P2i - World Leader in Liquid Repellent Nano-Coatings

ion-mask™ heads to ISPO

2012-01-26T16:30:00.000Z

After a very successful International CES our focus now turns to showcasing our ion-mask™ technology at the 2012 ISPO tradeshow in Munich, Germany.

ISPO which takes place from the 29th January - 1st February is considered the leading international sports business network with around 2,000 exhibitors and over 60,000 delegates from more than 100 countries.

Last July we attended a similar show; the EU OutDoor show in Friedrichshafen where we demonstrated the game changing benefits that ion-mask™ can offer to footwear, textiles and accessories and you can see how we got on in the video below:

Come and see the technology for yourself!

At ISPO 2012 we will be located in Hall B6, Booth 122 where we will again be highlighting our world leading ion-mask™ technology via videos and hands-on demonstrations of treated and untreated footwear, tissues and fabrics.

ion-mask™ has already been adopted by leading lifestyle brands including: Timberland, KSwiss, Hi-Tec, adidas, Van Dal, Scott, Teva, Fox gloves and Bollman Hats to name a few. Attending ISPO is an opportunity to further expand the range of products that ion-mask™ protects. You can see a collection of videos featuring ion-mask™ here.

Throughout the show we will be uploading images and posting comments live from the booth so do 'Like' us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to be kept up to date.

See you there!

CES validates P2i as liquid repellent world leader

2012-01-20T17:00:00.000Z

In January last year we attended International CES in Las Vegas where we showcased Aridion™, our liquid repellent technology for consumer electronic devices and you can read how we got on here.

For 2012 we went back to CES with an even bigger booth and a major electronic manufacturer incorporating Aridion™ into their production process.

International CES, which took place from the 10th-13th January is the world's largest tradeshow for consumer electronics as well as a showcase for the latest technologies. The 2012 event was the largest in it's 44 year history with over 153,000 attendees and more than 3,100 exhibitors gathering to see the latest technological developments.

Throughout the four days our booth maintained a continous flow of delegates keen to see a demonstration of Aridion™ technology as well as discovering how it can protect electronic devices from liquid damage and corrosion. What was also great is that many delegates who visited us last year came back to our booth, this time bringing a crowd with them interested to see the technology first hand.

Images from our booth over the four days

While the booth was busy with delegates, our technology was also picked up by a host of media and like last year, we receieved a great deal of press coverage from all kinds of sources including; PC World, Gadgetsteria, PC Advisor, Gagagadget, Nerd Reactor, Mobile Magazine, EBN News and Fox News to name but a few! There are also video features still to be posted from popular technology sites including Tech Bargins. These will be promoted on our Facebook, Twitter and YouTube accounts once live.

The combination of media coverage, a consistantly busy booth and Hannibal, our corporate magician entertaining the crowds, once again made CES a great success for us and validated our position as the world leaders in liquid repellent nano-coating technology for consumer electronics. We are now in further discussions with leading electronic brands about applying Aridion™ to a new range of consumer devices so watch this space.

You can see a collection of our images here as well as watching a short video we have put together showing some of the highlights from our booth:

You can find out more about Aridion™ by visiting: www.p2i.com/electronics and if you have any questions about how Aridion™ works do get in contact by commenting below.

P2i

P2i at CES 2012: Day two

2012-01-12T01:01:00.000Z

Day two at CES is almost over and it has been great with many delegates amazed by our technology and by our tissue demonstrations. Over the two days we have also received a lot of media coverage as well as interviews and below is a list of just some of the articles that have been posted:

Nerd Reactor: CES 2012 - Dropped your phone? P2i could have saved you
PC Adivsor: P2i's Aridion safeguards smartphones against water
Gagagadget: Toilet-proof your gadgets with P2i

As you can see the coverage we are receiving is superb with many individuals and businesses interested in the opportunities that our technology presents. Throughout the day delegates have also been filming the demonstrations so we expect to see them up on YouTube very soon. We will post another update tomorrow but here are some more images from our booth:

www.p2i.com/aridion

P2i at CES 2012: First day highlights

2012-01-11T01:48:00.000Z

It is over a year now since we first attended International CES in Las Vegas and we are now back to showcase our technology at the 2012 event. The show in 2011 was a great experiance for us and we gained a lot of coverage including Microsoft and Cool Tools, which you can read in post from last year.

This year our booth is even bigger and we have a host of meetings with leading electronic brands and manufacturers. Dr. Stephen Couslon CTO, demonstrates our liquid repellent technology from our booth:

CES 2012 runs from the 10th-13th of January and each day we will be uploading images and videos to our Twitter, Facebook and YouTube accounts as well as posting a daily blog live from our booth.

Here are some images from our booth on the first day of CES:

Booth starts to gather a crowd

Demonstrations

Hannibal performs his magic

All our images will be uploaded to our Facebook and Flickr accounts next week but we will add more images in tomorrow's post.

Find out more about Aridion technology at: www.p2i.com/aridion

The London Corporate Cup: Or it is the taking part that counts...

2011-12-08T15:00:00.000Z

In the spirit of team bonding, on the 24th November we took part in the annual London Corporate Cup held at the state of the art London Soccerdome.

The events which is now in its fifth year is a corporate 6-a-side tournament with teams vying for the top prize of the winner's trophy.

The P2i team

Each team that enters the tournament is managed by a footballing legend and for us this was Kerry Dixon, best known for his time at Chelsea (1983-1992). Although we did not win the tournament it was great fun, well organized and a great opportunity to show off our average football skills.

Here are some actions shots from the tournament:

Robert our caption works his way forward

Coming away with the ball

You can see them all on our Flickr and Facebook pages.

Returning from Filtration 2011

2011-11-30T15:00:00.000Z

Following on from our last post we have recently returned from Filtration 2011 (INDA) in Chicago where we were exhibited for the first time.

Having never attended a show of this type before we were excited to see how our nano-coating technology for filtration would be received over the two days (16-17th November).

According to the organizers this year's show saw significantly increased visitors and exhibitors compared to last year and we were delighted that a great many of them stopped at our booth (below).

Over the two days delegates were able to take part in hands-on demonstrations as well as ask questions about our technology and the benefits it offers to filter media across a range of platforms including; Air Compressors, Aviation and Diesel Fuel, Gas Turbines and Hard Disk Venting.

With INDA proving such a success we are looking forward to more Filtration shows in the new year.

You can see a collection of our images from the show on our Flickr page as well as watching our Filtration video below:

If you have any questions regarding our technology for filter media you can contact us here.

P2i at Filtration 2011

2011-11-16T15:25:00.000Z

So far this year we have attended seven major tradeshows that have focused on the electronics and lifestyle markets, but now our attention turns to a growing sector for us, Filtration.

Today and tomorrow, Filtration 2011 is taking place at the Navy Pier in Chicago and this is the first time we have had a booth at an event of this type.

The show which attracts leading people and businesses in the filtration industry, gather together over the two days to discuss the latest trends and technologies.

Our booth (1001) will be showcasing how our world leading nano-coating technology enhances existing filtration media with particular focus on:

- Air Compressors
- Aviation Fuel
- Diesel Fuel
- Gas Turbines
- Hard Disk Venting

Alongside demonstrations of the technology we have also produced an animation that highlights the benefits our technology offers to filters, which you can watch below:

Over the two days we will be posting images from our booth, you can follow us on Twitter to keep up to date. You can also find out more about our technology for filtration here.

