Manufacturing & Engineering Magazine Issue 416

M

ISSUE 416

M M MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING MAGAZINE

JCB

POWER PRODUCTS

a product to fit any requirement

A more sustainable economy with

POWER ADHESIVES

CARBON TRUST

Market leader in manufacture of both glue guns and glue P8

P60

PLUS Lionweld Kennedy P40

editor’s

Comment ISSUE 416

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ear y e h t o t t r a t s t a Gre but will it continue?

UK manufacturing has enjoyed a resurgence at the start of 2015 with new orders and production output rising thanks to sustained domestic consumer demand. But will it continue?

New data, released this month, reveals many reasons to be positive right now. The latest figures from Markit/CIPS manufacturing PMI rose to an eight-month high of 54.4 last month, moving higher from 54 in February, with a reading above 50 indicating growth. This was as a result of strong demand across the domestic market, especially for consumer goods while new orders were also on the rise. Indeed, new orders achieved their highest level since July 2014, with production output growing at its fastest pace for nearly a year.

With the production of consumer goods also rising, positivity across the sector was not just confined to businesses but to households too. Consumers are enjoying low inflation and a slow increase in wages, and now have more disposable income available to them.

Yet, the Office for National Statistics wasn’t as enthusiastic. Data from the ONS showed economic productivity fell 0.2% at the end of last year to a level lower than that of 2007. This has raised fears over the sustainability of the wider economic recovery.

Indeed, output per worker grew by 0.3%, but only as hours increased, with the actual output per hour decreasing. This means that while employment has increased, productivity of workers has not.

Howard Archer of IHS Global Insight said productivity needs to develop going forward and that will be the critical factor in how soon and how far the Bank of England raises interest rates.

Magazine Manager Daniel Beardsley Feature Managers Tom Waite Elliott Jenkinson Kyle Joyce Group Editor Daniel Stephens Editor Ciaran Jarosz Contributors Jeff Senior Amy Marsden Art Editor Stacey Brewer Designers Carla Taylor Sam Dickinson Production Vicki Lindsay Lisa Pollinger Lisa Barrans Accounts Nick Charalambous Manufacturing and Engineering Magazine is published by: Trafalgar Publishing Ltd, 6th Floor, Crown House, Southgate, Huddersfield, HD1 1DE Tel: 01484 437300

“If productivity has taken a significant lasting hit, it means that the economy has less potential to grow without generating inflationary pressures and that interest rates will need to rise at an earlier stage.”

Importantly, we have to look at the latest research in a positive light whichever way we cut the data. All businesses recognise the challenge, and in spite of the barriers and obstacles that have or will attempt to block our path, we must be willing and able to overcome them.

In fact, the Markit manufacturing survey found that exports started to improve in March after a slight dip the previous month, with companies reporting improved order inflows from the US, China, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada and the Middle East. This is very reassuring data indicating that the manufacturing sector is in good shape.

Daniel Stephens Group Editor

Manufacturing and Engineering magazine is published by Trafalgar Publishing Ltd. Company registered in England & Wales. All material is the copyright of Trafalgar Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved. Manufacturing and Engineering magazine is the property of Trafalgar Publishing Ltd. This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form whole or part without the written permission of a director of Trafalgar Publishing Ltd. Liability: while every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, the publishers cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of information herein, or any consequence arising from it. In the case of company or product reviews or comments, these have been based upon the true and honest opinion of the Editor at the time of going to press.

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Contents ISSUE 416

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SECTIONS

8 MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING 14 AEROSPACE 20 AUTOMATION 30 CIVIL ENGINEERING 46 POWER GENERATION

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JCB POWER PRODUCTS

ASSOCIATIONS 20 PPMA Providing a range of quality and cost effective services and publication

30 STEEL CONSTRUCTION CERTIFICATION SCHEME The SCCS was established in the early 1980s to provide a Quality Management Systems certification service for steelwork contracting organisations

46 AMPS The trade association and industry voice for the UK’s world-leading diesel and gas-engine power generating sector

8 HESIVES D A R E W O P 2

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32 K CAMBRIDGEHO

36 BOURNE CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING

REGULARS 4 UPDATE The latest news from the industry.

64 THE LAST WORD Computer on a stick

FEATURES 8 POWER ADHESIVES Sticking to what matters

14 BAE SYSTEMS Skills development key to growth

22 SESSIONS UK Value through innovative technology

28 WESTERN MECHANICAL HANDLING

24 SPARC SYSTEMS Innovation & excellence

22 SESSIONS UK

26 LINKX SYSTEMS Bespoke solutions

28 WESTERN MECHANICAL HANDLING Expertise you can rely on

32 CAMBRIDGEHOK Respected and admired

36 BOURNE CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING Understanding customer needs is key

40 LIONWELD KENNEDY 100 years of service

48 JCB POWER PRODUCTS A product to fit any requirement

54 AKSA World leaderand international supplier of generators

58 G&M POWER Flexible, reliable solutions

14 BAE SYSTEMS

60 CARBON TRUST A better environment for all

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update LIGHTING UP DEVELOPING COUNTRIES London start-up firm Deciwatt has won £150,000 to develop its gravity-powered lamp, which aims to provide an affordable and safe alternative to kerosene lamps that are used by millions of people around the world living without access to electricity.

The firm was named national winner of the 2015 Shell Springboard programme and awarded the money to take the improved version of its GravityLight into the next stages of commercialisation.

Caroline Angus, commercial director of Deciwatt, said: “Support from Shell Springboard has come at a critical moment. The funding will help us convert existing links in the relief market into orders and sales, as well as further refining our technology. We are targeting three key sectors across the developing and developed worlds – kerosene replacement, humanitarian relief, and disaster preparedness.

Shell’s support will allow us to pursue all three.”

British industrial designer Martin Riddiford and co-inventor Jim Reeves created the pineapple-sized lamp, which is powered by a 10-12kg bag that falls 1.8m in 30 minutes. As the bag falls, this powers an input drive sprocket which rotates slowly at 1rpm. A polymer geartrain running through the product steps up the speed through successive stages and drives a DC generator at thousands of rotations per minute, powering the small LED light that shines slightly brighter than most kerosene lamps. Once the weighted bag reaches the floor, it must be lifted to repeat the process.

The GravityLight will eliminate the significant carbon emissions created by the kerosene lamps it aims to replace and provide a safe light that can be used at any time, with no risk of burns, house fires or kerosene fume-related illnesses. It is expected to retail at £3, and will have no running costs, so would pay for itself within a few months or weeks, freeing people from fuel poverty.

British car industry accelerates production Car manufacturing in the UK is being further boosted by new investment commitments that total GBP1.05bn, motor trade association the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) revealed.

A total of GBP7bn was committed to the car industry in the last two years and over 1.5 million vehicles were produced in the UK during 2014, the best performance in the sector since 2007.

SMMT said nine-figure investments will be made by three global vehicle manufacturers, Honda, Jaguar Land Rover and London Taxi Company, to fund the manufacture of new vehicle models. This is expected to further increase car production in the UK, which has doubled since 2009.

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According to SMMT, Jaguar Land Rover plans to make a GBP600m investment into its West Midlands operations, which cover its Castle Bromwich and Whitley; London Taxi Company, based in Coventry, is to invest GBP250m to produce a new range of ultra low emission taxis, which will also create 1,000 jobs; and Honda has announced a GBP200m investment in its Swindon plant, which will become the global production hub for the next-generation Honda Civic five-door.

The UK automotive industry accounts for over GBP64bn turnover and GBP12bn value added to the economy. More than 160,000 people are employed directly in manufacturing and over

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770,000 across the wider automotive industry, which accounts for 10% of total UK export of goods and invests GBP1.9bn annually in automotive R&D. Mike Hawes, chief executive at SMMT, commented: “It has been a fantastic week for UK automotive, with more than GBP1 billion earmarked by vehicle manufacturers for new model production that will drive further growth for the sector. Honda’s decision to build its next generation Honda Civic, a global car in an important and growing segment, here in the UK caps off a record six days – the first time three manufacturers have announced nine-figure investments over such a short period of time.”

update GKN AIR INTAKE CUTS ICE AND NOISE RISK GKN Aerospace has led a project to develop what is believed to be the first air intake design for aircraft to integrate both ice protection and noise reduction technology.

The scoop intake and channel including ice and debris protection and acoustic liners (Sipal) programme responded to an Airbus-defined requirement for an air intake that would feed air into a new electronic environmental control system for the passenger cabins of possible future single-aisle aircraft.Among the challenges faced by GKN’s engineers was the proposed position of the air intake on the aircraft.

The location would be exposed to icing and hail damage, as well as lightning and bird strikes – and would be close to the baggage handlers’ area, with the resultant strict limits on noise levels.

Working with specialist aircraft de-icing supplier AeroTex, GKN Aerospace created a composite intake structure

OFFSHORE WIND FARMS TO BENEFIT FROM £460M More than £460 million has been raised for the world's first dedicated offshore wind fund to invest in wind farms off the UK's coasts.

The UK Green Investment Bank said £463 million in capital had been committed by investors including UK pension funds and a sovereign wealth fund in the first stage of fundraising for a planned £1 billion fund to invest in offshore wind farms.

The Government-backed bank is also investing £200 million in the fund, which is managed by its subsidiary the UK Green Investment Bank Financial Services, and said that with fundraising continuing it expected to meet the £1 billion target.

It has transferred its investments in two existing offshore wind farms into the fund, which will give investors an immediate cash yield.

The two wind farms are Rhyl Flats off the coast of North Wales, with 25 turbines, and 88-turbine Sheringham Shoal, off the coast of Norfolk, which between them produce enough clean energy to power 305,000 homes.

that integrates electro-thermal ice protection and acoustic attenuation technology and is coated with a metallic spray-on erosion shield which incorporates lightning protection. The intake has been tested in GKN’s wind tunnel in Luton, where it achieved all Airbus requirements. The integrated acoustic technology significantly reduced noise levels.

Russ Dunn, GKN Aerospace senior vice-president of engineering and technology, said: “This inlet design has immense potential both for new aircraft and as a retrofit item.

“Engineers from across the company are now combining their expertise in areas such as engine systems, ice protection and additive manufacture to exploit the experience we have gained on Sipal and related R&D programmes, to drive even greater improvements in component performance with critical reductions in environmental impact.”

