FEATURE WASTE MANAGEMENT BREXIT, TRADE


AND GROWTH: how one UK company is unphased by uncertainty


In June, another general election will be held in the UK. Its outcome may dictate if Britain goes through a hard or soft Brexit. Industrial Compliance recently caught up with Bruce Wishart, founding director of Empteezy, to find out how his company goes from strength-to-strength in this period of uncertainty


E


mpteezy, home of engineered spill containment and spill control


products, aims to help companies comply with legislation and implement best practice in connection with their oil and chemical storage needs, and spill control. The company, which recently celebrated its 30th anniversary, has operations in the UK, France, Belgium, Holland, Spain and Italy, and has customers across Europe. With Brexit on the horizon, Industrial Compliance caught up with Empteezy’s Bruce Wishart, to find out how the company has been coping so far and what he expects once Brexit happens. In terms of what the Brexit vote has


meant for Empteezy to date, Wishart explains that there has been no direct effect yet. In fact, the company is going from strength-to-strength - in 2016, exports from its UK manufacturing base increased by 18 per cent versus 2015 and, overall, turnover increased by eight per cent versus 2015. Wishart adds that the company can plan for disruption through increased productivity. Dealing with chemical storage and


spills, Empteezy ensures its products align with regulations, many of which are set in the EU. As such, we asked if Brexit could cause some issue in this respect if Empteezy want to continue to serve its European customers. Wishart points out that his company already has to deal with differing regulations across the EU. He explains that countries are allowed to interpret regulations in their own way which means that they are not uniform across Europe. As such, Brexit will not have much of an effect on the company in this respect as it will continue to have to comply with individual country’s needs. In the run up to the EU referendum last year, one of the big selling points


20 SUMMER 2017 | INDUSTRIAL COMPLIANCE


made by politicians in support of Brexit was the potential for trade deals across the world. However, as Wishart points out, companies in the UK are already free to deal with the rest of the world. Only a small percentage of UK-based companies do for a number of reasons including: local competition; distributors having to carry stock; and credit. Add in the physical disadvantage of distance – transporting goods is costly and takes time - and many companies are deterred from world trade. In contrast, Wishart explains that being able to trade easily with the EU, on the UK’s doorstep, as part of the single market is a huge bonus that many companies take advantage of. In April, PM Theresa May announced


that there will be a general election in June, allowing for a longer negotiating period with the EU and potentially a softer Brexit. Wishart is more enthusiastic about a softer Brexit but has concerns that the general election may lead to a second independence referendum in Scotland. Headquartered in Scotland and with customers around the globe, a second referendum may lead to trade complications for Empteezy. Despite this, Wishart is optimistic about


the future of his company in a post- Brexit UK. He says that the company can account for increased tarriffs. In the period since the EU referendum, companies continue to invest in Empteezy products. This reflects in the growth of the company over the last two years. The company has not been phased by the uncertainty of Brexit and is continuing with business growth and development to tap into new markets and opportunities on an international scale.


Empteezy www.empteezy.co.uk


TANK SHOWER MEETS TWO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS


Empteezy has proof positive from three independent tests that its emergency tank shower (SE-VTS-1 tank shower) meets the rigorous standards set out by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the three European Standardisation Organisations (CEN, CENELEC, ETSI). Instead of simply going through a process of self-


certification, Empteezy has truly gone the extra mile and elected to have its tank shower undergo three independent tests to prove its compliance to international standards. Empteezy worked with IAPMO R&T, a North American


plumbing and mechanical product certification agency, to demonstrate that the SE-VTS-1 tank shower, which distributes 75.7l of temperature regulated water per minute for 15 minutes, met with ANSI standard Z358.1-2014. In addition, Empteezy worked with Applus+ Laboratories to verify the product’s compliance with the ANSI standard. Applus+ Laboratories also tested the emergency tank


shower to verify its compliance with the European Norm (EN) standard for one piece of safety equipment. The product passed the test with flying colours. Commenting on the news, founding director of Empteezy,


Bruce Wishart said: “I am thrilled the tank shower has achieved the ANSI and EN standards, it’s testament to the high-quality products Empteezy is associated with. “Undertaking the test was entirely voluntary, but we


were extremely confident in the tank shower’s credentials and knew it would achieve the pass it deserved.” Now fully compliant with two international standards


(ANSI and EN) and verified by two trusted independent test bodies, the tank shower is set to achieve international recognition within the emergency shower and decontamination industry, and expected to further boost Empteezy’s 18 per cent increase in exports from 2016. The tank shower is available with options that include: PIR


sensor activated light; eye wash; foot plate activator; and digital temperature and water level gauges. The 2,000l water tank capacity provides a gravity fed flow


rate that surpasses the standards requirements, even when an optional eyewash is running at the same time, and the heater ensures tepid water.


Empteezy www.empteezy.co.uk / INDUSTRIALCOMPLIANCE


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