The Business Awards 2007 finalists - Innovation Award

Apr 22 2008 By The Journal

Regional sponsor by RMT Financial Management

TYNESIDE AND NORTHUMBERLAND

Winner: Derwent Systems

SURVEILLANCE and CCTV systems are an invaluable weapon in the battle against crime.

And at the forefront of this market is Derwent Systems, a developer of defence and homeland security technology at Cramlington in Northumberland.

In the company’s impressive portfolio of customers are the US Navy, the Royal Navy and the US Department of Homeland Security.

The firm’s products watch over a vast range of arenas, from some of the world’s toughest prisons housing the most vicious criminals to car parks where its number plate capture and vehicle imaging ensure drivers adhere to the law.

The business has also developed explosion-proof devices to provide precision-engineered video imaging in hazardous environments, enabling safe, effective surveillance to be carried out for chemical sites and oil and gas plants.

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DURHAM AND WEARSIDE

Winner: Durham Scientific Crystals Ltd, digital imaging company, Sedgefield

Durham Scientific Crystals (DSC), based in Netpark, near Sedgefield, is a Durham University spin-out company which develops scanning devices to detect explosive and dangerous materials in baggage at airports.

It received a £350,000 investment from the Home Office to work on the new technology, which it hopes will be adopted by airports across the world as part of the global fight against terrorism.

The firm is developing a device to detect dangerous materials – including flammable or explosive liquids – in small objects such as bottles, laptops and shoes. It is also working on a large baggage scanner which uses similar technology and allows security staff to rotate their view of luggage in different directions.

Managing director Dr Arnab Basu believes DSC’s technology could replace present airport X-ray machines throughout the world.

Runners-up: AA Flags Ltd, Consett. The Test factory, Sunderland

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TEES VALLEY

Winner: Wells Integrated Cabling Systems

THE Stockton company specialises in the installation, commissioning and maintenance of real time publication systems and its team work on most information systems of that type in the UK. It is now the main approved and preferred contractor working with Fujitsu Siemens installing, commissioning and maintaining the winning bid for London Transport, one of the largest contracts in the UK.

Established in 2002, the firm now has more than 60 engineers working on systems in this country and has plans to expand into the rest of Europe.

It also specialises in technical training. As well as providing extensive in-house training for all its own employees, it offers installation and commissioning to outside bodies including local authorities, bus service providers and client engineers.

Runners-up: Visualsoft UK. Centre For Process Innovation.