UK FOOD EXPORTS DOUBLED IN LAST 10 YEARS UK food and non-alcoholic drink exports has almost doubled in value over the past 10 years, while UK dairy exports are at a record high, according to a report from the Food and Drink Federation (FDF).

Food and drink is the largest manufacturing industry in the UK and the report showed UK food and non-alcoholic drink exports were up 2.6 per cent in 2014 to £12.8billion, while UK diary exports were up 8.8 per cent to £1.4billion.

The top three product categories last year were salmon, chocolate and cheese. Cheese exports, which make up a third of the overall dairy

exports, were up 5.6 per cent.

Demand was high in the United States and China, which had doubledigit growth for UK food and nonalcoholic drinks. The EU remained the UK’s biggest market for food and drink exports.

Steve Barnes, director of cconomics and commercial services at the FDF, says: “This performance shows that British food and drink is in demand across the globe – a testament to our quality brands and innovative products. High demand from international markets must be at the heart of strategy for economic growth.”

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update AWARDS CEREMONY AIMS TO UNLOCK DOORS FOR MANUFACTURERS

HINCKLEY AEROSPACE PROJECT BOOSTED BY GOVERNMENT FUNDING Hinckley-based manufacturer Sigma Precision Components has secured government funding to develop composite drive shafts for aerospace applications.

The £1.6m project, which it will work on alongside the University of Manchester and Wolverhampton's Moog Aircraft Group, is being supported by a £300,000 loan and £700,000 grant from the Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative (AMSCI) Mike Andreae, director of technology and improvement at Sigma, said: "We're delighted that AMSCI is supporting this programme, which offers real potential to reduce weight and improve the performance of this key component.

"The programme follows on naturally from our successful CleanSky-funded COMPipe project, which developed new manufacturing techniques to manufacture composite aero-engine pipes that offer significant weight savings when compared to their traditional, metallic counterparts."

The project is one of 20 across the UK that will benefit from £67m in funding from the government and £109m in industry investment.

Business secretary Vince Cable added: "While there is much to celebrate about British manufacturing, it is clear that our supplier base has been eroded over the last thirty years.

"Reversing this will boost exports, and help safeguard UK jobs.

Our targeted interventions have helped revive the great British manufacturing sector."

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A new awards ceremony for manufacturers is helping give the sector a set of benchmarking standards to drive improvements in business practices in the industry.

The Manufacturer Of The Year Awards, run jointly by The Manufacturer magazine and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, is a benchmarking competition that recognises manufacturing excellence and also provides companies taking part with free, targeted business advice. The winners will be announced on November 26 at the ICC in Birmingham.

Nick Hussey, managing director of The Manufacturer, says: “We need to get manufacturers talking to each other, more often, more

appropriately, with more metrics and more visibility. It is a real opportunity to share best practice, share knowledge, share business improvement and innovation techniques and also to explore new ways of working.”

As part of the awards process, experts will visit factories to provide firms with a benchmarking report based on their knowledge experience and analysis of the business in comparison to others.

Hussey hopes the report will help manufacturers understand how things like new technologies such as the internet of things will impact the sector, and that understanding best practices will help them compete on a global stage.

EVERY NEW BMW TO GET A HYBRID VERSION BMW clearly sees potential in hybrids or is keen to reduce its average CO2 emissions level because the German manufacturer plans to create a hybrid version of every new car.

Speaking to US motoring website AutoBlog, BMW North America CEO Ludwig Willisch said: "With the introduction of every new model there will be a plug-in hybrid version of that, too."

The first fruit to come from the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle program will be the X5 xDrive40e (aka the xDrive PHEV) and its 313hp powertrain, which is capable of 0 to 62mph in 6.8 seconds, 450Nm of torque, a superminibettering 77g/km of CO2 emissions and combined fuel economy of

85.6mpg.

When asked about the existence of the i5 and i7, two rumoured models that would sit between the i3 city car and the i8 supercar, Willisch interrupted: "Which we don't have."

He added: "Not any time soon."

It is really no surprise for BMW to push harder into greener technologies. The i8 is a one-of-akind supercar that is both fast and frugal, while the BMW i3 proves there is someone besides Tesla who gets the need for electric cars to be more desirable than a Toyota Prius.

Speaking of which, Willisch was also asked about whether BMW sees Tesla as a competitor. "I wouldn't say I don't see any competition. But I still see that a BMW 5 Series and a Tesla are totally different animals."

update

Dawn spacecraft prepares to image dwarf planet Ceres in detail Since its capture by the gravity of dwarf planet Ceres on March 6th, NASA’s Dawn spacecraft has performed flawlessly, continuing to thrust with its ion engine as planned. The thrust, combined with Ceres’ gravity, is gradually guiding the spacecraft into a circular orbit around the dwarf planet. All of the spacecraft’s systems and instruments are in excellent health.

Dawn has been following its planned trajectory (http://dawnblog.jpl.nasa.gov) on the dark side of Ceres — the side facing away from the Sun — since early March.

After it entered orbit, the spacecraft’s momentum carried it to a higher altitude, reaching a maximum of 46,800 miles (75,400 kilometres) on March 18th. Dawn is currently about 26,000 miles (42,000

kilometres) above Ceres, descending toward the first planned science orbit, which will be 8,400 miles (13,500 kilometres) above the surface.

The next optical navigation images of Ceres will be taken on April 10th and April 14th, and are expected to be available online after initial analysis by the science team. In the first of these, the dwarf planet will appear as a thin crescent, much like the images taken on March 1st, but with about 1.5 times higher resolution. The April 14th images will reveal a slightly larger crescent in even greater detail. Once Dawn settles into the first science orbit on April 23th, the spacecraft will begin the intensive prime science campaign.

By early May, images will improve our view

of the entire surface, including the mysterious bright spots that have captured the imaginations of scientists and space enthusiasts alike. What these reflections of sunlight represent is still unknown, but closer views should help determine their nature. The regions containing the bright spots will likely not be in view for the April 10th images; it is not yet certain whether they will be in view for the April 14th set.

On May 9th, Dawn will complete its first Ceres science phase and begin to spiral down to a lower orbit to observe Ceres from a closer vantage point.

Dawn previously explored the giant asteroid Vesta for 14 months, from 2011 to 2012, capturing detailed images and data about that body.

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MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING POWER ADHESIVES

STICKING TO WHAT MATTERS Power Adhesives is a market leader thanks to the manufacture of both glue guns and glue

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Hard selling, according to Managing Director Steve Sweeney, is something Power Adhesives doesn’t do: “Our main sales operation is more technical support and we help people find solutions. Often we get situations where companies have designed something and don’t know how to stick them together so we provide solutions they need to go into production. We train our distributors and have very good relationships with them so they’re comfortable bringing their customers

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here when they get out of their depth. We work very closely with the distributors to help them generate business. Working this way can take some time but, once the right solution has been found and the adhesives are specified, they are often used for the life of the product.”

The company started in 1974 selling imported glue sticks and guns, soon set up a distribution network and then started manufacturing in 1988. It now designs glue guns that are manufactured in various factories and has four glue

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production lines running 24 hours a day to manufacture glue sticks and cartridges.

Whilst most of its competitors manufacture glue guns or glue, the fact Power Adhesives does both has helped make it the market leader.

“Because we do both, we can push the technology harder,” explains Steve. “If we need a particular glue, we can create the glue gun to feed that. Most competitors have a limited range of products while we have a much greater range of both guns and adhesives that help us provide more solutions. We work to build long-term

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“Whilst most of its competitors manufacture glue guns or glue, the fact Power Adhesives does both has helped make it the market leader.”

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gramme where glue guns are redesigned every five or six years to bring them up-to-date with the latest electronics and controls, make them more reliable and drive out cost. Similarly, chemists assess new raw materials to establish if they deliver performance or cost benefits and continually look at formulations and new polymers to ensure the company always has adhesives to bond the latest materials used in manufacturing.

To some degree, as Steve outlines, those developments are driven by customer needs: “We get a lot of applications coming into the laboratory from companies and industrial designers and we work with them at a confidential level. Getting involved at an early stage for a new product makes sense and can avoid a lot of problems later on, so we always welcome that. We tend to be quite technical here so it

“The advantage of the hot melt adhesive is the glue gun melts it and you put the molten adhesive on one surface and press the surfaces together”

gives us a lot of satisfaction when we can find a new solution and see it coming to a product and being used for many years.”

It all adds up to a product range that already includes seven model ranges of glue guns from small, low-powered ones suitable for applying small amounts of adhesive infrequently to those that are more powerful, with higher wattage heaters that can dispense four to five kilos of adhesive per hour and even spray hot melts for expanded foam and insulation materials.

The glues themselves range from simple formulations to stick paper and wood to advanced formulations suitable for high gloss surfaces as well as varying viscosity and times for the adhesive to work. Steve says: “If you want to stick foam or other material, you may have a thicker glue so it doesn’t soak into the material so quickly. There are also other parameters in terms of chemical or hot and cold resistance. These glues melt when they get hot so you have to consider all factors and there is a big range of formulations that, as they

relationships with customers to really give them excellent technical help and solve problems; that’s how we provide value to customers. From a technical point of view, because we’re doing everything in-house, we’re able to provide the highest level of support to end users. Our glue formulations are consistent and tightly specified, unlike many imports that can change with the wind.”

Its position as market leader is maintained by a rolling research and development pro-

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go up in performance, escalate in cost but solve more problems.

“The advantage of the hot melt adhesive is the glue gun melts it and you put the molten adhesive on one surface and press the surfaces together. The heat quickly dissipates and the adhesive re-solidifies for an instant bond, which means there’s no need for clamping. Hot melt adhesives contain no solvents or harmful chemicals and they’re very fast setting so they speed up production. Almost every factory in the world probably has a glue gun of some sort and we’re in this niche providing these systems.”

The company’s products are used for various applications that include packaging and point of sale displays that have high gloss surfaces with heavy loading and necessary durability requiring good quality adhesives. They’re also used regularly in the automotive industry,

such as for sun visors and many trim application, for electronics and in the foundry industry.

