8th Feb 07 ARMSHARE update :Link Back to Page 6 Here


Information Archive Folder : http://www.esnips.com/web/SurfaceTransformsInfo/


Main Web Site : http://www.surface-transforms.com/

March 2008 Presentation : Presentation Link


Commerical Overview

Surface Transform plcs core activity is exploiting proprietary technologies to create innovative, lightweight, high energy dissipating braking system materials, which can be commercialised for high-performance applications.

Surface Transforms plc has worked on technology programmes in collaboration with major companies such as AlliedSignal Inc, BAE Systems/Roxel, Dunlop Aerospace and Faiveley

Today, Surface Transforms is commercialising its products for an increasing range of high-performance applications. These include automotive, motorsport and aircraft brakes, for which the company has developed Ceramic brakes with improved friction properties, enhanced lifetime and lower production costs. Other growth areas include aerospace components (principally rocket motors) and anti-ballistic armour.

Key milestones have included:

-A new aircraft brakes development contract (Jan 2004) with a leading US based aircraft brakes maker
-A licensing contract (September 2003) with Dunlop Aerospace to develop and supply CFRC brakes;
-A contract with the UK Ministry of Defence to supply innovative materials that will increase protection against high-power rifle and cannon fire;
-A contract with the United States Airforce Research Laboratory for the supply of prototype CFRC materials for military applications.
-First commercial sales of carbon-ceramic brake discs for installation on the KOENIGSEGG Swedish supercar
-First commercial sales of Carbon Ceramic road car discs to StopTech the California based brake system upgrade specialists.
-First commercial sales of Carbon Ceramic road car discs to MOVIT one of the leading brake after-market upgrade kit suppliers based in Germany.


Not expecting anything over night here but to me it is now at the stage of becoming a good play with potential rewards in 2010 onwards on success.

Thanks ST, I'll take a look at AXE.

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061221/FREE/61218009/1024/rss01&rssfeed=rss01



Carbon-ceramic brakes could become affordable for enthusiasts

By TONY LEWIN | AUTOMOTIVE NEWS

AutoWeek | Updated: 12/18/06, 10:53 am et

Carbon-ceramic brakes built a glamorous reputation in Formula One racing, creating vivid images of discs glowing red during hard braking at the end of long straightaways.

Their high cost limited them to exotic performance cars. But carbon-ceramic brakes are now available on cars priced as low as 60,000 euros (about $80,000 at current exchange rates). And a new manufacturing process could make them affordable for even budget-minded enthusiasts.

The technology has been slow to spread to production vehicles since it was introduced in racing 15 years ago. Porsche first offered a carbon-ceramic brake option on the 911 GT2 in the late 1990s, followed by the more mainstream 911 Turbo in 2000.

Today, carbon-ceramic brakes are optional on all Ferraris, most Lamborghinis and Porsches and the Bentley Continental GT Diamond. These cars are priced above $133,000.

The percentage of buyers choosing this option ranges from more than half for Ferrari models to 6 percent for the Audi RS 4.

For enthusiasts, the performance-driving benefits -- less weight, better handling because of reduced unsprung weight (the mass of the body and components not supported by the suspension), durability and fade resistance -- make the high price worthwhile. But if the price falls dramatically, carbon-ceramic brakes also could appeal to more thrifty buyers.

Carbon-ceramic brake discs last four times longer than conventional steel discs, so owners are unlikely to replace carbon-ceramic discs. Brake pads last longer on the carbon-ceramic systems, too. But at $15 to $20 a disc for steel discs and $665 to $2,660 a disc for carbon-ceramic, owners cannot recoup their cost on the more durable system.

The big step

SGL Carbon AG, of Wiesbaden, Germany, and Audi AG are trying to reduce manufacturing costs for carbon discs by moving from batch production to a continuous process.

Since last year, Audi and SGL have been working to establish automated production, reported the German daily newspaper Frankfurter Rundschau.

