With support from GM Business Growth Hub, Salt Separation Services Limited (SaltSep) brought in specialist expertise from the University of Manchester to develop and test prototypes and progress their innovation towards commercial launch.
Innovation grant funding towards an £11k project
New-to-market product created
New jobs created
Additional revenue forecast in year one
Rather than standing still, engineering business SaltSep identified a clear improvement opportunity and used innovation support to develop and de-risk it.
Working with GM Business Growth Hub’s Innovation Service, the Rochdale company tapped into Greater Manchester’s ecosystem to bring in specialist expertise and move from idea to market-readiness.
North West’s Manufacturer of the Year
Salt Separation Services Limited designs, manufactures, installs and services a range of reverse osmosis (RO) desalination water and wastewater treatment plants, “These are self-contained water-treatment ‘units’ that can be installed on a ship, offshore platform or industrial site to desalinate sea or brackish water, produce ultrapure or purify pre-treated wastewater,” explains Technical and Commercial Director, Daniel Shackleton (pictured).
“Desalination plants turn seawater into fresh water by forcing water through a semipermeable membrane, so salt and other contaminants are removed. A system used on pre-treated effluent treats the water to the required standard before being discharged or reused. We create and build the systems, install them on-site and then maintain and repair them as needed.”
No stranger to success over their 36-year history, SaltSep won the Rochdale Business of the Year (turnover more than £5m) award in 2014, and again in 2024, as well as being crowned Made in the North West’s Manufacturer of the Year (turnover more than £25m category) in 2025.
But despite this and having a £20m order book, with a further £30m in the pipeline, the team are dedicated to investing in new product development to proactively strengthen their solutions offering and stay ahead of customer needs.
A new product opportunity
A commercially promising, innovative and exciting new condition monitoring product idea was being worked on with benefits that will “address inefficiencies in traditional reverse osmosis systems, targeting specific faulty components and reducing maintenance costs and operational downtime”, says Daniel. However, the company needed extra capability and a low-risk way to accelerate the route to market.
It approached our Innovation Service to help progress development. “Designing new software, potentially including a mobile phone or tablet application from scratch presented a hurdle, requiring careful consideration of the project’s unique requirements,” says Mark Tibbenham, Associate Commercialisation Specialist at GM Business Growth Hub.
“There were technical unknowns to work through before the product could be commercialised, for example powering the system remotely to avoid any contamination risk linked to batteries,” adds Mark. “The project also needed accurate prototypes that would meet the strict size and material requirements, all backed by full functional testing that would demonstrate performance and support a scalable route to production.”
Development and commercialisation
Mark worked with Salt Separation Services to write a project brief detailing that could then be shared across our innovation network. As a result, the company was introduced to the University of Manchester, which had the required expertise in software development and advanced materials.
With GM Business Growth Hub providing £5,000 in innovation grant funding towards the cost of an £11k project, SSSL was able to develop and test prototypes, alongside the software needed to support commercialisation.
“We’ve got plenty going on day to day, so what I appreciated was how practical the process was,” says Daniel. “We were helped to define the project, get the right expertise involved and overcome critical technical and operation obstacles.”
Impact and benefits
The new product is scheduled for launch in 2027 and will greatly strengthen SaltSep’s position in advanced RO technology. By offering a more cost-effective, efficient solution to a well-known operational challenge, the business is confident of attracting new customers and deepening existing relationships across defence, oil and gas, cruise and industrial markets.
Revenue growth of £1million from sales, associated software and maintenance services is expected to be generated in the first 12 months, from a mix of established client networks and new market penetration. Because of this, at least two new full-time administrative employees will be recruited.
“It’s a great example of how targeted innovation support can help a manufacturing business turn a good idea into a commercially credible product,” says Mark.
Building new connections
As well as strengthening the company’s product roadmap, the project has helped Salt Separation Services widen its network, and that’s already creating new connections. The company was chosen as one of eight Greater Manchester businesses that headed to Bosch's Hydrogen HQ in Germany in January 2026 as part of a pioneering collaboration between GM Business Growth Hub, Green Economy and Manchester Metropolitan University.
The visit was part of the ongoing GM Hydrogen Supply Chain Innovation Challenge, which aims to equip local manufacturers with the skills and capabilities needed to support the construction of hydrogen production facilities. “It was an incredible opportunity to work alongside other innovative local businesses and explore solutions that will help drive the UK's clean energy transition,” says Daniel.
Contact our team today on 0161 359 3050 or at bgh@growthco.uk to find out how we can help your business, whichever sector you’re in.
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