Poor use of permeable materials costs the UK over two billion pounds a year

Problems include food freshness and shelf-life issues, electronics failures, drugs that lose potency, seals that fail and machinery that jams. The service was designed to help and advise people resolve these and other problems. The service is backed by an in-house laboratory facility.

"Permeability issues can be difficult and counter-intuitive to fix," said Technical Director Chris Roberts. "For example, Silicone is great barrier against liquid water, but it is virtually useless against water vapour which can simply pass straight through it almost as if it wasn't there."

The Versaperm consultancy specialises in the practical use of materials to resolve real-world problems and the company has several decades of technical experience in these areas. It is usually able to provide answers quickly and efficiently.

The consultancy also advises on materials testing and, if required, can design and manufacture dedicated equipment to meet specific needs. The company operates across commercial, industrial, National Standards Laboratories and academic areas.

Lastly, the consultancy offers a quick turn-around vapour permeability measurement service where samples can often be tested within just 24 hours.