International plastics manufacturer and supplier Victrex Plc have successfully completed the first phase of testing of millennium-date dependency using a breakthrough British invention - the DELTA-T PROBE. Initial results have shown that up to £100,000 of budgeted replacement costs can now be reallocated.

Unlike desktop PCs most industrial process systems cannot easily be tested for compliance, which has resulted in a problem that is running up a bill of almost £32bn for companies in the UK. The DELTA-T PROBE – manufactured by UK-based Embedded Science and managed by WSP – provides an electronic test which reduces the testing and analysis time for a single system from many weeks to less than an hour. The resulting information then forms the basis for remedial action.

The DELTA-T PROBE is the first diagnostic device anywhere in the world that is able to provide such a rapid diagnosis. It is also invaluable in verifying that millennium compliance statements issued by manufacturing system vendors are accurate.

Victrex has so far concentrated on examining embedded systems behaviour in its loss in weight feeder system, which is critical to all its processing systems. Testing took place in its Lancashire headquarters, the only plant in the world to manufacture the PEEK™ polymer which is used in diverse product applications in key industries such as automotive, aerospace, medical, electrical and electronics.

Year 2000 Project Manager David Barrow said:

"We are delighted with the first phase of testing, and estimate we can now reallocate up to £100,000 which would otherwise needed to have been spent on replacement costs. We are now extending the testing programme, on-site in the UK and elsewhere."

It is the business certainty afforded by the testing which is the key benefit, according to International Product Manager Andrew Walker.

"The Delta-T testing has given us the comfort and assurance we need. Without empirical knowledge we would not really have known if our energies and budgets should be directed at re-buying or re-engineering our systems. To a great degree, the actual outcome is of secondary importance to the speed at which we can progress to the next step. The fact that we know what we are facing within half an hour means we can save valuable time and money. As a result, it means we are able to focus our efforts on continuing to provide our usual first class service to our customers."

The DELTA-T PROBE was invented by Patrick Bossert, an embedded systems design specialist. He is currently Technical Director of WSP Business Technology, part of the WSP Group who are managing and promoting the device. It went into full production in early November 1998, and sales in excess of £1.2. million have already been achieved. Purchasers to date include British Aerospace, Sainsbury’s, Guardian Properties and a number of major blue-chip companies throughout the world.

NOTES TO EDITORS

Key information for businesses about how to tackle the embedded systems problem is available from the Embedded Science website (www.embedded-science.com).

Victrex Plc is the world’s sole commercial manufacturer of aromatic polytekone thermoplastics. Marketed under the brand name VICTREX® PEEK™ polymer, it supplies a range of markets in virtually all core industries – including the automotive, aerospace, medical, electrical and electronics. The company is based at Thornton Cleveleys in Lancashire, and exports 98% of VICTREX ® PEEK™ to companies in Europe, North America and the Asia Pacific region. In the last financial year, Victrex Plc achieved sales revenues in excess of £45 million.

WSP Group is an international business providing design, consultancy and facility management services in the property and construction sector. It employs some 1500 people, and operates through a network of 50 offices in the UK and overseas. It already offers a number of services on Year 2000 issues, including programme management, auditing and testing. Clients include Commercial Union, AMP Asset Management, British Airways and British Land.

PRESS ENQUIRIES
For WSP Group

Chris Carter/Josie Dobrin - Luther Pendragon 0171 353 1500
Paul Scott/Patrick Bossert - WSP Business Technology 0171 314 5000
Miranda Bellord - WSP Group PR 0171 314 5000

Delta-T Probe sales

Website addresses
www.embedded-science.com
www.wsp-y2k.com

Dedicated phone-line 0171 314 5715

For Victrex Plc

John Gallagher - The European Marketing Group +31 164 616 655
Andrew Walker - Victrex Plc +44 01253 897700
Website address - www.victrex.com