The difference between water resistant and repellent technologies

2011-11-04T12:00:00.001Z

We recently came across the EMU Australia footwear brand who produce and sell a great range of sheepskin boots around the world but what caught our attention was the following banner on their website:

It is a great visual image that really states the fact that their boots are water resistant. Exploring the site further, EMU have also produced a video showcasing their water resistant sheepskin against a competing UGG boot. You can see the video below:

Before watching the video we initially thought that it was our technology, as the EMU video is similar to a version that we produced back in 2009 that focused on our ion-mask™ water repellent technology (see further down). In the EMU video, they demonstrate the difference between their water resistant sheepskin boot and that of a standard UGG boot. You can clearly see a distinction between the two as the water uptake is significantly reduced on EMU's water resistant sheepskin while the UGG boot completely absorbs the water leading to a stained, heavy and uncomfortable boot.

However, even though the water resistance does keep the EMU boot from absorbing the water, if you look closely you can clearly see that there is a layer of water that remains on the boot once it is pulled out, giving it a shiny but wet look. Over time, this could potentially damage the surface, resulting in the absorption of water and eventual staining. This is when we realized that it was not our technology and that ion-mask™ could be a great solution.

Why ion-mask™?

Earlier, we mentioned a video we produced back in 2009 which carried out the same test as EMU demonstrate above but showcases our liquid repellent nano-coating technology. Although the boots in our demo are made from suede and not sheepskin the principles are the same:

The ion-mask™ treated boot completely repels the water by ensuring the water beads up and rolls off the boot leaving no layer or residue, which can occur with water resistant boots. The untreated version absorbs the water the instant it is submerged. We have also carried out this test using sheepskin boots and you can see the result in the following image:

ion-mask™ treated (Left) / Untreated (Right)

Again, the repellent benefits of ion-mask™ act as an invisible shield forcing the water to bead up and roll off while the untreated version is completed soaked. Adding ion-mask™ to sheepskin boots means total liquid repellency without any leftover layers or streaks that is visible with only a resistant protection in place. An ion-mask™ repellent coating ensures that they remain dry, lightweight and most importantly comfortable.

While EMU's water resistant sheepskin boots do offer protection they still allow water to remain on the boot which over time can lead to staining and absorption. With the addition of ion-mask™ this is no longer a problem and as it is applied on the nanoscale you don't even know it is there.

If you want to know more about ion-mask™ you can here.

Aridion™ received loud and clear at EUHA 2011

2011-10-26T15:00:00.000+01:00

Just a short post this week as we have just returned from a very successful EUHA congress in Nuremberg, Germany where we showcased our Aridion™ technology for hearing aids to an audience of audiologists, manufacturers, journalists and bloggers.

Over the three days our booth received a lot of interest and we are very excited by the potential new business prospects that emerged. Visitors to our booth were able to see the technology first hand with live demonstrations as well as an interactive hologram and of course Hannibal our corporate magician.

We also had our Aridion™ 8 machine on the booth, specifically designed to treat hearing aid devices which you can see below:

Aridion™ 8 Machine

You can see a collection of images from the show on our Flickr and Facebook pages.

Next up for us is INDA 2011, a filtration tradeshow taking place in Chicago from the 15th-17th November.

Aridion™ to take centre stage at EUHA 2011

2011-10-19T15:00:00.001+01:00

It is conference time again and today we are in Nuremberg, Germany where the 56th International Congress of Hearing Aid Acousticians (EUHA) is taking place from the 19th-21st October.

EUHA is Europe's largest hearing aid tradeshow and this will be the first time that we have had a significant presence here.

Over the coming days, from our booth (G-14) we will be showcasing our Aridion™ technology to specialists in the hearing aid and acoustic industries.

With Aridion™ now serving three of the world's largest hearing aid manufacturers and over 5.5 million devices treated we are hoping for a very successful show and will be tweeting live which you can following via our Twitter account.

If you would like to know more about Aridion™ you can here as well as watching the video below:

We will post an update next week following up on how the show went.

Best Use of Technology Award

2011-10-12T15:00:00.010+01:00

What a year we are having! Back in August we won the 'Most Innovative Company in Europe' award from the International Business Awards (Stevies) and we are delighted to announce that we have won another prestigious award.

On Tuesday the 4th October at the Fast Growth Business Awards (FGBA) in London, UK, we were delighted to win the 'Best Use of Technology' award.

In what was a competitive category we won the judging panel over with our 'huge scope and potential, turnover growth and strong profit margin' which you can read in more detail via the Winner's Archive.

What do the awards represent?

The awards are organized by Growing Business magazine which is the UK's leading magazine for entrepreneurs and cutting edge businesses. The event was attended by over 300 entrepreneurs, business journalists and industry leaders.

What won us the award?

To be in contention for the 'Best Use of Technology' award, we had to demonstrate growth and success, customer satisfaction as well as showcasing a link between the use of technology and growth, something we have achieved successfully with our Aridion™ and ion-mask™ technologies.

Peter Rankin, P2i's Operations Director who accepted the award on our behalf, reflects on what this recognition means to P2i and how our technology enables continued growth for the future:

This award now sits alongside our other achievements, which include:

- International Business of the Year 2011

- Business Hero Award for 'Borderless Business'

- ISPO BrandNew Sportwear Award

CEO, Carl Francis also reflected on how our growth has established a world leading company "This award recognizes the expertise and diversity of our liquid repellent nano-coating technology across a range of market sectors, from consumer electronics to footwear and accessories. The possibilities for nano-coating are endless as P2i continues to build on our cutting edge technology by moving into other functional nano-coatings."

You can see images from the event on our Flickr page as well as keeping up to date with everything P2i through our newsletter.

Changing the Game: P2i presents at Nano4Sport

2011-09-28T15:00:00.004+01:00

Delwyn Evans

On Wednesday 21st September, I presented at the Nano4Sport conference in London. The event which consisted of designers, scientists as well as established and start-up technology companies, aimed to explore the potential uses of nanotechnologies within sports clothing and equipment.

My presentation entitled: Changing the Game: Using Water Repellent Nano-Technology for Sport Shoes; highlighted how our ion-mask™ technology for lifestyle products (footwear and textiles) can lead to improvements in performance, such as reduced water uptake and improved appearance.

P2i's success in applying the technology on a commercial scale to a range of 3D objects was a key point of the presentation and I demonstrated the technology first hand on a pair of KSwiss's California running shoes which are currently available on the market featuring ion-mask™. For the demonstration the right shoe had been treated with ion-mask™ while the left shoe remained uncoated. Water was then dropped on the front of each shoe with the treated shoe repelling the water while on the left; the material instantly absorbed any water that came into contact with it.

KSwiss California

The demonstration proved popular, as the treated shoe was passed around the audience so they could feel for themselves that there was no difference in weight, look or texture.

Overall, Nano4Sport proved an interesting event, offering an opportunity to showcase ion-mask™ technology to individuals and businesses in the industry as well as witnessing new and emerging technologies.