"The cost of a disc will come down to 350 euros (about $465) with the new process," says SGL Carbon CEO Robert Koehler. He would not disclose details of the technique.

Audi declined to comment on the technology.

Antonio Ferreira, manager of European component forecasts at CSM Worldwide in London, is skeptical of carbon's broader market potential, even with reduced costs.

"You would need huge volumes to get the price down," he says. "Suppliers would have to come to a two-digit price (per disc). Nothing else is feasible when a complete braking system is not even into three figures."

At Italy's Brembo, which has a 60 percent market share in top-end sports- and luxury-car brakes, carbon-ceramic is still in a "quasi-prototype" phase, said Roberto Vavassori, business development director.

Light and durable

But Vavassori is optimistic, saying the technology's lower weight and long life could become as important as its extreme performance.

"We haven't seen the full potential for carbon brakes yet," he told Automotive News Europe. "They can save 40 kilograms (88 pounds) on an extreme car where mass is important. And in the future, we may see wider adoption in other segments, too."

SGL is working with Porsche and Audi to develop ready-made auto components.

The key to lowering costs is simplifying production.

"It's not mechanical but chemical," said Brembo's Vavassori. "We start from powders and end up with a lightweight disc, but an expensive one."

Antoni Sznerch, business development director of United Kingdom-based Surface Transforms, says versions of the carbon brakes for cars must be even more sophisticated than those on airplanes or race cars.

"The process is similar to how nature creates coal and extremely hard substances like diamonds," says Sznerch, whose company makes SystemST carbon brakes. "Some processes are lengthy, demanding three weeks in the chamber to go through a thermal cycle."

How it works

Carbon-ceramic brakes use the same principle as ordinary disc brakes. Stationary twin calipers clamp onto both sides of a disc rotating next to each wheel of a car, slowing it by friction.

The energy of the car's momentum is transformed into heat at the point of the friction, so brakes can get extremely hot. Carbon-ceramic brakes use carbon fiber and ceramic materials that are stable at temperatures that would make steel discs bendable. Performance doesn't diminish, leading to fade, with repeated use.

Carbon-ceramic brakes also typically use larger calipers to spread the clamping force over a wider area, improving braking performance.

Race-car brakes must be warmed before they work properly. For passenger cars, carbon-ceramic brakes must be fully effective immediately. The discs and brake pads are more sophisticated, with carbon fibers arranged to strengthen the disc and conduct heat away from the surface.

Bentley: Demanding case

Weighing 5,258 pounds and capable of 198 mph, the front-engine Bentley Continental GT has "almost certainly the most demanding braking task of any production car," says Brian Guash, Bentley's director of chassis, powertrain and motor sports.

Midengine cars such as the Bugatti Veyron have it easier, Guash says. Their weight distribution means that all four wheels can share more of the braking effort. On the Continental, the front brakes do most of the work.

The Continental GT already had the biggest brake discs in the industry at 16.2 inches. "Now we've broken our own record, with a 420-millimeter (16.8-inch) carbon-ceramic disc, which is half the weight and gives us lower unsprung and rotating masses," Guash says.

The ceramic brakes also have superior fade resistance and improve steering precision, he says. Pad life has tripled, and discs should last the life of the car.

Unsprung weight (UW), - what Papal power says is correct, but other factors also apply;
For example it seems that expensive cars now have Low-Profile tyres, not to reduce UW but to look cool...that they give you a harsh ride is not mentioned, although IMHO, most people would prefer the more comfortable version esp with speed humps. If you drive a lot at speed in Germany it may make sense, but for most it is a pure cosmetic issue.
There is an advantage in having ceramic brakes and brake-parts - you stop before you run out of road. Motorway drivers can sense this effect if they come across a patch of fog/roadworks where the traffic is stationary. No amount of unsprung weight or other GPS gismo's will stop you when brakes fade. The advantage of Ceramic is you can put more energy into the brakes before they fade. I don't know how much, but let's assume about 30% more - the effect is "saving" a few metres - which can be the difference between stopping safely and being an accident-case / writing-off your motor (if you survive).
With Aeroplanes there is another issue: Wheels are stored within the skin of the plane but are not heated*, so on landing the discs are cold and brake-effort reduced. (*it would not surprise me that the tyres are given a blast of hot air prior to lowering the undercarriage, to aid flexibility on impact, but I don't know-so).
If you can stop-shorter on existing runways, then you could carry more cargo - more cargo for notionally the same fuel - so ceramic brakes could save money (for aircraft).

