CORUS is set to make a big impact with a new, high speed, bomb-resistant form of construction called Surefast.

Most of the development work was done at Llanwern and is part of the company's bid to move downstream and produce goods with greater margins than are possible on bulk steel.

Last week the company spent two days at Lords cricket ground in St Johns Wood, London, demonstrating just how quickly a Surefast building can be put together.

Fortunately for local residents they did not try to blow it up, that has been done with the help of the Royal Engineers at military sites in the UK and with American armed forces in the US.

The first day of the Lords event was for worldwide defence industry chiefs, the second day for construction industry chiefs.

It's probably a sad reflection on the uncertain times we live in but Corus communications boss Mike Hitchcock said the company had been inundated with media and business inquiries since the event.

"To give you an idea of the interest level I could tell you I've just completed a telephone interview with Mexican television," he said.

Dr Jurek Tolloczko, who was instrumental in the development of Surefast, said: "In high risk situations where people and property are under threat from terrorist, military or criminal attack and in hazardous industrial environments, Surefast provides unrivalled protection.

"It is also faster than any other building solution currently in use.

"Defence personnel in particular are vulnerable to attack during construction of military structures in hostile environments.

Surefast can be erected quickly to provide shelter and a safe environment in the shortest possible time."

The system builds modular structures in a Meccano-type way but employs an ingenious design to slot and lock 'male' and 'female' units.

"Even when military issues are not a concern it's an ideal building system because it's extremely strong and extremely fast," said Mr Hitchcock.

"Applications could include office buildings, building foundations, offshore platforms and large wind turbines."

The Surefast structures are based on BI-Steel panels.

BI-Steel is a Corus worldwide patent and was developed several years ago at the firm's Scunthorpe plant.

It consists of two steel face-plates separated by a series of friction-welded bars to create a void between the plates.

After rapid construction of the panels they can be filled in situ with structural concrete to form a super-strong composite wall construction.

"We began this research purely as a construction technique and it was only some way down the line when we realised that Surefast structures would offer exceptional blast protection against bomb and rocket attack.

"From that point on we started liaising closely with the Ministry of Defence."

Should an explosion occur the BI-Steel can absorb the energy from the blast safely through gradual deformation.

The steel face plates contain any damaged concrete, preventing the generation of hazardous secondary shrapnel.

Corus manufactures its Surefast structures offsite, this includes all openings for windows and doors.

It will then deliver the panels to site in flat-pack form where they can be rapidly assembled.

No reinforcement or formwork is required and the building can be finished off with conventional brick or steel cladding to disguise its robust construction and provide a high quality finish.

With prospects for World peace seemingly deteriorating by the week, it looks as though Corus is on to a winner.

All that's now required is for City analyists to be convinced so the company can enjoy some respite on its share price.