The Enigin Story - 30 Years in the making
Enigin is more than simply a Public Limited Company with a formidable development plan backed by an Asset Management Group - it's about people - and the experience they bring to the table.
At Enigin we believe that "People are the primary determinant in the success of any business" Most of the original foundation team at Enigin have worked together for decades either in; The Energy Saving Business... Electronic Engineering... Innovative Product Development or Global Marketing Initiatives.
1974
Most people would agree that a business is really about people more than products and things. While Enigin PLC was incorporated as recently as 2006 it has deep roots. Two of Enigin PLC’s founder Directors Ian Wrigley FRSA and Eddie Delaney work together against a background of surging oil prices and the government backed 'Save It' campaign. It was also the year that an RSA report (of which Ian is a fellow member) examined the use of energy resources, pre-dating popular modern concerns about the environment.
1982
Ian Wrigley FRSA, Enigin PLC's Managing Director, started in a very primitive sector. Back in the early eighties very few people understood or fully appreciated the importance of energy conservation - and nobody had even considered lowering their carbon footprint!
Having made the decision to diversify into the energy saving business, he commissioned the installation of the very first, ‘Digistat’ microchip based energy saving controller within the UK, originally developed by American Stabilis. Following hundreds of successful installations these became a benchmark for a new generation of digital Energy Management Systems. At Enigin we firmly believe in the principle that you have to constantly innovate to remain at the forefront of a new emerging market - hence we maintain a strong commitment to on-going research and development.
1984
Having now experienced first hand the positive benefits that intelligent energy saving solutions can deliver to client companies, extensive development began on a range of intelligent building management systems. This led to the national launch of the trademarked FuelBoss range of software driven microcontroller systems. The FuelBoss range was successfully installed via a direct sales organisation into countless factories, hotels, nursing homes and private residences across the UK. Working hands-on with very gifted technical people can be both rewarding and at the same time a real challenge. The R&D team at Enigin has to continually keep focused on the main objectives and ensure that ultimately each new creation is not only technically…but commercially sound.
1986
Many people in the UK will remember the “SAVE IT” campaign of the seventies. In 1986 the Government launched a similar campaign entitled ‘Get More For Your Monergy’ – a clever play on the words money and energy.
To coincide with this campaign Ian engaged the services of a national promotional company and embarked on a “fuel Saving Crusade’ which caught the attention of national TV. This co-coordinated effort included a massive poster campaign in every major city and town within the UK, mobile “poster’ trucks (as shown in the picture) in support of locallised exhibitions and seminars, all of which were planned to augment the Governments energy awareness campaign.
At Enigin we place great importance on marketing and we have various PR campaigns to help both distributors and end-user customers alike, develop their corporate ‘green’ image.
1987
Amongst the Companies that sought to service the increasing demand for energy saving products was Smiths Industries. They launched a great new product via their Environmental Controls division called the Centroller 3000.
Although Smiths apparently have a tradition of never producing products unless they carry the ‘Smiths’ brand, the National Sales Director of the division decided to break the mold of this 100-year-old company and (allegedly for the first time in the history of the company), agreed to the exclusive ‘own branding’ and nationwide distribution of the Centroller 3000 marketed as the “FuelBoss Envoy” – Why? At the time FuelBoss Ltd (owned by our founder Director) accounted for 25% of all their ‘Centroller’ sales… and they were seeking to secure the potential long-term.
At Enigin we have been able to build on solid relationships with technology partners to ensure we can deliver the most efficacious energy saving products on the planet.
The accompanying picture was used as part of the marketing material at the time. What few people know is that the beautiful little girl in the picture (having grown up considerably over twenty plus years), is now married to Enigin’s Sales Director Ben Willcocks.
1991
Having established a proven track record in marketing cutting-edge energy saving products, Ian was been introduced (1987) to the concept of ‘ dynamic ac Induction motor torque control’ by the late Colin Rowe.
1991 saw the culmination of many years development… the world’s first and then only truly intelligent single phase AC motor controller. While the ‘principles’ of controlling voltage and power factor by phase angle control had been well established by NASA, the potential had never been fully exploited because of the need for engineers to arbitrarily ‘set’ the savings on each installation on-site. This led to the developed a new ‘dynamic’ motor controller.
Originally codenamed ‘Electromiser’ this was subsequently launched under the PowerBoss brand and became the forerunner in a range of intelligent fixed speed motor controllers, which were ultimately sold commercially to Cadbury’s Schweppes, Coca Cola, Gillette, Hitachi, Jaguar and numerous other blue chip companies. Enigin’s iMEC expanded range now provides solutions for both variable and fixed speed applications, covering the vast amount of motors in daily use.
1992
With a mission to deliver turn-key motor control solutions to a waiting global market, plans were made for the formation and launch of an international manufacturing and marketing company with a mission to deliver turn-key motor control solutions to a waiting global market.
Early success was achieved following an Energy Audit undertaken by ETSU, which led to negotiating terms and coordinating the installation of over 4000 motor controllers across 600 sites for the UK national chain of Dillons convenience stores on behalf of one of the company’s authorized independent Distributors.
At Enigin we place great importance of the careful selection, training and support of all our Independent Distributors who represent us across the globe.
1995
While there are still many potential applications for single-phase motor control solutions. The fact remains that in industry up to 70% of all the energy demanded is consumed by three phase motors. The real difficulty 1995 came in transferring the complex control algorithms, utilised within the single phase, to a range of three-phase industrial motor controllers.
