Award Recipients

AIS is a global leader in materials science technology for the protection of critical infrastructure. It develops, manufactures and installs high performance solutions used in hazardous and highly regulated environments across energy, emerging technology, transport, marine, defence and industrial applications. The company is delighted to have won its seventh Award for Enterprise in the prestigious King’s Awards.

Gloucester-based AIS received the Innovation Award for its cable protection system, NjordGuard. The latest honour recognises its engineering excellence and innovation in the offshore wind sector.

“We’re incredibly proud to receive a seventh King’s Award for Enterprise and to be recognised for Innovation,” says CEO Andrew Bennion. He continues: “Problem solving and innovation are deeply rooted in everything we do, driving how we work with customers to overcome complex challenges. NjordGuard is the result of years of focused R&D and reflects the expertise of our teams and their commitment to delivering reliable, forward-thinking solutions that support the growth of offshore wind.”

The award-winning solution, NjordGuard, is designed to protect the vulnerable section of subsea power cables at offshore wind farms, critical assets responsible for transmitting electricity to shore. By safeguarding cables from excessive tension, temperature, bending and harsh seabed conditions, the system helps prevent failures that can lead to costly downtime and lost energy generation.

NjordGuard was engineered specifically for offshore wind applications. Its longer, stiffer design, enhanced thermal performance and innovative connector technology improves durability while reducing installation time, cost, and environmental impact. The system can also significantly reduce, or even eliminate, the need for seabed rock stabilisation, lowering both project costs and environmental disturbance.

NjordGuard demonstrates the success of AIS’ approach of developing solutions that address critical industry challenges. With multiple sites across the UK and globally, the award is particularly meaningful as it recognises the expertise and dedication of the Skelmersdale team that developed this innovative solution.