“Things like turbo chargers, where they stick sand cores together in the cavity in the tool before the metal’s poured, is an interesting one because you’d think the molten metal would melt the adhesive,” remarks Steve. “In fact, the sand insulates the adhesive for long enough so the metal has formed before the adhesive melts. Then they reclaim the sand and the process isn’t affected by the adhesive.”

Uses also include furniture manufacture, repairing wooden floors, medical applications and wind turbines where the adhesive positions the reinforcing materials in the blades before injecting resin. And, as Steve recounts, the adhesives have surprising environmental properties: “Although the hot melts are polymer-based, many polymers are derived from

MANAGING DIRECTOR STEVE SWEENEY

The company’s products are used for various applications that include packaging and point of sale displays that have high gloss surfaces with heavy loading the paper-making process where pine trees are replanted and are a renewable source of material. 50% of our packaging formulations are from a renewable source and, because the product contains no solvent, we don’t have nasty chemicals in the factory causing problems.”

It’s part of the company’s ethical approach, which extends to working very hard in terms of housekeeping, safety and training as well as generally looking after its staff, some of whom have been there 25 years. The approach has enabled Power Adhesives to meet the challenges presented by the recession, raw material shortages, price volatility, Russian sanctions and the transition into a medium-sized company.

It currently exports to sixty countries, has recently opened branches in the USA and India and, according to Steve, is in the process of growing further: “We’ve just finished a £2 million investment programme where we built some additional space and spent about £1 million on an additional production line. We’ve put another 60% capacity into the factory for adhesive production and we’re going to spend the next couple of years trying to sell that capacity before we go again with another expansion programme. We’re really looking at export markets for our growth and duplicating in different countries what we’ve done in the UK.” www.poweradhesives.com Telephone: 01268 885800 12

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AEROSPACE BAE SYSTEMS

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT KEY TO GROWTH BAE Systems will recruit a record number of apprentices thanks to its £15.6m investment in a new training academy

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Headquartered in London, BAE Systems is a worldwide provider of defence, security and aerospace solutions, and a leading supplier to both the United Kingdom and to international customers including the USA, India, Saudi Arabia and Australia.

Following the merger of British companies Marconi Electronic Systems (a defence electronics and naval shipbuilding subsidiary of the General Electric Company) and British Aerospace (an aircraft, munitions and naval systems manufacturer) in 1999, BAE Systems immediately became one of the world’s largest defence contractors.

Certainly, the building blocks of its existence reveal just how BAE Systems has been able to secure its reputation as one of the world’s best. It is the successor to various aircraft, shipbuilding, armoured vehicle, armaments and defence elec-

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tronics companies such as A.V. Roe and Company (one of the world's first aircraft companies), de Havilland (manufacturer of the world's first commercial jet airliner), and British Aircraft Corporation (co-manufacturer of the Concorde supersonic transport).

Today, the company’s principle role is in the production of military equipment with most recent publicly available figures suggesting 95% of its total sales were for military-related projects. Most recent successes have been in the development and production of aircraft with both its Typhoon fighter and Tornado fighter-bomber being front line aircraft of the RAF. It is currently part of the development team for the F-35 Lightning II programme which will produce a family of single-seat, single-engine, all-weather stealth multi-role fighters. These aircraft are undergoing testing and final development in the United States.

AEROSPACE BAE SYSTEMS

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AEROSPACE BAE SYSTEMS

Away from the production of military equipment, one of the great strengths of the company is its promotion of skills development and apprenticeship schemes. Recently, it worked together with other leading employers in the aerospace and airworthiness sectors to design and develop the new Aerospace and Airworthiness Apprenticeship Trailblazer Standards.

The new standards will shape the future of apprenticeships and meet the needs of large companies and SMEs as well as providing a range of flexible pathways into work and careers in the sector for young people.

Skills Minister Nick Boles MP said: “Apprenticeships are a real success story.

Through giving leading employers such as BAE Systems the power to design and deliver high quality apprenticeships we can give young peo-

ple the skills our economy vitally needs. I congratulate BAE Systems and members of the Aerospace and Airworthiness Trailblazers on their involvement in designing the new apprenticeships.”

A key feature of the new standards is that for the first time they align competence on completion for the Level 3 (A Level equivalent programmes) to the Engineering Council’s Engineering Technician level. They also see the introduction of two new Degree Apprenticeship standards that will allow apprentices to take degree level qualifications as part of their apprenticeships. In this way they provide an innovative alternative to the traditional university route to higher education level qualifications.

Nigel Whitehead, BAE Systems group managing director said: “BAE Systems has long been

committed to delivering high quality apprenticeships and we are delighted the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills has announced their approval of all five of the Apprenticeship Standards and both of the Degree Apprenticeship Standards. This places the Aerospace sector in a strong position to offer a range of Apprenticeship programmes to meet the skills and capability needs of the future.

Equally, it will ensure that apprentices are learning skills that employers value, thus providing them a great launch pad for their careers”.

Launched in October 2013, the Trailblazers initiative is designed to ensure that every apprentice in England is enrolled on a scheme that has been designed and approved by employers. BAE Systems and other companies in the sector supported the effort by providing short, easy to understand documents that describe the level of skill, knowledge and competency required to achieve the required standard of skill in a specific occupation. As a result, apprenticeships will be based on standards designed by employers to meet their needs, the needs of their sector and the economy more widely.

Indeed, BAE Systems will recruit a record number of apprentices in the coming years thanks to its investment in a new training academy. A new £15.6m flagship training academy within the Lancashire Enterprise Zone in Samlesbury will offer state-of-the-art

“The new standards will shape the future of apprenticeships and meet the needs of large companies and SMEs” 16

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AEROSPACE BAE SYSTEMS

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AEROSPACE BAE SYSTEMS

facilities for BAE Systems apprentices and existing employees and will be completed in time for the 2016 apprenticeship intake. The flexible, modern environment will accommodate a larger number of apprentices and greater engagement with schools.

BAE Systems is already one of the biggest employers of apprentices in the UK, with more than 1,000 apprentices training in the company at any one time and an annual £80m investment in education and skills. Of the more than 800 apprentice places in 2015, 45 apprentices employed by the supply chain or other defence and aerospace companies will have their training delivered and overseen by BAE Systems.

During a recent prime ministerial visit,

David Cameron spoke to more than 300 apprentices from companies across the North West, including many working on highly advanced engineering projects such as Eurofighter Typhoon, F-35 Lightning II and unmanned air systems.

The prime minister said: "Apprenticeships are a key part of our long-term economic plan, giving people who want to work hard and get on with the chance to build their careers and secure a better future. Across the country people are taking up apprenticeships in record numbers and it is heartening to see such a major employer as BAE Systems at the forefront of this, leading the charge and investing in the future of the UK defence aerospace industry."

Ian King, chief executive of BAE Systems said: “Our record apprentice intake and investment in a new training facility highlights the importance of apprentices as a means of developing the highly skilled, ambitious and enthusiastic workforce needed to deliver world-leading technologies. I’m extremely proud of our apprenticeship programme and the value it provides to BAE Systems and the UK. The programme has experienced significant growth and we are committed to ensuring those joining the company have the best possible training experience, grounding them for the exciting, challenging careers that lie ahead.”

www.baesystems.com

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AUTOMATION PPMA

e h t

e c i o v

OF PROCESSING & PACKAGING SUPPLIERS The PPMA’s mission is to provide a range of quality, cost effective services and publications to help members develop their businesses

T

he PPMA is the UK's trade association for suppliers of processing and packaging machinery to the UK market and represents over 400 member and associate companies. Its principle objective is to promote sales of machinery, both at home and abroad, through various projects and services of mutual benefit to both members and their

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customers by providing free technical and machinery information and advice.

Started in 1987 with just eight founder companies, the association grew rapidly over the following two years, and in 1989 enjoyed a substantial increase in numbers when it merged with the UK manufacturers association, PEMA. The years that followed saw further growth in membership and expansion in the number and type

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of services offered to members.

Currently the PPMA has over 365 member and associate companies who are responsible for the majority of machines sold in the UK each year.

The PPMA’s mission is to provide a range of quality, cost effective services and publications to help members develop their business. It also aims to provide a single voice for the machinery sector on relevant issues, while promoting standards of technical

service, training and know-how, making membership a mark of quality and service. It is also committed to providing channels of contact between members, members and customers, members and government and other organisations, and endeavours to provide cost effective access to professional and focused exhibitions.

The PPMA is a members' owned organisation and each member owns the same amount of

AUTOMATION PPMA

“The PPMA is a members' owned organisation and each member owns the same amount of shares in the organisation”

shares in the organisation irrespective of their size or annual expenditure with the association.

Each member company can put forward an employee to be a director of the PPMA. The Board of Directors meets approximately every quarter to work with the executive to develop products and services that benefit the members. Each PPMA director has a functional role for which they are responsible. PPMA directors are not paid and give their time

voluntarily in the service of the association.

The current chairman is Richard Little. He became a director in 2007 and is a long standing director of Jenton International, a manufacturer and distributor of equipment to the packaging, printing and converting industry.

He is supported by vice chairman Grant Jamieson. Grant became a board member in November 2010 and is managing

director of Winkworth Group, a UK manufacturer and worldwide exporter of mixing equipment across all industry sectors.

Recently, the PPMA held its annual industry awards ceremony at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham. The who’s who of the processing and packaging industry descended on the venue for the event hosted by Rory Bremner.

Companies demonstrating innovation, strength and success

were declared the best in their field across 14 closely fought categories by an independent panel of industry leading judges.

The top award went to Loma Systems which was named Processing & Packaging Manufacturer of the Year. The company was praised by the judges as “a great example of how the drive for excellence in the individual elements of any operation leads to a sound and successful business.”

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AUTOMATION SESSIONS UK

VALUE THROUGH INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY Sessions UK specialises in the design, manufacture and supply of machinery for printing and labelling application If experience is key to a successful business, Sessions UK (formerly Sessions of York) shouldn’t have any problem at all. Evolving from a 199-year-old label business, the company now specialises in design, manufacture and supply of machinery for printing and applying labels to a variety of bottles, boxes, cartons or any other type of innovative packaging and product that needs identification with self-adhesive labels.

