Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester and MP for Rochdale visit Dunphy HQ to present prestigious award
Dunphy Combustion, a long-standing Rochdale-based engineering firm, was formally presented with the King’s Award for Enterprise: Innovation 2025 on Friday 3rd October, during a visit to their factory by The Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Diane Hawkins, and Rochdale MP Paul Waugh
The ceremony took place at Dunphy’s headquarters and manufacturing centre, where the company’s leadership team introduced both guests to staff members from across the business before giving a tour of the factory and showcasing the award-winning technology.
“It was an honour to welcome both the Lord-Lieutenant and our local MP to the Dunphy site,” said Sharon Kuligowski, Managing Director at Dunphy Combustion. “To receive this award in front of the very people who drive our success day in and day out made the moment even more special. We’re proud of our team, proud of our work, and proud to call Rochdale our home.”
Innovation Driving Industrial Decarbonisation
Dunphy was named a recipient of the 2025 King’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation earlier this year in recognition of its pioneering work in hydrogen combustion technology – a key solution for decarbonising industrial heat systems.
At the heart of Dunphy’s innovation is a range of hydrogen-compatible burners, advanced fuel-blending systems, and intelligent digital control platforms that enable safe, efficient combustion while helping hard-to-abate sectors reduce emissions. These systems are already in use across power plants, pharmaceutical facilities, food processing sites, and major infrastructure projects around the world.
This achievement supports the UK government’s Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy and wider net-zero ambitions. It also builds on Dunphy’s legacy – the company previously received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in 1998 and 2010.
“To win the King’s Award for Innovation is a proud milestone for Dunphy,” added Kuligowski. “It’s a recognition of the team’s ongoing commitment to developing clean, future-ready energy solutions – all of which are designed, manufactured and tested right here in Rochdale. This award belongs to everyone in the business – and to the local community that has supported Dunphy’s journey for over 60 years, from skilled workers to longstanding partners and suppliers.”
A Rochdale Success Story
Founded in 1964, Dunphy Combustion is a family-owned company in the Greater Manchester area specialising in the design, manufacture, installation and maintenance of industrial combustion equipment. Their hydrogen-ready burner systems are UKCA and CE certified for 100% hydrogen operation – a rare achievement in the UK manufacturing sector.
As the only North West-based combustion engineering firm to receive a King’s Award for Innovation this year, Dunphy’s recognition also highlights the important role that Greater Manchester continues to play in the UK’s green industrial transition.
About the King’s Awards for Enterprise
Established in 1965 and previously known as the Queen’s Awards, the King’s Awards for Enterprise are the UK’s highest official recognition for business excellence. Winners are selected by His Majesty the King on the advice of the Prime Minister and are entitled to use the King’s Award emblem for five years.
It’s a fitting recognition for a company that continues to place British engineering, clean energy, and Rochdale manufacturing on the global stage.
