GT EMISSIONS SYSTEMS
TAKING CONTROL
GT EMISSIONS SYSTEMS
FOLLOWING A SERIES OF CHANGES IN OWNERSHIP, GT EMISSIONS SYSTEMS HAS UNDERGONE A MANAGEMENT BUYOUT, OPENING UP A BOLD NEW CHAPTER FOR THE COMPANY.
TAKING CONTROL PROJECT MANAGED BY: JOSEPH ANYAMENE
GT Emissions Systems was established in 1974 by one Geoff Turnbull. In 1986 it acquired Kefko Precision Engineers, launching the company on a journey of growth and acquisition. However, the move that would really change the company’s fate came in 2002 when it acquired Wabco’s exhaust brake business.
T
hat acquisition really transformed GT from being an engineering company into a firm that provides engine air products,” explains Stephen Wright, Managing Director of GT Emissions Systems. “Engine air products are the products fitted to engines to control air management, supporting the requirements for OEMs to meet emission legislation requirements.” As the company was on this journey, it has also been the subject of acquisitions itself. In 2016, GT Emissions Systems was acquired by the large corporation Knorr-Bremse, which once again changed the direction and development of the company. From there, the company was sold on to the private equity company Rcapital in 2025, and by the end of the year Rcapital had put the company up for sale.
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A NEW DIRECTION
At this point, the company’s leadership, Stephen Wright, Kelly Kean and Ian Black, came together to carry out a management buy-out. Wright is the first to admit the journey has been a challenging one. “Knorr-Bremse is a fantastic company by the way, I came from there originally,” Wright tells us. “But we didn’t fit into their organisation, and the alignment between us and KnorrBremse was not ideal. Being part of that bigger corporate organisation presented us with overhead pressures and corporate fees to provide for. So, they were probably not the best owner for us.” Having been through that, its ownership by Rcapital, and the eventual management buyout, GT Emissions’ new managers
Stephen Wright, Managing Director, GT Emissions Systems.
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BEARINGS
POWER TRANSMISSION
LINKAGES
Let’s talk about: DUNLOP LINKAGES Design Service We would like you to take advantage of our design co-operation service from initial application appraisal, through costing and prototypes, to ISIR and PPAP approval and production supply of your rod based Linkage assemblies. They can be supplied loose for final adjustment at the point of fit, alternatively, where required, by using length setting gauges and tooling, linkages can be supplied to pre-determined fixed centres. The flexible manufacturing techniques used in the production of linkage components allow non-standard derivatives to be readily manufactured. We produce hundreds of customer specials with varying dimensions, thread forms and features. We welcome your enquiries - please contact us at sales@btl-uk.com
UK and European Manufacturing BTL-UK is proud to be a committed European manufacturer of Dunlop brand Bearings, Power Transmission and Linkage components. We believe in the future of European manufacturing and will continue to focus and further enhance the requirements and expectations of our customers globally. As a proud manufacturer we want to help Europe’s industry flourish and to meet the world’s evolving appetite for innovative designs and responsibly produced quality manufactured products.
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Linkage Components Male Rod Ends
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Spherical Bearings
Dunlop linkage components such as Rod Ends, Spherical Bearings & Ball Joints are proudly manufactured in the UK and are used to transfer mechanical motion. Whether that motion is shifting the cutting height in a lawnmower or controlling the exhaust valve on an articulated lorry, we specialise in the supply of these products to bearing distributors and to some of the World’s most well-known original equipment manufacturers. A wide range of materials are available, steel, stainless steel, plastic, bodies with options of bronze, nylon, PU and PTFE liners and with over 100 plating specifications we are sure to meet your customers heat or corrosion resistant requirements. We believe our range of Dunlop rod ends, spherical bearings & ball joints are the largest range available throughout Europe.
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Please visit www.btl-uk.com for further information.