As far as consumer-motorists are concerned I suspect it will never become an option at present road-speeds. Performance cars, yes; but the only case IMHO is 4x4's where their ability to stop is questionable due to their weight. At motorway speeds I suspect stopping is an issue that dare not speak its name. Certainly for any 4x4 that is carrying a full-load and if towing....there is a case to suggest ceramic brakes would be a definate safety issue....this is something for SCE to discuss with Insurance companies, particularly if they can interest ABI in investing in their company.
Lorries, trains etc are also candidates for Ceramic brakes where UW is really not an issue.
As PapalPower says, with larger wheels, even alloys are heavier than the bog-standard steel wheel+tyre, as fitted to the base model.
I talked to a new focus owner and admired his 18k motor, with climate control - but noticed it retains drum-brakes on the rear - well, let's hope he's never fully loaded and the motorway comes to an abrupt halt.

Of course, if Ford would pay for the mould, it would be an easy matter to improve a mass-market car's brakes by fitting ceramic discs to the front only, (with a change in brake-pad etc.). This might improve the brake performance 20-30% but the advantages of UW are unlikely to be recognised by most of us.

However, the reality is that folk with money will be more-likely to pay and I understand it currently cost about 1k5 per wheel, so this means it's not likely to be factory-fitted on anything under 60k and in all probability something over 100k is more like it.

These costs will come down, but the real benefits of this technology are in Aero, where the returns exceed the cost. However, UW is not the real driver IMHO. If ceramic "Added-weight", that would be an minus-point, but the weight-reduction is fairly small maybe a kg per wheel I'm guessing. The difference between a new/worn tyre will be somewhat similar difference.

SCE-Investors should not forget there are other applicaions: eg Rocket parts. Whilst these may appear far-off, it is an area where conventional materials can be replaced and provide a whole new capability. However, SCE's management has to keep the company afloat and seems to be managing reasonably well. The loss of Formula1 was a PR blow, but for the reasons suggested it was never going to be more than a useful wage-payer. I believe the company has sufficient strings now that they should continue, albeit somewhat slower as the name is receiving less exposure.
.Regards.

The big benfit in the Aero application is that the presently required, massive and extremely heavy "heat dissaption pack" can be eliminated.

Airplanes have to have this heat pack, otherwise they would get halfway down the runway on landing and the brakes would fade to nothing.

With ceramics this is eliminated, saving a massive weight which saves fuel, but also you can turn around the planes quicker, due to no requirement for the heat pack to cool down between landing and take off, or aborted take off to next take off. (Obviously you cannot take off with a hot heat pack, just in case you need to brake and abort the take off).

Present strength suggests that the MM's have level books on SCE now. Which will make this illiquid stock very erratic on any demand.

Its also going to limit my stake building, as presently no chance of any lumps a silly cheap prices....

One for a LTBH risk/reward punt, has been, still is and still looking forward to the coming 3 years.

Ticking up again, 2 MM's up since open, now 2 v 1 @26/30.

Hello hello.......this is getting a bit serious now.......bid coming perhaps ?

Not that I would want that, someone could walk away with some serious IP, for a cheap price.........

Given SGL and Audi are looking to cut costs, and SCE has CVIST and MIST and other IP for reducing cost.......you never know.

