SETA WIN QUEEN'S AWARD FOR INNOVATION 2014

Honour given for H₂S measurement technology

Stanhope-Seta Ltd is proud to announce that it has been awarded the Queens Award for Enterprise 2014 in the Innovation category for developing technology which measures Hydrogen Sulphide (H₂S) in fuels. The Innovation award is the second honour to be bestowed upon Stanhope-Seta following their presentation of the Queens Awards for International Trade in 2012.

The Innovation award 2014 has been granted for the design and manufacture of the H₂S Analyser which measures the H₂S content of liquid fuels. H₂S is a dangerous gas that is present in many fuels and chemical products in widespread use. In high enough concentrations it can quickly lead to unconsciousness and exposure can be fatal. Previously the technology for measuring gas in liquids has been extremely basic, relying on complex chemical analysis with unreliable results. Stanhope-Seta’s H₂S Analyser has pioneered a new and ground breaking approach to the measurement of H₂S in liquid fuels.

The innovative H₂S instrument has made a step change in the safety and environmental aspects of handling the fuels and removed the need for a complex chemical analysis. The new instrument provides an accurate result in 15 minutes and requires no specialist knowledge to operate.

The H₂S instrument has been adopted widely by the shipping and fuel handling industry and now represents a benchmark for the measurement of this important characteristic of the fuels.

“We are delighted to receive this award.” says Giles Verity “It is the culmination of a project that has spanned over six years. Not only has the new instrument brought an unparalleled increase in the safe handling of the fuels, it has also brought this important Innovation award to the company. We will continue to fly the flag for Britain with its development and manufacturing excellence.”

In a joint statement, company Directors Giles and Martin Verity said “The Queens Award is the most prestigious business award made to UK companies and winning a second award, this time for Innovation, is a proud and defining moment in the company’s history. We recognise that this represents a unique achievement and our success is a reflection of the efforts of our loyal and hard working team as well as the development of innovative new products.”

About the H₂S Analyser technology

The Innovation Award 2014 recognises the technological achievement of developing and producing the H₂S Analyser. The instruments are used on-board ship in marine bunkering operations to ensure compliance with international safety and environmental standards. Incorporating new state-of the art, patented technologies, including separation techniques and novel software to eliminate cross-sensitivity with other substances, they involve no hazardous chemicals and require no specialist knowledge for operation. They have become an essential part of a mandatory test regarding fuel standards. The H₂S Analysers are highly accurate, capable of measuring to under one part per million, have a wide range, up to 250 parts million and are adaptable to other fields, including tar sands and shale environments. A novel vapour phase processor was developed to broaden applicability.