Forging long-term relationships with clients thanks to enduring high standards and an ability to meet and often exceed expectation, Sessions UK has developed an enviable reputation in the sector. Its team now has a huge wealth of expertise in label application, label materials and consumables through 35 years working in the packaging and identification industry having designed, manufactured and distributed thousands of standard and innovative custom machines all over the world.

The work of Sessions UK includes providing

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labelling machinery ranging from desktop thermal transfer printers to fully automatic inline systems right through to its globally proven RC range of machines specifically designed to handle and label pharmaceutical products.

The company’s long standing partnerships with global suppliers of labelling equipment allow Sessions UK to supply labelling machines for every type of application. Indeed, as an Avery Denison UK partner Sessions UK can assure customers that it incorporates the latest technology into its purpose built labelling systems along with high speed desk top printers with special print and apply attachments for lower output.

In addition, as a Germark UK partner the company ensures that all standard application – front/back wraparound, sleeving systems are the most versatile, compact and efficient on

AUTOMATION SESSIONS UK

“As a member of the PPMA, Sessions UK achieves a number of benefits via website information and through attending the organisation’s annual show” the market and its new Germark desktop mini labellers are ideal where space is at a premium.

Sessions UK also offers consumable items such as thermal ribbons, labels and hot foil for almost any type of desktop or inline printer a client may use at their worksite. Its industry experience ensures total compatibility through a ribbon/material match service assuring the client of continued quality for identification and information on products.

As a member of the PPMA, Sessions UK achieves a number of benefits via website information and through attending the organisation’s annual show to allow customers to view the latest and often unique machines that make the compa-

ny stand out from other suppliers.

Crucially, the company prides itself in its delivery of customer support and guidance with service backup offering helpful advice and equipment servicing and spare parts for all its internationally recognised machinery including Avery, Germark, and Sessions UK’s own custom built machinery.

Sessions UK welcomes enquiries to discuss any current projects, servicing, parts, consumable requirements or forward plans in order to demonstrate the value it can bring to a client’s business.

www.sessionsuk.com Tel: 01904 610613 (24/7 mob:07710 700 583)

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AUTOMATION SPARC SYSTEMS

INNOVATION & EXCELLENCE Sparc Systems is celebrating 40 years at the forefront of high quality products and services in the food and pharmaceutical sectors.

Priding itself in being the home of innovation and excellence in industrial systems, Sparc Systems is at the forefront of high quality products and services at the backbone of the food and pharmaceutical sectors. Through diligence in providing bespoke, tailor-made products and systems for these sectors, the Sparc name has become synonymous with quality systems to serve highly-specialised needs.

Currently celebrating its 40th year anniversary, Sparc Systems is a leading specialist in providing high quality systems for three core areas – the most prominent of these would be the company's highly reputed counting systems such as for the pharmaceutical and automated pharmacy industries as well as for areas such as kitting systems used for counting plastic building block type children's toys. In addition, Sparc also boasts great expertise in designing and building advanced weighing systems and bespoke control systems for a variety of OEMs supporting the food, pharmaceutical and aerospace sectors.

With specific regard to the food industry, Sparc systems delivers a

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wide range of products including anything from checkweighers right through to x-ray systems, metal detection and label inspection systems. These products have become a highly valued asset in the protein, bakery and produce segments of the market and has led to the company developing keen working relations with many of the biggest and best food-sector organisations around as well as allowing the company to successfully expand the turnover of its food industry divisions by 45% between 2012 and 2014. It is expected that this turnover will increase by another 50% by the end of the current year.

In particular, the company has enjoyed great success with bakeries around the nation, regarding which David Buckley, Managing Director

AUTOMATION SPARC SYSTEMS of Sparc Systems comments: “We're in most of the UK's major bakeries but particularly into Allied Bakeries who have just completed their bakery capital expenditure process and we've now ended up with our equipment in most Allied Bakeries - they've been very good to us over the years.” Through working closely with Allied Bakeries over a number of years and through close liaison with the company, Sparc has been able to establish key specifications and needs so as best to produce a bespoke service and product portfolio for Allied Bakeries.“ I think it's all about the machinery design. We built a machine especially for them, which is called the bakery specification machine, built to the Allied Bakery specifications and standards.“ Working closely with all of its suppliers, Sparc is able to effectively tap into the expertise and quality evident within its supply chain, allowing for greater flexibility and adaptation to market and customer requirements alike. While many of Sparc's products may look and feel similar to one another, each is in fact built specifically to suit the environment within which it is operating.

“The machines look like, feel like and work like the environment that they're going to be working. Rather than 'You've got to be careful with this machine because it's a fragile instrument – pay attention to it', with Sparc products it's more like 'Look at the thing, it's built like a battleship',” adds David. “We've gone out of our way to make sure all of our products exceed expectations.”

Two key suppliers in particular can be attributed to the continued success of Sparc, namely King Sheet Metal and Wenglor.

David explains: “King Sheet Metal has grown as Sparc has grown and they are integral to what we do actually. The fabrication isn't just the structure, it's almost the entire machine and it's the single most expensive part of the machine... They've been very good at helping us with the design and the manufacturability of that design, based on what we need to do to satisfy that application .

“The Inox range from Wenglor is the only sensor we use now for that type of application. It's a waterproof, robust and elegant product – again, like with King Sheet Metal they've designed their product around our requirements and we've ended up with a range of Wenglor products which satisfy the specific needs of our customers.”

www.sparc-systems.co.uk Tel: 01684 310000

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AUTOMATION LINKX SYSTEMS

BESPOKE SOLUTIONS From its purpose-built manufacturing headquarters, Linkx Systems designs and develops packaging machinery using the latest technology and innovations.

Linkx Systems has become a reliable supplier of packaging machinery over a number of years thanks to its dedication to providing bespoke solutions and its readily available customer support. Its 30-strong staff have between them more than 200 years of experience in automation and packaging making it not just one of the best in the sector, but one of the most knowledgeable.

From its purpose-designed manufacturing headquarters in Suffolk, Linkx Systems designs and develops packaging machinery using the latest technology and innovations. By making best use of modern automation technology, the company supplies its impressive customer base, which includes many blue chip companies, with packaging machines that not only offer outstanding value for money, but also easily out perform machines available from other sources.

A key part of Linkx Systems’ success is built upon the concept that, by making best use of modern automation technology, the company can provide its customers with packaging machines that not only offer outstanding value for money, but outperform the competition. Strong and consistent growth underlines Linkx Systems’ ability to meet and often exceed customer expectation

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on a regular basis, and this has seen the business successfully move from makeshift premises for two employees to a purpose-built manufacturing plant for 30 employees.

Recent achievements for Linkx include significant cost savings for a leading home care provider. The client, a manufacture of some of the world’s best known personal care and beauty brands, is now achieving significant cost reductions on product packaging with a new and innovative shrink wrapper from Linkx Systems. The machine, which uses the latest Allen Bradley servo control systems to provide outstanding performance and versatility, is optimised to combine high throughput with low materials usage and minimum volume for the finished packaged.

Installed at the company’s manufacturing plant in Manchester, the new Linkx shrink wrapper handles five different sizes of toiletries. In each case, the machine collates the products into groups of six, and wraps them with a single layer of film, which it then heat shrinks to produce a compact yet robust package ready for transport and distribution to retailers.

The machine is capable of continuously producing up to 40 finished packages per minute, allowing it to keep pace with the high output

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from the plant’s manufacturing lines. Since it uses only a single layer of film, it is economical to operate and, because it produces compact packages. it reduces shipping volumes and costs, enabling the customer to make further valuable savings.

With its exceptionally compact design, the new Linkx shrink-wrap machine supplied to the Manchester manufacturer occupies a minimum of valuable factory floor space. Other key features are an intuitive operator interface, with simple menu-driven controls for product selection, maintenance and fault-finding, Ethernet connectivity that supports remote diagnostics and facilities for collecting and managing operational data.

Elsewhere, one of the largest food manufacturers in the world has chosen a KUKA robotic palletiser (nicknamed Matilda) from Linkx Systems to increase the speed and efficiency of a coffee stacking line. Key factors that influenced their decision were the machine’s robust yet streamlined design and flexibility in handling two sizes of pallets.

Linkx’s expertise was called upon for the integration of the palletiser robot at a plant where 100 million jars of instant coffee are produced a year. The aim was to improve the automation for stacking boxes of coffee doy

AUTOMATION LINKX SYSTEMS

packs. The KR120 robot has a maximum reach of 2,496mm and weighs 1,049kg that enables it to effortlessly stack payloads of 120kg.

The KUKA KR120 robot is a robust and reliable piece of equipment, able to deliver repeatability of ±0,06 mm. Floor mountable and benefiting from a vacuum pick up head, the KR120 can stack up to 24 cases per minute. The robot also boasts sizable pallet storage for up to 15 pallets at a time.

In addition, this versatile five axes robot is also able to stack different size pellets such as chep and euro, which makes it a great longterm investment.

“We were asked to improve their packaging line and we had no hesitation in recommending a robot-based solution. Our KUKA System Partner status gives us access to their specialist application support,” said David Hayward, MD at Linkx. “We are always pleased to offer our input to develop better and more effective systems for our clients that will increase productivity, save them the money and future-proof their packaging lines,” he concluded. www.linkxpackaging.com Tel: 01502 713777

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AUTOMATION WESTERN MECHANICAL HANDLING

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Establishing a loyal client base is the mark of a business capable of delivering the right solutions to customers alongside reliability and value for money. That Western Mechanical Handling (WMH) has been doing this for almost 40 years highlights not only its consistency but enduring high standards.

Based in Callington, Cornwall, WMH is a family owned business offering automation solutions to food and pharmaceutical companies all over the world. Equipment is tailor made from high grade materials and is specific to individual customer requirements.

While WMH’s capability means it can cater for a diverse number of needs, it enjoys specialist expertise in assembly and make-up lines, multi-lane depositing, collation and oven loading, spiral cooler and freezer loading and unloading, end of line packing, box and tray

EXPERTISE YOU CAN RELY ON

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AUTOMATION WESTERN MECHANICAL HANDLING handling and palletising systems.