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BTL-UK LTD - Head office & European Distribution Centre MPT House, Brunswick Road, Cobbs Wood Industrial Estate, Ashford, Kent, TN23 1EL United Kingdom BTL-UK LTD - Production Site Units 6&7 Hilton Road, Cobbs Wood Industrial Estate, Ashford, Kent, TN23 1EW United Kingdom BTL-UK LTD - Production Site Unit 22, Albert Drive, Burgess Hill, West Sussex, RH15 9TN United Kingdom
Contact: t: +44(0)1233663340 f: +44(0)1233664440 e: sales@btl-uk.com w: www.btl-uk.com
DUNLOP and the Flying D device are trademarks of Sumitomo Rubber Group and are used under license by BTL-UK LTD
BTL-UK Expands UK Production Site Dunlop manufacturer, BTL-UK Ltd, is expanding its UK production site in response to increased demand, with two new DMG 5700 CNC machining centres due this summer. The investment will expand existing production sites in both Ashford in Kent, and Burgess Hill in West Sussex. The project will increase the site’s production capacity and support the manufacture of BTL-UK’s UK-made ranges of products, from rod ends to motion transfer linkages. These products are supplied as original equipment to a number of internationally recognised manufacturers, including JCB, Caterpillar, John Deere, Volvo and Scania. In addition to expanding their UK production sites this year, BTL-UK is continuing to develop its MEGACHAIN brand, with further additions planned to support a range of industrial and specialist applications. BTL-UK serves a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, construction, automotive, industrial and motorsport. The company supplies directly to original equipment manufacturers, as well as through a network of MRO and replacement distributors across the UK, Europe and worldwide. More than 50% of its production is made up of special products designed to meet individual customer requirements.
BTL-UK’s engineering team supports the process from initial product selection, often led by specific application requirements, through to ISIR and PPAP approval documentation and serial production. This technical and engineering support, combined with the local presence of distributors, helps maintain continuity of supply for end customers. With experience across a wide range of materials, surface treatments and specialist manufacturing processes, BTLUK continues to support customers with both standard and bespoke engineering requirements. As a UK manufacturer, BTL-UK continues to strengthen its position in the European market, combining in-house production capability with technical expertise and distributor partnerships. Contact here: +44 1233 663340 ray.mifsud@btl-uk.com www.btl-uk.com
The company also works closely with key distributors on projects where a collaborative approach is required.
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Photos of BTL’s Ashford production site in Kent
GT EMISSIONS SYSTEMS
and owners realised they had to take a new approach to the running of the company. “We needed to improve the company’s financial performance, improve our situation as a company, and improve on the things that led us to be sold twice,” Wright shares. “The way we dealt with those challenges was to have a stringent strategy in place, the result of internal strategy workshops with our senior management team. But it was more than that. We needed to get buy-in for our new direction from the team, rather than dictating from the top down.” Moving forward, GT Emissions Systems decided to take a new approach. While the company had historically had a topdown way of working, now its management team adopted a more collaborative approach. “By doing that, we were able to turn the fortunes of the company around. We improved our financial position and our cost base. We were able to consolidate our business and install a new assembly line.”
LEADING THE INDUSTRY
Today, GT Emissions Systems has established itself as a specialised leader for engineered drivetrain products, commercial vehicles, and the off-highway industry. Its products can be found in the engines of the big-name manufacturers of trucks, buses and construction equipment. Its products are critical for OEMs seeking to meet the global legislation on exhaust emissions, and the company serves blue chip customers such as Volvo, JCB, and John Deere. “Having gone through all of that, we are now in a relatively good place as a company, making decisions and determining the direction
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we move in next,” Wright says. “We have updated our strategy. We had a five-year plan that we updated at the end of last year.” It is a strategy built on key pillars, but most importantly, the company has restructured itself to become self-sufficient. GT Emissions Systems will now centre the relationship between management and staff in a way that it was unable to as part of Rcapital or Knorr-Bremse. It has also been a chance to kindle relationships with clients and customers, leading to a wave of new work offers. “We are being approached for some ambitious contracts now,” Wright says. “For instance, there’s potential work in India, where we already have a production location,
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GT EMISSIONS SYSTEMS
and this could further cement our position there. We are receiving inquiries about our US supply, and we are looking into opening up a new location there. But we are not moving all of our production overseas. We still have a lot of inquiries coming in for builds in the UK. There are growth opportunities in several areas across the UK, India and the US, and we are excited about those opportunities.”
