A PROMINENT Conservative back-bench MP was impressed when he paid a visit to a trailblazing north Hampshire company.

Adam Afriyie, MP for Windsor and chairman of the Parliamentary office for science and technology, was impressed with what he saw at Plasma Quest, based on the Rose Estate, in Osborn Way, Hook.

Set up 16 years ago by Professor Mike Thwaites, the research and development company carries out work in plasma-based thin film research and innovation.

This involves microscopic film coatings that are used in far-ranging applications used in the car, aerospace and satellite industries.

Domestic applications have a range of uses from touch screen computers and smartphones, to adding a film to razorblades to make them harder, and to putting film on watch faces to make them scratch proof.

Mr Afriyie, who is a businessman-come-politician, said: “This is exactly the kind of research intensive company our country needs to fuel its economic growth, and keep Britain at the forefront of both practical research and high-tech product development.

“As Shadow Minister for Science in the last Parliament, I often spoke about our ‘innovation gap.’ Companies like Plasma Quest are plugging that gap by turning research into intellectual property, products and services and, above all, high-tech jobs and economic growth.

“I was truly impressed by their research and development capabilities, and they have my very best wishes for the future.”

During his visit, Mr Afriyie learned how the firm had been attracting research experts and academics for a number of years.

However, five years ago the firm made a decision to upgrade its ‘industrial capability’ to sell to the wider manufacturing market.

Professor Thwaites said: “We are now at that stage to do that, and business is going well for Plasma Quest, particularly with China which is certainly very good. And we have recently sold two systems worth £500,000 each to Slovakia. The machines are designed by us and built in the UK by a small company in Devon.”

Commenting on Mr Afriyie’s visit, Professor Thwaites said: “We were very impressed with him and the interest he took in our business. He asked some very interesting questions, both commercial and technical.”