2007

Company formation

Barrnon formally opened its doors in October 2007 when Managing Director, Andy Barr, decided it was time to go it alone and set up a company that could push his engineering ideas to the limit. Barrnon’s early work was in the marine industry, creating exceptionally efficient and hard-wearing scallop fishing gear.

2008

Fishing industry experience

One of our early successes was the design of a modified scallop catching system.

2009

Snack production

We broadened our experience when we drafted and manufactured a snack production plant.

2010

Scallop handling

We built on our marine experience with the design and manufacture of a highly effidient scallop catch handling system.

2011

First exports

In 2011 we designed a cockle dredge system and began to sell to customers in France.

2012

Conceptual design of Bladecutter systems

2013

Appointed as a Hardox Wearparts centre

Our high standards in metalworking were recognised by SSAB when they officially endorsed Barrnon as we’d earned the right to display Hardox Wearparts on our products and services.

2013

Nuclear breakthrough

Contracted to Hunterston A to provide a turnkey solution for sludge recovery.

2014

First patent granted

In 2014 we were granted our first patent by the Intellectual Property Office for Bladecutter.

2014

Innovate UK grant

We were awarded an Innovate UK grant to complete further studies on sludge recovery.

2015

New prototypes

We extended our experience of the nuclear decommissioning industry in 2015 when we completed our first HydroSpyder and Rotocutter conceptual designs and build prototypes.

2016

New tools and awards

2016 was a busy year for the company. We developed and live tested our Bladecutter tool, put the HydroSpyder through its paces on Ullswater and picked up innovation awards from the London Business School, Innovate UK and Innovus, including Best Nuclear Decommissioning Project for Bladecutter.

2016

Collaboration with University of Manchester

In 2016 we developed our HydroSpyder floating deployment platform in collaboration with the University of Manchester – which was a finalist in the Best Academic Collaboration category of the Innovus Awards.

2017

‘Fit For Nuclear’ status

In March 2017, we were officially endorsed by the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre as ‘Fit For Nuclear’. It’s the benchmark standard for British companies entering the civil nuclear supply chain.

2019

An integrated approach with BIDS

In 2019 we successfully demonstrated the Barrnon Integrated Decommissioning System (BIDS), a VR controlled, manoeuvrable, robotic system that’s capable of deploying a wide range of tools in the most hostile irradiated environments.