Harwell: Zircotec continues to expand

Automotive technology company Zircotec continues to grow despite the current challenges faced by the automotive industry.

The company has just recruited two new members of staff to its factory in Harwell and is seeking to take on further staff over the next few months.

The company’s high-tech ceramic coatings help to reduce heat across a number of applications and have proved popular in a wide range of industries, including automotive, marine, aerospace and industrial.

The new recruits are working in Zircotec’s production department and are being involved in all aspects of preparing components for treatment and applying the coatings.

“We’re delighted to be able to report a success story in what has been a difficult year for automotive companies,” commented Peter Whyman, sales and marketing director, Zircotec.

“Our expansion is a direct result of our products becoming more widely known and better understood in the market place, and also of a greater demand for ceramic coatings as they become more broadly used in different sectors. In particular, we have experienced success in the automotive industry, where our thermal protection treatments have proved highly popular among super car manufacturers.”

Formerly part of the Atomic Energy Authority, Zircotec's high temperature coating and heat barrier processes and technologies were originally developed for the nuclear industry. Initially, the company worked on solutions to help manage heat and control temperatures throughout motorsport, including F1, where its products are used to protect carbon composite materials. Zircotec has since expanded to help develop thermal management and heat barrier solutions for prestigious sports car manufacturers who look to the company to identify new ways to manage the heat associated with high performance engines, thereby improving performance and reliability.

The company’s ThermoHold-based thermal coatings have proven highly successful, being adopted by a number of manufacturers, including super car manufacturers Lamborghini and Koenigsegg. Its latest product, ZircoFlex, is thought to be the first ever flexible ceramic heat-shield material, and can be simply applied to all types of metallic and composite surfaces without the need for components to be treated directly using 14,000ºK plasma sprays.

“As the business continues to flourish, we look forward to expanding further and taking on more new staff in the future,” concluded Whyman. “We are committed to maintaining our manufacturing base here in the Thames Valley where we benefit from being near to many of our customers. We’re always happy to hear from individuals with skills that might benefit the company.”