We are off again, they have shaken some weak holders out for cheap prices, so lets see what the coming weeks brings. News, imo, of some sort, is coming, its due really on the contract/deal front.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=20070305070000P3E1E

5th March 2007

Surface Transforms plc
("Surface Transforms" or "the Company")

Award to a 1.34 million Collaborative R&D Project by the UK Department of Trade and Industry ("DTI")

Surface Transforms is pleased to announce the grant award for a three year, 1.34 million collaborative research and development project. The DTI led Technology Programme has funded a grant of 600,000 to a consortium of companies led by Surface Transforms.

The purpose of the project is to develop new technology and products allowing innovative recycling of carbon waste material for the production of carbon ceramic brake systems for cars and longer wearing carbon brake friction products for use on aircraft.

The Company's partners in this collaborative project are:-

* Milled Carbon Limited (regenerated carbon waste )
* AP Racing Limited (brake systems for high performance cars)
* Dunlop Aerospace Braking Systems Limited (aircraft brake systems)
* Federal-Mogul Friction Products Limited (brake pads)
* The Witchita Company Ltd (industrial brake & clutch products )
* University of Loughborough ( specifications, analysis, testing)

Loughborough University's contribution is funded by the Engineering and
Physical Sciences Research Council "EPSRC".

Airbus UK, whilst not a collaborative partner, will support the project both technically and with the free supply of waste carbon products to serve as raw materials.

Surface Transforms is the lead company and project co-ordinator and will be supplying the proprietary technology relating to the manufacture of carbon ceramic brake discs. The other industrial partners are all technology leaders in their respective fields of innovative friction material technology for use in the transport market and a number of them are already trading partners of Surface Transforms.

The project commenced on 1 March 2007 and the financial impact of the grant award, in terms of a reimbursement of overheads and in cash terms, is expected to be significant. The Directors estimate that in each of the three years of the project, Surface Transforms will benefit by way of a contribution to overheads and improved cash flow of approximately 140,000 per annum.

The project is designed to have an improved economic and environmental impact on the use of friction materials in transport. The levels of waste carbon fibre are increasing rapidly on a global scale as a result of increasing carbon fibre material usage in the design of civil engineering industrial structures,
aircraft and automobiles. Innovative recycling of waste carbon and its
conversion into more cost effective carbon friction products can have very positive financial and environmental benefits especially for the car industry.

At 28 February 2007 the Company's cash resources were 1.22 million equivalent to 9 pence per share and it has no borrowings.

Welcoming the new partnership, Science and Innovation Minister, Malcolm Wicks said:

"The UK has a proud history of innovation in science and technology. We believe that we must work with industry to develop the marketable products and services of tomorrow, so that we can maintain our position as a leading global economy.

"That's why we're supporting this project, which could revolutionise the
recycling of carbon waste material, helping to benefit our environment. It provides a great opportunity to harness the UK's world-class expertise."

Kevin D'Silva, Surface Transform's Chairman, commented: "This is another
material endorsement of the Company's technology and it will have a significant impact on the Company's financial performance and cash flow. We are pleased that the DTI has approved the Company as co-ordinator for this project."

For enquiries, please contact:
Surface Transforms plc 0151 356 2141
Dr. Kevin Johnson
Dr. Geoff Gould
John East & Partners Ltd (Nomad) 0207 628 2200
Simon Clements, David Worlidge
Teather & Greenwood (Broker) 0207 426 9000
Sindre Ottesen

Details of the Company's business and financial performance and its share price can be found on the Armshare icon on www.surface-transforms.com. A presentation of the 2006/7 interim results is also available on www.surface-transforms.com/
Investor and Media relations.

Notes to Editors
About the Technology Programme
The Technology Programme provides funding using two of the DTI's business support products: Collaborative Research & Development and Knowledge Transfer Networks. Over the period 2005-2008, 320 million in funding is being made available from DTI to businesses to support research and development in technology areas identified by the Government's Technology Strategy Board. This funding is increased by contributions from other Government Departments such as Defra (30m), Regional Development Agencies and Devolved Administrations (30m) and Research Councils (26m).

