Emblation is a leading medical technology company based in the United Kingdom, developing advanced microwave medical devices since 2008. They treat a wide variety of conditions, from skin lesions to various cancers leading the way with a range of innovative microwave medical products.
In this customer story, we spoke with Chief Technology Officer and Co-founder, Eamon McErlean who oversees both technology development and IP strategy.
High patent renewal costs and limited transparency
Before switching to PatentRenewal.com, Emblation managed its patent renewals through an external patent attorney. Emblation faced the main following challenges with this setup:
- Rising patent renewal expenses: Renewal fees were consistently higher than expected when compared to standard in-country rates, raising concerns about cost efficiency.
- Lack of cost transparency: Invoices arrived with limited detail, mainly only separating the official renewal fees. This made it difficult to understand and oversee the different costs categories related to the patent renewals.
- Restricted financial insight: The finance team had little visibility into how overall patent renewal expenses were structured, complicating internal reporting and budget forecasting.
This lack of transparency led to budgeting challenges and uncertainty. As Emblation’s portfolio grew, so did the need for a more efficient, data-driven approach to renewals.
“Our finance department had questions around the renewal costs. And we didn't have the level of detail or the transparency to be able to answer those questions. It was very unclear in terms of what you're really paying.”
The search for a better IP renewal solution
They were looking for a solution that would deliver:
- Transparent pricing with clear cost breakdowns.
- Modern technology for managing patent renewals efficiently.
- Responsive communication and flexible support.
In search of alternatives, Emblation explored several IP renewal providers. Eamon was immediately drawn to its innovative approach to simplifying patent renewals. The company’s mission to bring transparency and automation to IP renewals stood out as a refreshing alternative to traditional law firm models.
The discussions were transparent and straightforward, with clear communication and a price comparison showing major savings. Together with strong customer feedback and a data-backed cost forecast, this gave Emblation the confidence to switch to PatentRenewal.com.
“We looked into what other options were available and found PatentRenewal.com. It seemed like an exciting change to the way patent management is done. I had a very good experience with the discussions. Everything about it was very transparent, very clear, which was kind of refreshing compared to previously where you don't really get all of the details.”
Full visibility, cost savings, and greater control
Switching to PatentRenewal.com transformed how Emblation manages its global IP renewals. What was once an opaque and manual process became transparent, organized, and easily accessible for both technical and financial teams. More results include:
- Significant cost savings: The difference in pricing was immediately visible. When comparing previous invoices to current patent renewals, Emblation reached savings overall around 50% and even up to 65–75% in some countries.
“The total saving amount in some examples was eye opening. There were cases where we could save three, four times less in difference, so it was considerable.”
- Transparent patent renewals and cost clarity: The platform provides clear, detailed insights into each patent renewal, replacing uncertainty with confidence. Emblation now has full visibility into every patent renewal cost category, including official fees, local agent fees, surcharge fees, service fee, bank and transaction fees.
“PatentRenewal.com is quite open and upfront about the service charges. So we know what that cost is, we know what the in-country cost is, and that’s a big difference."
- Streamlined financial workflows: Emblation’s finance team can easily retrieve historical invoices, check payment statuses and export data for accounting and audits.
“The platform really helps to streamline patent renewals, and it helps your finance team, who handle most of the payments, to understand the process."
- Forecasting and planning support: PatentRenewal.com’s forecasting tools have become essential for Emblation’s long-term planning. The company can now predict upcoming patent renewal costs, schedule deposits and payments in advance, align patent renewal expenses with annual budgets.
“I can recall details about all previous renewals, get previous invoices, and you can see the status of everything that's being paid."
- Responsive customer support: The hands-on support combined with flexibility from the team creates a partnership built on trust and reliability.
“It’s been excellent from the very beginning, great engagement, really helpful. It’s just a great level of customer support from PatentRenewal.com.”
- Continuous improvement and flexibility: Emblation appreciates that the platform keeps evolving. Regular updates introduce new, practical features that enhance usability and align with customer needs.
“It's the flexibility and the transparency that really make it the best product that we have seen for the patent renewal process.”
Empowered IP renewals with confidence
With PatentRenewal.com, Emblation has achieved more than just cost savings, they have gained control, transparency, and peace of mind. What was once a complex and opaque process is now clear, predictable, and easy to manage.
“It’s a transparent, flexible and professional solution for managing patent renewals cases. You have total transparency and all of the fees visible, it's really clear and upfront. It's refreshing to be able to have full visibility as to what you're paying for"
Emblation’s partnership with PatentRenewal.com reflects its forward-thinking solution for smarter, more efficient, and truly transparent patent renewals.
The company’s finance and technology teams collaborate seamlessly through one unified platform. With the IP renewal software every patent renewal is tracked, budgeted, and executed with precision.
If you're looking to simplify your IP renewals and gain full visibility into your IP portfolio, request a free price comparison or book a meeting with our team to learn more.




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