24 July 2025 Success Stories
EIC Survive & Thrive 2025
EIC Survive & Thrive 2025
75 1 Success StoriesJuly 2025
Story type #diversification (main category) #culture, #energy transition, #service & solutions
IMI
Benefits
How IMI developed breakthrough engineering for a better world Andrea Pusceddu
Alexander Kianek
Business Development Director – Hydrogen, Process Automation
Marketing Manager Europe, Process Automation
How is IMI thriving? IMI is thriving by leveraging its deep engineering expertise from the oil and gas sector to drive innovation in the rapidly growing green hydrogen market. IMI has quickly positioned itself as a key player in the electrolyser industry through the development of its groundbreaking IMI VIVO electrolyser. This strategic focus has fuelled remarkable growth, with hydrogen-related order intake surging from zero in 2021 to £53 million in 2024. By continuously pushing the boundaries of efficiency and reliability in hydrogen production, IMI is at the forefront of the energy transition, delivering cuttingedge solutions that enable a more sustainable future. The challenge – As part of IMI’s Process Automation sector, IMI’s site in Sardinia has built a global reputation for designing and manufacturing highly engineered valves for the most demanding applications in oil and gas processing, under the IMI Remosa product brand. Specialising in fluidised catalytic cracking (FCC) valves, the 16,000m2 factory produces safety-critical components that must withstand extreme conditions, including temperatures exceeding 700°C and highly abrasive catalytic particles. Despite its leadership in this niche market, IMI’s site in Sardinia faced a fundamental challenge: long-term dependence on oil and gas in a shifting energy landscape. Market volatility linked to oil price fluctuations created unpredictable revenue streams, while the gradual decline of hydrocarbon processing signalled an urgent need for diversification. At the same time, IMI plc had made a strong corporate commitment to environmental sustainability, encouraging all business units to explore opportunities in cleaner energy sectors. For IMI, the challenge was clear—how to apply its decades of expertise in safety-critical, high-performance engineering to new, highgrowth industries. The company needed to identify sectors where its reputation for
precision, reliability, and custom-designed solutions would offer a strategic competitive advantage, ensuring long-term sustainability and growth beyond traditional oil and gas markets. The solution – Building on the success of IMI’s Growth Hub initiative, launched in 2018 to drive customer-focused innovation, IMI took a bold step in 2021—applying its expertise in fluid control and safety-critical engineering to develop an in-house polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolyser. This marked the creation of a new product brand, IMI VIVO, dedicated to green hydrogen production. A key strategic decision was to establish IMI VIVO as a distinct product brand, separate from IMI Remosa’s traditional oil and gas business. This ensured credibility in the hydrogen sector while leveraging the company’s core strengths: customised design, tailored engineering, and close client collaboration. Rather than committing to large-scale investments upfront, IMI took a pragmatic approach, initially assigning four experienced engineers to develop the concept. The focus was on smaller, modular electrolyser units, avoiding the high-risk, gigawatt-scale projects that were struggling to secure final investment decisions. This approach paid off sooner than expected. Before even completing the prototype, IMI secured its first order—a £1 million contract from the University of Sheffield’s Translational Energy Research Centre (TERC) in June 2022. IMI VIVO’s proposal outperformed established competitors, thanks to its engineering depth, precision, and expertise in regulated industries. Momentum quickly followed. In July 2022, the University of Bath’s Institute for Advanced Automotive Propulsion Systems (IAAPS) placed a £1.1 million order, establishing Southwest England’s first green hydrogen production and storage facility, powered by the institute’s solar array. The IMI VIVO electrolyser now plays a key role in IAAPS’ research into zero-carbon
▸ Hydrogen business’ bookings for 2025 delivery reaching £53m. ▸ Successful diversification strategy is underway to support the energy transition.
Key findings For young people
▸ Be curious about your work and question everything.
For industry
▸ To succeed, you must understand your strengths and work on them.
For government
▸ Address the lack of a 20-year vision.
IMI site at a glance: Key products and services: valve and actuation solutions.
Main industries served: ▸ Oil and gas – 90% ▸ Hydrogen – 10%
Headquarters: Birmingham, UK Year established: IMI – 1862, Remosa – 1955 (acquired by IMI in 2012) Number of employees: 260 Revenue: £100m Revenue from exports: 90%
propulsion for aviation, marine, and heavyduty transport. As demand grew, the Remosa site expanded its hydrogen development team, hiring four dedicated hydrogen engineers and two sales specialists. By mid-2023, the prototype was completed, and with a growing order book, the company committed to further investment. Its decision to focus on scalable, deployable units—rather than high-profile but stalled large-scale projects—proved a winning strategy. The IMI VIVO electrolyser’s success lies in its flexibility and customer-centric approach. Delivered as a turnkey solution, integrating both electrolysis and storage in a single package, it has gained rapid market traction. By 2024, the business had achieved £53 million in bookings for 2025 —approaching parity with its legacy oil and gas business. IMI’s success in green hydrogen highlights how traditional engineering excellence can drive sustainable innovation. By applying its expertise to new markets with a clear strategic vision, IMI has transformed itself into a key player in the global energy transition.