Tell us a bit about your business? When were you founded, where are you based and how many people do you employ?
Eminox was established in 1978 and while operating globally, remains headquartered in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. We employ over 300 people, with the majority based at our UK manufacturing facility and HQ. Eminox is part of the Hexadex Group – a privately-owned group of UK manufacturing companies, specialising in exhaust and emission control systems and complementary products and technology.
What does the business do?
Eminox designs and manufactures sustainableexhaust aftertreatment systems for heavy-duty OEMs. These reduce exhaust pollutant emissions from on-road, non-road mobile machinery (NRMM), rail, marine and power generation applications. Essentially, we help manufacturers and transport operators ensure that they can reduce emissions and meet regulatory standards, wherever they are in the world. Some of our customers include Volvo, Iveco, Liebherr and Arriva Group.
There are four strands to Eminox’s business. Firstly, we work directly with global OEMs to design and supply emissions systems which they integrate into their vehicles and equipment. Our retrofit business creates and supplies systems to bus and rail operators who retrofit them to older vehicles to achieve the latest equivalent emissions standards. Thirdly, we have a growing aftermarket arm that provides type approved, homologated replacement parts for trucks, buses and coaches (such as Diesel Particulate Filters). These cost-effectively deliver OEM level performance when it comes to Euro VI emissions compliance. Finally, our Eminox New Ventures division looks at new areas where we can innovate. This includes our work with Johnson Matthey and BP on their Fischer Tropsch (FT) novel reactor technology, which turns household waste into renewable fuels. We have developed an engineered solution to package the catalyst within the reactor, ensuring optimum catalyst utilisation.
How is business? What’s the outlook for the year ahead? (this is looking into the medium and longer term post COVID)
Clearly, there has been a short-term impact due to the pandemic, so we are looking at how we can adapt and evolve as a business. Like a lot of people, we’re currently in the process of developing a new and sustainable normal way of working.
Moving forward changes in emission legislation are happening around the world, expanding opportunities and markets for us. In the medium term we are especially looking at growth in the OEM, retrofit and aftermarket sectors in APAC/ASEAN as tighter emissions regulations come into force across Asia for on-road, off-road and marine applications. We are also excited about the potential of Eminox New Ventures, where we see increasing uses for our waste from landfill products.
What are the big issues or technological advances that fill you with positivity? (again please think of specific industry issues and advances rather than COVID)
We’re committed to bridging the gap to a zero emissions future, helping create cleaner diesel vehicles to support heavy-duty manufacturers and operators. There’s enormous potential to reduce emissions and directly improve air quality around the world.
Alongside this, what makes me most positive are the new opportunities out there – particularly Eminox New Ventures and moving into new applications outside the ICE sector.
We’re looking at how we can add value to customers and supply chains when it comes to alternative fuels. A good example of this is the Essex-based Low Carbon Tractor (LoCT) project, led by CNH Industrial, with funding from the Advanced Propulsion Centre. This involves developing biomethane powered tractors, with the fuel sustainably generated from food and farm waste – we are contributing our emissions control expertise to ensure it meets European and US standards.
We understand you have just won the Queen’s Award. What does the award recognise?
We won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise, in the International Trade category based on our increasing export success. As part of this we have seen overseas sales grow by 146% over the last three-years, while exported sales have risen to 67% of the company’s total sales during the same time frame. This is the first year we entered the competition, which demonstrates the scale of our achievement in winning this award.
How do you feel about the Queen’s Award win and what do you think it will do for the company?
First and foremost, it celebrates the hard work and shared values of all our employees, who have worked to achieve our strategic goals, particularly over the last three years. We are proud to have played a part in growing UK international trade, a vital part of the country’s economic future.
Being a UK-based manufacturer with over 40 years’ experience in the automotive industry, securing the Queen’s Award provides even greater assurance to our stakeholders, customers, suppliers and employees that we are a company that they would like to collaborate and do business with.
It does provide Eminox with a competitive advantage, given it recognises our strong financial and strategic successes. As it is highly regarded globally, it will help us accelerate further future export growth in Europe and other regions, particularly Asia.
Eminox MD, Mark Runciman