The Programme is investing directly in new and emerging technologies and has been designed to help businesses work collaboratively with each other or with academic partners to develop technologies that will underpin products and services of the future.

In November 2006, DTI announced that, building on its success to date, the Technology Strategy Board would in 2007 become an Executive Non Departmental Public Body taking over responsibility for the delivery of the Technology Programme.

Since 2004, the Technology Programme has supported over 600 projects across 40 technology areas with a combined business and Government investment worth over 900m. 22 Knowledge Transfer Networks (KTNs) have also been established with funding of around 40m over 3 years. For further information: http://www.dti.gov.uk/innovation/technologystrategy.

Other websites:
Surface Transforms plc: www.surface-transforms.com
Dunlop Aerospace Braking Systems: www.dunlop-aerospace.com/braking
Federal Mogul Friction Products Ltd: www.federal-mogul.com/en/OurCompany/
AP Racing Ltd: www.apracing.com
Milled Carbon Ltd.: www.milledcarbon.com
The Wichita Company Ltd.: www.wichita.co.uk
Loughborough University : www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/iptme

Not a good day for news really, however I am sure this will be digested over the coming days and weeks, for it really is signficant in reducing cash burn, and moving SCE ever closer to break even and then profit. All we need now is some more car braking deals to be announced.....

For info on line limits are :

Buy 10K @ 27p

Sell 25K @ 24.5p

So ignore the visual little drop, looks to be false under market weakness and also WINS have disappeared off of L2.


But, pretty darn good news imo ;)

This adds a new element in the cost reduction cycle, to actually use recycled carbon.................very interesting, and the application of this technology if successful will have far reaching consequences in the car industry, and far reaching consequences on the market share and profits of SCE ;) also gives SCE a "green" tinge now, becoming more enviromentally friendly :)

New update from : http://www.armshare.com

Extract below :


.......The interim results to November 2006 showed sales of 116,000 (2005: 68,000) and pre-tax loss of 428,000 (2005: 496,000). The company reported that auto sales had risen to over 50% of total sales vs minimal auto sales in H1 2004/5 - Koenigsegg is taking 2 car sets per month - StopTech, a California based leader in Balanced Brake Upgrades for production cars and production-based racecars, has placed its first production order, which is expected to lead to sales of at least 50 car sets in the first year - SystemST has been selected for the new Ascari A10 supercar which retails for 350,000; a key element of the production process (CVIST) (see October and November 2005, and the 2005/6 final results) is being brought in house at a net cost after grants of 25,000 and is due to be operational in Q3 calendar 2007; ST is moving to larger premises in February 2007 (6 miles from the present location), enabling efficiencies to be generated from all processes being housed together; period end cash was 1.5 million.

A March 2007 update reported the award by the DTI of 600,000 to a 1.34 million 3 year collaborative R&D project lead by ST - the purpose is to develop technology and products allowing innovative recycling of carbon waste material for the production of carbon ceramic brake systems for cars and longer wearing carbon brakes for aircraft - the other 6 partners in the project include AP Racing, Dunlop Aerospace Braking Systems, Federal-Mogul Friction Products and University of Loughborough - whilst not being a formal partner, Airbus UK will support the project both technically and with the free supply of waste carbon products to serve as raw materials. The need for the project arises due to the levels of waste carbon increasing rapidly globally because of increasing carbon fibre material usage in the design of civil engineering industrial structures, aircraft and automobiles - successful recycling of waste carbon and its conversion into more cost effective carbon friction products will have very positive financial and environmental benefits especially for the car industry. The board estimates that the P&L/cashflow benefit of the project to ST will be c140,000 pa over the 3 year programme.

Research Standing

Whilst scarcely visible financially, the company has made very good commercial progress over the last 3 years - further key data for assisting commercialisation should become available during 2007 (see Company Meeting on 8th February 2007 below). ArmShare is an advocate of constructing portfolios comprising at least 80% invested in established businesses combining growth and value and up to 20% in a portfolio of earlier stage higher risk businesses considered to have the potential to develop into the former - Surface Transforms is an obvious candidate for the '20%' category of such a portfolio.

