Reacton Fire Suppression Ltd has been awarded a King’s Award for Enterprise in the Innovation category, placing the company among 52 organisations across the United Kingdom recognised in the 2026 honours list.
As part of the award, Chief Executive Officer Sam Malins is due to meet His Majesty King Charles III at a ceremony at St James’s Palace. The King’s Awards for Enterprise are regarded as the most prestigious business awards in the UK, with 2026 marking 60 years of recognising achievement in British industry and innovation.
The award recognises Reacton’s fire suppression systems, which are manufactured in the UK and are used to protect assets valued at billions of pounds globally. The company’s technology is designed to automatically detect and extinguish fires at their source, using integrated detection and suppression systems.
At the core of Reacton’s system is a proprietary pneumatic detection tube filled with nitrogen. When exposed to heat or flame, the tube ruptures and triggers the immediate release of an extinguishing agent, operating without the need for an external power source.
The company’s power-independent design has been highlighted as particularly significant in high-risk environments where electrical systems may fail. Reacton systems can also use electronic linear detection as an alternative option, allowing deployment across a wide range of sectors including heavy machinery, bus engines, electrical control panels and CNC equipment.
Award recognises dual-agent fire suppression approach
The King’s Awards for Enterprise also noted Reacton’s dual-agent suppression approach. This system combines dry powder, which rapidly suppresses flames, with wet chemical agents that cool surfaces and help prevent re-ignition. The company also offers clean agent options using fluorinated ketones, which are discharged as gas and leave no residue, making them suitable for environments containing sensitive equipment or where people may be present.
Another key feature of the technology is its modular design. Reacton uses what it describes as a “one valve fits all” system, allowing the same core valve to be used across a wide range of applications, from small electrical cabinets to large-scale industrial machinery weighing up to 400 tonnes. Only cylinder size and agent volume vary, which the company says reduces complexity and installation time while improving reliability.
Reacton Fire Suppression Ltd traces its origins to 2010, when Sam Malins acquired a small start-up focused on addressing gaps in fire protection for high-value mobile equipment. Following the acquisition of Reacton Fire Suppression Ltd in 2016, the business expanded into an Essex-based manufacturing, research and development, and international sales operation.
Today, the company supplies fire suppression systems across multiple sectors, including public transport, mining, information technology infrastructure, manufacturing and defence. Its international markets include the United States, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Africa and Central Asia. Clients include JCB and DP World.
Reacton says its systems are designed not only to protect equipment but also to reduce risk to human life by preventing fire escalation in industrial and operational environments.
Commenting on the award, Sam Malins said: “This recognition reflects the dedication and expertise of our entire team. We’ve always believed that even in the face of challenges, there is a solution—you just have to go and find it. This award is proof of that mindset in action.”
The King’s Award for Enterprise continues to highlight UK businesses demonstrating innovation, international growth and sustainable development, with this year’s recipients representing a broad range of industries across the country.