Growing customer demand for traceability and long-term assurance in products designed to offer protection against heat and fire has driven investment in new manufacturing equipment and capabilities at Promat UK (www.promat.co.uk).

The company — a market leader in fire, thermal and acoustic insulation — has spent a six-figure sum at its main Lancashire manufacturing plant to support the production of a range of high-performance insulation materials for critical applications.

These range from Formula One racing cars, train rolling stock and aerospace engineering to white goods, processing machinery and fire-rated door-sets.

A comprehensive capital investment programme has seen the commissioning of new machinery for several different processes in the Heywood facility, which has ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 certification.

This includes a new machine to make the pourable Freeflow microporous powder, which is suitable for filling complex shapes and cavities with demanding thermal specifications. In addition, Promat UK has invested in new machines for laminating and trimming seals, plus a CO₂ laser cutting machine, which will be used on a range of materials.

Promat UK regional director Ian Cowley said: “Clients in all market sectors are increasingly looking for total traceability in the products used in critical applications, so it is more important than ever for us to have a 360deg wheel of assurance.

“That means offering a complete service in-house, from raw material manufacture right through to cutting and processing.”

Part of the Etex Group, Promat UK has been producing fire, thermal and acoustic protection solutions for more than 30 years.