Bedfordshire Technology Company Gets the Green Light for £Multi-Million US Expansion

Energy Maintenance Technologies (EMT) (UK) is rapidly gaining an international reputation for being the number one provider of gas analysis and measurement equipment in its sector.  “We have always looked beyond the UK market because it simply isn’t large enough to sustain our business,” says Neil Kane, EMT Managing Director.  “That’s why, when we founded the business back in 2009, we made a conscious decision to work with UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) in the East of England from the outset: we knew that both their Passport to Export and Gateway to Global Growth programmes could help us overcome barriers to export by enabling us to acquire the skills, expertise and contacts that we would need to achieve overseas growth, and rapidly.”

EMT’s recent US contract concerns its zero-waste SF6 gas analyser.  The multi-million pound agreement is with ABB, the largest power company in North America and one of the three main players across the globe. 

EMT’s SF6 gas analysers represent the most advanced technology currently in use in the energy maintenance sector.  They bring laboratory technology to the field in the form of a portable device that can be used to analyse gas within electricity transmission and distribution networks.  Significantly, the portable analysers return the gas to the circuit breakers after testing, without allowing any gas to escape.  The presence of Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6) is essential to reduce sparks and arcing in switchgear and transformers, but the greenhouse gas goes ‘stale’ over time and must be monitored regularly.  EMT’s low-risk green technology replaces the costly and time-consuming process of taking gas samples and sending them off to the lab for analysis.

“The company is expanding overseas at an exciting rate,” says UKTI trade advisor Martin Keepfer, who has been working with EMT for a number of years.  “EMT has recently moved to new UK premises in order to cope with demand and growth.  I aim to visit them on site at least once each quarter to keep up to speed: by keeping abreast of their latest developments I can point them towards additional UKTI support, such as relevant events and ‘meet the buyer’ opportunities.  I can also help them to make new overseas connections in the energy and power sector, using UKTI’s network of international offices.”

EMT has been invited to participate in the UKTI Growth Innovation Programme, which focuses on future product development, new technology and supply chain considerations.  “Our expertise lies in international sales and marketing, not so much in product development,” says Neil, “so tapping into this manufacturing expertise and knowledge enables us to innovate with the help of third party partners.  We’re committed to focusing not only on the needs of our current customers, but also on what will suit the market of tomorrow.”