History - Royal Engineers sapper

John Parkes Snr and ex sapper established Dell Explosive also known as DELLEX in order to further the water suppression technology.  Looking at frangible materials in an effort not to add to the fragmentation risk, he utilised lay flat tubing (LFT) as a method of containing water. Utilising other materials he was able to develop a viable system that could assist in containing primary fragments from explosive events. Trials were conducted and with the assistance of Professor Steven Salter, the approach was scientifically validated. After presenting the approach on National TV on the Eureka! show on BBC1 he was approached by DRA about utilising the technology to assist the UK MOD. Proof of principle systems were developed manufactured and trialed at Shoeburyness looking at CMD. Trials on 155mm and 8” shells were extremely successful and exceeded all expectations.

John Parkes Jnr then joined the company to work with his father to expand the range of systems utilising the technology. Further works with Chief Inspector of Naval Ordnance (CINO) developed a range of temporary explosive magazines. Working with the likes of the Northern Diving Group and The Royal Engineers, systems tackling EOD tasks were also developed. In an Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR) for the UK MOD, a system was requested and developed to allow the reduction of the exclusion zones. The system was effective and was the most successful of the day. The Collateral Blast Damage Reduction System CBDRS spawning from this embryonic system, taking in to consideration the requirements of the end-user it was designed and manufactured. The system was effective at reducing the radius of the exclusion zone from 2500m to 500m and reducing overpressure by 65%. It was granted the NATO Stock No 1385-99-9152453 on the culmination of trials against 2000lb Paveway, 500lb Mk 82 bomb and an OFAB 250-T HE fragmentation bomb. To date, the system has been deployed in Reading to assist in the EOD task and also in Kosovo to suppress a 2000LB Matra when it was high ordered. Systems were also developed to deal with the threat of sub-munitions. These very effective weapons were fully neutralised by the proof of principal systems trialled on the day. 

John Parkes Jnr now manages PARKX INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS encompassing works in Civil Engineering and the development of explosive suppression systems along with addressing other problems in his field of expertise.