You can read more about the event here and if you would like to know more about how ion-mask™ works and the benefits it offers visit: www.p2i.com/ion-mask

What is the difference between waterproof and water repellent?

2011-09-19T12:20:00.003+01:00

There have been an increasing amount of articles emerging, explaining the difference between waterproof and water repellent, so we thought it was time to add to the discussion and look closer at the definitions and differences between the two, with particular focus on footwear.

What is the difference between waterproof and water repellent?

Firstly, how are both defined?

Waterproof: Impervious to water
Water Repellent: Fabrics that have received a finish or coating that is not easily penetrated by water (Source: Oxford English Dictionary)

Let's look at what it means to be waterproof. Footwear that has a waterproof label or tag similar to the styles used for hiking and trail running, means they are impervious to water (or no liquid can pass through them). Which is great if you are caught out in the elements or passing through streams and you need to stay dry, but how does a shoe actually become waterproof and what are the restrictions to having this type of footwear?

For materials and products to be considered waterproof they need to meet specific criteria. This criteria includes the amount of water pressure (psi) they can withstand before leaking or an "mm/24 hours" rating which equals the amount of rainfall a fabric can withstand in a single day before water starts to leak through.

In footwear terms, to be considered waterproof they will most likely have a barrier or membrane built inside as well as fully sealed seams and stitching, designed to keep water out and ensure your feet stay dry. However, if water enters the shoe above the ankle collar or sweat builds up, then your feet still become wet with the water unable to get out.

Sealed seams and membranes may protect feet from becoming wet but as they are built within the internal structure of the shoe they do not offer the same waterproof protection to the outside material. This can result in the shoe becoming very wet and heavy, leading to reduced comfort for the wearer, particularly on long hikes or runs.

There are of course solutions to this, such as the choice of material used as well as treating the outer surface of the show with durable water repellents (DWR). DWRs are coatings applied at the factory stage to fabrics making them water repellent (not proof). This treatment alongside the membrane ensures that the shoe lives up to its waterproof claims. However, these treatments can affect the functionality of the material as well as losing their effectiveness over time and re-treatments are usually required in the form of further sprays. In addition, they are rarely applied to all the materials used in the construction of a shoe, resulting in water ingress points.

There is also the issue of breathability or how much air can penetrate the fabric whilst still allowing sweat vapor to evaporate. The video below demonstrates the effect a membrane can have on breathability:

As you can see, the fabric and membrane layer significantly restricts air flow, while the stand alone fabric has no restriction and lets the air flow freely. While only a demonstration, it highlights the hidden impact a membrane can have on comfort and temperature control.

To combat this there are breathable membranes available that allow moisture (sweat) to escape but these tend to be more expensive than their non-breathable alternatives and can still allow levels of moisture build up to occur during exercise.

So what about water repellent?

Misunderstanding of the term water repellent can lead to disappointment when testing out a product, as you can find your feet or other parts become wet. For example, if a fabric or product is classified as 'repellent' this means it will repel water but is not impervious to it, or put in another way, there is a level of water pressure it can withstand before leaks start to appear. This is not seen as a disadvantage as the materials used will readily allow air to pass through removing the hot microclimate next to the foot, providing comfort and restricting sweating and discomfort.

Similarly to waterproof products there are criteria that fabrics and textiles have to undergo in order to test their repellency and protection levels and thus be given an overall rating. The Bundesmann test is one way of measuring this.

The test simulates actual rain environments by pouring a continuous shower of water over the surface of fabrics at a height to simulate rain, while at the same time lightly abrading the reverse side. The abrading technique is designed to encourage the water to seep through the fabric whilst also simulating movements of the body when a garment is being worn. The amount of water that seeps through, in addition to the amount absorbed into the fabric is then measured and the fabric is given an efficiency rating based on performance. The higher the rating the more repellent the material is.

How does P2i's liquid repellent technology - ion-mask™ differ?

ion-mask™ is a liquid repellent technology, meaning that liquid can still penetrate materials which have a natural airflow. What makes ion-mask™ so unique compared to other repellent treatments such as DWRs is that it is applied to the fully constructed shoe (or product) resulting in complete protection without changing the look or feel. Meaning that functionality such as breathability is not impaired. Furthermore, ion-mask™ is also solvent-free resulting in minimal environmental impact.

You can find out more about our liquid repellent technology in the video below and by visiting the ion-mask™ page.

Hi-TecKnowledgy - V-Lite Infinity featuring ion-mask™

2011-09-07T14:30:00.001+01:00

Back in March we posted an article on the V-Lite Infinity Trail Running shoes featuring ion-mask™, which you can read here.

Since then the Infinity story has gone from strength to strength picking up a host of awards along the way including the Health Magazine Gear Award for the best trail running shoe (women's shoe) and the Best New Trail Shoe Award from Running Network. You can see Hi-Tec talking about the awards and the shoes at the Outdoor Retailer here.

V-Lite Infinity HPi

However, the success did not stop there. The Liquid Mountaineering viral that promoted the Infinities has now surpassed 10 million views and was even featured in an episode on the hit Discovery Channel TV show, Mythbusters:

The campaign has also been used by The Times 100 as a case study example of 'Using promotion to position a brand' which you can read here.

With the Infinity range gather a strong momentum, Hi-Tec have now produced a series of videos, filmed at the 'Hook and Bullet' lounge. Already covering the Cascadia eVent HPi (also featuring ion-mask™) the latest video focuses on the V-Lite Hpi version of the Infinity range and looks at the 'sciencey' stuff in your shoes. You can be one of the first to view it below:

Do you own a pair of Infinity's? If so, we would love to hear how they and the ion-mask™ technology works for you. Also if you have not played the Infinity Run game yet, why not give it a go.... You can also find out more about the technology that makes the Infinity 'run on water' here?

On the way to IFA 2011, Berlin

2011-08-31T15:00:00.000+01:00

We are in full tradeshow mode here. Having not long returned from EU OutDoor in Friedrichshafen where we promoted ion-mask™ we are now heading to Berlin from the 2nd-7th September for IFA 2011, to showcase Aridion™ technology.

IFA (Consumer Electronics Unlimited) is Europe's largest consumer electronics event, presenting the latest products and innovations from all the leading brands. This will be our first time exhibiting and we can't wait.

Like previous shows, visitors to our booth (Hall 9 Booth 304) will be able to see first-hand what our Aridion™ technology can do for electronics. Delegates can also take part in live demonstrations, interact with an Aridion™ specific holographic display as well as engage with Hannibal, our corporate magician.

Hannibal

It promises to be a very exciting show. You can find out more about IFA here as well as learning more about Aridion™ in our Electronics video below:

We look forward to seeing you there! Be sure to follow us on Twitter to see how we are getting on.

Faces of Nano: P2i interviewed by TechSplurge

2011-08-24T15:00:00.002+01:00

Earlier this week our Principal Scientist, Delwyn Evans was interviewed by Julian Taub for this TechSplurge Blog as part of the Faces of Nano series. You can read the full interview below:

FACES OF NANO: Dr. Delwyn Evans

Companies are an important part of the nanotech initiative. They take lab discoveries and apply them to consumers’ daily lives. One of the most successful nanotech companies, P2i, just won the title of Most Innovative Company in Europe. P2i manufactures technology that adds liquid repellent protection for both electronics and apparel (footwear). I interview Dr. Delwyn Evans, a chemist at P2i.

