Hydrodoor – innovating safety with hydraulic door systems

Hydrodoor Europe, one of our local Lancashire businesses, has completely transformed hydraulic door systems with their innovative designs.

Their standout creation is a large hydraulic door that doubles as a wall in sports & concert arenas and other large venues.

It blends seamlessly into the structure and facade but can quickly lift in an emergency. As you can imagine, this offers a safer and more efficient way to evacuate crowds. Quickly and safely.

As a growing business focused on safety, style & innovation, Hydrodoor needed support to ensure their pioneering work was recognised and to reclaim some of the funds invested in their R&D projects.

The Solution
Hydrodoor partnered with RfM Transform to manage their R&D Tax Credit Claim, which we’re pleased to report was highly successful.

By Zach working closely with their team, we identified key areas of innovation in their hydraulic door designs, particularly focusing on the safety aspects and technological advancements involved in the evacuation systems.

The claim process highlighted the complexities of developing such a system—from mechanical innovations to ensuring the highest safety standards, particularly in large public venues. Our team ensured that Hydrodoor received the funding necessary to continue their innovative work.

The Results
Through our expertise, Hydrodoor successfully reclaimed a large amount of funds for their R&D efforts, allowing them to reinvest in further product development and scaling their solutions. By supporting their claim, we helped this local business continue to innovate and lead the way in industrial safety.

Marshal Parker, managing director, Hydrodoor Europe Ltd said: “We are proud to be at the forefront of hydraulic door innovation, particularly when it comes to ensuring the enhanced safety for large public venues.

"RfM Transform’s guidance on our R&D claim has been instrumental in helping us push forward, and we’re excited to keep innovating with their support.”

Zach Barrow, RfM Transform said: “It’s always a pleasure to achieve such a positive outcome for one of our clients.

"HMRC’s R&D claim process has become a lot more stringent recently, but that shouldn’t deter any business from pursuing their claims.

"We’re here to guide you through each step, ensuring you get both recognition and financial support for your innovation efforts. Hydrodoor’s success highlights how impactful these claims can be for our local Lancashire economy.” 

As Hydrodoor continues to refine its products and explore new safety and design solutions, RfM Transform remains a proud partner, committed to helping local businesses unlock their potential. We are excited to support Hydrodoor's journey and help bring more groundbreaking safety solutions to the market.

Does Your Business Qualify for R&D Tax Relief?
If you’re wondering whether your business could benefit from R&D tax relief, here’s a quick checklist to help you decide. You may qualify if:

• You’re developing or improving products, processes, or services involving technical or scientific uncertainty.
• You’ve spent money on staff, materials, or software specifically for innovation, research, or product development.
• You can demonstrate that your project is new or advanced for your industry or your business.
• Your work involves solving scientific or technical problems, not just routine business improvements.
• You’ve had to overcome technical challenges where the outcome was uncertain at the start.

If any of these apply to your business, you may be eligible for R&D tax credits. Get in touch with Zach and the R&D team and let us help you maximise your claim.