PRESS RELEASE

November 2013

Fluorocarbon wins EEF/ENER-G Environmental Efficiency Award 2013

South East Awards – winner of Environmental Efficiency Award and runner-up

A Hertfordshire manufacturer of polymers, machined components, seals, slide-bearings, skid-ways systems and high performance coatings has won a prestigious award in the EEF Future Manufacturing Awards 2013, in a ceremony held at the Mercedes-Benz World, Weybridge on the 12 November.

Fluorocarbon will now go onto the national finals, which will be held in London in January 2014, where they will compete against other regional winners from across the UK.

The South East Environmental Efficiency Award sponsored by ENER-G, was awarded to the Hertford-based company for its overarching energy-efficiency plan with notable milestones, exceeding targets and its good use of technology.

The award recognises companies that have done the most to improve their own environmental performance and/or reduce their carbon footprint whilst improving operational efficiency.

Also recognised at the same ceremony were Laminar Medica Limited based in Tring. They are manufacturers of insulated packaging systems for the protection of pharmaceutical products against extremes of temperature during transportation. Laminar Medica won the runner-up award for Environmental Efficiency. The judges thought that the company took into account the implications of health and safety and training.  They used robust processes that allowed for increased amounts of recycling year on year.

Sponsor Nick Linklater, Head of Corporate Accounts for ENER-G, said: "Fluorocarbon and Laminar Medica are setting shining examples of green business excellence for others to follow. They have reduced their carbon footprint and demonstrated that good environmental performance makes excellent business sense."

Andrew Iddeson, Business Unit Manager at Fluorocarbon, Hertford explains: “We embarked on a three year energy-efficiency plan to reduce our energy costs by making our processes more efficient. Our success has led to ISO14001 which has given a competitive advantage for business development while helping customer retention in a global competitive environment. Improvements have also been seen as exemplary by  leading international organisations whom have visited our facilities.”

Jim Davison, EEF Region Director for SE said: “Fluorocarbon is a true South East business success story that highlights the role the region plays in driving the UK economy forward. By taking bold steps and investing in its people, resources and technology, they have grown their business despite the challenging economic climate. Ambitious companies such as Fluorocarbon are an asset to the South East and are very worthy of their success.”

ENDS

Media enquiries to:

Colin Bridgman, Harvest PR, Tel: 023 9244 9655/07798 735648. E-mail: colin.bridgman@harvestpr.co.uk

Note to Editors

About EEF

EEF, the manufacturers’ organization, is the representative voice of manufacturing in the UK together with UK Steel. EEF has a growing membership of over 6,000 companies of all sizes, employing some 900,000 people from every sector of engineering, manufacturing, engineering construction and technology-based industries.

About ENER-G, sponsors of the Environmental Award

ENER-G is an energy services and technology business, with its global headquarters and manufacturing centre based in the UK. The company, which is EEF's Energy Services partner, helps organisations to reduce energy costs and improve environmental performance through providing professional support with energy purchasing, energy efficiency and all aspects of energy management, including renewable and decentralised energy production.

About Fluorocarbon

Founded in 1962 Fluorocarbon has grown to become one of the UK’s largest fluoropolymer processors and global supplier of high performance plastics (PTFE, PEEK, and PCTFE Components), Precision Engineered parts and R&D Services .

Fluorocarbon provide products & services focused on meeting increasing demands to customers who are worldwide market leaders across many business sectors.

Fluorocarbon has five manufacturing sites; four in the UK and one European, sales offices in both Europe and the USA and partners globally.

Fluorocarbon aim to offer all customers high levels of quality & reliability for critical products and assist them to increase their efficiency. Fluorocarbon strive to shorten supply chains and form an integral part of our customer’s value chain.

Fluorocarbon is committed to continuous improvement. This commitment fuels innovation through R&D, lean manufacturing and integrated quality management system. Fluorocarbon innovation is observed in tailored solutions and recognised by long term relationships with customers spanning over decades.