JT: Tell me about yourself, your background, and your position at P2i.
DE: I’m the Principal Chemist at P2i, and my responsibilities include the development and optimization of our nano-coating technology, representing the company at conferences and training our technical staff in the chemistry aspects of our process. Prior to P2i I worked for Abbott Laboratories as a Principal Scientist on blood glucose sensors and Cookson on residue-free solders. My degrees in Chemistry were obtained at the University of York, UK.

JT: How did you become interested in nanotechnology? How did you come to work at this company?
DE: Nanotechnology is interesting as it helps push technical boundaries set up by the limitations of incumbent technology, and when it’s commercialized, then it’s game-changing. P2i was particularly attractive as their technology can be applied to a wide range of industrial markets and so deliver serious commercial impact.

JT: How does the P2i technology work?
DE: On a general level, P2i’s process applies a nano-thin polymer coating to the surfaces of products. Depending on the customer’s requirements, a different polymer can be put onto their product so the surface can be made water repellent, oil repellent, water wetting or a range of other effects. Products are processed in a vacuum chamber and plasmas are used to activate the product surface and promote the growth of the polymer layer. As the process occurs in a vacuum, the monomer (polymer pre-cursor) can penetrate into the 3D structure of the product. At the end of the process, the chamber returns to atmospheric pressure and the treated items are removed and ready for use. It can have environmental benefits compared to traditional technologies as it only uses small quantities of monomer, and its solvent free.

JT: P2i was just named the most innovative company in Europe. What do you find to be the most innovative aspect of its technology?
DE: The adaptability of the core technology and work P2i has put in to take it from a university lab bench to a globalized industrial process. Many scientists are really surprised that the results from a PhD project can directly lead to a successful business.

JT: Where can I find P2i products?
DE: Consumers can currently find P2i-treated products on footwear and hearing aids. Many brands of shoes for sport or outdoor activities have taken up P2i’s water repellent treatment - ion-mask™. In the electronics sector, we have a technology called Aridion™, which prevents the ingress of water into devices. Over 4,500,000 hearings aids have now been processed with Aridion™. Hearing aids have their internal components protected against water ingress with our Aridion™ technology and so last longer in humid environments. We also treat bioconsumable products for lab use and filter membranes. As our technology develops further, we aim to bring a range of effects to a wider range of products.

JT: What do you see as the extent of P2i technology benefitting our daily lives?
DE: P2i technology makes great products even better. It can extend their lifetime, give them different functionality, and offer a wider choice of materials to product designers for their construction. And it can do all this with minimal amounts of chemicals, which gives it a low environmental footprint.

JT: Lastly, as someone on the cutting edge of science and technology, where do you see nanotechnology in five years?
DE: Nanotechnology will have its greatest effect in improving existing technologies and enabling new scientific areas. I expect its impact to be more subtle and gradual to end consumers, but felt more significantly in technical industries. It sounds like an oxymoron, but nano is only going to get bigger!

(Interviewed on the 15th August, 2011 - The TechSplurge blog can be read here)

Splash the P2i Duck

2011-08-12T10:00:00.002+01:00

In a previous post we talked about the launch of the Splash Challenge competition at the OutDoor show in Friedrichshafen. The competition was open to all delegates and those that visited our booth where able to take part in the competition by adopting Splash the P2i Duck, and taking him on adventures around the world.

Splash

Many Splashes were picked up by attendees at our booth and we are now receiving a steady stream of Splash images from all over the world, below are just a few:

Collection of Splashes at our booth

Splash entering another duck's territory in Wales

Splash taking in the sights at the SnaefellsjÃ¶kull volcano, Iceland

Splash the risk taker in Oxfordshire, England

As you can see there have been some great images sent in and with the competition running until the end of September we expect to receive many more.

In addition to this we have put a short video together of Splash at the OutDoor show and some of the entries we have received thus far:

If you would like to keep up with Splash or have any images still to send in, you can upload them here www.p2i.com/splash and why not follow him on Twitter.

We will send another update on how Splash is getting on next month...

The Most Innovative Company in Europe...

2011-08-04T15:00:00.006+01:00

Quite a statement to make, but one we feel confident to use as it was announced last week that P2i has won an International Business Award or 'Stevie' as it is more affectingly known for the Most Innovative Company in Europe category.

So what are the Stevies?

Originating in 2002 with the American Business Awards, the International Business Awards or Stevie Awards were created to honor and generate public recognition of the achievements and positive contributions of organizations and working people worldwide.

Overseen by a board of distinguished judges and advisors, we were selected from more than 3,000 entries, across 40 nations and through two rounds of judging by 200 business professionals worldwide.

What makes us stand out?

To be selected for a Stevie Award you need to show great performance in business globally and that is what we have achieved by changing the way people think about everyday liquid protection. As an example of this, Aridion™ our liquid repellent nano-coating for electronics has, in just two years, revolutionized the reliability of hearing aids, to the extent that one manufacturer has reported a 50% reduction in corrosion and moisture related damage. Adding to this, Aridion™ is now applied to more than four million devices and we are working with four of the six leading hearing aid manufacturers.

And our innovation does not stop there, as Dr. Stephen Coulson, CTO explains in the video below:

The awards will be presented at a gala event on Tuesday, 11th October at the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and as Carl Francis; CEO explains it is an award we are delighted to have won:

“We have a highly innovative, fast growing and scalable business which is based on proprietary and game-changing technology. Innovation is part of our corporate DNA, so we are extremely proud to receive this prestigious award."

Now to plan the acceptance speech...

ion-mask™ - Then and Now

2011-07-27T14:50:00.000+01:00

Where did it all begin?

P2i originated as a project within the UK Governments' DSTL division to make soldier's clothing more effective against chemical attack. In 2004 P2i became the first DSTL technology transfer company to commercialize the technologies developed by the UK Government.

Where are we now?

Today we operate within five key market sectors: Lifestyle (ion-mask™), Electronics (Aridion™), Filtration & Energy, Life Sciences and Military & Institutional. In this post we will focus on ion-mask™ and where it has been optimized for the footwear industry.

ion-mask™ has been available commercially since 2008, when outdoor footwear company Hi-Tec became the first brand to bring the technology to consumers by applying ion-mask™ to a new style of hiking boot; the V-Lite Altitude Ultra WPi:

Hi-Tec V-Lite Altitude Ultra WPi - First ever walking boot to feature ion-mask™

Since then the ion-mask™ - Hi-Tec range has expanded significantly including the development of the Infinity trail runner which spawned the YouTube viral sensation 'Liquid Mountaineering':

Today, ion-mask™ has been applied to eleven separate footwear brands including Timberland, Van Dal and K∙Swiss to name but a few. You can read more about ion-mask™ and these brands in our case studies as well as seeing some of the styles below:

K∙Swiss Kwicky Blade Light

Hi-Tec Infinity HPI

Timberland City 6in Boot

Van Dal Cannes

ion-mask™ has also branched out from footwear and in 2011 we have seen the technology being applied to lifestyle accessories including gloves (Fox) and hats.

