EVC-17 Recap: Mini-Symposium 4 on Vacuum Insulation Energy Technologies
Event: EVC-17 & ECOSS-37
Track: MS-4 Vacuum Insulation Energy Technologies
Dates: 17–21 June 2024
Venue: Harrogate Convention Centre, UK
Organised by: Professor Saim Memon, Department of Industrial R&D in Vacuum Insulation Energy Technologies, Sanyou London Pvt Ltd
Event page: https://iop.eventsair.com/evc17-ecoss37/registration
What happened?
Sanyou London chaired MS-4 at European Vacuum Conference (EVC-17) and 37th European Conference on Surface Science (ECOSS-37) to bring researchers, industrial leaders, and policy-minded stakeholders together around one question: how can vacuum-insulation technologies deliver practical, affordable energy savings today? The session focused on real-world applications—buildings, transport, refrigeration, electronics, healthcare, and temperature-controlled logistics—where better insulation immediately cuts energy use and cost.
Who spoke and what did we learn?
- Prof. Zhaofeng Chen (NUAA, China): Industrial advances in vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) and their deployment in building construction.
- Dr Takao Katsura (Hokkaido University, Japan): Double-envelope VIPs and pathways to long-term thermal stability in service.
- Mr Katsuya Saito (Ambiente Innovation, Japan): Field-tested retrofit methods to achieve net-zero energy standards, with a working example using VIPs.
- Dr Prabhu Selvaraj (Loughborough University, UK), supervised by Prof. Philip Eames: Progress on a new lead-free, low-temperature hermetic edge seal for vacuum glazing—a concept first proposed by Professor Memon 14 years ago and now moving forward in the lab.
Why does it matter?
Rising energy prices and the cost-of-living crisis make efficient buildings a necessity, not a luxury. Vacuum-insulation solutions reduce heat loss with slim profiles, helping existing homes and public buildings reach high performance without bulky build-ups. This is equally relevant to cold-chain logistics, EV battery thermal control, data-centre racks, HVAC ducting, and medical storage—anywhere thermal leakage costs money and carbon.
What is Sanyou London building next?
Sanyou London leads UK industrial R&D in vacuum-insulation energy technologies, including:
- Vacuum Insulated Wallpaper (VIW) for internal wall insulation.
- Decorative Integrated VIP (DVIP) for durable external wall insulation.
- Flexible VIP designs for new-builds and refurbishments across the UK housing stock.
These formats aim to blend slim thickness, reliable performance, and cost-effectiveness, making deep energy savings practical at scale.
Collaboration and next steps
International collaboration—across China, Japan, the UK, and beyond—is essential to drive adoption, standards, and manufacturing capacity. With renewed policy focus following the UK’s 2024 election, building energy efficiency must translate from plans to delivery.
Thank you to the organising partners and community—Institute of Physics, British Vacuum Council, IUVSTA, UKRI STFC—and to Lead Organiser Dr Oleg and the wider team for a well-run conference. After chairing duties in Harrogate, Professor Memon headed directly to Shanghai for ongoing R&D and partnership meetings.
Work with Sanyou London
- Spec sheets, samples, and pilot projects: contact our team for VIW, DVIP, and flexible VIP solutions.
- Partnerships: distributors, contractors, and developers are welcome to discuss regional trials and procurement.
Contact: Visit www.sanyoulondon.com or reach out to Sanyou London Customer Service.
Media & speaking enquiries: Professor Saim Memon
If you’d like this post adapted for a specific audience—local authorities, housing associations, or retrofit contractors—say the word and we’ll tailor it.
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