Atlas Copco Power Technique welcomes new Energy Storage Systems Business Development Manager to the team

Tell us a bit about your background/Career Journey?

I started my career as an electrician and over that 10 year period I quickly moved from domestic, commercial installations into heavy industrial environments such as Oil Refineries, Petro-Chemicals, Steelworks, Paper Mills etc. While at Hewden Stuart for 20 years this drew me to the rental industry. I realised that as business and industries adapted to new regulations and technologies, my interest brought me closer to Power Generation, explosion-proof equipment, electrical distribution/cabling and Energy Storage (Batteries). Many other roles over that time from Workshop Supervisor, Project Engineer, then management promotions such as Engineering, Operations, Technical Sales, Product specialist and my role before joining Atlas Copco as Applications Manager for Finning (part of Caterpillar). That role had direct responsibility for technically strengthening Sales team opportunities, Operations and electrical safety. The roles I developed into were always because I had an interest in how to improve (myself and the business) and have given me valuable experiences around the UK and Ireland (and some further afield!).

What is your new role and what is it going to involve?

If you ask my wife, she says I put electric plugs on kettles all day!! However, I am really excited about this new role as Business Development Manager which sits within the Power and Flow Sales team and focuses purely on the specialism around battery Energy Storage products for the UK and Ireland. I’ll be on the road introducing ZenergiZe to customers, selling the benefits and turning their technical and environmental needs into sales. Our ZenergiZe product range is cleverly designed to work alongside power generation as a ‘Hybrid solution’ when needing a remote power source, it allows customers to improve on their ‘environmental conscience’, to limit exhaust emissions, generator engine noise, and reduce impact from harmful emissions, but also for the opportunity to reduce costs operationally by using less fuel, less generator servicing, effectively reducing their own CO₂ (Global Warming), even helping them to evaluate if they have the correct size generators in their rental fleet for the future, savings on capital expenditure. As applications and technologies develop and customer demand grows, so will our ZenergiZe offering.

What is your mission and what would you like to achieve in your new role? 

Atlas Copco being first choice for innovative energies and ‘greener partners for power’. Applying our specialism and products to more applications and new/adaptable technologies. Ultimately I want to grow the business and help make Atlas Copco a front runner in energy storage in UK and Ireland. And obviously I want to provide the right Energy Storage solutions to our customers! By understanding what existing and new technologies are out there and what our customers need (technically and environmentally) we can achieve and even exceed it. Managing expectations of what is achievable is an important factor…….. who wants a product that delivers false expectations? Regular reports on global warming and the impact on health all over the world means we are absolutely best placed to champion alternative solutions to using just fossil fuels when needing additional power.

What attracted you to Atlas Copco?

Global brand, investment in people, inspired to innovate and positive sustainability commitments for the future. (I like the branded shirts too!)

What are you looking forward to most about working at Atlas Copco?

Adding value to the business and making new friends while working with my new ‘work family’.

If you would like to find out more about our range of Energy Storage Systems, contact Barry Hughes.