Continuing to go from strength to strength, 2014 was another successful year for WMH. It built two automated storage systems for use in the pharmaceutical industry. One unit was for integration in an existing production line in the UK and one was shipped to a new facility in China. Elsewhere, the company developed a number of robotic coating systems which replaced existing equipment with upgraded build quality and improved process control of the line to offer a higher throughput and increased flexibility with the programming capabilities of the Mitsubishi HMI. For the food industry, WMH worked with a bakery in the north of England to develop an in-line solution for transferring and collating fruit pies from a pie assembly line into a spiral freezer. It also developed a hygienic spiral conveyor suitable for use in a high care manufacturing environment found in food factories.

The spiral elevators, developed as part of an oven loading system, enabled products from two production lines to be elevated to a high level in a very small footprint which created an access route for personnel and equipment into an area within the factory where space was very limited.

A mark of its recent success has necessitated the need to restructure the organisation in order to secure its future growth. This has involved streamlining the chain of command. Indeed, with projects increasing in complexity the changes helped to ensure the smooth running of projects and the efficiency of day to day operations.

“I have been working on a long term plan with the objective of ensuring WMH has the necessary organisation to safeguard the future of the company,” said managing director, John Tomlinson.

This growth can also be witnessed in WMH’s recent investment in 3D CAD technology. It has upgraded its 2D capabilities to 3D utilising AutoDesk Product Design Suite and Inventer. The investment is already starting to pay dividends with customers commenting on the high standard of workmanship in the finished machines. WMH has also invested heavily in new server technologies to give the whole company a robust base on which to develop things further over the next few years.

“Western Mechanical Handling’s aims for 2015 are to maintain a good level of organic growth that is sustainable in the long term,” said sales and marketing co-ordinator Helen Northcott. “WMH will continue to build on existing good relationships forged with a loyal client base over many years and develop new relationships within the core food industry sector.

The company is committed to continually developing its products as the market changes and adapts to new technology and working practices.”

www.wmh-uk-ltd.com Tel: 01579 383788

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CIVIL ENGINEERING STEEL CONSTRUCTION CERTIFICATION SCHEME

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CIVIL ENGINEERING STEEL CONSTRUCTION CERTIFICATION SCHEME

ENCOURAGING QUALITY & PRODUCTIVITY The SCCS was established in the early 1980s to provide a Quality Management Systems certification service for steelwork contracting organisations

There is a case for steel in all construction scenarios. There is a solution for all projects and the different engineering requirements that they bring, such as fire protection, thermal insulation, acoustics, vibration and BREEAM excellence. Whether it is hospitals, housing, schools, offices, mixed use, warehousing, bridges, power generation, there are abundant examples of where steel has been the preferred choice.

The Steel Construction Certification Scheme (SCCS) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Constructional Steelwork Association (BCSA). It was established in the early 1980s to provide a Quality Management Systems certification service for steelwork contracting organisations. SCCS has subsequently developed additional certification and monitoring services for the steelwork contractors with integrated or separate environmental and health and safety management systems and factory production control systems.

The directors are committed to the principles of impartiality in carrying out

management system certification activities, management of conflict of interest and ensuring objectivity of the management system certification activities.

Quality management systems operated by the certified contractors' are formally assessed to ensure compliance with the requirements of ISO 9001:2008. Each certificate issued is valid for three years during which period SCCS conducts regular surveillance audits to monitor continued compliance with the certified management system.

Meanwhile, environmental management systems operated by the certified contractors' are formally assessed to ensure compliance with the requirements of ISO 14001:2004, and occupational health and safety management systems operated by the certified contractors' are formally assessed to ensure compliance with the requirements of BS OHSAS 18001:2007.

The BCSA, of which SCCS is a wholly owned subsidiary, is a national organisation for the steel construction industry. Its member companies undertake the design, fabrication and erection of steelwork for all forms of construction in

building and civil engineering. Associate members are those principal companies involved in the direct supply to all or some members of components, materials or products.

Corporate members are clients, professional offices and educational establishments which support the development of national specifications, certification services, fabrication and erection techniques, overall industry efficiency and good practice.

The principal objectives of the association are to promote the use of structural steelwork; to assist specifiers and clients; to ensure that the capabilities and activities of the industry are widely understood and to provide members with professional services in technical, commercial, contractual, quality assurance and health and safety matters. The association's aim is to influence the trading environment in which member companies have to operate in order to improve their profitability.

www.steelconstruction.org Tel: 020 7839 8566

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CIVIL ENGINEERING CAMBRIDGEHOK

RESPECTED AND ADMIRED CambridgeHOK has grown to become one of the UK’s principle suppliers of retail structures, commercial glasshouses and associated equipment

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Charting its history back to the 1950s, CambridgeHOK has experience on its side. It’s one of the key reasons – along with acquiring the trade, assets and staff of its largest UK competitor HOK Engineering in 2007 to both strengthen its market position and product offering – why the company is a leader in the sector. With purpose-built manufacturing facilities in the heart of Yorkshire and regional offices in Huntingdon and West Sussex, CambridgeHOK has grown to become one of the UK’s principle producers of retail structures, commercial glasshouses and associated equipment. Indeed, the business is one of the most respected names in the industry.

Cambridge HOK charts its history back to 1955 when Basil Thomas set up the company to accommodate his thriving tomato growing business in Comberton, south west Cambridge. Basil needed to upgrade the glasshouses he used but found no suitable design available to him on the market at that time. He therefore decided to design and manufacture his own.

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The first model used aluminium extrusions for both structural frame and glazing bars, and incorporated an innovative patented glazing system involving the use of stainless steel clips. During those early years the business was known as the Cambridge Glasshouse Company and it prided itself on the knowledge that the entire product range was designed and manufactured on site in Comberton, with virtually the only out-sourced components being the nuts and bolts that were used to assemble the glasshouses.

By the mid sixties, the British Commercial Glasshouse growing industry was in full swing, and Norman Ferguson, a director of Cambridge Glasshouse Company, move to Bognor Regis and founded Frampton Ferguson Limited with Francis Frampton, a family member of the Frampton’s Nurseries dynasty who operated Commercial Horticultural businesses all along the South coast.

Both companies continued to enjoy a period of growth, as the glasshouse growing industry expanded both in the British Isles and on Guernsey.

In the late sixties, both companies were taken over

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by British Aluminium, the major aluminium extruder of that time, largely as a result of the many miles of extrusions that were used in the designs that both companies produced. By this time, commercial glasshouse designs had developed, with units of span width ranging from the traditional standard of 20 feet wide up to the largest at over 80 feet wide - a size favoured by both rose growers and cucumber growers alike for the ease of control of the glasshouse environment as a result of the large contained air volume. This was, of course, pre oil crisis, after which it became less economical to heat such large air volumes.

As the British Commercial Growing industry declined during the eighties, the company diversified from producing entirely commercial glasshouses to building for use in Garden Centres, where they were also used as both shops and restaurants, and display houses. The company further diversified by contract manufacturing Road Furniture, in the guise of motorway bridge parapet crash barriers, and safety railing systems. By this time, corporate ownership of the company had transferred from British Aluminium to British Alcan.

During the nineties, the company was transferred to Lorne Williamson’s private ownership as British Alcan consolidated its business activities, who subsequently sold it to Mike Kendall in 1996. Kendall then moved the head office to Yorkshire in 1997 where it is currently based in a purpose built factory and office complex, and added further divisions to the company involving the related disciplines of environmental control to make the company what it is today, now under the stewardship of Steve Hinch, John Holland and Ross Hibbs.

CambridgeHOK offers complete turnkey solutions for commercial applications from AutoCAD design to on-site commissioning. It also undertakes part-building or renovation work, and provides a comprehensive design and build service for retail structures.

Experienced in the design and manufacture of specialist glasshouses for research applications, the company also produces a wide selection of greenhouses for the domestic market, including the stylish Victorian and Varsity domestic ranges. Whatever the project, or product, the aim is the same, to provide the highest quality, at competitive prices with first

“CambridgeHOK offers complete turnkey solutions for commercial applications from AutoCAD design to on-site commissioning”

class back-up and support.

For most commercial applications the first point of call will be an in-depth consultation with one of CambridgeHOK’s Technical Advisers. Their experience, technical ability and planning skills will help to ensure the future success of the project. Through expert advice on construction materials, heating, air conditioning, electrical installations and cost build up, the team will help clients develop the right solution which can also include liaising with local authorities and unity companies, as well as consultation with fire officers and other interested parties.

When the project enters the construction phase, CambridgeHOK is single minded in its determination to deliver it on time and within budget. A complete on-site commissioning and back up service is provided, which includes groundwork, flooring and drainage systems.

From an 8ft domestic greenhouse to sixteen acres of high tech glasshouse; from a sophisticated research structure to a fully serviced insectary or zoo; from a 4,000 square metre garden centre or retail outlet to the heating of a Premiership football pitch – whatever the job and however complex – clients have come to rely on CambridgeHOK time and time again. www.cambridgehok.co.uk Tel: 01430 449440

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CIVIL ENGINEERING BOURNE CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING

There are eight subsidiary companies within the Bourne Group, and each is a perfect example of a policy of diversification that has seen the business expand and stabilise in equal measure.

The Bourne Group has managed to stand out over its competitors because of two important goals. Firstly, it sets out to discover its customer’s objectives, to better understand what they need and where they are going. Secondly, it is committed to gaining an intimate knowledge of the end users’ requirements in order to provide the right solutions to its clients that bring value, reliability and quality to the table.

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This ensures the Group always focuses on the right solution for the client and has seen its repeat business stand at over 90%. This is a sign its customers trust it to deliver, and the only example needed for prospective clients considering Bourne’s products and services.

There are eight subsidiary companies within the Bourne Group, and each is a perfect example of a policy of diversification that has seen the business expand and stabilise in equal measure. At the heart of each of these companies is a

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recognition and value of the importance of engineering excellence and creativity.

Indeed, Bourne Engineering is its creative hub and its people are acknowledged as leaders in the industry.

The Group’s reputation was first established with the design, manufacture and installation of structural steelwork. But whether it is fabricating steel or operating the latest CAD software, the Group’s work is framed by an over-arching principle: a steadfast commitment to quality, safety and the development

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UNDERSTANDING CUSTOMER NEEDS IS KEY

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of its people.

All of which makes it rightly proud to be among the leading construction engineering companies in the UK. The Group possesses the experience to create and the expertise to deliver.

