Plastiwin, the Wallonia plastics industry cluster, organised its "Best Of 2014" which entails choosing, from a series of industrial projects, the one that really stands out for its innovation, complexity and impact.

REDDY, a small company located in Seneffe, won the award for its invention and industrialisation of fitted, sealed electrics cabinets to meet a requirement in the field of passive housing. 8 projects were put forward; 3 were selected by the organising committee. The final choice was made through a vote by the public attending the Plastiwin cluster meeting, comprised exclusively of specialists from the polymers sector. The other two winning companies were, respectively, Astra Services (Battice) for its invention of a shipping container for a purification facility, and Grasstech, which created and set up, in Turkey, a complete "dry" ski resort based on the principle of a synthetic polyethylene covering.

History

The fact that the project materialised is a real success story for Reddy. Established in 1948 and specialising in the production of plastic parts (<100 g), this very small company realises that it owes it to itself to create more added value if it wants to maintain its production in the region. A few years ago, its current Manager and owner, Christian Rouanet, identified a new opportunity in the passive housing sector. Air seal tests in fact suggest that significant amounts of energy are lost when the electrics cabinets are placed in walls that are not hermetically sealed. Competition is stiff whichever way you look at it. In 2009, Christian Rouanet decided to rise to the challenge and secure a place in this promising market. It is rather like David versus Goliath.

And the result?

Nowadays, Reddy produces and sells sealed junction boxes, which are innovative in more ways than one. Electric cables may be passed through membranes which are flexible, yet prevent passage of air. Two types of depth, angled inlets and a reinforced framework system make for adjustability and a whole range of connection options. Similarly, attachments may be placed at different points. The covers are detectable via RFID tags, which means that the cabinets can be detected even after they have been plastered over.

The product has been on the market for a year and accounts for an increasing share of sales. Reddy currently employs eight people.

Plastiwin's Chairman, Olivier Verhoyen, says: "I am delighted at who was chosen. The product is not only innovative, but it is also "technically perfect". The finish is most impressive. Moreover, several of our members have cooperated in bringing the project to fruition, choosing the raw materials, purchasing equipment and developing tools, etc., things which are typically the role of a cluster."