The company's broker note dated 8th February is projecting 2006/7 sales of 300,000 (2005: 155,000).

COMPANY MEETINGS

i) Meeting with Chairman and CEO on 8th February 2007

On 7th February 2007, there was widespread media coverage of the EU's intention to introduce legislation calling for the reduction of car emissions to 130 gms per kilometre - luxury car/supercar emissions are very significantly in excess of this figure. Reducing unsprung weight is considered to be able to make a meaningful contribution to assisting manufacturers towards achieving this target - System ST makes a meaningful contribution to reducing unsprung weight as well as improved braking. The company has a programme under way which is intended to measure a) the impact of reducing unsprung weight on reducing emissions and b) the impact of using System ST on lifetime costs of vehicle ownership - the results are expected to be available by the end of 2007.

ii) Attendance at AGM on 19th October 2006

A copy of the presentation made at the AGM can be accessed by clicking on Company Website above, Investor & Media Relations and Investor Presentations. Further information emerging from the Q&A was:

a) at the beginning of 2006, product development in the automotive division resulted in significantly improved wear characteristics. This development also applies to aircraft braking systems. It is likely to assist in developing attractive value propositions for both markets - see b).

b) feedback from Koenigsegg customers and the test driver is that SystemST improves the controllability of these very powerful cars. Data is being collected re stopping distances, wear rates and the benefits of reduced unsprung weight in order to develop a quantified value proposition - it seems likely that this will be based on reduced life time cost.

c) for the aircraft market, the development projects are expected to take 3 to 4 years, with revenues to ST being modest to start with and growing significantly in the later stages of the programme. ST is c.18 months into its leading aircraft brake programme. "

For those interested I have created an Information Folder, which is available at :

http://www.esnips.com/web/SurfaceTransformsInfo


Anything new that comes my way, I will add to that folder. I have been forwarded, with thanks to another, with some nice photo's of some of the cars at the Geneva motor show, which is ongoing now, fitted with System ST braking from Surface Transforms. You'll find this in the folder above under "Geneva 2007.PDF".

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=20070411070000P2B33

11 April 2007 Surface Transforms plc
("Surface Transforms" or "the Company")
Appointment of secondary Broker

The Company announces that Redmayne-Bentley Stockbrokers ("Redmayne-Bentley"),
one of the UK's largest regional stockbrokers, has been appointed broker to the
Company with immediate effect.

Redmayne-Bentley, headquartered in Leeds, have 32 regional offices and will act
as the secondary broker to Surface Transforms serving our private client
investors. Teather and Greenwood continues as the Company's main broker serving
our institutional investors.

Kevin D'Silva, Chairman, commented:

`We are very pleased with this appointment because we take our investor
relations obligations seriously. Redmayne-Bentley's role is to provide research
aimed at private client stockbrokers and this will raise our profile with
private investors as they will now have access to additional analysis and
coverage on the Company.'

For enquiries, please contact:
Surface Transforms plc 0151 356 2141
Dr. Kevin Johnson
Mr. Geoff Hall

Redmayne-Bentley 01943 886 600
Lucy Clapham
Simon Flather

Teather & Greenwood (Broker) 0207 426 9000
Sindre Ottesen

John East & Partners Limited (Nominated Adviser) 0207 628 2200
Simon Clements

Details of the Company's business and financial performance and its share price
can be found on the Armshare icon on http://www.surface-transforms.com. A presentation of the 2006/7 interim results is also available on http://www.surface-transforms.com/ Investor and Media relations.

Archive Folder Updated with a new item :


http://www.esnips.com/web/SurfaceTransformsInfo/





SCE article is written up on this link :

http://www.autofieldguide.com:80/columns/0407euro.html

High-Tech Brakes April 2007

This British firm produces materials that are used in aircraft and exotic vehicle applications. But that may be just the start of it.

