Protel Blog

The UK energy, gas and chemical sectors enter 2026 in a state of transition. The surge of new Energy-from-Waste (EfW) and hydrogen developments that characterised 2023–2024 has given way to a more mixed picture for the industrial outlook, with some projects reaching completion and others slowing amid market uncertainty. While hydrogen remains central to the Continue reading

In the UK’s industrial capital equipment market, competition for large-scale project sales is fiercer than ever. Manufacturers are under pressure to improve efficiency, reduce emissions, and modernise facilities. Cost pressures are forcing many manufacturers to value-engineer projects and squeezing margins. Suppliers can face longer sales cycles, tighter budgets and more decision-makers involved in every deal. Continue reading

The UK pharmaceutical sector and laboratory sector will enter 2026 in a steadier position than in recent years. While the pace of new project emergence has slowed compared with the COVID period, the market remains active, albeit different, with significant opportunities for suppliers of capital equipment, services and expertise. Suppliers can engage with the wide Continue reading

Not sure where to start after the summer break? Read on to get some ideas from our post-summer sales checklist. For many suppliers of capital equipment and machinery, the end of summer marks a return to full pace. Customers are back from holidays, projects that were delayed earlier in the year can start to move Continue reading

In today’s competitive landscape, suppliers of capital equipment and machinery must do more than respond to public tenders or chase cold, unqualified leads. The most successful marketing teams we interact with here at Protel are those who support sales by staying ahead of the curve – proactively identifying where capex is happening and aligning their Continue reading

As we move into the second half of 2025, capital equipment and machinery suppliers are facing a familiar but critical moment: the mid-year checkpoint. Whether you’re in the early stages of your financial year or fast approaching its close, H2 is the window to realign capex strategy, sales efforts and act with focus. Markets are Continue reading

We’ve revisited the UK food and drink process manufacturing sectors as we head into the second half of 2025. With ongoing volatility in the market and a shifting investment landscape, we’ve updated our outlook to reflect the latest conditions, trends, and project opportunities as captured on our MyProtel capex project tracking platform. While there are Continue reading

In the competitive world of capital equipment sales, timing is everything. Many high-value projects are scoped and budgeted long before tenders go public. Suppliers who find capex projects early have a significant advantage, from influencing specifications to building early relationships with key decision-makers in areas such as procurement or project engineering. Why Early Visibility Matters Continue reading