Sign of quality

Oxfordshire-based Microbial Solutions (

) has received the International Organization for Standardization’s ISO 9001:2000: a global accreditation for company quality management systems.

The waste management group has developed microcycle technology that uses an ecologically friendly bacterial process to dispose of hazardous metalworking fluids by turning them into grey water. According to the awarding body, the accreditation relates to MSL’s ‘design and provision of bioreactors for wastewater treatment and associated laboratory services’.

Prof William Pope, chief executive of MSL, said: ‘We’re very pleased to have achieved this accreditation so quickly since start-up. Since setting up commercially right at the end of 2007, we have worked hard on our quality management systems, giving our clients the reassurance that we can deliver the top level of service they expect.’

The accreditation follows MSL’s trial of a commercial-scale bioreactor at BAE Systems's Brough facility in East Yorkshire. Following positive results, BAE Systems is proceeding with the construction and installation of a permanent 30-tonne bioreactor.

The company was also presented with an Engineering Excellence Award by

in July 2008 for making a significant contribution to engineering by devising tests to assess the control of a microbial bacteria that can contaminate metalworking fluids that can cause hypersensitivity pneumonitis - a serious respiratory illness affecting workers in the machining industries.