A PROUD company boss has described winning an industry award as like 'getting an Oscar!'

Aidan Conway, managing director of Radcliffe's Thermal Road Repairs, was speaking after his company won the National Joint Utilities Group Awards in London.

Thermal Road Repairs worked in conjunction with the region’s power network operator, Electricity North West, to scoop the ‘sustainable methods and materials’ prize at a ceremony in the House of Commons.

Mr Conway, aged 43, said: "Winning this award with Electricity North West is a fantastic achievement and we are extremely grateful they nominated us in the first instance. It has allowed us to demonstrate how effective our process is and has already generated a lot of excitement and interest within the utilities industry and across both national and local government.

“We recently provided a live demonstration for the Department of Transport and representatives from Manchester City Council at the National Grid’s facility in Manchester.

"The feedback was very positive and as a result we are looking at further innovative uses of our technology.”

The reward was largely down to the road repair firm's TRR system which produces a high quality, long lasting ‘seamless’ finish without the need for support by heavy mechanical plant such as grab wagons and planers.

Dave Regan, Street Works Strategy Manager, Electricity North West, said: "We are absolutely delighted to be presented with this prestigious award with Thermal Road Repairs. We were extremely impressed with TRR’s process as it enables us to vastly improve the quality of the road surface repair while significantly reducing our carbon footprint.”

The result of the joint partnership has led to reinstatement works being completed quicker, with less traffic disruption, reduced noise/air pollution and an overall beneficial environmental impact.

Mr Conway said TRR’s technology isn’t restricted to helping the utilities industry repair and prevent reinstatement failures. Using the same methods but with bigger and more sophisticated machinery, it can reinstate large stretches of motorway or major highways with superior results.

The TRR system uses the most advanced form of heart transfer technology to recycle existing bituminous materials. Portable, computer controlled thermal units can be leased to established highways contractors with training and support provided.