IMI’s Growth Hub led to the development of products and services that generated more than £125 million of orders in 2024 for its Process Automation sector, reflecting its effectiveness in directing new product development towards solutions that meet customer needs.
IMI’s innovation engine encourages an entrepreneurial approach to solving industry-wide problems. It works by leveraging the business’ strong customer relationships to gain insights about real-world challenges.
Solutions developed in Growth Hub that are now delivered through the Process Automation sector include Retrofit 3D additive manufactured valve components, EroSolve Wet Steam valve trim components, IMI InSyt consultancy study reports and IMI VIVO hydrogen electrolysers.
EroSolve Wet Steam recently passed the milestone of 750 installations worldwide. Meanwhile, earlier this year, IMI InSyt saw its 150th study order since the inception of the project through Growth Hub in 2021.
Sprint teams move quickly using a test and learn approach to create solutions to significant problems for customers and then validating those concepts with customers at an early stage in development process. Ideas that are not successful at this stage are quickly withdrawn, ensuring only the ideas that offer significant value to customers are developed fully and launched to market.
Roby Buyung, President of Process Automation at IMI, said: “Developing new products and services, informed by insights from our customers, means our innovations are built around customer needs, addressing real-world challenges. Indeed our ‘test-and-learn’ approach identifies the strongest ideas and the earliest stage of development. This ensures that we are investing in those that will maximise value for our customers.
“Across additive manufacturing, power plant valves, predictive maintenance and hydrogen electrolysis, Growth Hub has delivered some of our best commercial performers and biggest innovations in recent years.
“Ultimately, the commercial success of Growth Hub proves the value of the approach to our customers, who see substantial benefits in both operational and environmental performance as a result of Growth Hub innovations.”