Re Order

Surface Transforms PLC
28 January 2003

News Release

28 January 2003

                 First order for Surface Transforms's brakes in
                              Indy Racing League


Surface Transforms plc, makers of high technology carbon ceramic materials, has
received its first order from one of the most successful teams that competes in
the US Indy Racing League (IRL). The order is for the supply of brake discs and
pads. This deal marks the Company's first full commercial order in competitive
motor racing.

Indy Car racing is the US-equivalent to Formula One in terms of top speeds and
the sophistication of its technology.  There are 23 teams with around 39 drivers
competing in IRL, many with two or three cars per team. The Directors of Surface
Transforms believe this market could be worth up to £0.5m per annum to the
Company.

The new order came after successful testing in the U.S. during the last quarter
of 2002. Surface Transforms will supply the products in conjunction with a
specialist brake manufacturer who has been acting as development partner.

In IRL there is far less demand on the brakes than in Formula One because the
cars run mainly on oval circuits and usually brake only when they are slowing to
enter the pits or for safety reasons. The characteristics of the Company's CFRC
brake discs and pads mean they are equally suited to this environment as well as
Formula One and can therefore provide significant advantages over existing
materials currently in use. In particular, CFRC materials provide good cold
friction, significant weight reduction and better braking capabilities all of
which should enable IRL teams to save time under braking.  This could make the
difference between teams winning and losing races.

Managing Director of Surface Transforms, Julio Faria, commented:

'This order proves our product and technology is commercially viable. We've been
working hard on entering this new market and therefore we're delighted to have
received our first order to supply into IRL for competitive racing purposes.
We're pleased that the majority of the development and testing we've completed
with Formula One teams has been transferable to Indy Cars, F1's nearest
equivalent formula.'



Enquiries, please contact:

David Levis                                              Neil Boom
Commercial and Finance Director                          Managing Director
Surface Transforms plc                                   Gresham PR Ltd.
01928 735498                                             020 7404 9000

Neil Baldwin
Brewin Dolphin Securities
0113 241 0126


Notes to editors

Surface Transforms is developing and manufacturing a new generation of carbon
fibre reinforced ceramic (CFRC) materials for use in brake, clutch and other
non-friction applications. The materials are characterised by their ability to
withstand very high temperatures (up to 3000 degrees C) whilst being lightweight
(70% lighter than cast iron), and have applications in a number of markets
including aircraft, high-speed rail, road cars, heavy goods vehicles and Formula
1. New markets for the material continue to be explored, including non-friction
market applications like rocket propulsion system components such as those now
being developed for a division of a major aerospace company.

Formed as a plc in 1999, the origins of the company date back to 1992 when the
business was founded in order to exploit new patents relating to materials and
processes obtained from ICI Plc. The business soon became involved in a DTI
sponsored LINK programme for the development of a novel low cost manufacturing
process for carbon composite brakes for very high speed trains.

The company has set up links with a major global manufacturer of aircraft
braking systems and is also developing and pilot manufacturing brake pads and
discs for use on high performance road cars. It continues to develop Formula 1
and motorsport brake products and a number of leading F1 teams are currently
evaluating the materials.

In 2002, the company began supplying test components to a division of a major
aerospace company for a rocket propulsion system.  Initial test results have
been highly encouraging and further testing has now been commissioned.

Activities

The core activity

The exploitation of proprietary technologies to create and improve novel
friction materials, the Company has established working relationships with key
existing and potential customers including major aerospace and aircraft brake
manufacturers, road and rail braking systems manufacturers and Formula 1 motor
racing teams. Technology and products have been developed over a period of 10
years.

Manufacturing

A state-of-the-art manufacturing plant at the Cheshire Innovation Park, part of
the Shell Manufacturing Complex at Ellesmere Port, in Cheshire, has enabled the
Company to concentrate on the move from pilot scale to product manufacturing.
This has resulted in a number of significant advancements in production
techniques.


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange