A fire protection equipment manufacturer is developing new uses for its technology which will help to make the homes of tomorrow more energy efficient.
Tenmat specialises in developing non-metallic composite materials, which include bearings for ships and hot gas filters for power stations.
It has created a product called Firefly, which expands up to 30 times its original size to form a fire-resistant seal when exposed to high temperatures.
Firefly has been installed in hospitals, public buildings and tower blocks around the world, with projects including the athletes’ village at the London Olympics.
Tenmat’s 12-strong research team is now working to find new applications for Firefly, including using it to make homes air tight and more energy efficient.
The firm has found uses for Firefly in two new products – to seal light switches and down lights – and plans to expand the range over the next six months.
Rupert Coggon, business development manager of Tenmat, which has 211 staff, said: “The research lab is the key to Tenmat.
“Without it, the company would not move forward.
“At the moment we are doing a lot of work on energy efficiency.
“Going forward, homes will be built to be much more energy efficient and more carbon neutral. That means they have to be air tight and each room will be pressure tested before a home is sold.
“Every hole allows air and therefore energy to escape and things like light switches and downlights are all potential leakage points.
“We will also see a move towards using natural materials like timber frames and lambswool or even shredded newspaper for insulation.
“So we are developing a large range of products that will seal homes and make them fire safe.
“Fire prevention is still a primary aspect to our products, but we have to make them do more things.”
The company, which sells almost 80 per cent of its goods overseas, has been making engineering materials and components from its base in Trafford Park for more than 100 years.
It recently won a Queen’s Award for Innovation for its technology designed to prevent the spread of fire.
Firefly is Tenmat’s biggest breakthrough to date and is intumescent, meaning it expands rapidly when exposed to high temperatures.
Mr Coggon said: “If you have a pipe running through a wall, for example, the intumescent material is wrapped around it and in case of a fire it would expand violently, crushing the pipe and sealing the hole in the wall, preventing the fire travelling from one room to another.
“The real breakthrough was developing the ability to make the material into any shape. “That is what sets us apart from the competition.”
Firefly has been installed in hospitals, public buildings and tower blocks around the world.
Managing director Tony Moore said: “The key to Tenmat’s innovation success is the continued investment in highly talented material development engineers.
“Over the past two years, Tenmat sales have increased by 20 per cent per year and this has occurred when many of the industries supplied have been seeing very tough trading conditions.
“Much of this growth can be attributed to constant material development and product innovation.”