From left to right: Diane Hawkins, Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester; Paul Waugh, MP for Rochdale; Sharon Kuligowski, managing director at Dunphy Combustion; and Eddie Kuligowski, commercial director at Dunphy CombustionRochdale-based engineering firm
Dunphy Combustion was officially presented with a 2025 King’s Award for Enterprise in the innovation category. Diane Hawkins, the Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester presented the award earlier this month, with Rochdale MP Paul Waugh in attendance at the event which took place at Dunphy’s Manufacturing Centre. The company’s management team welcomed the guests, introduced them to staff from across the business, and provided a tour of the facility, where its award-winning technology was demonstrated.
Sharon Kuligowski, Dunphy Combustion’s managing director, said: “It was an honour to welcome both the Lord-Lieutenant and our local MP to the Dunphy site. To receive this award in front of the very people who drive our success day in day out made the moment even more special. We are proud of our team, proud of our work, and proud to call Rochdale our home.”
Dunphy was named a recipient of a King’s Award earlier this year in recognition of its pioneering work in hydrogen combustion technology, which plays a vital role in decarbonising industrial heating systems. The company’s range of hydrogen-compatible burners, advanced fuel-blending systems and intelligent digital control platforms are designed to deliver safe and efficient combustion while helping hard-to-abate sectors reduce emissions. These systems are already deployed in power generation, pharmaceutical manufacturing, food processing and major infrastructure projects worldwide.
Proud milestoneThis latest accolade supports the UK Government’s Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy and broader ‘net zero’ objectives. It also adds to Dunphy’s legacy of innovation, with previous honours including the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in 1998 and 2010. Ms Kuligowski added: “To win the King’s Award is a proud milestone for Dunphy. It is a recognition of the team’s ongoing commitment to developing innovative, clean and future-ready energy solutions — all of which are designed, manufactured and tested 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.”
Founded in 1964, Dunphy Combustion remains a family-owned business specialising in the design, manufacture, installation and maintenance of industrial combustion equipment. Its hydrogen-ready burner systems are UKCA and CE certified for 100% hydrogen operation — a rare distinction in the UK manufacturing sector. As the only combustion engineering firm in the North West to receive a King’s Award in the innovation category this year, Dunphy’s recognition underscores Greater Manchester’s continued contribution to the UK’s ‘green’ industrial transition.