IMPROVING PERFORMANCE
GT Emissions Systems has continued to make improvements to its operations, administration and production activity. “We have identified a few ways to improve our performance,” Wright shares. “Already we have found ways to automate and streamline our processes, such as invoicing and purchase order processing. It has massively improved our overall financial stability.” This work is already bearing fruit. The firm has been nominated for three awards for the North East County Awards.
Even the management buyout that marked this new chapter of the company has been nominated and shortlisted for “Deal of the Year.” The company has also been nominated for Finance Team of the Year, and Ian Black has not only been nominated, but awarded the title of Finance Director of the Year. GT Emissions Systems has also been nominated and shortlisted for the B2B category of the Growing Business Awards, with judging for that coming up in September. “It is a testament to the improvements we have been making,” Wright says. “We are currently undergoing an ambitious overhaul of our ERP system, and moving to a new supplier that is more in tune with the requirements of our company. There is a lot going on, and it is all part of the strategy that we are following.”
THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS
The key arena for investment, however, is not software, hardware or systems, but people. “Developing our people is a key pillar of our strategy, and this is where we want to be sure we do right by our staff. They mean everything to us,” Wright tells us. “We need their buy-in and engagement.” Through employee surveys, forums and other communication channels, GT Emissions Systems has opened a dialogue with its staff. From there, it has implemented wellbeing programs and begun focusing on identifying potential leaders within the workforce. It is offering leadership and development training to its people by partnering with local education providers such as New College Durham.
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MTrec Recruitment is a recognised industry leader in engineering, manufacturing, and technical recruitment across the North-East and beyond. OUR STORY - Established in 2006, MTrec was founded to transform the North-East recruitment industry by delivering the highest quality recruitment services. Our mission was clear: help industrial clients recruit the best temporary workforce and permanent technical, engineering, and management talent available. SPECIALIST RECRUITMENT TEAMS - At MTrec Recruitment, we now have three specialist divisions; MTREC INDUSTRIAL - Providing high-quality, fully compliant, and flexible temporary workforce solutions across all industrial sectors. MTREC TECHNICAL - Identifying and recruiting exceptional permanent engineering, technical, operational, and leadership talent for clients across the UK. MTREC COMMERCIAL - Specialist recruitment across a wide range of business support functions, including purchasing & supply chain, accountancy & finance, customer service, sales & marketing, human resources, and administration support. ACCREDITATION AND COMPLIANCE - MTrec Recruitment is a long-standing corporate member of the REC (Recruitment and Employment Confederation) and an Investors in People (Gold) accredited organisation. SOLUTIONS FOR EVERY SCALE - Whether you’re an SME or a multinational employer, MTrec has the recruitment solution to help clients recruit the best, most compliant staff – from a single temporary worker or permanent employee to an entire workforce, across the North-East or nationally. GT GROUP/GT EMISSIONS SYSTEMS - For over a decade, MTrec Recruitment has been a trusted recruitment partner to GT Group/GT Emissions Systems, supplying high-quality temporary production workers and successfully recruiting permanent engineering, technical, and management professionals to support the company’s continued growth. www.mtrec.co.uk
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GT EMISSIONS SYSTEMS
“The health and wellbeing of our employees is extremely important to us,” points out Kelly Kean, GT Emissions System’s HR Director. “We recognise that when people feel supported, safe and valued, they are better able to thrive both personally and professionally. We are committed to creating a positive working environment that promotes physical, mental and emotional wellbeing, encourages open conversations, and ensures employees have access to the support they need. By continuing to invest in employee wellbeing, we are demonstrating to our workforce that we value them.” The company is also arranging charity events to bring the workforce together, giving employees the opportunity to connect and support meaningful causes. These activities help strengthen relationships across the business while creating a shared sense of purpose and community and giving the business the ‘family feel’ that it had in its former years. “This was very much Geoff Turnbull’s ethos, but given the journey we’ve had through corporate ownership, we had begun to lose that feeling,” Wright says. “We want to bring that back.”
“WE NEEDED TO GET BUY-IN FOR OUR NEW DIRECTION FROM THE TEAM, RATHER THAN DICTATING FROM THE TOP DOWN.” 10 | AUTOMOTIVE
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