A NEW process which has improved an engineering firm's performance has been put forward for an award.

Silicone Engineering of Blackburn, which manufactures silicone rubber products, was looking to speed up the curing stage of its process of making rubber sponges.

The original production line was extruding the raw sponge compound up to five times faster than it was curing it.

So the company needed to find a way to integrate the curing process on line at the extrusion stage without emitting toxic gases.

Following tests at Norweb's Test and Demonstration Centre the firm built a new self-contained line.

This incorporates electric infra red heaters for curing, and an extraction system to protect operators from fumes.

The £15,000 investment has paid for itself within a year.

It has drastically reduced throughput time, energy consumption and labour costs and also improved the work environment.

"The new process has helped us keep up with the demand created by entering vehicle and transport sector," said a Norweb spokesman.

"It has also enabled us to maintain our position as UK market leader and allowed us to compete on equal terms with the major European players."

The firm has now been nominated for a Norweb Business Energy Awards. The winners will be announced on October 15.

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