The innovations that Newton are in the process of developing are:

• A low cost thermal store that will integrate a combi boiler with a solar water heating system.  Current thermal stores are technically complex and expensive.  Newton's new design will aim for elegant simplicity and use non-standard but environmentally friendly materials.  The design brief is to improve insulation properties, increase stratification, reduce weight and cost.  We expect to have a prototype ready for testing by the end of 2010.

• An integrated innovative aeration system that aims to cut the energy cost of wastewater aeration by over 50%.  It will achieve by using a novel pump/aerator combined with 3 sequential systems of oxygen transfer.  The design brief is to reduce the energy consumption of the process whilst minimising capital and installation costs and maintenance requirements.  The system is currently under test at a purpose designed aeration test facility at United Utilities.

• A new portable, low cost carton tester that is based on the proven functionality and accuracy of the current carton tester.  The design aims to provide a very cost effective method of ensuring carton quality at the point of manufacture thereby reducing the total cost of carton manufacture.