Fencing firm which supplied London Olympics on route to net zero

A Wolverhampton-based fencing specialist that manufactured the fencing for the London 2012 Olympics is reducing its emissions and energy usage with the help of a £200,000 funding package.

Zaun manufactures woven and welded mesh fencing, gates and HVM solutions for security measures. The primary fencing manufacturer for the London 2012 Olympics’, Zaun supplied 17 miles of fencing to protect the stadium and attendees.

The business now wants to focus on making its operations more sustainable with its own target of becoming carbon neutral by 2030, and net zero by 2050.

To support these green ambitions, Zaun approached Lloyds Bank, securing £200,000 of funding through the Clean Growth Financing Initiative which provides customers with access to discounted lending for green purposes.

Thanks to the funding, the business has now installed 500 solar panels in one of its two factories in Wolverhampton and will use the power to support its operations. The panels have been able to supply the entire factory with electricity and the firm estimates it will save an average of £10,000 in energy costs each month. Over the next 12 months, it aims to run its entire business from 65% sustainable energy sources.

Zaun was founded back in 1996 when a gap in the UK market to supply mesh fencing was discovered. The firm now employs more than 70 people and remains the UK’s only integrated manufacturer of welded and woven mesh fencing systems.

To further support its green targets, the firm has introduced electric forklift trucks throughout the factory, has an all-electric car fleet and has installed four EV charging points to allow colleagues and visitors to charge their electric vehicles.

Alastair Henman, founder and managing director at Zaun Ltd said: “In the seven weeks since the end of April when the system became operational, it has generated 83,000 kWh of electricity, similar to your typical total electricity usage over the same period. Whilst we have to import power at night it is great to know that, in the summer at least, we are net zero on electricity use.  The investment not only makes great commercial sense but has a significant influence on our environmental impact.

“In the face of unprecedented increases in energy costs, we have been able to control our costs which can only help our ability to support our customers and grow the business.”

Nash Lal, relationship director, SME banking at Lloyds Bank, said: “Zaun Ltd is a fantastic brand which has built an excellent reputation within the manufacturing industry. Over the years, we’ve been committed to supporting the firm with its growth ambitions through invoice finance and the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme. This latest finance package and the installation of the solar panels is testament to Zaun’s sustainability ambitions and will support the West Midlands to reach its goal of becoming a net zero carbon economy by 2041.”