17th Jul 2008 11:15
RNS Number : 2844Z
Hightex Group PLC
17 July 2008
Hightex Group plc ("Hightex")
Letter of Intent: New Canopy for Terminal 4
Following the recent opening of Terminal 5, BAA is now embarking on a major upgrade of the other existing facilities at Heathrow, aiming to increase the amount of natural light entering the building, improve the facilities for check-in and build modern departure lounges.
Although Terminal 4 is the most recent of the existing terminals and the building itself is in good structural condition, it is in need of extensive refurbishment. Hightex is pleased to announce that it has received a letter of intent for the contract to provide the new ETFE canopy to the entrance of Heathrow Terminal 4.
The canopy will run along the entire 190 metre façade of the terminal and will consist of some 2,300 square metres of two layer translucent ETFE pneumatic cushions. The canopy will extend out 12 metres from the façade, thereby giving good coverage to passengers, and will be finished with a dot shading pattern similar to that used at Terminal 5.
Given that, in the event of a nearby explosion, EFTE cushions simply deflate - with no risk of flying glass or other dangerous materials as found in traditional canopy designs - they have an excellent safety performance. ETFE canopy and atrium systems are therefore rapidly increasing in popularity and are being specified for more and more projects worldwide, particularly for applications of this type where there is a perceived increased risk of terrorist attacks or explosions.
Hightex is actively developing, and in the process of introducing to the market, new ETFE coatings and flexible photovoltaic systems for use in its ETFE atrium, canopy and building systems. The Directors expect that the development work carried out by Hightex and its industrial partners will help to open the market for ETFE to compete with traditional glazing in terms of thermal performance, integrated building photovoltaics with a significant price advantage.
In a separate development, Hightex also announces that it has now started work on the final phase of the contract at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, Wimbledon, to install the new retractable roof over the Centre Court for which Hightex is providing the membrane.
Charles DesForges, Chairman, stated that "Hightex Group is delighted to have been selected for these significant and prestigious projects. The structure being installed at London Heathrow further reinforces the increasing use of ETFE membranes with their excellent safety performance in these applications where public safety is of the utmost importance.
Enquiries:
Charles DesForges, Chairman, Hightex Group plc +44 (0) 207 603 1515
Sindre Ottesen, Landsbanki Securities +44 (0) 207 426 9000
About Hightex
Hightex has a long history of building large span roofs and facades using architectural membranes, exemplified by the Abuja Stadium for the All African Games in 2003 as well as the Berlin Stadium, Germany, used for the most recent FIFA World Cup Final in 2006. Hightex has been awarded the contract to provide the membrane roof as part of the upgrading of the First National Bank (FNB) Stadium in Johannesburg, which will be the stadium for several first and second round matches, one quarter-final and the final match at the FIFA 2010 Football World Cup.
In 2006 Hightex completed one of the largest membrane projects in the world, designing and constructing the energy-saving, sound-optimised, triple layer membrane roof for the Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand.
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