The great innovator Emerson and Renwick

THE GREAT INNOVATOR

Emerson and Renwick is a leading manufacturer of production machinery. Abigail Saltmarsh reports on its reputation for engineering excellence.

With 90 years of engineering excellence behind it, UK-based Emerson and Renwick has every intention of staying at the front of its game for another century, according to the commercial director, David Hargreaves. He says the company has developed three clear fields where it continues to push ahead to develop production machinery that is cutting edge in its technology and offers simplicity of design and reliability.

“We are known as an innovator and we have a history of developing new products,” he says. “We focus on design and research. Our technologies will keep us out in front – in all the areas we work in.” Market growth

Founded in 1918 in Lancashire, England, Emerson and Renwick has grown and developed in line with market changes. Today it focuses on production equipment in wall coverings, heat exchangers and nanotube technology. At its base in Accrington, it employs some 130 people. The company also has an operation in the USA, where it employs 12 people, and it has recently opened a service centre in Shanghai.

“We see that as a very important step for us. The wallcoverings industry, in particular, is extremely fast growing in China. The market for wallcoverings used to be 15 to 20 million rolls used each year. Within five years, that has increased to 130 million and it is still a growth area,” he says.

New products

Growth in all areas is driven by new product launches, Mr Hargreaves stresses. Emerson and Renwick has recently brought in a new production technology in its machines for producing wallcoverings.

“This was patented about two years ago. It is an innovative process for infinity printing and it has given us the market edge,” he says. “Along with the weaker pound it has helped with our exports.”

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Erhardt + Leimer

Erhardt + Leimer has been a partner to Emerson and Renwick for many years, supplying web guides and tension monitoring systems in order for the machine to function in the most efficient way.

Our local office in the UK is able to fully evaluate the best system for the application, whilst our global presence provides local support wherever this is required.

We provide the latest technology as it is developed in all our various products, and have recently extended our vision systems to include some exciting cameras to include 100% print inspection, video monitoring and surface inspection.

He adds: “We have another prototype in this area and we hope to make the equipment in about three months’ time, and launch it at the end of the year. Here our focus will be on reducing energy and web length in the machine significantly.”

Other recent innovations include a new winder, which was launched in summer 2011. The company has already received five orders for the machines.

Making waves

In the heat exchanger market, Emerson and Renwick serves the automotive sector. Here many of the tier-two manufacturers use its equipment and the company’s new developments are also making waves in the industry.

“Our latest equipment relates to the twin screw, which is a patented process,” he explains. “This is about reducing machining and labour costs, and saving material.”

In these machines, the independently driven twin screws are capable of synchronised or independent rotation, offering the ability to faultlessly insert tubes at a rate of up to five tubes per second and then transfer a complete batch of tubes for seamless, multi-fin insertion.

Teaming up

“Our third market segment is even more specialised,” Mr Hargreaves says.

“We are working on nanotube and emerging technologies. In nanotube technologies, we are working with a Finnish company on some developments. We very much see this as an area of focus for the future.”

One exciting development has seen the team develop a new material that can hold liquid yet remain dry on the surface. With any number of applications, one of its major uses would be in maternity hospitals, he suggests.

“One square metre of this material can hold 20 litres of water, and it still remains dry on the surface,” he says. “This is ideal for the hygiene market as it can be incinerated afterwards.”

Looking ahead

He explains that it is vital for the British company to continue to push ahead in wallcoverings, heat exchangers and nanotube technologies at the same time.

“Each of these areas can be cyclical. For example, the automotive business has been through a dip but is now starting to come back again. The idea is that the market will always be strong in at least one of our areas of focus,” he says.

With plans to expand further in China, Russia and eastern Europe, where the company is considering opening a service centre, Mr Hargreaves is optimistic about the future. He says Emerson and Renwick will continue to push new product launches and to make a name for itself in new technologies.

“The whole point of this company is research and development – and that will remain the same,” he says. “We have been here for 90 years and will continue to be here for another 90 years.” n