From previous post you will also have read that we have just returned from OutDoor 2011 in Friedrichshafen, Germany where we were demonstrated ion-mask™ to leading outdoor brands. The show was a great success with many companies enquiring about the adoption of ion-mask™ for apparel, a similar question we receive through our Facebook, Twitter and YouTube accounts. This is an area that we are extensively researching so watch this space...

The range of products featuring ion-mask™ continues to grow and if you have your own footwear featuring the technology we would love to hear your reviews and comments. There are also a host of reviews online you can read if you would like to know more or thinking of purchasing a new pair of shoes, here is a brief selection:

- Hi-Tec:

∙ Outdoors Magic

∙ Outdoor Enthusiasts

∙ Gear We Are

- K∙Swiss:

∙ Sport (SBlog)

∙ Ironman

Making a Splash at EU OutDoor 2011 - Friedrichshafen

2011-07-20T16:00:00.021+01:00

So that was EU OutDoor 2011 in Friedrichshafen!

We have just returned to the office from a very successful show in Germany where we exhibited our ion-mask™ technology for the first time. EU OutDoor 2011 was also where we launched our Splash Challenge competition (more on that later).

The show which ran from the 14th-17th July, is host to leading outdoor brands from around the world.

Over the four days, those that stopped by our booth were introduced to ion-mask™ via videos, a custom designed holographic kiosk and through hands-on demonstrations of ion-mask™ treated footwear, tissues and fabrics - we even had Hannibal our own corporate magician!

ion-mask™ footwear demonstration

ion-mask™ tissue demonstration

Hannibal

We also put a short video together of our booth that you can watch below:

Overall the show was a great success and it was exciting to have many leading outdoor brands visit our booth, keen to see for themselves how ion-mask™ could benefit their products.

Already working with leading footwear brands, we are excited to see who will next adopt P2i's ion-mask™ technology.

What is the Splash Challenge?

At the start of the post we mention the Splash Challenge, so what is it? Launched at the EU OutDoor show, we gave all attendees the chance to take away with them their very own Splash the P2i Duck.

Splash is searching for water-filled adventures and attendees that picked up Splash from the show are now taking images and videos of him from around the world. A multi-lense SuperSampler camera awaits for the person who sends in the best image of Splash. If you would like to keep up to date with Splash and see how he is getting on, you can here www.p2i.com/splash - or why not follow him on Twitter.

You can see all our images from the show on our Flickr page here.

Gearing up for Outdoor 2011

2011-07-13T16:00:00.000+01:00

Starting tomorrow until the 17th July, the outdoor world gathers in Friedrichshafen, Germany for the largest European tradeshow of its kind - OutDoor 2011. Now in its 18th year, 2010 saw the show amass 868 exhibitors and over 20,400 trade visitors, this year it is set to be even bigger and better.

OutDoor 2011 will be unique for us as it is the first time P2i will be showcasing ion-mask™ technology to a mass audience and we are pretty excited!

The show is also a milestone for us and ion-mask™, as now more than 1.5 million pairs of shoes have been treated with the technology. Offering consumers breathable, lighter, stay-dry and stain resistant footwear.

Come and check us out!

Visitors to our booth (Hall B4, Stand 302) will be able to watch - get involved with live demonstrations, interact with an ion-mask™ specific holographic display as well as watch our very own corporate magician in action.

Applied to a host of materials including mesh, light-colored canvas and suede, ion-mask™ has been adopted by eleven brands including: Timberland, KSwiss, Hi-Tec, Nike, Adidas and Teva, samples of which will be on the booth. Visitors will be able to see for themselves the levels of liquid repellency and breathability that previous generations of membranes simply cannot match.

This is what David Bond, Vice President of Product at KSwiss had to say:

"ion-mask™ is the most innovative moisture

management technology available on the market"

If you are attending, come and find as at Stand 302 in Hall B4. In the meantime, you can watch our Lifestyle video below to get a taster of what is to come:

We look forward to seeing you there!

ion-mask™: Invisible Technology, Visible Results

2011-06-07T16:00:00.008+01:00

A few weeks ago we looked at Aridion™, our technology for electronics and the benefits that it can offer. This week our attention turns to ion-mask™.

What is ion-mask?

ion-mask™ is our liquid repellent nano-coating technology for Lifestyle products such as footwear and textiles. Invisible to wearers the ion-mask™ protective layer is over one thousand times thinner than a human hair and is bonded to the whole surface on a molecular level making it extremely durable without affecting the look or feel of the product.

Furthermore, ion-mask™ lasts as long as the material itself and is not compromised by everyday wear and tear, it also resists the absorption of liquid and dirt helping to guard against stains, making products look newer for longer. See for yourself in the video below:

What are the benefits of ion-mask™ technology?

Protective:
ion-mask™ gives lifestyle products superior liquid repellency, stopping external water ingress whilst allowing perspiration to escape.

Breathable:
Treated articles keep wearers comfortable and dry. Unlike membrane technologies, ion-mask™ is not a physical barrier, delivering the full natural airflow of the chosen material.

Durable:
ion-mask™ is physically bonded at a molecular level, so it lasts as long as the material it protects and cannot be seen or felt.

Lightweight:
Being only nanometers thin, ion-mask™ does not add any additional weight to products. In wet environments, the hydrophobic properties ensure that less water is retained.

Environmental:

ion-mask™ is solvent-free and uses only microscopic quantities of protective monomer, resulting in minimal waste and environmental impact.

ion-mask™ is already available on a range of footwear styles including; Golf, Running, Hiking, Boating and Leisure with brands including Hi-Tec, Timberland, Nike, Adidas, KSwiss, Teva, Mizuno and Van Dal.

Here are some links to videos featuring ion-mask™ technology:

- KSwiss: Kwicky Blade-Light
- Hi-Tec: V-Lite Infinity / Liquid Mountaineering
- Timberland: What is P2i / Hiking through nature
- Teva: Lucky the penguin and his ion-mask™ boot
- Van Dal

You can find out more by visiting the website. If you have a pair of shoes featuring ion-mask™, then we would love to hear your thoughts. Contact us at marketing@p2i.com

A penguin called Lucky and his special shoe

2011-05-25T16:00:00.002+01:00

The internet has been filled with stories in the past week about a penguin from Santa Barbara Zoo who suffers from an impaired foot.

The young Humboldt penguin named Lucky was born with a leg that was not growing properly, causing sores to develop where pressure was put on the wrong parts of his foot. These sores could have turned into a life-threatening condition if a solution was not found.

X-rays showed that Lucky's bones were not broken and while penguins normally walk on their toes, the condition caused him to walk on an unpadded area of his foot. Zoo veterinarians wrapped his foot and padded the ankle area to compensate but it meant that Lucky could not swim as the wrapping would become very wet and heavy.

So the idea for a protective shoe was hatched when Santa Barbara Zoo CEO, Rich Block, recalled that Teva® had developed a special shoe for an elephant with foot issues at San Antonio Zoo. With Teva's headquarters only a few miles away it was worth enquiring to see if they could make a little penguin shoe suitable for Lucky.

