EDMONTON, ALBERTA, CANADA - Surface Engineered Products Corp., a subsidiary of The Westaim Corporation, has been selected as a finalist for the 1999 Alberta Science and Technology Leadership Awards (ASTech Awards). The company is nominated in the category of Outstanding Commercial Achievement in Alberta Science and Technology for companies with annual sales of less than $25 million.

The Alberta Science and Technology Leadership Awards Foundation recognizes and honours individuals, businesses and institutions, which have made significant contributions to the science and technology community. Award winners will be announced at the ASTech Awards dinner on Friday, October 22, 1999 at the Calgary Round-up Centre.

“The ASTech Awards program is an excellent way to acknowledge the contributions of Alberta’s science and technology community,” said Ted Redmond, President of Surface Engineered Products. “It is an honour to be recognized for our achievements in our first year of commercial operation.”

Surface Engineered Products develops, manufactures and markets proprietary products and services which reduce operating costs and increase productivity in high-severity operating environments found in the petrochemical and other process industries. Its first product, CoatAlloyTM coated tubes and fittings, targets the ethylene industry, which loses $2 billion in annual production due to the build-up of coke (carbon) in ethylene furnace tubes. Currently, six of the world’s top ten producers of ethylene are using CoatAlloyTM coated tubes and fittings.

CoatAlloyTM coated tubes and fittings reduce the rate of coking in ethylene pyrolysis furnace tubes by up to 90 per cent and increase the throughput of ethylene plants by 2 to 8 per cent, leading to lower unit-production costs and increased profitability for ethylene producers.

The Westaim Corporation specializes in launching high-potential technologies into the marketplace. In addition to Surface Engineered Products, Westaim’s other technology businesses include: Westaim Biomedical Corp., which has developed an infection control technology for use in the treatment of wounds; and Westaim Advanced Display Technologies Inc., which is developing a revolutionary low-cost flat panel display. Westaim also operates three industrial businesses, which produce aerospace materials, coin blanks and chemical products. A TSE 300 company, Westaim’s common shares are listed on The Toronto Stock Exchange, The Alberta Stock Exchange and The Montreal Exchange under the trading symbol WED.


*CoatAlloy is a trademark of Surface Engineered Products Corp.

For more information, contact:
Tony Johnston
Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs
(403) 234-3103
tjohnsto@westaim.com
website: www.westaim.com
e-mail: info@westaim.com