36 | Plant & Works Engineering www.pwemag.co.uk April/May 2026 Special Focus Hire Equipment & Services Whether it’s geopolitical tensions, extreme temperatures, price spikes or pressure on global supply chains, businesses continue to operate in an increasingly unpredictable environment in 2026. And “Continue” is the key word. In 2022, manufacturers faced record-high energy prices, which subsequently led to record-high inflation and continues to be felt today. Moreover, these challenges are coupled with increasingly common weather anomalies. These include record-high temperatures last summer and heavy rainfall that is set to place eight million properties at risk of flooding by 2050, compared with more than six million properties today, according to Environment Agency data estimates. Challenge – and the solution This period of “record-highs”, and the instability it brings, is especially concerning for manufacturers that rely on HVAC and process temperature control, where even a short loss of cooling or heating can quickly bring production to a halt. In this context, a strong contingency plan is no longer optional in manufacturers’ operational resilience strategies. Even a well-maintained plant can be affected by factors outside a manufacturer’s control. Power failure, extreme temperatures, floods, accidental damage or delays in sourcing replacement parts can all compromise production if there is no plan in place. When are contingency plans most beneficial? A contingency plan can be critical in a wide range of scenarios, including: Extreme weather events such as flooding or heatwaves Power outages or unstable electrical supply Planned maintenance on critical plant Unexpected failure of chillers, boilers or heat pumps Refrigerant loss or mechanical breakdown Increased production demand that pushes systems beyond capacity Aligning on the right contingency plan An effective contingency strategy should reflect the systems that are critical to production. These commonly include: Cooling contingency plans for process cooling, data driven manufacturing and controlled environments Heating contingency plans to maintain working conditions, protect processes and prevent frost damage Temporary plant hire strategies that integrate with existing systems Planned maintenance contingency to maintain output while permanent systems are serviced Partnership with a specialist supplier to ensure temporary heating and cooling solutions are specified correctly, tested in advance and available when required. Futureproofing manufacturing Having the right contingency plan is also relevant when it comes to futureproofing, especially in the context of energy prices. In a recent article, Make UK highlighted energy costs as one of the biggest barriers to manufacturing growth. Without action, high energy prices risk weaker investment, reduced competitiveness and the gradual decline of key industries. The impact is felt most strongly across regional industrial heartlands, where manufacturing underpins productivity, jobs and supply chains. In this context, contingency planning is not only about responding to emergencies. It is about protecting productivity, reducing exposure Why contingency planning is no longer optional Manufacturers are facing a perfect storm of volatility, from energy price shocks and extreme weather to supply chain disruption, making operational continuity harder to guarantee. In this environment, contingency planning has shifted from a precaution to a necessity, ensuring critical heating and cooling systems remain operational and production stays on track when the unexpected occurs. Sean McDevitt, Business Development Leader ICS Cool Energy UK, reports.
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