With Teva's historic background in developing footwear for water adventures they instantly took on the challenge. Due to the language barrier, several versions were required but Lucky made it easy for Teva® as what worked and what did not. With each new version the boot was adapted until Lucky was happy with the finished product, and here is the result:

The Teva® penguin shoe

Teva's penguin shoe as worn by Lucky

Using different materials the shoe is designed to be lightweight, have superb traction to get out of the water as well as the ability to shed water. To do this, Teva® applied our ion-mask™ technology to Lucky's shoe making it completely hydrophobic enabling him to swim as freely as he likes. The shoes are also changed daily so Lucky always has a fresh pair for the start of each day.

Lucky modeling his new shoe

It really is a great story with a life-saving outcome and you can watch Lucky's story and how Teva® got involved in the video below:

Furthermore, in the fall this year, UK children's book author and illustrator, Sarah Aspinall, is writing all about Lucky in a book with the proceeds from sales being used to support Lucky and the other Humboldt penguins at Santa Barbara zoo.

Sneak peak of the cover

If you would like to know more about Lucky's species, the Humboldt penguins, you can here.

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Teva launch their first mountain bike shoe featuring ion-mask™

2011-05-18T17:07:00.000+01:00

Outdoor pursuits in particular mountain biking, is popular the world over but ensuring you have the correct footwear to match the conditions can be problematic. Help is at hand now though, thanks to Teva and ion-mask™.

Founded by a guide on the Colorado River in 1984 (who went on to produce the world's first sports sandal), Teva now lead the way in which we can engage with our environments, especially those involving water.

As Chris Hillyer, Product Line Manager for Performance Products at Teva describes it: "Water presents a paradox to Teva. It provides a year round playground but also a number of challenges, as anyone who has ever ended up with soaking wet shoes can confirm."

With this problem in mind, Teva have taken their product development one step further with the introduction of our ion-mask™ technology to their latest range of shoes for mountain biking - the Links.

The Links bike shoe is Teva's first venture into mountain biking footwear and has been designed in conjunction with professional mountain biker Jeff Lenosky, also known as the 'father' of freeride mountain biking and creator of the Mountain Games. Teva, have sponsored the games for the last five years and it is now recognized as one of the premier freeride competitions in the country.

Teva's Links Mountain Bike Shoe

The Links shoes incorporate a host of features ensuring the user remains in maximum comfort throughout the biking experience. Designed specifically for use with flat pedals and featuring Teva's Spider365 sticky rubber soles to offer maximum grip, the shoes also feature a Shoc-Pad for cushioning while on the uppers, flexible armor has been introduced in the key wear areas. Adding to this, Teva has incorporated ion-mask™ to ensure that however wet the conditions are underfoot the wearer remains dry and comfortable.

The Links are due for launch in the UK in early August 2011 but they are already being reviewed online, including Bike Rader and Outdoors Magic and if you are in America, then they are available from the official Teva site.

You can find out more about Teva here or watch their official video below:

Want to know more about ion-mask™?

ion-mask™ is our technology for lifestyle applications including footwear, textiles, gloves, hats and apparel. You can find out more on the ion-mask™ page or watch the technology in action below:

P2i

Aridion™ Technology: Transforming the reliability of electronic devices

2011-05-11T15:04:00.002+01:00

Last week we looked at the beginnings of Nanotechnology. This week we turn our focus on Aridion™, P2i's nano-coating technology for electronic devices.

But first, what is P2i technology?

Our patented technology employs a special pulsed ionized gas (plasma) which is created within a vacuum chamber where a nanometer-thin (1000 times thinner than a human hair) polymer layer is applied over the entire surface of a product.

This process dramatically reduces the surface energy of a product, so that when liquids come into contact with it, they form beads and simply roll off:

Our technology is focused around two consumer brands: Aridion™ for electronics and ion-mask™ for lifestyle products. For industrial applications the technology is covered by the corporate P2i brand (which will be explored in later posts).

Aridion™ Technology: Transforming the reliability of electronic Devices

What is Aridion™ technology? Aridion™ is our coating for electronic devices. It coats every aspect of a finished product at the nanoscopic level offering a truly durable and invisible liquid repellent coating that does not affect the working components of electronic devices whilst maintaining look, feel and functionality.

The benefits:

Protective:
Aridion™ delivers an amazing level of liquid repellency to whole devices, so that on treated surfaces, liquid forms beads and simply rolls off.

Reliable:
Aridion™ transforms the reliability of electronic devices containing delicate, expensive components at high risk of liquid damage through corrosion or electrical failure.

Durable:
The liquid repellent nano-coating is physically bonded at a molecular level, so it lasts as long as the material itself

Invisible:
The unique ultra-thin Aridion™ protective layer invisibly improves the performance of electronic devices without affecting the product's look or feel.

You can find out more by visiting the Aridion™ homepage or see the technology in action below in our video:

So what is Nanotechnology?

2011-05-04T15:00:00.000+01:00

In this blog we have spoken about our two technologies ion-mask™ and Aridion™ but we haven't discussed what nanotechnology is or how it works.

Nanotechnology is the science of engineering matter on an astonishingly small scale - at the molecular or atomic level. To break it down further a nanometer (nm) is a unit of length equal to one billionth of a meter or one millionth of a millimeter. To put it another way, it is about one thousand times thinner than a human hair.

The term 'nano' comes from the Greek, meaning 'dwarf' and in the below video from 1977 entitled 'Power of Ten' demonstrates the magnitudes of size, where you can see for yourself just how small a nanometer really is:

Where did nanotechnology all begin?

The concept of nanotechnology or engineering from the bottom up, with atomic precision, was first suggested as long ago as 1959 by the renowned American physicist Richard Feynman. Famously, he delivered a ground breaking talk to the American Physical Society, entitled: There's plenty of room at the bottom which explored the ability to manipulate matter on an atomic scale.

But it was not until a 1974 paper that the term nanotechnology was first defined by Tokyo University of Science Professor Norio Taniguchi. Then, in the 1980's the term nanotechnology was popularized by the American engineer Dr. Kim Eric Erexler who promoted the significance of nanotechnology through speeches and books.

What is next for nanotechnology?

Research on nanotechnology is continually expanding, covering a number of fields including medicine, electronics, textiles, biomaterials and energy production. Even in the home, nanotechnology is present with nano-chemical sprays being developed that can digest grease and grime from kitchen surfaces, preventing them from coming back!

Over the next few years we can expect to see nanotechnologies becoming an increasing part of our lives. The unbelievably small is set to become the next big thing!

If you would like to know more about our world leading liquid repellent nano-coating technology, please do get in contact or you can find out more about our technology in the video below:

Dr Stephen Coulson, CTO

'Running on Water' - Hi-Tec's Liquid Mountaineering featured on MythBusters

2011-04-26T14:38:00.001+01:00

'Liquid Mountaineering', launched last April as a viral on YouTube, has taken the world by storm. With nearly 10 million views to date, it has even started a new sports phenomenon with a whole host of videos emerging of attempts to run on water, including Liquid Mountaineering arrives in America; Ripple Runner and St. Andrews Surface Tension.

While all are very good, it is the original that has really captured the imagination:

All this exposure has caught the attention of Discovery Channel's 'MythBusters' program who were keen to put the myth to the test - can you actually run on water?

