Patent Clearance Spur For UK Engineering Firm to Expand in Europe
A pioneering UK engineering firm that produces cutting-edge industrial equipment for food factory production lines is making aggressive expansion plans across the UK and Europe following a full patent approval for one of its top-selling products.
FEG Global has come up with the ‘LGC Scrubber‘, a groundbreaking item that is revolutionising business in food processing and manufacturing industries by efficiently removing odour and oil emission from frying, cooking, seasoning and coating activities. All these emissions, if not checked, can lead to costly legal proceedings when environmental health regulations are breached and complaints are proven.
Fumes and particles of mist are a great challenge to producers of food all over the globe, particularly those situated around residential complexes or with constant 24/7 manufacturing lines.
Furthermore, buildup of residues in filtration systems and ductwork increases the risk of fire on factory floors, thereby translating into higher insurance rates as well as additional operational costs.
The LGC Scrubber's patented, low-maintenance, high-efficiency modular design combines both a particulate wet scrubber and a gas scrubber into one system, giving a unique solution to remove oil mist and odour compounds simultaneously.
With hygiene and recirculation capabilities, mist removal and high-tech filtration, the system also supports circular economy. In some cases, it can even enable companies to recycle or sell waste product as biofuel, giving new sources of income.
Based in the UK but with offices across the North East, Midlands, Glasgow and Belgium, FEG Global has now set itself up to develop the sales of the LGC Scrubber throughout Europe. Manufacturers with high temperature frying and cooking operations—particularly those serving seafood, meat, poultry, ready meal and snack food markets—are the company's target.
Chris Williams, Managing Director at FEG Global, said:
“Being awarded the design patent is a huge step forward for FEG Global, especially in relation to supporting food manufacturers, both here in the UK and in Europe by delivering a fit-for-purpose, market-focused solution. We can help solve a significant problem for the industry, regardless of what end-product they are making as well as help reduce any health and safety risk with one modular install.
“Often companies think of odour detection and oil emissions as an afterthought and only when it becomes problematic such as when a complaint is made or the Environment Agency is engaged. For manufacturers omitting odours from food production plants, this scenario is becoming more and more common as the need for new housing means that many new developments are built closer to industrial areas.
“We’re therefore working with multiple companies who are now looking to install the LGC Scrubber within their existing factory layout and because of its modular design, we are able to create a bespoke solution that sits comfortably within any production facility.
“We’re delighted to be awarded patent approval and as a UK business, this could see huge growth for the company both domestically as well as overseas.”
It's one of the first companies to exploit the new innovation, namely Whitby Seafoods, UK food manufacturer and producer of worldwide famous Whitby Scampi. The company has fitted its LGC Scrubber at the main production unit.
Handling in excess of 3,000 tonnes of scampi per annum in an extremely high temperature frying process, Whitby Seafoods required an odour-abatement system to efficiently remove scampi vapours while keeping within the production floor plan at its main production facility.
Chris Dickinson, Head of Engineering at Whitby Seafoods, said:
“As a responsible local employer and a high-volume food manufacturer operating seven days a week with production five days a week, it is paramount for our site to meet (and exceed) the required industry standards especially in relation to our environmental responsibilities.
“We have worked closely with FEG Global to commission, design and install the LGC Scrubber to manage and eliminate high levels of oils and odour coming from our production lines. This has been a seamless process and we now have a singular unit that does exactly that, ensuring we are a good neighbour too.”
FEG Global, established in 2004, is a design engineering expert offering capital project management and environmental technology solutions to diverse industries including food and beverage, pharmaceutical, paper and pulp, nuclear, chemical and automotive. It is a worldwide company that continues to offer state-of-the-art industrial air handling and emissions control technologies.
