Wull Technologies Secures £300K Investment to Scale Up Eco-Friendly Sheep Wool Insulation Panels
Wull Technologies Secures £300K Investment to Scale Up Eco-Friendly Sheep Wool Insulation Panels
A pioneering insulation venture is set to scale its operations after securing a £300,000 investment to bring to market an innovative new product made from sheep wool.
Wull Technologies, a joint venture between Manchester’s Vector Labs and Neath Port Talbot-based Wool Insulation Wales, has received £150,000 investments from both the University of Manchester Innovation Factory and Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s (GMCA) GM Advance fund.
The funding will support the commercialisation of LAMDA, a new type of rigid insulation panel made using Welsh mountain sheep wool and a patent-pending green chemistry process developed by Vector Labs. The product aims to offer a sustainable alternative to traditional mineral wool insulation, which is derived from energy-intensive mining.
LAMDA is the latest innovation to emerge from the University of Manchester Innovation Factory’s “spin-in” programme, in which external businesses collaborate with the university to leverage academic expertise and facilities. This contrasts with traditional “spin-outs,” which commercialise in-house university research.
The investment marks a significant step forward for Wull Technologies, which has now raised more than £500,000 in total funding, including a £214,000 grant from Innovate UK’s REforMM (Resource Efficiency for Materials and Manufacturing) programme in 2023.
The panels are currently being manufactured in Manchester and are the first known rigid insulation product in the UK made entirely from wool—without plastic binders. The product is designed to be recyclable, biodegradable, and high-performing in both thermal and acoustic insulation.
“Rigid panel insulation is preferred in the construction sector because it’s easy to handle and install,” said Liam Britnell, technical director of Wull Technologies. “To our knowledge, there’s no comparable rigid wool panel product currently available in the UK. What sets LAMDA apart is that it avoids plastic entirely while competing directly with mineral wool in performance.”
Britnell added that the product’s natural moisture-regulating properties make it particularly suitable for retrofitting heritage buildings or addressing damp issues in homes—something the UK Health Security Agency says affects more than two million people in England.
Interest in LAMDA has come from sectors beyond construction, including packaging, horticulture, and interior design.
The collaboration brings together Vector Labs’ materials science and manufacturing expertise, operating out of the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre in Manchester, and Wool Insulation Wales’ sector experience in converting sheep wool into home insulation under the brand name Truewool.
The idea for the partnership arose during the development of a flat-pack, rapid-build demonstration home by Vector Homes—another arm of the Vector Group—at the University of Salford’s Energy House 2.0 facility.
“Welsh mountain wool is naturally insulative, breathable, and fire-retardant, but currently offers little value to farmers,” Britnell explained. “By turning this undervalued byproduct into high-performance insulation, we’re unlocking a new circular economy opportunity.”
Ruth-Marie Mackrodt, co-founder of Wool Insulation Wales and now commercial director of Wull Technologies, emphasised the venture’s potential to support local supply chains and sustainable construction.
“With millions of kilograms of wool produced annually as a byproduct of sheep farming, Wull Technologies creates a new and viable market for this natural material,” she said. “We’re extremely grateful for the support of GMCA and the University of Manchester Innovation Factory. This funding allows us to take the next step toward commercialisation.”
Nic Gowland, senior investment and licensing manager at the Innovation Factory, said the collaboration is a strong example of how academic partnerships can accelerate innovation.
“We’ve helped facilitate input from materials science experts at the university to ensure LAMDA is grounded in robust research,” he said. “We’re proud to partner with Wull Technologies as they continue to innovate in sustainable building solutions and beyond.”
The GM Advance fund, launched under Greater Manchester’s Investment Zone initiative, aims to support companies in advanced materials and manufacturing sectors. Its backing of Wull Technologies underscores a broader regional commitment to fostering innovation in green and circular economy ventures.
Want more from Businessin Wales? Why not follow us on our socials
Listen to the Businessin Wales podcast
- YouTube
- Spotify
- Apple Podcasts
- Audible
