NEWS – Vertogen well-represented in Greater Manchester Innovation100 list

A hundred Greater Manchester companies have been recognised in the region’s first Innovation100 list, including several green innovators working in areas from food waste to energy management.

Innovation100 was created by the Business Growth Hub and business news site BQ to shine the spotlight on some of the city region’s most forward-thinking small and medium sized businesses.

The green list

• Duo UK, Manchester: Packaging manufacturer that has developed a world-first ‘carbon negative’ mailing bag

• Energi Mine, Bolton: Energy trader that has launched a unique Bitcoin-like cryptocurrency designed to reward energy saving behaviour

• Freeflush Rainwater Harvesting, Trafford: Helps consumers and businesses to lower their water usage and reduce their environmental impact through rainwater harvesting systems

• Hallidays Hydropower, Manchester: Developing and installing technologies to harness water and generate energy from rivers

• HMG Paints, Manchester: Paint manufacturer at the forefront of cutting-edge surface coatings

• Kast Energy, Stockport: Provides energy saving technology, benefitting from the latest market innovations

• Libralato, Manchester: Developing breakthroughs in fuel-saving engine design, including enabling technology for affordable plug-in hybrid vehicles

• The Light Yard, Wigan: Lighting provider specialising in environmentally-responsible designs

• Plastic Keg Co., Rochdale: Provides a reusable plastic alternative to metal kegs in the beverage industry, which are lighter and have a lower carbon footprint

• Platform d-Risk, Manchester: Provides a methodology and structure to manage energy efficiency projects end-to-end

• Qbots, Manchester: Provides smart energy management for buildings using energy storage systems and batteries from electric vehicles

• Radic8, Bolton: Provides air purification technology with the aim of reducing air pollution in buildings

• Real Junk Food Manchester: Manchester’s first waste food pay-as-you-feel restaurant

• Upside Energy, Salford: Developing a Virtual Energy Store that can manage energy used by various assets across homes and businesses to help balance the energy grid

• Vertogen, Bury: Developing a super-efficient wind turbine that revolves around a vertical axis and is self-governing

• Whytelight Solutions, Wigan: LED lighting and infrared heating supplier specialising in production areas, warehouses, offices and retail spaces

• Wilde Analysis, Stockport: Helps companies to improve products and manufacturing processes using simulation software.

Chris Greenhalgh, head of innovation at the Business Growth Hub, said: “It’s our aim with Innovation100 to raise the profile of those businesses innovating in different ways.

“What the companies underline is that while innovation can often be related to products, it can also apply to developing disruptive business models, applying new processes and delivering new services.”