As you can see from the amount of views and spin-offs video that the viral has generated, it is a question that many people want an answer to. So on Wednesday's edition of MythBusters, the episode entitled 'Running on Water' was aired. You can see highlights from the after show edition below:

The viral all stems from Hi-Tec's development of their Infinity range which includes P2i's ion-mask™ technology or the 'totally water repellent coating' that is mentioned in the video. From this the 'Walk on Water' idea was born and a few months later Hi-Tec revealed all with the 'Making of Hi-Tec Liquid Mountaineering'...

Awarded the coveted: Best Viral Mockumentary from Ad Age, Liquid Mountaineering has been a huge success for Hi-Tec and the coverage on MythBusters tops off a very successful campaign.

Want to know more about the shoes featured in the video? You can see the collection and learn about the Infinity story here.

K-Swiss picks up the pace with P2i

2011-04-21T09:30:00.000+01:00

K-Swiss, a leading American footwear company has teamed up with P2i and our ion-mask™ technology to revolutionize two of their product lines; the Kwicky Blade-Light and the California which you can see below:

Kwicky Blade-Light

California

K-Swiss are renowned for their premium range of running footwear with many of their customers competing in high level sports such as ironmans and triathalons.

K-Swiss are differentiating their 'running' brand with the introduction of ion-mask™, ensuring that the shoes remain lightweight throughout competition as the nano-coating repels water and allows for the natural breathability of the model. Watch the video for the Kwicky Blade-Light below:

The shoes were officially launched in February 2011 and revealed at the Trek/K-Swiss Triathlon camp in Kona, Hawaii. You can read a first review on the Triathlete Europe website.

You can find out more about ion-mask™ by visiting the website or see how the technology works in our video below:

If you own a pair of Kwicky Blade-Lights we would love to hear your review: Contact us

P2i is Best of Show at AudiologyNOW! 2011

2011-04-13T15:17:00.001+01:00

We have just returned from what was a very successful show at AudiologyNOW! 2011 in Chicago, where we are delighted to announce that P2i won the Best of Show award!

The award which is voted for by the AudiologyNOW! attendees, celebrates the 'Best of Show' booth during the event.

CEO, Carl Francis and Natasha Verniquet with the Best of Show award

Carl Francis, CEO, on winning the award said "We are delighted to have been awarded 'Best of Show' at AudiologyNOW! 2011. While this win is no doubt a reflection of the great booth and great team we fielded this year, it also underscores the wide acceptance and market share growth that P2i's Aridion™ technology has achieved across the whole of the hearing aid industry in just two short years."

Images of our award winning booth:

The P2i booth: Best of Show

Our booth from the foyer

Demonstrating our technology inside the booth

The award topped off what was a very successful show for P2i; offering opportunities to strengthen existing relationships with our clients as well as introducing Aridion™ technology to a host of new businesses.

You can see a collection of our images from AudiologyNOW! here. If you would like to know more about Aridion™ and the benefits it offers for hearing devices please do get in contact.

Building up to AudiologyNOW! 2011

2011-04-06T17:21:00.000+01:00

With the success of CES and Mobile World Congress, we have now turned our focus on exhibiting at AudiologyNOW! (AAA) which starts tomorrow in Chicago.

The event, which is the world's largest gathering of audiologists, meets annually to discuss the latest developments in hearing technology and is a key market for P2i to further promote our Aridion™ technology.

Already utilized by three of the world's largest hearing aid manufacturers, Aridion™ is well known in audiologist circles having exhibited at AudiologyNOW! last year. However our booth for this year is a significant step up from our display in 2010, below:

P2i booth - 2010

As a sign of the growth we are seeing as a company the booth that P2i will have at AudiologyNOW! 2011 reflects this expansion:

P2i booth - 2011

Featuring a podium for our corporate magician and pods to demonstrate our world leading liquid repellent nano-coating technology we also have a custom 3D hologram kiosk where you can watch all our videos and see the potential applications for our technology.

But what is really exciting is that we will also be introducing our new compact Aridion™ 8 machine to the audiologists at AAA, which has been designed specifically to address the needs of smaller hearing aid manufacturers and dispensers.

Aridion™ 8 Machine

The machine, which will be on the booth for viewing purposes only, measures only 580mm (w) x 860mm (h) x 600mm (d), meaning that it allows for cost-effective and efficient processing of lower product volumes.

And because of its size all Aridion™ 8 machines can be installed at any location that has a standard power supply and are operated at the touch of a single button.

The Aridion™ 8 opens up unique opportunities for all hearing aid manufacturers to provide the protective benefits of Aridion™ to the millions of hearing aids made each year, something that we are very excited about.

Audiologists will be able to see firsthand how compact the machine is and we will have staff available to answer all questions.

AudiologyNOW! 2011 is also another benchmark for P2i and Aridion™, as there are now over four million hearing aid users benefiting from our unbeatable protection against corrosion damage.

To find out more about Aridion™ and the Aridion™ 8 machine you can visit us at Booth 1371 during the show (7th - 9th April), we look forward to seeing you there.

Infinite Possibilities with Hi-Tec and ion-mask™

2011-03-30T14:08:00.000+01:00

For any runner the correct footwear is essential as a wrong purchase can lead to blisters, sprains or worse and for trail runners this takes on even more significance as the terrain is undulating, filled with among other things; rocks, mud and water.

In this environment, footwear really must be up to the task, offering stability over and on rocks, grip through mud and loose surfaces, as well as liquid repellent benefits when faced with water (rain, streams or puddles).

It is with this in mind that Hi-Tec has developed the Infinity collection, designed with trail runner's comfort in mind. Incorporating a number of ground breaking technologies including ion-mask™, the Infinity range offers the highest levels of comfort by setting the standard for the ultimate lightweight shoe for adventure sports performance:

Hi-Tec, who were the first leading brand to bring ion-mask™ to the consumer marketplace with their V-Lite hiking range, have again incorporated the liquid repellent benefits that the world leading technology offers. ion-mask™ has been applied to all HPi models and thanks to the technology, the shoes will remain dryer, lighter and cleaner when out on the trail.

While we of course carry out rigorous testing, Hi-Tec sought further third party validation and this testing proved that water uptake is reduced by 87.66% when compared to an untreated shoe.

In addition to this, the shoes also feature Vibram soles and S.U.Z.E (Seamless Upper Zone Engineering) which is unique to Hi-Tec. You can find out more about the technologies here.

Two shoes that make up the Infinity range are the men's and women's V-Lite Infinity HPi which can be seen below:

A fully interactive micro-site has also been built specifically for the collection, here you can find out more behind the Infinity story, including the now famous Liquid Mountaineering viral video as well as the details on all the technologies involved - www.hi-tec.com/infinity.

We are delighted that Hi-Tec has incorporated ion-mask™ technology to this industry changing collection and we would be eager to hear your thoughts on how they performed for you.

You can learn more about ion-mask™ here or visit our YouTube channel and watch our Lifestyle video.

Presenting at BIOMEDevice 2011

2011-03-23T14:00:00.003Z

As Principal Scientist at P2i I speak and present at a host of conferences, demonstrating the liquid repellent benefits of our nano-coating technology and in February, I was the final speaker at BIOMEDevice, held on the 23rd and 24th in Paris, France.

BIOMEDevice brings together the Biotechnology, Medical device and Pharmaceutical indutries for the future development of combination devices.