Bourne Engineering’s activities form the creative hub by which the Group's subsidiary companies revolve. With design, consultancy and CAD modelling expertise it uniquely extends the

and architectural engineers and technicians, some of the brightest minds in the industry. Culturally, it also promotes a dynamic, progressive environment fuelling minds and ultimately improving all aspects of its fully engineered design solutions.

In order to maintain its position as one of the leading lights in the industry, it also continually invests in the use of technology, training and graduate recruit-

“With design, consultancy and CAD modelling expertise it uniquely extends the knowledge and skills of the Group's businesses, providing the confidence to deliver a variety of products” knowledge and skills of the Group's businesses, providing the confidence to deliver a variety of products.

As an engineering consultancy, the company recognises its people are its business. As a result, it employs structural, civil

ment to develop the skills required to match the new and ever-more challenging demands of the industry.

Each of its products is a perfect example of the marriage between Bourne’s experience and expertise. Developed in response

to the needs of the market, its products ultimately improve construction times and reduce costs.

What's more, while each is a testament to its vision for the construction industry, they also reflect Bourne’s creative abilities and engineering excellence. As such, its products are unique to the Group.

Recently, the Group was celebrating following the steel division’s triumph at the UK Rail Industry Awards. Bourne took home the award for Outstanding Project for its work at Reading Station. The judges were impressed with the off-site, modular building approach used to deliver the 1,400 linear metres of new gull wing platform canopies in a live station environment.

Bourne Steel completed the work in early 2014 and the station was officially opened by Her Majesty the Queen in July last year.

www.bournegroup.eu Tel: 01202 746666

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CIVIL ENGINEERING LIONWELD KENNEDY

100 years of

service there are always companies that stand head and shoulders above the rest – this is the reputable steel flooring and handrail manufacturer Lionweld Kennedy 40

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The manufacturing sector has always been a industry where innovation is as essential to success as breathing is to life; However, there are always companies that stand head and shoulders above the rest – this is the reputable steel flooring and handrail manufacturer Lionweld Kennedy Flooring – which is part of the Hill & Smith Group. Being at the forefront of product innovation and development Lionweld Kennedy sits at the pinnacle of quality products and service provision to many project types and requirements.

Based in the north east of England, Lionweld Kennedy is a company built upon a foundation of excellence and experience over the course of more than 100

years of service. The company is unique in that it is the only UK manufacturer of steel gratings.

Lionweld Kennedy is a key player in offering steel solutions of its core business and fabricates steel and GRP platforms, ladders, stairs, pre-fabricated flooring, associated steelwork and an assortment of handrailing systems.

Products are offered either as a modular “flat pack” for easy installation or alternatively, the company also offers a full project management and installation service for those wanting to tap into Lionweld Kennedy’s considerable expertise.

Through a continuous cycle of product innovation and evolution, Lionweld is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of excellence through the utilisation of new technologies, facilities and design principles. With the addition of a brand new flooring machine and a modern, state of the art GRP fabrication facility, the

company has successfully developed and opened up new market sectors which depend on a quality product and service at a competitive price.

Lionweld Kennedy’s GRP and steel hybrid rail platform is testament to its innovative culture. There are currently over 100 installations throughout Network Rail’s rail facilities and the company is dedicated to developing new systems such as trackside structures and location cabinet platforms, which are extensively used in the electrification and signalling projects across the UK in an attempt to sustain and grow on its success.

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CIVIL ENGINEERING LIONWELD KENNEDY Lionweld Kennedy’s new flooring machine has allowed the company to supply an increasingly vast range of products in response to the growing needs of the modern customer.

Responding quickly and efficiently to the needs of its clients, Lionweld Kennedy has developed its reputation of offering quality products, on time and to budget in its chosen markets. The company's new GRP fabrication facility is equipped with CNC machines and the new steel workshop allows us to support our fabrication customers who do require fabricated items from time to time. This business model has enabled the company to go from strength to strength year on year.

Through maintaining close working relationships with its sister companies in the US, such as Creative Pultrusions, Lionweld Kennedy has been able to continually develop new innovative solutions in GRP including structural piling, ballistic tested wall panels, handrail and

flooring systems, GRP cable trays, utility poles and a myriad of other innovative products still in research and development. Key areas for development for Lionweld Kennedy have traditionally incorporate the development of quality standards across its existing products and services as it has to continually review changes in specifications and statutory requirements.

Being a part of a PLC Lionweld Kennedy takes corporate responsibility very seriously and as such, the company displays a proactive approach to maintaining high standards for health and safety for staff and stakeholders alike. Having achieved its 8th consecutive ROSPA Gold award, the company has shown clear expertise and diligence in maintaining standards for health and safety in addition to environmental protection and quality benchmarks. Lionweld recently achieved BS1090 CE Marking accreditation which was a legal requirement on July 1st 2014. This has driven

“The brand is strong throughout the global market with not much marketing, therefore we now have to proactively develop the export markets and promote the company outside the UK, our products are regularly specified by designers and we do secure work via this channel”

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the company to establishing its own welding and quality engineering department, again demonstrating the company's commitment to being a market leader and ensuring full compliance across all its products and services.

Perceiving the export market as a being essential to the company's continued growth and future success Ian Kirkup, Sales & Marketing Director for Lionweld Kennedy explains: “The brand is strong throughout the global market with not much marketing, therefore we now have to proactively develop the export markets and promote the company outside the UK, our products are regularly specified by designers and we do secure work via this channel. With the benefit of a new flooring machine it is now time to capitalise on projects that we have secured in Azerbaijan on the Shaz Deniz 2 project as well as developing relationships with customers in South Korea.“ Being a part of a PLC, Lionweld takes corporate responsibility very seriously and as such, the company displays a proactive approach to maintaining high standards for health and safety for staff and stakeholders alike. Having achieved its 8th consecutive ROSPA Gold award, the company has shown clear expertise and diligence in maintaining standards for health and safety in addition to environmental protection and quality benchmarks. Lionweld Kennedy additionally

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CIVIL ENGINEERING LIONWELD KENNEDY achieved BS1090 CE Marking accreditation in 2014 as well as establishing its own welding and quality engineering department, showing the company's commitment to being a market leader and ensuring full compliance across all its products and services.

Valuing its members of staff as the true backbone of the organisation, Lionweld takes an incredibly responsible approach to ensuring that all members of staff are correctly trained and kept safe at all times. With stringent health and safety training plans and diligence Lionweld Kennedy ensures all statutory requirements are met as well as encouraging a conscious, pro-active safety culture throughout the workplace. The company also hosts an “open door” approach to safety through encouraging shop-floor involvement via safety representatives, senior manager safety audits and joint employee safety committees; this is to ensure that safety standards are consistent

“Lionweld Kennedy highly values its supply chain in a manner far more similar to business partners” from top to bottom of the organisation.

In addition to recognising the importance of its workforce, Lionweld Kennedy highly values its supply chain in a manner far more similar to business partners rather than “another supplier”. All suppliers utilised by the company are approved and vetted to ensure that the relevant organisations hold similar values and beliefs to that of Lionweld Kennedy. These companies are essential in supporting Lionweld Kennedy’s business goals and objectives and its “promise to the customer”.

Ian Robinson, Managing Director of the Hill & Smith Group explains: “Our supply chain plays a major part in the group’s success. For

example, Bromford Steel Company and Tube Trade supply the raw material competitively and to the desired quality, the Joseph Ash Group have galvanising plants nationwide, this gives Lionweld Kennedy the option of utilising these geographical areas for local projects, and even the supply of the right quality fixings and fittings is critical to our (JIT) approach. Both Global fasteners and Premier fasteners are two companies that are key in ensuring that their products arrive on site, on time and to the desired specification.”

www.lk-uk.com

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POWER GENERATION AMPS

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POWER GENERATION AMPS

POWERING INDUSTRY The Association of Manufacturers and Suppliers of Power Generating Systems (AMPS), is the trade association and industry voice for the UK’s world-leading diesel and gas-engine power generating sector

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MPS members vary in scale from global FTSE 100-listed companies to sole-trader manufacturers, but what all have in common is a commitment to the generating set industry and an understanding that raising and best-practice ensuring standards, safeguarding the future of the sector is best realised through a professional trade body promoting a culture of co-operation and teamwork.

AMPS was formed above a pub in 1986 and has been providing technical guidance, lobbying support, networking opportunities and bestpractice assistance for members, the industry and all those who need input - including National Grid, DECC and Europgen - ever since.

AMPS represents a number of sectors within the industry including suppliers and distributors, service providers and rental companies. One of its key sectors, however, is manufacturing. The UK has lost a lot of its manufacturing over recent decades but when it comes to buying the best generating sets and components customers around the world still value the unrivalled quality, reliability and attention to detail that comes from knowing their equipment was manufactured in the UK by passionate and experienced engineers.

Elsewhere, AMPS’ power generation suppliers provide the components the manufacturers need and/or the assembled sets the end-user requires, along with an invaluable wealth of expertise and industry know-how.

The AMPS also has a large number of members who provide advice, consultancy, installation and maintenance, because even the best generating set in the world will fail if it isn’t properly specified and serviced.

The organisation also represents a number of rental companies. Not everyone needs generating set power all of the time. From World Cup finals to music festivals, from building sites to hurricane relief, the rental providers are there to supply customers with whatever temporary power solution they may need.

Indeed, the membership goes even further.

Whether the need is for a solution for cleaning stored fuel, a fire suppression system or a generating set to work as part of a CHP system, AMPS members specialise in all these related products and services.

Joining AMPS means a company becomes part of an organisation containing some of the UK’s most successful exporters of diesel and gas-engine driven electrical systems in the world. Indeed, the AMPS Director General is the chair of EUROPGEN - the European Generating Set Association; and AMPS are associate members of EGSA - the Electrical Generating Systems Association of America; and BEAMA – the British Electrotechnical and Allied Manufacturers Association.

Members will have unlimited opportunity to network with over 80 respected companies at a range of events throughout the year including at the Annual Conference and Awards Dinner.

