Andel wins prestigious Manufacturing Innovation Award for groundbreaking FloodAlert system

07/03/25

Andel, one of the UK’s leading environmental specialists in water resource management and environmental protection systems, is the proud to announce it is the winner of Insider Media's Made In Yorkshire Manufacturing Innovation Award 2025 for its pioneering FloodAlert system. This accolade recognises Andel’s commitment to cutting-edge technology, sustainability and real-world impact in flood defence and water management. Andel will now go forward to the national Made in the UK Awards in June.

Insider's 2025 Made in Yorkshire Awards at Royal Armouries Hall at Royal Armouries in Leeds celebrated companies across Yorkshire and the Humber and the products they are making here and selling across the world.

The compere at the event, Rich Williams, described the category as extremely tough with Andel's FloodAlert: 'clearly in a category of its own and a cut above the rest'.

Andel created the FloodAlert Bollard to monitor rising water levels and to provide early warning of oncoming flood water. The judges called it an 'innovative and strategic solution to a growing problem' and were impressed by its large commercial impact since launch.

Andel's FloodAlert is a game-changing early warning system that protects homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure from the devastating effects of flooding. Unlike traditional flood monitoring systems, FloodAlert provides realtime, localised alerts through a LoRaWan-enabled, free-standing bollard that detects rising water levels from multiple sources such as waterways, groundwater, sewers and culverts. With a cost-effective design, long battery life, and easy installation, the system removes barriers to flood preparedness, making it accessible to communities worldwide.

Recognition of Excellence

The Manufacturing Innovation Award celebrates Andel’s success in combining cutting-edge engineering, sustainability, and smart technology to address a growing global crisis. This recognition underscores the company’s ability to anticipate industry needs, having established its flood defence division in 2018 in response to increasing extreme weather events caused by climate change.

Mark Harris, Andel's Commercial Director, commented: “Andel has always been at the forefront of environmental innovation, and winning this award is a testament to the hard work of our team and our commitment to creating sustainable, real-world solutions, FloodAlert is already making a difference, and we are excited to continue expanding its reach both in the UK and internationally.”

A Global Impact

With FloodAlert already deployed in 11 UK council areas, including as part of the £200 million Bedfordshire Flood Innovation Programme, and receiving international interest from countries including Spain, the Netherlands, Poland, New Zealand and Canada, Andel’s success in the flood defence sector is rapidly gaining momentum. The company continues to expand its R&D capabilities, working closely with leading UK and international universities to develop next-generation water management solutions. This includes collaborations with Tec de Monterrey in Mexico to use FloodAlert technology for agricultural water monitoring and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) aimed at enhancing real-time environmental data collection.

Commitment to Sustainability

Andel’s dedication to environmental responsibility extends beyond product innovation. The company is on track to achieve Net Zero carbon emissions Scopes 1 and 2 by 2025 and FloodAlert itself is built using recycled post-consumer plastic waste, significantly reducing its carbon footprint compared to traditional flood defence materials.

Looking Ahead

With demand for FloodAlert rapidly increasing and projected revenue for its flood defence division expected to reach £475,000 by 2026/27, Andel is poised to lead the next generation of flood resilience solutions. This award further cements its position as an industry trailblazer, proving that sustainable innovation can drive both business success and real-world impact.