Being the last speaker can at times be challenging, with delegates heading to the airport or hotel as the conference comes to a close, but there was a good turnout for my presentation entitled: Cost-effective nano-coating protection of medical devices.

Due to the visible nature of our technology it is best explained through live demonstrations as this gives attendees a clear picture of the liquid repellent benefits that our technology offers. To do this I produce an untreated and treated tissue as well as a glass of water. As expected when the untreated tissue is placed in the glass it absorbs the water becoming heavy and rather useless, but when I place the treated tissue in the same glass it emerges completely dry with the water beading up and rolling off.

For further effect, I threw both tissues across the stage: the untreated curved through the air to land in a wet pile, while the treated floated gently down - this generated a spontaneous round of applause from the delegates.

You can see a similar version of this demonstration in the video below:

Overall the presentation was very well received with many delegates staying behind asking questions about our technology and it applications for the medical sector. You can find out more about P2i here - http://www.p2i.com/

Dr Delwyn Evans

P2i @ Mobile World Congress 2011

2011-03-16T12:00:00.008Z

With the success of CES behind us, we turned our attention to the Mobile World Congress (MWC) which took place on the 14-17th February in Barcelona.

MWC is the mobile industry's key event with more than 49,000 attendees in 2010 and in 2011 the event was bigger than ever making it a perfect time for P2i to introduce Aridion™ technology to key businesses and decision makers in the mobile phone sector.

Having never attended MWC before the buzz that our technology generated was incredible. Throughout the show we found that people were often returning to the booth bringing colleagues with them to see the demonstration for themselves. From this it was evident that businesses could visualize the potential benefits of incorporating our technology into their existing or new products.

Similarly to CES, we again had our holographic display, videos and the now famous tissue demonstrations. The latter proved to make appealing video footage as we were filmed numerous times, all of which can be seen via our YouTube channel. One video stood out in particular for the amount of coverage that it produced, Microsoft's Channel 9 interview with Eric Cohill, President, P2i Inc. has now been viewed over 14,000 times as well being 'retweeted' and uploaded to countless Facebook and YouTube platforms. You can see this video below:

With a host of videos and interviews (many including myself) as well as articles written about the technology, including leading Spanish technology blog Xataka Movil and Brazilian site Baixaki we have been delighted with the interest generated from our presence at MWC. To top it off many contacts were aware of us from our attendance at CES in January.

You can see a collection of our images from MWC on our Flickr page

Next up for P2i is AudiologyNOW! Where we will be showcasing Aridion™ 8, a versatile bench top machine designed specifically for the hearing aid industry - watch this space.

In the meantime if you have any questions about Aridion™ technology please do get in contact or you can visit the Aridion site.

Dr. Stephen Coulson - CTO

'Repel Wet' with Timberland and ion-mask™

2011-03-09T15:06:00.001Z

With warmer months fast approaching, more and more of us are taking to the outdoors which can be a challenge to keep footwear dry and free from stains. However, thanks to Timberland and P2i there is now a solution.

Timberland, who are best known for their innovative outdoor footwear have incorporated our ion-mask™ technology alongside their Bionic® canvas to launch the 'Repel Wet' series of footwear.

The boots which are included in the Earthkeepers® collection are the first in a line of eco-friendly products utilisting Bionic® canvas. Incorporting the PET from recycled plastic bottles alongside a new double organic cotton helix structure, Bionic® canvas is 30% stronger and twice as abrasion resistant compared to standard canvases.

With the addition of our ion-mask™ technology the boots are also lightweight and breathable as well as offering water repellent and stain reducing benefits - keeping them looking newer for longer.

Timberland's Senior Manager, Emily Alati demonstrates the benefits that ion-mask™ technology brings to the canvas:

We are delighted and excited that Timberland have chosen to adopt our world leading liquid repellent nano-coating technology to a range of their footwear with two of the styles available below:

Men's Earthkeepers™
Side Zip 6-Inch Boot

Women's Earthkeepers™
Cabot Tall Zip Boot

You can find out more about the range here or check out our lifestyle video on the P2i YouTube channel.

If you have any questions about ion-mask™ or would like to know more about P2i please do get in contact.

P2i @ International CES 2011

2011-03-04T14:13:00.000Z

"P2i is the coolest thing i've EVER seen at CES in all my times attending" This Twitter comment posted during the event is just one of the many positive responses that P2i received at the 2011 International CES.

CES, the world's largest annual tradeshow for consumer electronics and technology took place on the 6-9 January in Las Vegas, Nevada and although I had been there previously, 2011 was the first time that we had chosen to exhibit.

CES which attracted more than 2,700 exhibitors and over 140,000 delegates from technology, automotive and entertainment markets gathered over the four days to see the latest and greatest in consumer technology, including P2i's Aridion™ technology.

Throughout CES, myself and P2i staff introduced Aridion™ to a wide range of delegates from different electronic backgrounds via a custom designed holographic display, plasma screens as well as live demonstrations. You can see Robert Keep, our Research and Development Manager talk about Aridion™ below:

We were also filmed at the P2i booth by:

Tech Podcasts

MSN Technologie(French)

as well as the DIY Networks 'Cool Tools' and Girls Gone Geek although the interviews I carried out have not yet aired. That said, the interviews went extremely well with the following questions being asked:

- How does the technology work?
- How durable is the technology?
- What products and devices can it be applied to?

You can see my answers to these questions in the TechpodCast interview above.

With extensive video and social media coverage, including Twitter, YouTube, Forums and Blogs, the exposure that P2i received during and after CES has really made attending a huge success. With many key business contacts keen to find out more about what the technology can do for them.

On the back of this success we have already reserved an even larger space at CES 2012!

You can see all our images from CES here

Dr. Stephen Coulson - CTO

P2i wins Business Heroes - Borderless Business Award

2011-03-01T19:39:00.000Z

We are delighted to win the MT Business Heroes Award for Borderless Business. As the world leader in liquid repellent nano-coating technology, P2i is proud to be recognized as a shining example of ‘home-grown’ innovation with a truly borderless outlook.

Using technology conceived at Durham University, we have taken less than seven years to transform from an MoD spin-out into a global company, where 75% of our customers are based outside the UK. Given the international focus of our core customer sectors – electronics and lifestyle – our processing capability spans three continents – Europe (Germany, Spain, UK); Asia (China, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia) and North America.

We have also doubled our workforce in the 09/10 financial year and opened new offices in America and Asia, which enables us to offer real-time support to existing customers, while also developing new business relationships.

Our strategy now is to build on our worldwide leadership position in liquid-repellent nano-coatings, to become the functional nano-coatings solution of choice across a wide range of industries and applications.

This award is great testament to the hard work of all our employees and the game-changing P2i technology.

You can read the article in full here.

http://www.p2i.com/

Invisible Technology, Visible Results

2011-01-01T17:00:00.000Z

Welcome to the P2i blog!

P2i is the world leader in liquid repellent nano-coating technology. We make good products great by applying innovative science.

The P2i name reflects the three core benefits provided by our technology: Perform, Protect, Improve. Applied to a wide range of products and materials, P2i technology transforms the performance of products without changing the look or feel.

Don't just take our word for it - seeing is believing: