Eurodyne, Lindale

HAVING just enjoyed their best ever year in business, a small firm in a pretty corner of South Lakeland is hoping for similar success in the Innovation and Technology category.

Eurodyne was founded almost 12 years ago and has moved forward leaps and bounds to the point where its export business is now growing at approximately 30 per cent a year.

It was established as a supplier of precision liquid dispensing devices for the manufacture of contact lenses, and this remains the main core of the business, but it has also evolved as a distributor of laboratory chemicals and equipment covering the north west of England.

Five years ago, the company began manufacturing dry air misting machines for Nebulair sanitising systems, which provide effective bio-decontamination, before acquiring half of the Nebulair business the following year.

The firm also supplies general laboratory equipment, consumables such as glassware, plastics, gloves, swabs, filtration products, laboratory and process chemicals.

The key to its success is teamwork and collaboration with specialist manufacturers of products from all over the world.

The range covers approximately 20,000 different products from plastic disposables through to capital equipment.

Eurodyne has recently signed a licence agreement with a global company for the decontamination of clean rooms and microbiological safety cabinets.

Future plans include creating franchise models for Nebulair to expand around the world to countries such as the USA, Scandinavia and South Africa plus the Middle East.

Managing director Eric Warren said: “We are a small company but have managed to patent our Nebulair system in the last year and now have the potential to collaborate with other companies to impact on the growing problem of hospital contracted infections.

“Our export business is growing at 30 per cent each year helping redress the balance of payments for the country."

Connect 2 Cleanrooms, Kirkby Lonsdale

KIRKBY LONSDALE-based Connect 2 Cleanrooms boasts international clientele and hopes to achieve 30 per cent growth year-on-year.

It makes modular cleanrooms - controlled cleansing environments used in industries where contamination can cause potential harm - such as health care, science and energy.

While the technology has been around since the 1940s, Connect 2 Cleanrooms has successfully developed what was once expensive products and put them within reach of smaller businesses.

Established in 2002 by managing director Joe Govier, a former engineer in the medical and life science sectors, the company has more than 600 cleanroom installations, 3,000 customers and exports making up 40 per cent of all business.

Explaining how its product works, Mr Govier said: “It’s a room within a room that has its own clean atmosphere.

“In the oil industry in Africa when they bring up parts that need maintenance and don’t want to do it in a dusty environment, we create another room that provides a high level of cleansing.”

Connect 2 Cleanrooms also assists users in the running and operation of the technology and it launched e-commerce site www.cleanroomshop.com eight years ago to help its customers source equipment and cleaning products.

It was the first company to use an e-commerce platform which, it believes, has opened up the market and allowed its manufacturing and internet services to develop the business.

Houghton Parkhouse, Milnthorpe

INNOVATION has been key to the progress made by a family firm which has been serving South Lakeland and beyond for more than 60 years.

Based on traditional values and hard work, Houghton Parkhouse has grown from early manufacturing facilities in a Milnthorpe barn to a hi-tech, purpose-built structure on its extended five-acre site.

It was founded by John Houghton, who began the business after falling in love with and marrying Bertha from the Lyth Valley - he wanted to provide a good future for his wife and family. He set to work on developing livestock transporters ranging from 12ft to 45.6ft in length, and from single to four decks in height, while Bertha attended to the administration. The firm is now primarily run by son Michael and wife Pam, who act as principal directors.

Perhaps the most innovative product the company has devised is the unique Platinum range, described as a ‘new breed of livestock transporter’.

Traditionally, transporters use ventilation flaps which have to be manually opened and closed - a time- consuming task which also has health and safety implications.

The Platinum’ range addresses this issue with sliding vents which can be operated from a safe ground level with the push of a button. The new design offers greater width and a controlled variable decking system, which in turn offers improved load capacity and a saving in loading times of livestock.

It offers greater versatility and, as animal welfare and health and safety are of paramount importance to the firm, it ensures animals travel safely, securely and comfortably, and reduces risk.