Meet Jordan Evans – Our Technical Development Manager

Like many of our team, you’ve been with Amcanu man and boy! How has your career journey shaped you into our Technical Development Manager

I started as an apprentice, which meant I got hands-on experience in every part of the business – from the shop floor to the design office. That early exposure gave me a deep appreciation for how things are built and why certain details matter. I’ve also spent time out-and-about with customers, where I’ve been able to build relationships and listen to real-world feedback.

Over the years I’ve led projects across dewatering, hydrogen, ultra-high-pressure pump systems, and battery energy storage – all of which have added depth to my technical knowledge and helped shape the way I approach design today.

Our enclosures often look like simple boxes – but they’re anything but! What hidden complexities do we overcome as standard that customers might not always see?

There’s far more going on than meets the eye. We’re constantly balancing structural integrity with weight constraints. We use FEA (Finite Element Analysis) to ensure strength and rigidity – even on large or mobile units – while keeping things lightweight. Airflow and thermal management are huge factors, especially when you’re housing engines or battery systems. Then there’s sound attenuation – reducing noise without compromising engine performance or serviceability. And finally, there’s the need for the product to look great, especially if it’s customer-facing. All of that has to come together in a package that works in the field. Rarely just a simple box!

Many of our projects support new product development. What’s your process when designing an entirely new enclosure for a customer?

It starts with a detailed design brief and a proper understanding of the product we’re housing. From there, we look at what already exists and think critically about how we can improve it – not just aesthetically, but in terms of usability, manufacturability, and performance. We hold regular design reviews with the customer to ensure we’re on the right track, and we’re honest about challenges. That two-way transparency helps us problem-solve together and often leads to stronger outcomes.

You work closely with so many different technical teams. What insights have you gained from working with such a range of clients?

One size never fits all – especially in our world. Every customer comes with different priorities: some are focused on cost, others on performance, weight, acoustics, or compliance. Working with so many teams, across various sectors, has made me more adaptable and has really sharpened my ability to tailor a design to the needs of the product and its end users.

Our enclosures are just one part of a wider system. What are the keys to making collaboration with clients truly successful?

Open communication is key – especially between engineers. There needs to be a shared willingness to solve problems together, and that only works if both sides are transparent. Some of the best results we’ve achieved have come from a genuine partnership where both teams respect each other’s expertise and stay aligned through the whole development process.

How does working with Amcanu help customers bring new products to market faster or with fewer iterations?

We know how to design for manufacture. Our team is constantly thinking ahead – not just about what the product needs to do now, but how it might evolve in future versions. We’ve also developed a lot of standardised elements over the years that we can adapt, which saves time without compromising customisation. It’s that balance between agility and proven methodology that helps customers reduce development cycles.

What’s been the most challenging or exciting project you’ve worked on? And what type of project would you love to tackle next?

One standout project was the NLB 225 – a large pump with a Stage 5 engine that needed to be mounted on a road-legal trailer. The weight, performance and attenuation targets were tough, but by using aluminium components and eliminating the need for a base skid, we achieved the spec. That kind of challenge is what excites me – I’d love to take on more projects where we need to think radically to meet technical or compliance demands.

Innovation is accelerating. What kind of product features or design requirements do you think we’ll be seeing more of in the near future?

We’re already seeing more hybrid systems – combining combustion engines with batteries or solar input. There’s also growing demand for telemetry and real-time diagnostics, which affects layout and thermal design. And attenuation is becoming more important across sectors, not just in urban environments but for compliance globally. Mobility and weight-saving will also remain key – especially for units that need to be lifted or transported in difficult conditions.

What do you think sets Amcanu’s design team apart when it comes to tackling technically demanding enclosures?

Our team combines deep technical knowledge with practical experience. We’re not just CAD designers – we understand how things are made, assembled, and used. Each designer takes ownership of a project from start to finish – which means we’re invested in the outcome. That sense of accountability, paired with the support of a collaborative and highly skilled team, is what allows us to consistently deliver high-performing, custom enclosures for some of the most demanding industries in the UK.