Furthermore, its monthly bulletins and quarterly magazines provide a unique opportunity to build partnerships with like minded businesses, while AMPS’ technical meetings provide input to Standards and Regulation bodies and the latest information on EC Directives, BSI, ISO, and IEC regulations. www.amps.org.uk Tel: 01787 221025

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J POWER GENERATION JCB POWER PRODUCTS

A PRODUCT TO FIT ANY REQUIREMENT jcb power products are global manufacturers, suppliers and distributors of a comprehensive range of power generators

“Supporting life 24/7” is more than just a tag-line for leading manufacturer and supplier of power generators, JCB Power Products as the organisation has displayed great merit in the way in which it offers “A product to fit any power requirement” Distributing products globally, JCB Power Products works through a dealer network of over 100 dealers around the world, working closely with those already selling JCB Construction and agriculture machinery, as well as a flurry of dedicated power companies that have come out of electrical control systems or national grid-type applications.

Founded in 2006, JCB Power Products was born from the already-established and successful JCB business with the singular goal of looking at the engines created by JCB Power Systems and the various products which these could be best fitted with. Over the years the company has not only successfully expanded its product range, but has also branched out into utilising other engine systems.. Now offering a comprehensive range of 170 generator models from 8 to 3300kVA, JCBPP is able to provide a range of generators to meet specific needs and power requirements.

Keen to continue opening up its product portfolio and provide a power solution to a wider portion of the market, the launch of new ranges and model variations is at the forefront of what JCB Power Products does. Romy Tilbury, Marketing Manager for JCB Power Products comments on the latest of such additions: “We've just launched a new range which we're calling the QS Generator range, which covers anything from 20-220kVA and covers about 60% of the market –all fitted with JCB engines.” Available as both open and canopy sets and suitable for both prime and standby applications. “The launch of our QS range has opened up some new market opportunities and the design has been very focused on offering the highest quality and durability you'd expect from a

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POWER GENERATION JCB POWER PRODUCTS JCB machine, but versatile enough to suit even the most extreme environments. It allows dealers in Africa and Asia to effectively compete with a high quality product as standard ,” adds Dave Hardwick, Product Manager, for JCB Power Products.

Romy also adds: “We've also just launched some hybrid products which is another focus for us at the moment. The Inteli-Hybrid Generator is a diesel generator combined with a bank of batteries, and B40 Battery Box, which

is a power storage system that can sit alongside any diesel generator.” Though too soon to convey market feedback on the new hybrid generators, the innovation has so far received much acclaim and has even been presented three innovator's awards both here in the UK and in Spain for the engineering Innovation. Through combining the new generator with intuitive control systems and monitoring facilities, it is expected that not only will the generator bring direct efficiency and productivity benefits, but

“with our hybrid products we're combining battery technology with the generator and innovative control systems to minimise cost of ownership and carbon emissions”

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will also allow for organisations who operate varying loads, as opposed to constantly running at full power to benefit greatly from the ability to store and release power on demand, making significant savings.

Dave explains: “Generators, per-say are very simple products and hard to differentiate, however with our hybrid products we're combining battery technology with the generator and innovative control systems to minimise cost of ownership and carbon emissions, but making it all user friendly, for multiple use across any off-grid application. LiveLink, a JCB’s telematics system, is already fitted onto many of our construction machines and enables the owner the ability to monitor the equipment remotely and report from them – fantastic for any fleet manager.”

The Inteli-Hybrid Generators will be supplied as standard with JCB Livelink.

POWER GENERATION JCB POWER PRODUCTS

However, whilst diversity and an expanding product portfolio play an integral role in the future of the company, it is keen to note that like all JCB companies, JCB Power Products has a reputation for excellence in quality and reliability. In the power generation sector, reliability is perhaps one of, if not the most common components, in building for the future and as such the company is dedicated to providing power systems to meet this need. In addition to this, it is equally crucial that organisations have the continued support and expertise to properly utilise, monitor and maintain their systems which is an area often overlooked by other industry suppliers, but something the JCB dealer network can provide.

Dave explains how the company ensures

high standards for quality, reliability and support further: “JCB designed and developed products, follow a very rigorous process which has proven its worth with construction equipment. There's a complete sign-off process to ensure that all of the machines are correct to relevant legislation and then once it's out into the marketplace our support network, using the JCB service operation allows us to support the machine from one end to the other – everything within the yellow generator box is supplied and supported by JCB, whether it be the engine, the alternator, the electrics or the bodywork. Many of the generator manufacturers are unable to offer that end to end service.”

JCB Power Products also benefits from the

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Going that extra mile Mecc Alte believe in service and support

And, because they are the world’s largest

er, and supplier, in a fiercely competitive

the way Italian football coaches believe in

independent manufacturer of alternators,

market sector.

the sweeper system. It’s part of their DNA.

they always aim to deliver real peace of

The company are totally committed to

mind to their customers. Their products

Mecc Alte has been totally independent

offering the highest level of global support.

are

operating

since they started their business in 1947

From simple low power needs right

throughout the world. The company has

and consequently never competes with

through to the most demanding power

global manufacturing plants, worldwide

any of their customers in the end market.

requirements, their wide range of products

commercial subsidiaries and a fully affili-

Their independence also means that they

are designed to

reliable,

proven

and

ated sales and service network. Perhaps

don't have to keep looking over our shoul-

high

that’s why Mecc Alte’s claim to ‘always go

der, are free to do what they think is best

performance

that extra mile for our customers…wher-

for their customers.

and reliability.

ever they are’ has such tremendous cred-

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ibility in a fiercely competitive market-

kind of product and that means that they

place.

are incredibly focused. They have com-

offer

plete control over sales and distribution If you talk to the people who run Mecc Alte

and absolute control over every single

there are three key words that will feature

component they use. Quite simply, they do

heavily in the conversation. The words

it all. That’s why so many of its customers

are: ‘independent’, ‘focus’ and ‘specialist.’

see them as the natural choice for world

This company is a world-leading produc-

class alternators 1 – 5000kVA….

POWER GENERATION JCB POWER PRODUCTS wealth of experience and expertise offered by the business in addition to links into reliable supply chain sources. Dave explains: “JCB Power Products is ISO Accredited with ISO9000 quality standards and as part of that we carry out regular audits with our supply chain at their sites to ensure that we're getting consistency of supply JCB Power Products also receives considerable support from AMPS, the Association of Manufacturers and suppliers of Power generating Systems, the leading trade organisation for the Power IndustryDave explains: “They're a useful organisation for us because they act as the national voice for power generation suppliers. Although JCB is well known throughout the construction industry, it helps to have that national body and voice supporting and raising awareness, for instance the blackout scares over the last couple of winters – AMPS were very proactive in ensuring the case for local power generation was covered. They've also been very good on a European level, working with the legislative bodies to make sure that power

generators are taken into account. When you're talking about generating electricity it's very easy to talk about the large power station companies and forget about the small, local and individual generators. AMPS is very good at ensuring that these voices are heard.”

Looking to the future, JCB Power Products takes a very responsible and informed approach regarding areas of focus in the coming years, looking to consolidate its success in new areas such as hybrid technology whilst also not forgetting to ensure the continued success of pre-existing product areas: “We see power generation as a very important part of our business and while there are opportunities there in the hybrid

field, we're not forgetting the core, primary requirement. Many countries use small, diesel generators as their primary power source and this is a big part of our market, which we will continue to supply with reliable, and efficient generators,” explains Dave.

www.jcbgenerators.com

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POWER GENERATION AKSA

WORLD LEADER AKSA is a leading international supplier of generators having manufactured more than 40,000 petrol, diesel and natural gas powered sets

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POWER GENERATION AKSA

In a world where the availability of a dependable power supply is increasingly important, Istanbul based AKSA Group is playing an important role. Its $4 billion plus business includes AKSA Energy that operates power plants, AKSA Gas and AKSA Electricity that provide power and energy for homes and businesses, and AKSA Power Generation that manufactures generators in Turkey, China, Singapore and the USA. AKSA is one of the world’s leading producers of generator sets, having manufactured more than 40,000 petrol, diesel and natural gas powered sets. The UK arm sells those generators mainly through a network of resellers across the country. “They are all trained in our factories and have to meet a number of criteria in order to be a reseller,” explains Deputy Managing Director Murat Emre. “They’re all provided with technical data as well as ongoing advice and training.”

The resellers carry stock to provide an off the shelf distribution service but other customers, typically construction companies and consultants, take on complete projects and so the approach is different. Murat says: “They will supply all the equipment and may be installing UPS systems and servers as well as generators.

Because of

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that, they won’t stock any generators because they don’t know in advance what projects are coming up and customers may ask for different features such as upgraded noise levels, requiring a factory order. Resellers, however, know their target audience and the range, so they stock generators.”

That variety of demand is met by a diverse range of generators from 5 kVA portable versions up to those with 2,500 kVA capacity that are capable of supplying power to a decent sized village. They’re used to provide primary power for such as remote cottages with no mains supply and, at the other extreme, to hospitals requiring back-up power in the event of mains failure. This comprehensive range of capabilities entails, as Murat confirms, a level of technical support to match: “The first question we ask our customers is whether the generator is for primary power or is to be used for standby and we take it from there.

“Some customers don’t know the size of generator they need so we conduct a survey.

Others, however, know what’s required because they’re doing the electrical installation and know all the equipment that’s being used. So they know the size they need and we just supply it.”

The company has recently been involved in a Short Term Operating Reserve (STOR) project.

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POWER GENERATION AKSA

These involve an agreement with National Grid for energy suppliers to balance electricity supply and demand at short notice, which can’t be achieved using conventional, large scale power sources. Typically, they occur during anticipated spikes in demand.

“There is a STOR project in Derbyshire where we have a 1.5 megawatt generator that’s exporting to the grid when there is something causing a shortage of power,” recalls Murat. “Our client has a contract with National Grid so we supply them generator sets and

they can monitor and start up these generators via their mobile phones. If there is a power shortage, National Grid will give them notice to start exporting within twenty minutes. So they’ll be in front of computers or, even if they’re on the go, they can start that generator via our application.”

To enable that to happen, AKSA also provides ancillary equipment such as control panels where it prepares the wiring diagrams and assembles the panels from components. It’s part of an ongoing research programme that

“For 2015, we are aiming to double again and want to increase our market share. We want to recruit new dealers and we have a global target of £1 billion just for generators by 2023” produces changes to designs to make them more reliable, more suitable for heavy duty jobs and reduces noise levels. It also ensures they’re environmentally friendly due to the use of tier 3 emission compliant engines and fully bunded base frames and double skin tanks to prevent spillages.