By William Kimberley, Editor

Automotive Engineer, London, England

Surface Transforms (www.surface-transforms.com; Ellesmere Port, Cheshire) is one of the UKs leading manufacturers of next-generation carbon fiber reinforced ceramic composite materials (CRFCs). They are designed to replace traditional carbon-carbon products on aircraft by offering an improved product lifetime, thereby increasing the number of landings that can be performed between maintenance schedules. Its products can be found on rocket propulsion systems and as a replacement for conventional technical ceramics for use in body and vehicle armor. They can also be found on high-performance cars. Formed in 1992, Surface Transforms originated out of the Advanced Materials group of ICI when four former employees bought the intellectual property rights to the materials technology. Initially, and for quite a lengthy period of time afterwards, it served as a research and development company. Initial projects were funded programs that looked at various applications including aerospace and railway carriage braking. It even started to become involved in Formula One. However, the timing was unfortunate because the company initiated the project just at the time when the FIA, the sports governing body, was in the process of banning carbon ceramics on Grand Prix cars. Surface Transforms duly refocused its efforts on fitting its brakes to high-performance road cars.
As a result, Surface Transforms System ST brakes can now be found on the Koenigsegg supercar as an option on the CCX, which was launched at last years Geneva Show and on the CCGT that was launched at this years show, the $600,00 Ascari A10, and a new supercar from Weber Sportcars. Altogether, System ST is now fitted to more than 15 different car platforms. Surface Transforms is also working in partnership with StopTech, a California based leader in balanced brake upgrades for production cars and production-based racecars, to promote the adoption of carbon ceramic brakes on high-performance cars in the U.S. market. An annual supply contract has not yet been signed, yet both companies forecast that in the aftermarket between 50 and 100 car sets will be required in the next 12 months. StopTech has placed the first production order and will soon be offering the System ST ceramic brake disc on selected vehicle offerings.

Continuous carbon fiber is said to be advantageous in brake applications.
Carbon ceramic brake technology was really brought to the market by three cars that were launched, utilizing the technology at a similar timethe Ferrari Enzo, Porsche Carrera GT and the Mercedes McLaren SLRand Surface Transforms had the appropriate technology, says Antoni Sznerch, Surface Transforms business development director. Unlike carbon-carbon brakes, carbon ceramics do not need to be hot to work, they work optimally from cold while offering significant weight saving over traditional iron rotors. They also have negligible wear in normal use. The fundamental difference between the brake discs that are fitted to these three cars and Surface Transforms technology is that they are manufactured using discontinuous carbon fiber, where our discs are made of continuous carbon fiber. This means that their mechanical integrity should be superior because the strength of carbon lies in the direction and length of the fiber.

Surface Transforms manufactures and supplies 3D multi-directional carbon fiber and oxidized PAN (polyacrylonitrile) preforms to suit a variety of engineering applications. Carbon fiber preforms are mats of interwoven multi-directional carbon fibers and are the basic materials that Surface Transforms converts into ceramic brakes and discs using its patented technology. By developing our discs and pads from our pad partner, we provide a balanced and high-performance complete friction couple, says Sznerch. We use what could be called a traditional nought/90 fiber orientation. However, our raw material is carbon fiber precursor which has 30% elongation in the fiber before it will break whereas carbon fiber only has 2%. This 30% elongation allows us to needle the fibers together so that we not only have the nought/90 orientation but also have the fiber in the Z direction through the material bundle and that is what binds the fibers together. It would be physically impossible to do this with traditional carbon and can only be done at the precursor stage. We convert the precursor to carbon fiber then we crack methane and convert the carbon to carbon-carbon.

The final stage of manufacture is to convert the carbon-carbon to carbon silicon carbide. The carbon that we crack from methane infills around the fiber that is then converted to silicon carbide. In this way we end up with a carbon silicon carbide disc with good mechanical integrity. Because we machine our discs to shape as opposed to shaping them in a mould we have great flexibility in the design and dimensions of the disc.

