Edinburgh-based Vert Rotors — a pioneering manufacturer of ultra-compact, light and low-vibration conical rotary compressors — has announced the appointment of a new chief executive as it enters a commercially focused phase to bring its patented technology to the market.

Phil Harris has joined from Clear Surgical, a medical-device company based in Glasgow, where he was chief executive from September 2016 (he will continue with Clear Surgical as a non-executive director).

Mr Harris replaces Vert founder Olly Dmitriev, who set up the company in 2013 to develop a new type of compressor that is compact, quieter than traditional twin-screw devices and capable of continuous running.

In addition to the change in leadership, Vert (www.vertrotors.com) has strengthened its management team with two further key appointments.

John McNeil has joined the team as sales engineer in charge of ‘driving’ new business, while Vicky Thomas has been appointed marketing manager.

Mr Harris said: “This is a pivotal time for Vert Rotors. The company is in transition from a technical push to a commercial pull; our focus now is on giving the market what it wants.

"This amazing technology has already proven many people wrong who thought it simply could not be achieved. I am looking forward to leading a business with such huge potential, which is full of talented individuals all pushing to bring this incredible technology to life.”

Vert’s patented Conical Rotary Compressor technology has been hailed as the biggest innovation in the compressed-air industry in 40 years.

Its unique design, capable of producing high pressures in a single stage, is at the core of the portable Vert compressors, which are significantly quieter than piston compressors, making them suitable for laboratories, offices and workshops where low noise levels are a distinct advantage.