http://www.octagoneu.com/news.php >OCTAGON - RSS news feed Mon, 17 May 2010 13:01:32 +0100 Mon, 17 May 2010 13:01:32 +0100 http://www.octagoneu.com/news.php?type=1&id=83 Octagon Europe is speaking at this UKTI-organised event at Wembley Stadium London on Tuesday 25 May, 9.00 am to 3.30 pm. In the run up to the FIFA World Cup this summer the eyes of the world are on the continent of Africa, where UK exports in goods alone were worth £7.8bn last year. You will have the opportunity to hear first-hand from country experts and businesses that are already successfully selling into Africa. UKTI helps UK companies across all sectors to export to 14 markets in Africa. At this event you will also be able to participate in round table discussions covering specific markets. Mon, 17 May 2010 00:00:00 +0100 story::83 Current News http://www.octagoneu.com/news.php?type=1&id=82 DEC Haiti Earthquake Appeal The recent Haiti disaster has highlighted the need for secure and sustainable emergency housing in disaster areas. Donate on-line Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000 story::82 Current News http://www.octagoneu.com/news.php?type=1&id=80 Octagon took part in a UKTI Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry market visit to Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia. See link below for press reports. Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000 story::80 Current News http://www.octagoneu.com/includes/showpic.php?s=300&path=../uploaded/News_81_SDC10949.JPG http://www.octagoneu.com/news.php?type=1&id=79 Octagon showcases CoreHouse at the AU Special Summit on Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons in Africa. The Summit takes place in Kampala, Uganda from 19 to 23 October 2009. See press release from the Office of the Prime Minister, Disaster Preparedness and Management Department, Uganda and the link to IRIN - the website for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100 story::79 Current News http://www.octagoneu.com/includes/showpic.php?s=300&path=../uploaded/News_80_SDC10931.jpg http://www.octagoneu.com/news.php?type=1&id=78 Octagon Europe Ltd is invited to a reception at 10 Downing Street, organised by UK Trade and Investment. See attached press release and video for more details. Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100 story::78 Current News http://www.octagoneu.com/includes/showpic.php?s=300&path=../uploaded/News_79_Ann Downing St.jpg http://www.octagoneu.com/news.php?type=1&id=77 Octagon exhibited CoreHouse at the Expeditionary & Humanitarian Operations Infrastructure Showcase (EHOIS) at Gibraltar Barracks in Surrey, on 10th June 2009. Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0100 story::77 Current News http://www.octagoneu.com/news.php?type=1&id=74 Octagon took part in the annual UN Procurement Forum for EU companies. Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0100 story::74 Current News http://www.octagoneu.com/news.php?type=1&id=73 Octagon took part in the London Chamber of Commerce & Industry mission to Nairobi. Octagon's demonstration CoreHouse is shown on Citizens TV in Kenya, as part of a programme featuring Shelter Forum and discussing new innovations in housing technology. Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0000 story::73 Current News http://www.octagoneu.com/news.php?type=1&id=72 Octagon visited Uganda and some of its more rural areas. Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000 story::72 Current News http://www.octagoneu.com/includes/showpic.php?s=300&path=../uploaded/News_73_sdc10640.jpg http://www.octagoneu.com/news.php?type=2&id=71 Octagon visited Nairobi, Kenya to take part in the Global Entrepreneurship Week. From November 17-23 Entrepreneurship Week connected young people everywhere through local, national and global activities designed to help them explore their potential as self-starters and innovators. Mon, 17 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +0000 story::71 Recent News http://www.octagoneu.com/news.php?type=2&id=70 Octagon took part in the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry trade mission to Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia. We also donated a demonstration CoreHouse to NACHU in Nairobi. The house was very enthusiastically received. With thanks to NACHU. Mon, 08 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0100 story::70 Recent News http://www.octagoneu.com/news.php?type=3&id=69 Octagon accompanied Comic Relief, NACHU and Sacoma to see Comic Relief funded projects in various settlements in the Nairobi area. With thanks to Comic Relief, NACHU and Sacoma. Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0100 story::69 News Archived http://www.octagoneu.com/news.php?type=3&id=68 Octagon visited Nairobi and presented at the World Entrepreneurship Summit. We also visited Bellevue settlement. With thanks to Sacoma and NACHU for organising our visit. Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:00 +0100 story::68 News Archived http://www.octagoneu.com/includes/showpic.php?s=300&path=../uploaded/News_69_NairobiJune08.jpg http://www.octagoneu.com/news.php?type=3&id=67 Octagon took part in the British Trade Delegation to Manila in the Philippines. This was organised by Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and involved visits to the Asian Development Bank and various NGOs. Mon, 04 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0000 story::67 News Archived http://www.octagoneu.com/includes/showpic.php?s=300&path=../uploaded/News_68_GroupPhoto2.jpg http://www.octagoneu.com/news.php?type=3&id=66 Octagon team up Octagon is working in the UK with R K Timber and Saint Gobain Building Distribution, one of the World's top 100 industrial corporations, to develop demonstration CoreHouse units for use by international aid agencies. Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 +0000 story::66 News Archived http://www.octagoneu.com/news.php?type=3&id=63 June 2007 Octagon in South Africa Octagon visited the Kwa Reuben area of the Mukuru slum. Many thanks to Share an Opportunity (SAO). Mon, 18 Jun 2007 00:00:00 +0100 story::63 News Archived http://www.octagoneu.com/includes/showpic.php?s=300&path=../uploaded/News_64_KwaReuben3.jpg http://www.octagoneu.com/news.php?type=3&id=55 Octagon exhibited CoreHouse on the occasion of the G8 summit in Gleneagles in 2005. Thu, 06 Jul 2006 00:00:00 +0100 story::55 News Archived http://www.octagoneu.com/news.php?type=3&id=57 Octagon took part in the Business Mission to the United Nations in Geneva with the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 19 to 21 June 2006. Mon, 19 Jun 2006 00:00:00 +0100 story::57 News Archived http://www.octagoneu.com/news.php?type=3&id=56 Octagon Europe Limited was formed in May 2006; the previous company, Octagon Scotland Limited, was founded by Dr Dirk Bolt in May 2003. The new company, Octagon Europe Limited, has a strong management team and links with the Kilmartin Property Group. Our aim is to become a major player in sustainable and affordable housing and in the global manufacture of shelter structures. Mon, 01 May 2006 00:00:00 +0100 story::56 News Archived http://www.octagoneu.com/news.php?type=3&id=54 When he retired to Scotland, Dr Dirk Bolt was greatly impressed with the wonderful scenery around his new home in Aberfeldy in Perthshire. In particular, the Dutchman was struck by the surrounding trees and woodlands. His interest has now developed into an exciting business concept which he believes could revolutionise timber house building. The retired architect was perplexed by the fact that the local construction industry imports timber from overseas while Scotland grows a huge amount of soft wood which is lying unused. Dirk explained: "Most of the woodlands were planted in the 1970s for the paper industry. But as we now recycle so many paper products, the industry has suffered dramatically. These trees are not being harvested and are simply left to decay." "The wood is not considered good enough for construction. It is a soft wood, which produces non structural grade timber. I thought that there must be a way we could utilise this for domestic use and I believed I could develop a solution." Dirk began to research his idea in earnest when he moved to Scotland from Holland in 2000. He undertook a forestry degree to learn more and conducted a vast amount of study into the construction industry. By 2002, he had devised his innovative idea for a sustainable timber product which makes use of Scotland's renewable softwood. The result is ReBus, reinforced building units made from oriented strand board for use in off-site and on-site domestic construction. The blocks can be dry assembled to make walls, floors, ceilings and roofs and can be internally reinforced and connected. They can be made water, damp or fire proof depending on specific requirements. "I compare the system to Lego and Ikea. The cubes can be fitted together as easily as Lego or they can be flat-packed like Ikea products," said Dirk. "It is cost effective and easy to make and build. The system is lightweight and can be disassembled and re-assembled quickly." Dirk formed Octagon Ltd in 2003 and obtained £10,000 from Perth and Kinross Council, a partner of Business Gateway International Tayside, to develop a prototype of his concept. Having applied for the necessary patents, Dirk is now working hard to attract funding to commercialise the idea. He is also actively seeking an industry partner to help develop it further and take it to market. At the same time, Octagon is working with academics so the company can obtain the required building industry certification to enable the system to be used in domestic construction. "We are not a building company. We have the intellectual property, but we need the expertise from the industry to help us take the idea forward," added Dirk. "We are speaking to some interested companies at the moment." Aside from the opportunities for the domestic construction industry, Octagon's pioneering technology could also be used in disaster/relief housing projects. The company's proposal for an emergency recovery scheme is currently being studied by the Pakistani authorities as they wrestle with the trauma of last year's earthquake which destroyed 203,600 homes. Mon, 06 Mar 2006 00:00:00 +0000 story::54 News Archived