It’s official, Waviatech Limited, one of our Portfolio clients, won the Award for Export 2010 in the Gatwick Diamond area. The Award was made at the region’s most prestigious business event, the Gatwick Diamond Business Awards 2010.

Sponsored by UK Trade & Investment South East this prestigious award is to recognise the innovative and ambitious businesses, keen to grow their export markets and able to demonstrate that this has had a positive impact on productivity and profitability.

 Judging the entry, Carolyn Bentley from UK Trade & Investment South East, said “Waviatech's strategic approach to international business has led to a strong, sustainable growth and controlled expansion.   Their business model is both simple and effective and it will surely see the company go from strength to strength in the coming years”.

The winners of the Gatwick Diamond Business Awards 2010 were announced at a glittering awards ceremony at the Gatwick Hilton on Thursday 4^th March 2010 with Nick Hewer of BBC TV The Apprentice as guest presenter. A total of 12 awards were presented before 360 business leaders and representatives from the Gatwick Diamond region.

Traditional methods of treating bacterial infections use antibiotics and liquid disinfectants which may not wholely work and can  kill healthy  tissue.. The advantage of Denfotex’s technology is that it targets bacterial or fungal infections very specifically  using a two stage process. First an inert liquid  which contains a component that is attracted to bacterial or fungal infections is introduced in to the infection. Second a  red light at a precise wavelength is shone on the area causing  the liquid to release singlet  oxygen  that disrupt and kill the bacteri so the infection heals without side – effects.

David Clements MD of Denfotex Technologies, said “We are really pleased to receive this award that recognises our efforts at commercialising this important medical technology. The ability to target and remove infection through Photo Activated Disinfection (PAD) is a big step forward over traditional surgical techniques. I am pleased to say that our first product aimed at oral infections in teeth,  root canals and gums has worked extremely well . So much so that  we have started studies using PAD  to treat infections on other parts of the body that are currently difficult to treat. The possible areas of application  are very significant .”

Sponsored by The University of Brighton, this prestigious award is to recognise how innovation has led to an improvement in their business. This innovation can be around the nature of the product itself, the service offered to customers or the way they have used new processes to help them to establish or grow their enterprise.

Judging the entry, Chris Baker from the University of Brighton, said “Denfotex and its Managing Director , David Clements, provide evidence that successful innovation is not a quick fix.

Established in 1998, the company which is based in Handcross and Inverkeithing, has developed a medical device designed to remove all oral infections. A number of things stood out about this story:-

• Denfotex’s ability to take a university based discovery to market. Without which it may have remained just another interesting piece of scientific research.
• The continual search to refine and develop the product moving from using lasers to an LED systems in his latest version of the PAD Plus device.
• The ability of this small company to sustain a comprehensive programme of clinical evaluation that has helped thousands of dental patients and helped overcome some scepticism in the industry itself.
• Their search for continual improvement has now led to seeing other applications of the device where bacterial and fungal infections can be treated.

None of the above has led to instant financial returns. It has shown that successful innovation requires patience, skill and knowledge of product and markets plus the ability to draw .  on effective partners who can provide support and advice”.

The winners of the Gatwick Diamond Business Awards 2010 were announced at a glittering awards ceremony at the Gatwick Hilton on Thursday 4^th March 2010 with Nick Hewer of BBC TV The Apprentice as guest presenter. A total of 12 awards were presented before 360 business leaders and representatives from the Gatwick Diamond region.