We are now going through the phase of transforming an R&D company into a more commercial manufacturing one, says Sznerch. We are a materials technology company looking for commercial applications. The company philosophy and strategy is twofold. One is that we dont see ourselves as a large volume manufacturer of automotive brake discs and are looking for licensed manufacturers for the long term. Aircraft brakes, currently, in the main are carbon-carbonmetal brakes are now less common on new aircraftand we are looking to license our technology to carbon-carbon manufacturers. This has a good strategic fit because our siliconization process can be added onto the tail end of their existing process. A licensed automotive manufacturer will be a little bit different because it would need a more complete manufacturing package. However, we have intellectual property rights for the main core of three critical processes, starting with the raw material, how its put together, then the carbonization stage followed by the siliconization process.

The companys research capabilities are recognized by the UK government with the announcement in March that it had won a multi-million dollar grant as the lead company and project coordinator in a collaborative R&D program to develop new technology and products allowing innovative recycling of carbon waste. The levels of waste carbon fiber are increasing rapidly on a global scale as a result of increasing carbon fiber material usage in the design of civil engineering industrial structures, aircraft, and automobiles. The project is designed to have an improved economic and environmental impact on the use of friction materials in transport through the innovative recycling of waste carbon and its conversion into more cost-effective carbon friction products which can have very positive financial and environmental benefits especially for the car industry.

Details of cars in April 07 Monaco Supercar show with System ST brakes on :


http://www.systemst.com/downloads/news/TopMarques2007.pdf



.

Also, if anyone is attending the UK Shareholders Association meeting thats ongoing in Banbury, then a write up of the Surface Transforms presentation would be good (as they are one a few companies doing a presentation at the event).

Event details : http://www.uksa.org.uk/InvestFest.htm

Surface Transforms PLC 15 May 2007


Surface Transforms Plc
('Surface Transforms')
Race Tech Article

Set out below is a summary of an article written and recently published by
William Kimberley, the editor of Race Tech - the UK's principal motor sports
engineering magazine.

Surface Transforms, a leader in carbon ceramic composite technology, is changing from an R&D company into a commercial manufacturing organisation.

SURFACE TRANSFORMS is one of the UK's leading manufacturers of 'next-generation' carbon fibre reinforced ceramic composite materials (CRFCs).

Its SystemST brakes can now be found on the Koenigsegg supercar - as an option
on the CCX, which was launched at last year's Geneva Show, and on the CCGT
launched at this year's show. They are also on the Ascari A10 and a new supercar from Weber Sportcars. Altogether, SystemST is now fitted to more than 15 different car platforms.

Surface Transforms is also working in partnership with StopTech, a California
based U.Sleader in balanced brake upgrades for production cars and
production-based racecars, to promote the adoption of carbon ceramic brakes on
high-performance cars in the US market. An annual supply contract has not yet
been signed yet both companies forecast that in the aftermarket between 50 and
100 car sets will be required in the next 12 months. StopTech has placed the
first production order and will soon be offering the SystemST ceramic brake disc on selected vehicles.

The full article can be found on the home page of www.surface-transforms.com

Surface Transforms plc

Antoni Sznerch Tel: 0151 356 2141 as@surface-transforms.com

Redmayne Bentley note added to the Web Folder :

http://www.esnips.com/web/SurfaceTransformsInfo/


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Papal Power, it's obvious you are v.keen on this co, but the Market sees some distinct flaws in the SCE business plan - indeed as soon as any good news is released the shares spike up then fall down lower...currently 17p-ish
I wonder how much longer they can survive on one brake kit per week....surely we have to be seeing volume soon?
Only then will there be a chance of profit and further development, which would reduce their exposure to Aero (very much All or Nothing) and prestige Cars which amounts to (nearly) nothing in turnover/profits.
SCE has some Military exposure, but this is low-key and we know the MOD never spends money.
My original holding was in 2002 and I don't think I shall ever see that sp again.