Sci-Tech Daresbury joint venture creates green waves in shipping

A pioneering propulsion system for ships, devised by two North West companies, is about to enter the manufacturing phase, going into a full testing programme.

A2O Manufacturing, a joint venture from A|2|O Technology Group and Axentia Group both situated at Sci-Tech Daresbury, is behind the system which promises to help the maritime transportation industry improve its performance in greenhouse gas emissions reduction and sustainability.

A2O Manufacturing was established in May 2023 with a goal to bridge the gap between design and manufacturing, using pro-active management with solutions innovation.

To date, the AirWing programme for GT Wings is A2O Manufacturing’s most extensive project.

GT Wings is well established in the maritime industry as wind-assisted propulsion engineering experts, with the AirWing project programme focusing on optimising materials and reducing GT Wings’ carbon footprint.

To uphold this goal, A2O Manufacturing supported GT Wings through design and manufacture of its 20-metre AirWing using steel and composite materials, all sustainably manufactured in the UK.

The prototype will undergo trials later this year, with the AirWing set to be installed in December. The pilot route will take the vessel across the Atlantic to the Canadian Great Lakes, where A2O Manufacturing will be present to celebrate the ship’s successful voyage. 

A2O Manufacturing and GT Wings’ innovation will showcase how to maximise thrust and reduce fuel consumption through pioneering design, creating a global shift in the way that greenhouse gases are reduced in maritime transport and commercial shipping.

In the future, AirWing technology is expected to be widely adopted on ships worldwide. This wind-assisted propulsion system will be uniquely suited to vessels with restricted deck space and allow them to be powered by wind – a free, unlimited, zero-emission source of energy.

This includes most of the 23,000 container ships and oil tankers that have more than 10 years of operational life remaining.

Founders of A2O Manufacturing, Dr Chris Berg and Nigel Allman, met on campus at Sci-Tech Daresbury through a mutual colleague. After meetings on-site and various coffee breaks, they found joint interests in growing sustainable technology and kick-starting a stagnant UK market with new products and technologies.

Dr Berg, business owner of A|2|O Technology Group, said: “I’ve been at Sci-Tech Daresbury for nearly eight years now, and I can wholeheartedly say that the innovation and collaboration on campus is what made A2O Manufacturing possible. This joint venture between myself and Nigel is testament to the opportunities that are just down the hall here.

“But, of course, the best is yet to come. We can see A2O having a tangible impact on the advanced material and composite market in the UK, and even globally.”

Nigel Allman, CEO at Axentia Group, said: “We’re incredibly proud of our work on the AirWing project. This wind-assisted propulsion system will certainly create a ripple effect on the whole industry, revolutionising the way we transport goods at sea. 

“This is only the beginning of our innovation. The world is changing, and we’re prepared to design and manufacture the technology that keeps up with it.”

The joint venture has already delivered solutions for various projects, including racing giants in Formula 1, Aerospace, Rail, and the AirWing project for GT Wings.

John Leake, Director of Business Growth at Sci-Tech Daresbury, said: “Great things happen when you bring brilliant minds together, and this collaboration forged between A2O Technology Group and Axentia Group is testament to exactly that.

“The Sci-Tech Daresbury campus actively facilitates opportunities for ambitious businesses to meet and work together. Three quarters of the companies on campus collaborate with at least one other business or organisation on site and is part of the DNA of Sci-Tech Daresbury.”