This was ultimately achieved in conjunction with Professor Peter Unsworth and The British Technology Group – achieving what many said, “can’t be done”. Interestingly this was also the year that Enigin’s Marketing Director, Troy Wrigley and Commercial Director, Tim McMahon began working together for the first time in the Company’s technology division - manufacturing, and testing intelligent motor controllers.
1996
This was a pivotal year in the evolution of Enigin. Firstly is saw the invention, development and production of the ‘Genesis’ range of heating control solutions. Many of these control systems were successfully installed to high acclaim in numerous diverse applications, including British Rail. One of the proposed evolutions of the Eniscope is that is will soon be monitoring not just the electricity used by client companies but also gas, oil and water which are often used to heat buildings.
However, of much more relevance is the fact that this was also the year that the foundations for the; yet to be actualaised, Enigin ‘TRIANGULATED’ approach to Energy management was first conceptualised. The main raison d'être being to make it easier for both distributors of energy saving products and their customers to do business in an ethical environment where everything would be transparent and everyone could see exactly what was happening… in other words Eniscope… which made the otherwise invisible now visible.
It would be a decade later before web-based technology developed enough to make this ‘dream’ a reality.
1998
To some extent writing, presenting and producing of ‘Winning More Customers’ for Richmond Training, was a slight deviation for our Managing Director, although it was rewarding to learn that it was hailed as “the ultimate formula for boosting sales”. The programme covers every aspect of customer acquisition from initial enquiry, account management through to total satisfaction in the delivery of outstanding customer service.
The programme was ‘sold’ commercially to over one hundred companies, who then utilised it as an in-house training facility; including Barclays Bank plc, MacDonald Hotels plc, Norwich Union (now known as Aviva), British Glass, Tuffnells Parcels, Anglo Group plc… to name but a few. Because the examples used as part of the training sequences are based on delivering energy saving solutions, this programme now forms the bedrock for the training of all Enigin Partners and Sales Consultants, helping them to meet the needs of client companies in the most professional way.
2001
At Enigin we believe that people are the primary determinant in the success of any business and consequently we place great importance on helping all our staff and loyal partners to grow individually and collectively. In 2001 Director of Psychology Anne Ellis MSc, CFCIPD began the development of PeopleMaps, which is a web-enabled psychometric assessment tool created to help assess the character and dominant inclinations of potential new recruits to help with the selection process thereby ensuring we have the best people in the most important roles.
Ann has an acute awareness of the needs of companies after having successfully built a number of high-growth companies herself by focusing on using psychological theory and practice, designed to improve individual and team effectiveness. The same underlying principles now incorporated in Enigin's PeopleMaps profiles have been applied successfully to both public and blue chip private sector corporations and used already by over one million people world-wide. All Enigin partners and distributors are given immediate access to this programme to help build and develop their teams.
2004
In this year Enigin Sales Director Ben Willcocks embarked on a significant career change from financial services, where he had enjoyed conspicuous success with HSBC. He obviously made the right move… while banking is in turmoil, the energy saving business is booming!
Ben also relished the opportunity to work as International Business Manager alongside both Troy Wrigley and Tim McMahon in a successful energy saving company. The ensuing success, of which they were all major contributors, resulted in the company receiving several prestigious awards.
Interestingly it was also the year that Enigin's first employee, Lindsey Davis, ran the international sales office for LASER when their product was chosen, against stiff competition, for the 2008 Olympics. Lindsey is now the Office Manager at Southview House - Enigin PLC’s, Head Office, which facilitates for the MINDSHARE training programme, our Research and Development team and global distribution.
2006
Enigin was legally incorporated as a Public Limited Company, and the fledgling organisation moved into new offices in the cathedral city of Truro. At the same time the company also created a presence in the Chrysler Building New York to further support our USA activities.
Troy Wrigley, Ben Willcocks and Tim McMahon left their lucrative secure employment in an established energy saving company to form part of the strategic team that would spearhead the Enigin Solution namely; Eniscope, augmented by our burgeoning range of load-side products that included iMEC, LESS, ACES & CUES.
Considerable work was directed into the development of various powerful business tools and web-applications to ensure only the highest levels of training, development and support were given to all Enigin partners and staff.
In the following year we were so impressed with the quality of work being achieved by one of our external software providers that we bought the company Monstervision outright, to bring the development work 'in-house'. Enigin has a dedicated research and development team working on several new and very exciting innovative energy saving products and solutions.
2010
Never allowing the grass to grow under our feet, the Company moved twice since inception to cope with the inevitable expansion and now reside comfortably, in brand new offices on the St Austell Enterprise Park, with adjoining land to accommodate further expansion. We have numerous partners across the globe enjoying excellent success by taking our ethical, triangulated approach to energy management with both Eniscope and the most efficacious load-side products available on the Planet.
With the Directors firmly at the helm the expanded Strategic Management Team at Enigin is now able to boast a wealth of business experience from a team of real professionals, which includes: Andrew Booth - Operations & Finance Manager, Ken Cheyne - Head of Research & Development, Ed Raynham – Head of Software Development and Steve Hill - Media Manager, all of whom work to provide support to partners, distributors and customers through their respective teams.
contact us:
Telephone
01726 871 040 (from UK)
0044 1726 871 040 (International)
Fax
01726 61960 (from UK)
0044 1726 61960 (International)
Postal Address (Head Office)
Enigin PLC
Southview House
St Austell Enterprise Park
St Austell
Cornwall
PL25 4EJ
United Kingdom
URL:http://www.enigin.com/
