SUCCESS STORY

Investing in efficiency to strengthen competitiveness: Ramsden & Whale

Ramsden & Whale is a family-owned manufacturing business specialising in steel drum reconditioning. They needed to reduce rising energy costs and improve efficiency to remain competitive in an energy-intensive industry.

Impact at a glance

• Saving around £85,000 per year in energy costs
• Achieved a 4.5-year payback period on a £435,000 investment
• Cutting emissions by around 120 tonnes CO₂e per year

The business

Founded in 1954, Ramsden & Whale is a family-owned specialist in steel drum reconditioning and manufacturing, based in the West Midlands. The company expertly serves critical sectors such as oil, chemical, and paint, providing tailored drum solutions ranging from small niche orders to large industrial requirements.

Sector: Manufacturing

Location: West Midlands

Size: 50-100

Why they took action

Ramsden & Whale faced escalating energy costs in recent years, significantly affecting profitability and market competitiveness. Ageing equipment, including outdated boilers and fixed speed drive compressor, heightened energy inefficiencies, necessitating urgent strategic intervention. Collaborating with energy efficiency experts Pro Enviro through the Government’s Business Energy Advice Service scheme, Ramsden & Whale undertook a detailed on-site audit.

“When you have an energy assessment done you suddenly realise what savings can be made. These upgrades ensure our continued competitiveness, environmental responsibility, and sustainable innovation for future generations.” – Dawn Richardson, Director, Ramsden & Whale

What they did

Medium cost actions

Changing to LED lighting

Repairing air leaks

Installing automated PVC curtains for roller shutters for heat retention

Significant capital investment

Installation of a variable speed drive compressor

Upgrade to modern steam generators

What difference it made

For a total investment cost (excl. VAT) of approx. £435,000, the impact was

• Annual energy saving: 616,000 kWh/yr
• Annual energy cost saving: approx. £85,000
• Payback period: 4.5 years
• Annual carbon saving: approx. 120 tonnes CO2e/year

How were the changes funded?

The energy audit was provided by Pro Enviro free of charge through the government’s Business Energy Advisory Service scheme. The cost of implementing the recommendations was partly supported by a £100,000 grant from Birmingham City Council.

Lessons for other businesses

Ramsden & Whale took a proactive approach to future-proofing their business. By using an external energy audit, they were able to identify key areas that would make the most impact on their operations.

Find out more about Ramsden & Whale