The economic downturn starting in 2008 caused problems as construction slowed and companies bought second hand equipment rather than new generator sets due to a lack of funds. Since 2011, however, turnover has doubled each year and the aim, according to Murat, is for that to continue: “For 2015, we are aiming to double again and want to increase our market share. We want to recruit new dealers and we have a global target of £1 billion just for generators by 2023. We are going to start to penetrate into new regions and we are now opening a new depot in South Africa, in Cape Town.”

www.aksauk.com Telephone: 01530 837472

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POWER GENERATION G&M POWER

FLEXIBLE RELIABLE SOLUTIONS g&m power has 70 years experience in the design and manufacture of electrical generation equipment

When looking at the power generation sector, it can often be difficult for organisations to differentiate its products or services from key rivals, as one could argue that the technologies themselves do not vary incredibly when looking at leading manufacturers and suppliers. However, this does not mean that one service or product is equal to another, with the defining mechanism for differentiation lying instead in an organisation's track record for providing flexible, and ultimately reliable solutions to a sector requiring it most. This is where G&M Power, a leading manufacturer for both standby and main power generation systems truly stands out.

Established in 1938, G&M Power has always and likely will always be a leading specialist manufacturer of power generation systems and

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is well established in the industrial land sector within the UK and globally in the marine sector, including the navy and coast guard. With over 70 years of experience of designing, manufacturing, testing, installing and commissioning Electrical Power Generation Equipment, G&M Power boasts impressive capabilities for generator applications ranging from 10kVA to 2,500kVA to suit the needs of some of the world's most demanding clients.

To see how and why G&M Power has successfully stood the test of time and effectively gone from strength to strength over the years, one must look at the company's service history and client portfolio. Working with many of the most demanding projects and clients available in the modern world, G&M Power displays its effectiveness in delivering only the best power generation solutions by meeting the require-

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ments of such clients.

Robert Pollard, Managing Director of G&M Power explains: “It's the stature and complexity of the customer that says so much about us. In the past few years we have supplied standby power to the Royal Navy for their new T45 Destroyer fleet as well as being in the process of supplying the Irish navy with both standby and main power for their three offshore patrol vessels.

We have also supplied the U.S navy with standby power for their marine lifting platforms.”

Able to comply with all of the technical requirements and classification societies as well as strict military standards, G&M has a proven capability for offering what no other can – a solution which can stand the test of time in the most demanding of environments where lives crucially do hang in the balance. Reliability

POWER GENERATION G&M POWER in standby power specifically may be of great importance for the wider sector, but for military applications it goes without saying that only the best, most reliable and effective systems can even be considered for use – as such, they choose G&M. Commenting on how G&M has been able to meet the requirements of such technically demanding projects and clients, Robert explains further: “We have the ability to be flexible and responsive. We're often dealing with large companies who have inflexible systems, rigid procedures and to work with them in partnership to create a bespoke solution requires original design work and a creative approach to applications engineering.

That is our key strength - We are application engineers. We are creative. We are responsive and we can satisfy the needs of these big organisations.”

Crucially, G&M Power also operates in a very sensible and oft appreciated manner, whereupon the company both understands and conveys a very direct message about pricing and the impact it will undoubtedly have on the end-service capabilities as Robert explains: “The quality of standby power has to be absolute and a process by which every penny is saved at every stage of the process will not easily allow the achievement of that objective. Our relationship with our customers is more of a long term partnership than a reverse auction every day – it doesn't make for high quality, long term relationships and high quality, long term and reliable systems.”

Looking to the future, G&M's product portfolio is unlikely to change all that much, but critically this is because it does not need to! Reliability is crucial, and we see G&M continuing to offer the most reliable and high standard selection of standby and main power systems on the market in years to come. This is something only possible due to the wealth of industry experience and expertise of G&M itself. www.gmpp.co.uk

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ENVIRONMENT CARBON TRUST

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ENVIRONMENT CARBON TRUST

A BETTER ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL The Carbon Trust aims to increase energy efficiency and move towards a more sustainable, low-carbon economy

Carbon emissions have been the buzzwords on many people's minds over the last decade – and with global totals increasing fast, scientists say that emissions will likely exceed the limit for dangerous climate change within 30 years. The EU alone currently produces 10% of the world's total carbon emissions, and is only exceeded by the USA and China with 15% and 29% totals respectively.

The Carbon Trust aims to accelerate the move towards a more sustainable, low-carbon economy, and they are well on their way to achieving that goal. Working as an independent partner to leading global organisations since 2001, the work of the Carbon Trust has saved their clients up to £5.5 billion in energy costs, and has cut carbon emissions by an estimated 60 million tonnes. Driving the development and uptake of energy efficient technology and encouraging more energy efficient behaviour are key focus areas for the Carbon Trust.

According to the Carbon Trust a typical large organisation has the opportunity to save an

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average of 15% (and often more) cost-effectively on its annual energy bill. This saving is available from approaches and technology s that are well established and understood, such as lighting, heating, employee engagement and training.

“As part of the work we do, we're continuing to develop relations with suppliers and installers of energy efficient technology, and ensuring that not only are those technologies visible and accessible by companies, but making sure that the projects are successfully implemented and savings are delivered,” said director of implementation Myles McCarthy “Here in the UK especially, one of the key goals is to ensure that we can support businesses as much as possible going through some new regulations coming in. For medium-sized and larger businesses there's a new regulation called ESOS which came in last year, and requires all large businesses with at least 250 employees to carry out an evaluation of their energy use. There's a big demand on the market for support with businesses to get through that process.

“Beyond the UK we will hopefully see companies taking those findings and implementing new technologies and practices – we would be very keen to support those companies in achieving the benefits that come with energy efficiency.”

Recently, the Carbon Trust has been working with Tesco to develop a collaborative Buying Club, which will help their suppliers invest in more energy efficient technology such as lighting equipment and installations.

“Our suppliers have told us that cost and lack of knowledge can be the biggest barriers to making investment in energy savings,” said Chloe Meacher, Tesco climate change manager.

“The Buying Club will address these concerns and support them in reducing their carbon footprint in a really practical way.”

Another area where the Carbon Trust have been consistently improving services and operations is by looking at the current market and evolving to meet new needs. They are currently helping businesses look beyond energy alone, and are now looking at broader sustainability and resource efficiency to reduce both water

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ENVIRONMENT CARBON TRUST

“Some of the most common technology the Trust are currently installing via their finance scheme is LED lighting” www.carbontrust.co.uk Tel: 020 7170 7000

and waste as well. A second evolution includes working with larger organisations and helping them to understand the opportunities available to reduce the impacts of not just their own operations, but with the supply chain that feeds their organisations.

“For example, we're working with some of the major UK supermarkets to look at how they can support some of the manufacturers to innovate new products and reduce the impacts of their own operations – as a result of our work, the whole supply chain of products is tackled and the opportunities are realised,” remarked Myles.

Some of the most common technology the Trust are currently installing via their finance scheme is LED lighting. Making the switch to LED lighting alone can save up to 70% of the electricity consumed in the lighting system, and the technology has moved on dramatically over the last three or four years – now LED lighting is available for a wide range of buildings and lighting types, and a lot of organisations are

coming to the market.

Added Myles: “We would always encourage organisations when they are looking at opportunities in this area to ensure that they are buying from a good quality supplier and installer who can design the most appropriate solution for their business. There are certainly savings to be had through adopting modern technology.”

But not all energy efficiency opportunities require significant capital investment – according to Carbon Trust there are still opportunities to save energy through low-cost operational efficiency measures. Changes that don't require new equipment and instead rely simply on using existing buildings and equipment more efficiently can save organisations five to ten percent of their energy consumption – it's definitely something worth taking into account.

And more modern technologies are not the only way the Trust is moving into the future.

“Over the last year or so we've seen more footprinting activity in the UK, going from initially just focusing on carbon energy footprints to now also looking at water footprints as well.

Encouragingly we're starting to see some of the leading businesses in their sectors achieving the Carbon Trust Standard showing they've measured and reduced those three key aspects – carbon, water and waste.”

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THE LAST WORD...

Computer On A Stick Google will launch a new Chrome-powered computer targeted at budget-conscious consumers and schools Google intends to hit the budget-conscious and schools markets with its Chrome-powered computer that uses a new type of device called the Chromebit. This piece of technology will instantly turn a TV or monitor into a computer when plugged into the device’s HDMI port.

Described as “smaller than a candy bar”, the Chromebit is a full computer that will be available for less than $100 (about £65). By simply plugging this device into any display, you can turn it into a computer. It’s the perfect upgrade for an existing desktop and will be really useful for schools and businesses.

It’s not exactly revolutionary given Intel recently announced the Intel Compute Stick, a $150 HDMI dongle that does the same thing but with full Windows 8.1 on board.

Meanwhile there has been Android HDMI dongle-computers on the market for more than 12 months based on the Rockchip RK3288 processor. The Chromebit is Google’s attempt to infiltrate the market and hopefully dominate it with its low cost alternative.

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The ASUS Chromebit is the first in a new category of Chrome devices - a full computing device but the size and shape of a memory stick. It is powered by a Rockchip quad-core processor with dual-band WiFi 802.11ac and BT4.0 support. Importantly, the ASUS Chromebit has wide appeal for consumer and digital signage applications.

"This is a booming sector of the market at the moment," commented Chris Green, a tech analyst at the Davies Murphy Group consultancy. “With the falling cost of hardware, schools are looking to families to equip kids with their own computers - the idea of ‘bring your own device to class’. This has prompted manufacturers to create low-cost entry-level laptops that parents then buy for their children as well as themselves.”

In recent months both Intel and Hannspree have launched Windows-powered "PC-on-a-sticks", requiring their owners to provide displays, keyboards and other peripherals, but the idea is that many people will already own them.

"People seem to love the idea of having a working computer on something no bigger than a dongle that lets them do web browsing, media streaming and other tasks on a big screen, but can be out of sight, out of mind when needed," said Chris Green.

Currently, the Chromebit will be rolled out in the US later this year with unconfirmed plans to hit international markets shortly after.