FuelActive Ltd - Technical Innovation of the Year
Company: FuelActive Ltd,
Company Description: FuelActive manufactures and installs the FuelActive® fuel pickup unit, which prevents water, dirt and other contaminants from entering the fuel system. Founded in 1998 by Mike James, an engineer who had witnessed the huge impact that breakdowns were having on the construction industry. In the last year the company has been a two time award winner for engineering excellence with Innovate UK.
Nomination Category: Company / Organization Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Technical Innovation of the Year - At Organizations With Up to 100 Employees
Nomination Title: FuelActive Ltd
The story of FuelActive® began in 1998, instigated by the huge impact which industrial vehicle breakdowns were having on the UK construction industry – 80% of which are caused by fuel contamination. After an extensive period of research and development the business was established as a developer of unique clean diesel technology with a sole focus on contamination elimination.
Fast forward 23 years and FuelActive® now operates on six continents supplying not only some of the leading players in construction but expanding into the mining, marine, military, transportation, power generation, pump manufacture and agriculture sectors too. Our customer base includes global giants Komatsu, Caterpillar, Terex, Sogefi Filters, DAF and Atlas Copco.
The latest investment is a state-of-the-art technology centre at our global HQ. A clean environment, purpose-built to support the fight against fuel contamination.
In the pandemic-dominated economic climate which has seen many businesses struggle, the resilience and commitment to excellence shown across our organisation has seen FuelActive® go from strength to strength – with expansion, investment and impressive sales performance throughout the award qualification period.
That success has been underpinned by the spirit of innovation and technological expertise on which the business was founded.
2019 saw the introduction of an updated range of products to tackle contamination challenges in a new breed of industrial vehicle across a whole new range of market sectors. At the heart of this innovation was the patented FuelActive® unit. It replaces a standard fuel pick-up pipe in a vehicle’s fuel tank ensuring only the cleanest fuel is used by the engine’s fuel injection system.
A floating pick-up pipe draws fuel from the upper level in the tank, leaving any water and sediment at the bottom. By only burning the cleanest fuel available, the engine operates closer to the manufacturer’s design specification. That means greater reliability, improved fuel consumption and reduced emissions.
Based on its global potential, FuelActive® has recently received equity investment from the Development Bank of Wales, along with the private equity syndicate Adjuvo. In the last 12 months alone staff numbers have doubled and the company has become a two time award winner for engineering excellence – awarded with Innovate UK grants by the British government.
CEO Nick Massey says: “A unique solution to a massive challenge, FuelActive® is perhaps one of the industry’s best-kept secrets. With increased financial backing of our partners, we have hired a world-class team to drive a significant scaling up of the business.
“The endorsement of a prestigious Stevie Award would be fantastic recognition for our team’s exceptional work negotiating the challenges of Covid-19. The exposure it would bring could be the catalyst which helps springboard us to the next level.”
Across our sectors approximately 80% of machine downtime is caused by fuel contamination. A global problem affecting thousands of companies and costing millions of dollars. Fuel contamination drives up operating costs by increasing repair and maintenance budgets, reducing productivity and eroding capital efficiency. Engines operating at lower thermal efficiency lead to increased harmful emissions, reduced fuel economy and risks catastrophic engine failure. Other aftermarket solutions seek to address fuel contamination, but all require regular servicing and replacement parts. There is only one in-tank, fit-and-forget product – FuelActive®.
Our solution is easy to fit, built to last, operates from -30°C to 50°C and unlike any competitor, requires zero maintenance. Independent laboratory testing shows that FuelActive® delivers fuel which is 92% cleaner than a conventional fuel pick-up system. Despite offering a five-year warranty, we are yet to see a claim. As a result, customers and the environment benefit with:
• Increased Machine Uptime
• Reduced Fuel Consumption by up to 4.7%
• Reduced Component Replacements
• Reduced Harmful Emissions – including NOx reductions of up to 4.6%
• Reduced Total Cost of Ownership
Our customers validate these claims:
“In one mine in South America filters had to be changed after operating less than 200 hours. After installing the FuelActive® unit, the filters lasted more than 1,800 hours.” Steve Woods, VP Product Support, Komatsu
“Installing FuelActive® has eradicated fuel- contamination failures and saved tens of thousands of dollars in repair and maintenance.”Paul Edmonds, Fleet Operations Manager Atlas-Copco
Alongside our responses, we have submitted six pieces of supporting material to: provide additional detail on the business and its innovative products; validate the claims we have made; demonstrate the exposure FuelActive® is gaining for its developments; and highlight the impact it is making.
Appendix 1 – FuelActive® product brochure
A full overview of our products and services expanding on the information briefly outlined above. This includes a more detailed summary of the key features and benefits and a more technical explanation of how the products deliver the results we have highlighted.
Appendix 2 – ConstructionWorx coverage
An example of the extensive press coverage achieved since January 2019. This endorsement comes from the official publication of the Construction Equipment Association.
Appendix 3 - Case Studies
A selection of real-world case studies – including full customer testimonials – showing the tangible benefits FuelActive® brings to several of the world’s leading industrial equipment manufacturers.
Appendix 4 – How does FuelActive® work?
This brief explainer video which demonstrates the comparison between a standard fuel pipe and the FuelActive® method which only uses the cleanest fuel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZNJKjqrt3I
Appendix 5 – Industry Influencer report
Peter Haddock, a key social media influencer in the field of industrial technology recently visited our laboratory and followed up by attending one of our customer’s sites to see the technology in action. Here is his full report: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XEja_no7L8
Appendix 6 - Website
The FuelActive® corporate website - www.fuelactive.com