Billingham team pick up Innovation Award for gamma-radiation tool

A group of researchers from Billingham-based Tracerco Ltd, visited Parliament on Wednesday November 6 to pick up an Innovation Award from the Business Secretary.

The Innovation Award is from the Institute of Physics (IOP) for the team’s development of a leading gamma-radiation based tool for pipe measurement in the oil and gas industry.

On the five companies from the UK that have won this year, Dr Cable said, “I would like to congratulate all of the winners of this year’s IOP Innovation Awards.”

“The UK is home to some of the most innovative businesses in the world especially in sectors such as manufacturing and telecommunications which draw on disciplines like engineering which have a base in physics.Our pioneering businesses are delivering sustained success.”

Dr Frances Saunders, President of the Institute of Physics, added, “Nearly 10% of the UK’s economic output is due to physics-based businesses like those being celebrated here tonight. These companies show how the innovative application of physics research can create both world-changing technologies and successful businesses.”

IOP’s Innovation Awards are a unique celebration of commercial success built on physics.

The new measuring system, LevelFinderPlus, novel due to its ability to account for the build-up of residue in pipes, has led to considerable efficiency savings for the companies using the product, and Tracerco Ltd has earned itself a global reputation for successful innovation in the process.

Andy Hurst, Managing Director of Tracerco, said, “I’m delighted Tracerco has been recognised by the Institute of Physics. This is great testament to the outstanding physics innovation of the whole team.”

“Our ethos is to strive for technical excellence in order to add value to our customers, and the LevelFinderPlus is an excellent example of how we apply science to overcome our customers’ most intriguing process challenges.”