaques / Ian Payne Notes to Editors Oxford Instruments plc designs, supplies and supports high-technology tools,processes and solutions with a focus on physical science, bioscience,environmental and industrial research and applications. It provides solutionsneeded to advance fundamental nanoscience research and its transfer intocommercial nanotechnology applications. Innovation has been the driving forcebehind Oxford Instruments' growth and success for over 40 years, and itsstrategy is to effect the successful commercialisation of these ideas bybringing them to market in a timely and customer-focused fashion. The first technology business to be spun out from Oxford University over fortyyears ago, Oxford Instruments is now a global company with over 1,300 staffworldwide and a listing on the London Stock Exchange (OXIG). Its objective is tobe the leading provider of new generation tools and systems for the PhysicalScience and Bioscience sectors. This involves the combination of core technologies in areas such as lowtemperature and high magnetic field environments; superconductivity; NuclearMagnetic Resonance; X-ray electron and optical based metrology, and advancedgrowth, deposition and etching. Our products, expertise, and ideas addressglobal issues such as energy, environment, terrorism and health and are part ofthe next generation of telecommunications, energy products, environmentalmeasures, security devices, drug discovery and medical advances. ALSTOM is a global leader in the world of power generation and railinfrastructure and sets the benchmark for innovative and environmentallyfriendly technologies. ALSTOM builds the fastest train and the highest capacityautomated metro in the world, and provides turnkey integrated power plantsolutions and associated services for a wide variety of energy sources,including hydro, gas and coal. The Group employs 65,000 people in 70 countries,and had orders of €19 billion in 2006/07. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange