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ISSUE 125

DRAGONBOARD

IS TRANSFORMING THE WAY WE BUILD

NEWS

S IE IT IL C FA G IN R E E IN G N E N O £2.5 MILLI H C N U LA O T T E S E G E LL O C N WESTO

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CNC Turning

CNC Honing

Tri-cast has been manufacturing Carbon Fibre and Composite tubes for over 30 years. During this time they have established themselves as a leading global designer, developer and innovator of Tubular products.

During this period we have attained experience in the practical applications for composites across such diverse market sectors and projects, from small parts to large scale structures, combined with a unique Deep Hole Boring technical approach has enabled Tri-cast to offer the complete composite solution. Tri-Cast is a perfect partner whatever your challenge or application.

Advanced Composites are now high on the list of materials when it comes to selecting materials for most Aerospace applications. The advantages of excellent durability, low weights are of significant importance to aerospace manufacturers. This industry was one of the first to appreciate its advantages; we have been at the forefront of this composite development now for over 12 years.

Deep Hole Tri-Cast areDrilling approved supplier to Airbus, for their award winning A380, together with the next generation of A350 aircraft, are also major suppliers to many other industries ranging from Marine, Motorsport, Medical, and General Engineering applications.

Recent developments have seen the successful introduction of a range of ‘I’ beam, ‘T’ & ‘U’ sections, square, rectangular tubes to complement our existing Round tube range.

Hone-All Precision Limited Cherrycourt Way, Leighton Buzzard Bedfordshire LU7 4UH

CNC Gundrilling

TEL: +44 (0) 1706 861807 www.tri-cast.co.uk . . . from start to perfect finish 0845 5555 111

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Tri-Cast Composite Tubes Ltd. Watson Works, Duke Street, Rochdale, Lancashire, England, OL12 0LT

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MONTHLY

ENGINEERING&

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ISSUE 125

DRAGONBO

IS TRANSFO ARD R THE WAY WE MING BUILD

NEWS

WESTON COLLEGE SET TO LAUNCH ÂŁ2.5 MILLION ENGINEERING FACILITIES

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Welcome to another month of Construction & Engineering Monthly,

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ISSUE 123 The leading magazine in the Construction & Engineering industries

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FIRST HYDRO T DESIGN FLYNN PRODUC OUP PARTWELL GR How much money would you save if you only had to refit every 35 years?

Fine Tubes has been delivering high precision tubes for super critical applications in the Oil and Gas industry for the last 70 years. The increase in hostility and demands of operations offshore and onshore requires ever greater material specialisation and extended product service life.

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ISSUE 124

All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part is forbidden except with permission in writing from the publishers.

Note to contributors: articles submitted for consideration by the editor must be the original work of the author and not previously published. where photographs are included, which are not the property of the contributor, permission to reproduce them must have been obtained from the copyright owner. The editor cannot guarantee a personal response to all letters and emails received.

While every care has been taken in the preperation of this magazine, the publishers cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or 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.

News Tharsus Group secure prestigious Cranfield Business School SME manufacturing award

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utsourced Technology Design and Manufacturing specialist, Tharsus Group, has triumphed at the prestigious Cranfield Best Factory Awards, beating companies from across the country to win the Best Small Medium Enterprise (SME) Award.

This achievement comes after judges at the Best Factory Awards narrowed an initial field of hundreds down to only 14 stand-out candidates, commonly recognised as trailblazers in their respected fields.

Described by the judges as ‘a fascinating business,’ Tharsus has a strong track-record at the Best Factory Awards, having previously won the Best SME Award in 2013. The awards programme celebrated manufacturing excellence in the UK and others among the 14 finalists included; Siemens, Leyland Trucks, Vaillant Group and Fujifilm.

A member of the judging panel said: “Tharsus has worked hard on improving the training of its production teams and upping skill levels; its people are flexible, knowledgeable and always willing to improve. For a small business, it takes a very sophisticated strategic approach to supplier relationships, which is not something you see every day in an SME.” North East-based Tharsus Group is a leading advanced technology specialist, developing and manufacturing game

changing products in collaboration with its customers. It utilises original equipment design and manufacture (OEDM), which is an emerging form of outsourcing partnership and brings together supply chain management, Intellectual Property generation, product development and manufacture into one process.

Among the commercially optimised, complex electro-mechanical products made for market leaders and emerging businesses, Tharsus has developed and manufactured jet parts washers, airport luggage scanners, vehicle arrest systems for the military and Robotic and Autonomous Systems including AGVs. The Cranfield School of Management has put its name behind the Best Factory Awards for over 20 years and has seen over 1600 UK companies take part. The purpose of the awards is to ‘promote and reward’ manufacturing excellence and to provide a platform for continuous improvement by benchmarking entrants against similar plants.

After receiving the award Brian Palmer, CEO of Tharsus Group, said: “At Tharsus we have created an exceptional ethos, centred on continuous development. Everyone in the team, regardless of seniority, is given the opportunity to suggest ways to improve; this has contributed greatly to the company’s success.

“Winning the coveted Best SME Award has reinforced our belief that we are on the right track to becoming a truly world-class business. Since our original success in 2013 we have worked tirelessly to ensure we continue to develop our collaborative approach and raise awareness of the methods we use.”

The judges added: “This is a fascinating business – a combination of an engineering design house/ consultancy and a manufacturing operation. It is very good at developing long-term relationships with customers and one of the things it is particularly concerned about is working with the right customers.”

International Company Fined After Safety Offences I

nternational construction company Betcat has been fined £40,000 after the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) officials discovered multiple safety violations. The Spanish based firm, who also have an office within the UK, were working on high street shop Mango in Manchester when they were visited by HSE officials in the middle of last year.

The project involved structural alterations across the multi storey building including the addition of two new stair cases, the removal and filling in of an old staircase and the installation of a new lift shaft. Concern was raised by a passing member public who contacted the HSE and an inspection was conducted. Upon arriving at the site they found multiple offences including: • One employee was spotted using a staircase with no protection to prevent a fall from height • Walkways had low lighting and were untidy • Out of date fire extinguishers and the site contained no fire alarm • No washing or toilet facilities on site • Tower scaffolds that had not been erected properly and dangerously balanced on steps The onsite manager was employed directly by Betcat while the rest of the workforce was made up of sub-contractors.

In total Betcat were served six Prohibition Notices and two Improvement notices as well as a Notification of Contravention.

The company pleaded guilty to all counts and were fined £40,000 by Manchester Crown Court along with £3,761 in costs.

The court also heard how the company had addressed all of the offences that were uncovered by the HSE but were still found guilty of breaching Section 2(1) and 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

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News University of Sheffield Receives £4.4m funding for Engineering Grand Challenges research

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wo of the new research projects announced by the Science Minister, Jo Johnson today [16th October] will be led by engineers at the University of Sheffield, tackling some of the major challenges facing science and engineering in the UK. The projects, worth a total of £4.4m, form part of seven new ‘Engineering Grand Challenges’ research programmes supported by £21m funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

The £3.9m TWENTY 65 (Tailored Water to Ensure sustainability beyond 2065) research project, involving six universities and 26 companies from across the UK water sector, will ensure the UK maintains a clean, sustainable water supply for the future. It will tackle key challenges in the sector, including population growth, ageing infrastructure and climate change.

The academic partners – the Universities of Sheffield, Exeter, Manchester and Reading, Newcastle University and Imperial College London - will undertake research across eight technical themes, focusing on demand based technologies, social practices, water energy systems to minimise carbon emissions and the use of robotic autonomous systems for infrastructure inspection and repair.

The project will also create a Hub involving ten water companies, their supply chain and academic researchers to encourage shared idea generation, strategic roadmapping, networking, innovation stimulation and research leadership.

This combination of multi-disciplinary academic research and collaborative work with the UK water sector will enable the TWENTY 65 project team to lead UK and international transformation in the sustainable supply of safe water.

Professor Joby Boxall, from the University of Sheffield’s Department of Civil and Structural Engineering and Director of Sheffield Water Centre, who will head the TWENTY 65 project, said: “Water supply is the foundation of society, but a service we are privileged to be able to take for granted in the UK. There is no single solution to the sustainable supply of safe clean water for the future. Our vision is that by 2065,

collaborative innovation has generated a water sector that is delivering sustainable tailored water solutions that positively impact on public health, the environment, the economy and society.

“New approaches and models for collaborative working across the water sector are an essential part of the project. We have support pledged from over 50 partners and will be looking to get more organisations on board.”

“This is a truly unique and exciting opportunity to take a long-term view of how we can develop and implement technology to deliver transformative change.”

Following the announcement, Universities and Science Minister, Jo Johnson, said: “As a One Nation Government we are investing in worldclass science and engineering across our country. We want the UK to be the best place in Europe to innovate and this £4.4 million investment will bring Sheffield’s researchers together with researchers across the nation to address some of the most pressing engineering challenges we face. This investment will help tackle our aging water infrastructure to improve the lives of millions of people around the world.”

The second Sheffield-led project is a new network which aims to improve performance and resilience within the complex engineered systems that underpin modern society, from cities, transport, energy and digital networks to jet engines and space launch systems.

Advancements in mathematics, analytics and predictive modelling have improved our understanding of complex natural systems, such as climate, economics and health, but this has yet to be applied in a concerted way to complex engineered systems. The new network, known as Engineering Complexity Resilience Network Plus (ENCORE) – led by the University of Sheffield – will bring together UK research expertise in these fields with policymakers and system designers and managers, to enable more effective management of risk and uncertainty in complex engineered systems.

Professor Martin Mayfield, from Sheffield’s Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, who will head the new network, said: : “Systems such

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as transport or energy infrastructure, or digital networks, tend to evolve over time and be designed and managed from the bottom up, looking at individual components rather than the system as a whole. But as complex engineered systems, they can have a tendency to behave in counterintuitive ways, so it’s impossible to really understand and manage the risk and uncertainty – and essentially avoid serious failures – unless you are able to think about the ‘system of systems’ as a whole.

“Through ENCORE, we want to apply this systems approach to areas such as transport, energy and aerospace, so we’re able to improve how complex systems in these sectors function and improve their adaptive capacity. We want to understand what these systems share, so solutions we identify can be more easily adapted for application in different sectors.”

ENCORE has already gained the support of major aerospace and digital companies and national infrastructure managers and will involve academics from 18 UK universities. Working with Professor Mayfield to oversee the network will be Dr Liz Varga from Cranfield University, Professor Massimiliano Vasile from the University of Strathclyde and Professor Alan Purvis from Durham University.

The projects were developed in response to an EPSRC call in early 2015 which set out four Engineering Grand Challenges, developed through a two day event involving academics from many disciplines, representatives from industry and government.

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News URICA and the Engineering Industries Association (EIA) announce partnership to drive access to funding in the engineering sector

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RICA, the global early payment network for SMEs, and the Engineering Industries Association (EIA) are today pleased to announce a partnership that will help unburden EIA members, and the rest of the engineering sector, from the threat of finance-related difficulties.

URICA will be able to offer credit lines to EIA members, ranging from £50,000 to £2million, to eligible companies. This credit will allow members to pay their suppliers early, helping to boost growth in the industry as well as opening up new trading opportunities.

Some EIA members are already utilising URICA as a means to negotiate better payment terms with their suppliers and customers, including MSE (Consultants) Ltd, Numill Ltd and Interpower International Ltd. The objective of the partnership is to increase usage and therefore improve working capital flow for members. If EIA members’ customers used this platform, URICA could provide in excess of £100m of early payment for EIA members without any need for security, debt or invoice factoring.

Late payment remains a critical issue for small and medium sized engineering businesses due to their complex supply chains and tight cash flow margins, with many saying that maintaining cash flow is the biggest challenge they currently face which holds them back from expanding. URICA’s zero-debt finance alternative not only strengthens the supply chain and improves access to working capital for members, it also

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ensures payments to each supplier are paid on time.

Lindsay Whitelaw, CEO of URICA, commented: “We are very excited to have teamed up with the EIA to drive necessary funding into the engineering sector.

Our network will provide members with the ability to free-up suppliers from late payments and provide the critical cash funding that is needed today for key sector growth and to attract more local and international customers.

We look forward to working closely with the EIA and its members, and helping to shape the future of alternative financing in the engineering industry.”

Sir Ronald Halstead, Chairman EIA, commented: “The delays in paying invoices is a continuing serious problem for SMEs. Large companies are a problem and this action cascades down the supply chain.

In addition, with the lack of real financial support from the banks, these are issues the EIA has been lobbying on behalf of SMEs in meetings at the Bank of England, with government departments and individual ministers. Cash flow and finance are vitally important to enable SMEs to invest, export and expand their businesses. Engineering is a growing UK industry with export demand stronger year on year; we see our partnership with URICA as an opportunity to support our members’ cash flow and support the continued growth in this industry.”

About URICA URICA was born out of deep frustration by the lack of financial

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innovation for SMEs. Founded in 2012, URICA rewrites the rules by providing SMEs with early cash payment of their invoices without any need for debt, security or personal guarantees. At the same time it provides their customers with a strengthened supply chain and an opportunity for extended credit. It’s not invoice discounting because that’s just debt by another name. Financed by the government via the British Business Bank and RSA, URICA was developed by business people for business people.

“URICA could mean the end of invoice discounting and factoring.” – Sir Ronald Halstead, EIA President About Lindsay Whitelaw, CEO of URICA Lindsay is a Scottish businessman who co-founded Artemis, a leading UKbased fund manager that manages an asset base of more than £19bn. He is also Chairman of The Artemis Charitable Foundation and a trustee of the Active Earth Foundation.

About the EIA The Engineering Industries Association is an organisation with over 60 years’ experience in promoting trade and representing the interests and aspirations of the UK engineering manufacturing sector, particularly SME’s.

They are well known as accomplished lobbyists, who make representations to Government departments, Bank of England and other organisations that affect their members’ interests.

E: jamieson-ewers@templars.co.uk

News BoilerMag ‘A Dream to Fit’ for Nottingham Plumbing and Heating Engineers

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to suggest that a filter should be fitted to a central heating circuit in order to help maintain the efficiency and reliability of a central heating system.

Eclipse Magnetics’ sturdy magnetic filter BoilerMag is a popular market leading magnetic filter that removes virtually 100% of ferrous oxide and scale on first pass. It offers major benefits to heating systems including fast and easy installation and a no block guarantee.

The part L pack also includes a Chemical Inhibitor and Cleaner and an Electrolytic scale reducer.

Without a magnetic filter, debris from a heating system can cause blockages in the boiler. This results in breakdowns, reduced efficiency and lifespan, poor performance and cold spots on radiators.

& L Plumbing & Heating Engineers in Nottingham has described the domestic heating system filter Boilermag as “a dream to fit” after installing the magnetic filter part L kit in their latest boiler fit.

Managing Director Dave Harding was pleased to find that he was able to buy a simple off the shelf kit with everything needed to comply with the Part L amendment of the Domestic Building Services Compliance Guide, all in one box.

He said: “I have recently started installing BoilerMags; they are a great quality product for a very reasonable price. The BoilerMag in my latest installation was an absolute dream to fit!”

As from the 6th April 2014, the Domestic Building Services Compliance EIA Guide Part L regulations were amended

Tanks to deliver liquids on the move

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new range of transportable tanks for AdBlue® and diesel bowsers has been introduced by Techneat Engineering.

Fitted with bespoke 12-v pumps, the robust high-quality tanks offer a convenient, cost-effective and safe way to transport and accurately dispense liquids.

The Techneat Tank range includes purpose-designed 440-litre and 220-litre models. The AdBlue tanks utilise a specific high-capacity pump fitted for reliable delivery of the ureabased diesel fuel additive; diesel tanks are fitted with a self-priming, fast-flow fuel oil pump.

The tanks are manufactured from high-grade polyethylene at the Cambridgeshire-company’s precision rotomoudling facility in Ely. The engineered design ensures immense integral strength and long maintenance-free life.

Utilising all stainless steel fittings, the tanks include five-metres of delivery hose, which can be neatly retained in the integrated storage moulded into the units.

Delivery hoses on the 440-litre tank

are fitted with an auto-cut off nozzle, to minimize risk of spillage. An optional electronic flow-meter can be fitted for precision metering of either AdBlue or diesel use. All units are fitted with an inline filter.

For ease of handling, the larger tanks have integrated pallet tine slots, whilst the 220-litre tanks have ergonomic handles incorporated into the moulding.

Tanks can be fitted into a trailer or the load-bay of pick-up truck, for example, for mobile distribution of liquids.

AdBlue® solution, used to reduce noxious NO2 emissions from diesel engines, typically costs less than 50 pence a litre when bought in bulk, compared to around £2 a litre when purchased in 10-litre cans. The cost of a Techneat Tank could be recouped with cost savings from less than 350 litres of AdBlue.

Diesel tank bowsers can save time and money by delivering fuel direct to equipment in the field, at a construction site or even on the water. The safe transfer of diesel minimises the risk of costly spills or losses, compared to handling and pouring heavy cans.

Techneat Tanks Manager, Jamie

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MacDonald, reported the company has a renowned reputation for engineering experience and the precision manufacture of high quality rotomoulded products. Techneat Tanks have already proven highly popular and extremely reliable across a range of applications, including haulage transport, agriculture, construction and marine businesses.

Prices for the Techneat Tanks range start from £399 for diesel and £499 for AdBlue variants. The full range, along with other innovative rotomoulded products, can be purchased on line at: www.techneattanks.co.uk

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News WESTON COLLEGE SET TO LAUNCH £2.5 MILLION ENGINEERING FACILITIES

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eston College is to open officially its bespoke £2.5 million engineering training centre with a ceremony attended by leading local and national businesses.

The College has invested £1.5 million in machinery and equipment and £1 million in building works at its South West Skills Campus, which now offers a full engineering and manufacturing curriculum.

Among those attending the launch event on the November 2 will be representatives from major companies including Serco (one of the largest employers in the country), GKN (whose apprentices are currently undergoing training at the College), Thatchers, Midas and SKF Clevedon.

Dr Paul Phillips, Principal and Chief Executive of Weston College, said: “Weston College is committed to helping businesses in the engineering, aerospace and manufacturing sectors grow and develop the talent of the future by supporting the development of a highly skilled, innovative and valuable workforce.

“To achieve this aim, the College has invested in facilities including bespoke engineering and advanced technology workshops, composite manufacturing workshops, 3D printing suites and classrooms, IT suites and learning spaces.”

The new facilities have enabled

the College, which has been rating ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted, to expand its engineering courses. It now offers qualifications in a wide range of engineering skills including mechanical, fabrication and welding, aeronautical, manufacturing, digital technologies and maintenance.

The College has also become one of the first in the UK to offer a new Trailblazer Apprenticeship for the aerospace industry, and is one of the few colleges in the country to offer an apprenticeship pathway in advanced composites.

Andy Davidson, Weston College’s Executive Director of Professional and Technical Curriculum, said that engineering graduates can expect to earn 20% more per year than graduates from most other subjects and it is expected that there will be 1.86 million jobs in the sector available over the next five years.

“Engineering is an incredibly important part of both the local and national economy, and is responsible for £280 billion of the country’s gross added value.

“It’s a fast growing industry in the UK and there is an enormous amount of demand for qualified engineers. Weston College’s brand-new facilities will enable us to provide students with training on the most current and up-to-date

Students at work in the new £2.5 million engineering workshops, which will be officially launched with a ceremony attended by leading local and national businesses.

machines, and properly prepare them for jobs in the engineering industry.”

The College - which was named ‘College of the Year’ and ‘Overall FE Provider of the Year’ at the national TES Awards – has installed cutting-edge technology including fully equipped machining workshops, materials labs, hydraulics and pneumatics labs, PLC and control systems labs, electronics workshop, CAD suites, composites workshops, 3D printing facilities and maintenance and fabrication workshops.

Many of these facilities will be demonstrated during a tour that will take place as part of the launch of the new £2.5 million engineering workshops, in addition to presentations that will be made by representatives from the University of the West of England.

Designing the perfect factory – setting the scene for maximum production

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olton Group Associate Director Matt Colebrook looks at the challenges the UK’s manufacturing industry faces in building state-of-the-art facilities for maximum output and high quality production.

The UK manufacturing sector accounts for around 20% of the UK’s economy, with 2.6 million people employed in the industry. Such a volume of workers and dependence on strong manufacturing output means that facilities need to be continually optimised so that processes can be carried out seamlessly and efficiently. Well-designed and safe facilities can enhance the quality and technological capabilities of products

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that a firm can produce, while improving employee motivation, application, and productivity.

Convenience for workers and guests The manufacturing process requires a great deal of synergy. Having as many production processes on-site as possible allows for quicker turnaround and also keeps staff and management updated with production progress. Aston Martin’s HQ in Gaydon, for example, comprises a single building that houses production facilities, design departments and administrative offices. This can keep production costs lower, and prevents the risk of alienating one department from the rest.

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Having all departments on one site in the same building is also very convenient for potential clients and customers who want to visit the premises with a view to purchasing a product, because the whole building acts as a showroom where visitors can witness production from start to finish at first-hand. This is particularly intelligent in the automobile industry, where special vehicle features can be well explained and demonstrated by watching the car or automobile in its production stages.

Aesthetics Gone are the days where factories were simply ugly towers of smoke. The modern manufacturing workplace has to look smart – inside and out.

News Connect 2 Cleanrooms Exhibiting at Advanced Engineering UK 2015

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ith three show’s co-exhibiting – the Auto Engineering Show, Composites Engineering Show and the Automotive Engineering Show – the event is billed as the UK’s only business forum and supply chain showcase dedicated to all areas and applications of advanced engineering.

With 13 years’ experience delivering contamination control solutions for mission critical environments in the manufacturing, engineering and electronics sectors, the cleanroom solutions partner provides the following products and services across the UK and internationally: · Bespoke localised air solutions, · Cleanroom design, manufacture and installation, · Cleanroom validation & cleanroom training, · Cleanroom consumables, furniture & equipment supply.

Organisations within these sectors looking to reduce harmful contamination and create a clean production environment will be able to visit the company on its stand and find out how its modular, bespoke and scalable cleanrooms can add value to their business.

Connect 2 Cleanrooms’ consumables division, Cleanroomshop.com, will be sharing the stand, exhibiting its diverse range of cleanroom clothing, cleaning products, furniture, monitoring

equipment and more.

As the company also offers full cleanroom training, its experienced staff can also offer organisations guidance on cleanroom cleaning and gowning protocols.

Neighbouring households and communities are also likely to be affected by the presence of a manufacturing plant. Factories – especially those in urban areas - should therefore ensure they are surrounded by greenery and shrubs to lessen the impact of noise, pollution and aesthetic displeasure.

Inside the facility, the manufacturing space must be well-lit and ventilated to support workers. High flat-panelled roofing systems and full-height glazing give a sense of space and connection to the outside world. Glare and overheating from the sun can be a problem for workers accessing machinery, but this can be avoided by prior planning during the design phase, utilising dynamic thermal modelling to test how far the sun and solar radiation penetrates the workspace.

White interiors, including on steelwork, cladding and services can increase visibility and improve appearance, while low-level luminaires can be used in areas where high colour rendering is required – such as checking bays.

Temperature control is also an important consideration – not just for employee comfort but for maintaining metal chassis tolerance. If the temperature is allowed to rise too much, the support mechanisms may fail and parts may be inaccurately sized.

Again prior planning and modelling can alleviate this impact.

Cleanroom & clean air technology Each modular cleanroom from Connect 2 Cleanrooms is bespoke-designed specifically around organisation’s production environments, to protect their processes from airborne contamination.

With a an array of design options, such as hardwall, softwall and panel system wall construction, control system, door options, transfer hatches and much more – its cleanrooms are engineered to provide a high quality solution, with the modular design ensuring they remain affordable, fast and reliable.

Connect 2 Cleanrooms has also developed HEPA-lite™, as a mobile, adjustable cleanroom unit which can be fitted at mission-critical elements of a manufacturing process line.

It provides bespoke localised filtered air to protect processes from contamination, without the need to enclose an entire machine set-up within a cleanroom environment – making it economical, adaptable and efficient.

HEPA-lite™ is ideal for use on injection moulding machines, for example protecting the mould area, and can be adapted for use on conveyor systems

Environmental cleanliness In the vastly populated floor space of a factory, with machinery operations in flow, ventilation is crucial. Displacement

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and process and flow lines. It is expected to be particularly attractive to packaging manufactures in the engineering, healthcare, pharma and food sectors.

To find out more about any of Connect 2 Cleanrooms’ products and services, visit them on Stand J80 at the NEC Birmingham from 4th – 5th Novermber 2015 or visit www.connect2cleanrooms. com/events to register for free.

About Connect2Cleanrooms Connect 2 Cleanrooms is an award winning industry leader, creating modular cleanroom solutions for critical environments, both in the UK and internationally. The company designs and manufactures hard and soft wall cleanrooms in-house and delivers quality cleanroom solutions to meet the ISO 14644-1 standard required. Its consumables division, Cleanroomshop. com, supplies a full range of consumables, equipment and furniture to the cleanroom industry worldwide.

“HEPA-lite” is a registered trademark. www.connect2cleanrooms.com Mission Statement Connect 2 Cleanrooms is committed to providing engineered or supply solutions for mission critical environments. We have 12 years of history, over 600 cleanrooms installed and more than 4,000 customers.

We are innovators, hard workers and team players. systems and the well-designed use of pressurisation in facilities will ensure this along with preventing dust ingress, which can affect the manufacturing processes. The best designs will not only provide a clean environment but will do this at minimal energy costs.

A polished concrete floor can also reduce dust and dirt from entering the air of the factory, while reducing the risk of accidents and falls.

Manufacturing management need to consider each aspect of factorybased engineering, and consider how it can not only be a great place for production, but how it can become a sociable environment for workers and customers.

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News Construction workers at risk of hearing loss and heart disease

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t’s no secret that workers in the construction industry risk damaging their hearing if they don’t use adequate protection. A wide number of tools used regularly by workers are of sufficient volume to cause damage, including (but not limited to) 40 ton presses, bench grinders, CNC punch presses, rubber granulators and sand burners, as well as many others.

Online retailer Allearplugs.com have been campaigning hard to help raise awareness of the importance of hearing protection in sports, activities and industries where risk is at its highest, such as live performance, motorsports and swimming and – of course – construction.

According to the latest surveys from the LFS, an estimated 18,000 people in the UK have reported suffering from some form of noise induced hearing loss that was either caused or made worse by work, with 120 new claims being made in 2013 alone.

The figures in real terms are believed to be even higher, with nearly a quarter of a million workers suffering from some form of hearing problems as a result of noisy working environments, with tinnitus and industrial deafness the most reported: both, of course, are very relevant to the construction industry.

The total figure for hearing loss in the UK is even more shocking, with around

10 million people currently suffering some form of hearing loss: a figure that’s expected to reach 14.5 million by 2031.

What’s more in the USA, 48million people have reported some degree of hearing loss, and even more worryingly; 60% of the people with hearing loss are either in educational settings or in the work force. The NIDC (National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders) has also revealed that approximately 15% of those aged between 20 and 69 have high frequency hearing loss due to exposure to noise at work or during leisure activities.

A new study, meanwhile, has found that the problems aren’t limited to just hearing loss. In the US, researchers at the University of Kentucky have found that long-term noise exposure could also increase the risks of heart disease, with the strongest links found in working-age people.

Researchers looked at data on 5,223 participants in national health surveys taken, with all those surveyed aged between 20 and 69.

Dr Wen Qi Gan said: “Compared with people with normal highfrequency hearing, people with bilateral high-frequency hearing loss were approximately two times more likely to have coronary heart disease.”

Rob Doole, Managing Director for Allearplugs.com, said: “It’s vital that we

raise awareness of noise induced hearing loss. Industrial machines are often loud enough to start causing permanent damage in less than a minute if no protection is in place. #Saveyourhearing has been created to try and make more people aware of just how easy it is to take steps in order to protect your hearing from industrial noise.”

Since the introduction of the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, requirements are in place that employers and employees should follow in order to reduce exposure.

Employers are currently required to: • Assess the risks to employees from noise at work • Take action in order to reduce the noise exposure producing the risks • Provide employees with protection if noise reduction is impossible • Ensure the legal limits of noise exposure aren’t exceeded • Provide employees with information, instructions and training • Carrying out health surveillance where there is a risk to health To help raise awareness of the campaign high profiled bands, motor racing champions and a vast array of publications have been using the hashtag #Saveyourhearing on social media, allowing the message to be seen by more than 3.7million people. www.allearplugs.com

CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES TOLD: ‘INVEST IN YOUR EMPLOYEES NOW OR RISK LOSING THEM’ Skills shortage forecast to create fresh problems for construction firms as in-demand employees look to ‘jump ship’ for more money

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eace Recruitment, experts in the construction, property and engineering sectors, is warning construction companies to invest in existing employees now or risk losing them.

The skills shortage means demand for construction workers has never been so high, with pay going through the roof. Companies, many of which are working with limited capacity, are being forced to offer candidates

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the best possible deals to try and attract them.

However, many firms are forgetting to look after the workers they already have.

According to Peace Recruitment, more and more underappreciated workers are looking around to see what is on offer elsewhere, so companies need to act now to try and stop this from happening.

“We all know about the problems the skills shortage is causing the construction sector, but I’m afraid for many companies it could be about to

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get a whole lot worse,” explains Chris Peace, Managing Director of Peace Recruitment.

“Companies need to invest in their existing employees now or risk losing them, whether that’s increasing pay, upskilling or promoting. From what we are seeing firms are so focused on attracting new talent to their organisation that many are forgetting about their existing employees who are feeling unappreciated and disconnected. Many firms are

News Premitec are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the introduction of the Electro Mechanical Scrap Shaker here in the UK

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he Multi Tray Scrap Shaker, sometime known as the Vibratory Scrap Shaker or the Electro Mechanical Scrap Shaker is the right unit for linear scrap removal from many types of presses.

The principle behind the Vibratory Conveyor or scrap transporter utilizes the ‘table cloth effect’ a slow acceleration in the forward stroke (material is transported forward) and a rapid return stroke material will remain stationary), so ensuring movement in one direction only.

Due to its compact design, the Vibratory Scrap Shaker may be installed in confined, congested areas. Unlike many other transporters, shuttles or traditional conveyors, the Vibratory Scrap Shaker does not need to be located in close proximity to the tool. The scrap removal trays can be located close to the ‘action’ but the Vibratory Conveyor power unit can be a safe distance away.

The Vibratory Scrap Conveyor or linear scrap transporter can be used with a long single tray stretching some 10 metres or more depending on width, but is also adaptable for multi-tray installations,such as in the example top right Multiple Trays. The Vibratory Conveyors simple, robust and flexible design ensures safety, reliability, efficiency and cost effective choice. working with limited capacity, which means they cannot take on any more work without hiring new staff, so all their attention is on attracting new workers and they are neglecting the people who are already there.

This is especially true if companies are bringing in new talent on higher wages, without ensuring parity is kept.

“As a result of staff feeling undervalued many are beginning to look at the opportunities that lie elsewhere, where they are in high demand and where they will get paid more. And, of course, due to the skills shortage if you lose key members of staff it is very difficult to replace them.

So we are urging all construction companies to, first and foremost, look after what they already have. Train, promote and invest from within, this

The Vibratory Scrap Conveyor is easily adaptable to meet your requirements. A selection of trays can be mounted on the unit. Common ‘low profile’ trays can be used for different tools and applications.

The length of the trays presents no problem. If using trays over 3 metres, linear bearing supports can be provided.

Optional Features Include: The Vibratory Conveyor transports parts along an assembly line or removes scrap from beneath machine tools, especially suited where conventional conveyors cannot be used. (Low profile trays).

The concept of the electro mechanical Vibratory Conveyor or linear scrap transporter was inspired by the needs of the pressing and blanking industry has to be the top priority. If companies fail to do this morale and ultimately productivity will be reduced and staff will leave.”

Peace was reacting to the 2015 RICS UK Construction Survey results which found that the construction skills shortage problem is only getting worse, and that growth in the sector can only slow down unless a solution to this problem is found. The survey found that 63% of firms in the Scottish Construction industry were struggling to recruit skilled staff. It also found that, although the construction sector is currently growing, this can only last for so long before growth stalls.

Since its creation in 2009, Peace has transformed itself from a ‘oneman-band’ into a multi-million-pound company. It now has a team of 15 specialist consultants each with an in-

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to employ a robust, silent, reliable, safe and effective way to automate material remova from the underside of press tools and dies.l.

Today, the Vibratory Conveyors or Multi Tray Scrap Shakers can be found in many other applications which are ideally suited for this method of transportation such as in casting, foundry, machine tools and pharmaceutical industries. Many of which have replaced conventional belt conveyors.

The Vibratory Conveyor or linear scrap transporter is sometimes known as a transporter or shuttle unit, and with the aid of 30 degree angle in the scrap trays, material can be made to be transported to the left or right, alowing part sorting to be carried out.

depth knowledge of their target markets. Peace prides itself on being different from its competitors, and prioritises service before sales. Its success has been built on providing specialist expert advice, combined with exceptional customer service.

For more information about Peace Recruitment visit www. peacerecruitment.co.uk.

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News Recent Power Tool Thefts Leave Owners Facing Large Bills with your name and contact telephone number will mean that no one is under any illusion that the tool is yours. If some unsuspecting buyer did purchase a stolen tool they may even be nice enough to call you and give it back.

Lock them away Keeping your tools out of sight and locked away is vital if you want to make sure that they are always protected. Make sure that you take the key off site with you when you leave to ensure that they will still be safe and locked away when you next return.

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ou may not think it but your power tools could be some of the most expensive items that you own – if they happened to be stolen then the cost of replacing could easily run into thousands of pounds.

And this is exactly what is happening up and down the country at the moment.

Opportunistic criminals are seizing every chance they can get to pinch power tools from vans, building sites, lock ups and even canal barges in order to sell them on cheaply and make a bit of cash.

Help is at hand though as power tool specialist CBY Tools have come up with

5 simple steps that every owner can do to help keep their power tools safe and secure.

Add distinguishing mark Adding a specific colour of paint, or painting the whole tool could help it become more identifiable if it went missing – it might also help put thieves off if they see a distinguishing mark that can be linked back to you.

Put your name on them It may sound a little bit like being back at school, but adding a sticker

Add an alarm to your toolbox If you have to leave your tool box over night then attach a small burglar alarm to the front – if someone tries to break in to it then the alarm could alert passers by and stop your tool box from being taken.

Make a note of serial numbers One of the best things you can do it make a note of individual serial numbers of all your tools and keep an updated copy off site. This is also incredibly helpful for insurance purposes as it allows you to know the make and model of your item when making a claim.

ARCA publishes Guidance Note on Clients Responsibilities when appointing Asbestos Contractors

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RCA, the UK’s leading asbestos removal association, has today published a Guidance Note on the responsibilities clients have when appointing asbestos contractors.

The human cost of asbestos disease is devastating, however significant exposure is avoidable when asbestos removal projects are well managed.

As clients are at the head of the procurement chain they have the final say on how these projects are managed, therefore they are in a position to play a major part in ensuring that asbestos exposure is avoided.

The aim of this guidance is to help clients [such as, construction, facility

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and estate managers and architects meet their legal requirements so that asbestos is dealt with in a controlled and safe manner.

The law requires that clients, make suitable arrangements for managing a project, and maintain and review these arrangements throughout the project to ensure health and safety risks are managed appropriately. Therefore this Guidance Note references clients’ legal duties, including those under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) and the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

“Clients are not expected to be experts in either construction work or asbestos work, however, they are

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responsible for ensuring appropriate arrangements are in place to manage and organise projects,” commented Steve Sadley, Chief Executive of ARCA. “This means appointing suitably competent people – such as ARCA members who are independently audited asbestos removal contractors and ATaC members who are UKAS accredited asbestos analysts – and providing them with sufficient information, time and resources to do the job properly. All helping to ensure projects are well planned and managed for the health and safety of the workforce, and also the public.”

News UK’s first major trial of self-healing concrete gets underway in Wales A Cardiff University-led project is testing ways of automatically repairing concrete without human intervention

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he first major trial of self-healing concrete in the UK, led by a team of researchers from Cardiff University, is being undertaken at a site in the South Wales Valleys.

The project, entitled Materials for Life (M4L), is piloting three separate concrete-healing technologies for the first time in real-world settings, with a view to incorporating them into a single system that could be used to automatically repair concrete in the built environment.

At present, billions of pounds are spent every year maintaining, fixing and restoring structures such as bridges, buildings, tunnels and roads.

It is estimated that around £40 billion a year is spent in the UK on the repair and maintenance of structures, the majority of which are made from concrete.

The overall aim of the Cardiff-led project is to develop a single system that can be embedded into concrete when it is initially set, and then automatically sense when damage occurs. Once damage is detected, the system will be able to repair itself autonomously without the need for human intervention.

The trial is being undertaken in collaboration with one of the major industrial partners on the project, Costain, and is taking place at one of their construction sites on the Heads of the Valleys road improvement scheme in South Wales – the A465.

The research team, which also includes academics from the University of Bath and the University of Cambridge, is trialling three separate technologies at the site.

The first technique uses shapeshifting materials, known as shapememory polymers, to repair large cracks in concrete. When these materials are heated with a small current, they can transform into a different shape that the material has ‘memorised’. The researchers believe that these materials can be embedded into concrete and used to close cracks or make them smaller.

In the second technique, researchers will pump both organic and inorganic healing agents through a network of thin tunnels in the concrete to help repair damage.

In the third technique, the team will embed tiny capsules, or lightweight aggregates, containing both bacteria and healing agents into the concrete. It is anticipated that once cracks occur, these capsules will release their cargos and, in the case of the bacteria, the nutrients that will enable them to function and produce calcium carbonate, which the researchers envisage will heal the cracks in the concrete.

The researchers have cast six concrete walls at the test site, each containing the different technologies. Over time the team will load the concrete at specific angles to induce cracks, and then

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monitor how effective each of the selfhealing techniques is.

Professor Bob Lark, the principal investigator on the project from Cardiff University’s School of Engineering, said: “Our vision is to create sustainable and resilient systems that continually monitor, regulate, adapt and repair themselves without the need for human intervention.

“These self-healing materials and intelligent structures will significantly enhance durability, improve safety and reduce the extremely high maintenance costs that are spent each year. This major trial, the first of its kind in the UK, will provide us with important insights to help transfer the technologies from the lab into real-world settings.”

Oliver Teall, a civil engineer at Costain, said: “We are supporting this innovative research to unlock the many potential benefits of self-healing concrete for use within infrastructure. From this trial we should gain an insight into the feasibility of constructing a full-scale structure using these techniques and their earlystage effects on structural properties.

We will be monitoring properties such as stiffness, permeability and the mechanical damage recovery of the trial walls in comparison with conventional reinforced concrete walls.”

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CONSTRUCTION:

D

ragonboard has been successfully marketed in the UK since 2008, and is well known as a consistently high quality MgO board that brings a number of exceptional properties to the building industry, all in one construction board.

What other board can out perform any equivalent gypsum based products in terms of fire protection yet be totally resistant to the consequences of being immersed in water such as disintegration or delamination? It remains totally stable and inert and will not support the growth of mildew or mould of any kind.

It is also immensely strong with excellent racking properties when attached to a frame structure. The board is breathable

Dragon I Panel and does not off gas leading to healthier enclosures.

To demonstrate these properties, Dragonboard built a prototype home at the BRE Welsh Future Homes Innovation Park at Ebbw Vale in 2010.

Known as the Lily House it was built entirely of Dragonboard applied to a light gauge steel frame both internally and externally, including ceilings, floors and roof sheathing. Even the doors and staircase where made from the board. With the use of breathable insulants and a HRV unit the house achieved an average U Value of 0.17 W/ m²k and an exceptional air tightness result of 0.37 m³/h/m²@50Pa. This was Dragonboard’s first foray into providing a high performance home using

Modern Methods of Construction giving affordability through speed of erection.

Since then Dragonboard has moved on, and has been involved in the development of an equivalent high performing solution to fast track house building but this time using SIP building technology, which in turn has led to the introduction of the new Dragonboard Insulating Panel.

This development was initiated by an approach made by Peter Fishenden, a founding Director of Quantus Developments Ltd., with forty years experience in the building industry.

Peter wanted to build out some of his developments using the benefits of Dragonboard coupled with the speed and hence savings that SIP Technology

Pioneering the future in housing

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DIP

Dragon I Panel

Dragon Intellegent Panel

A SIPS house is a better house for this era www.cemonthly.co.uk

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CONSTRUCTION:

could bring. The collaboration was engendered by a mutual desire to produce sustainable developments with strict ecological, environmental and sociological criteria.

Greg Barton the MD of Dragonboard, in turn consulted with a long established SIP panel manufacturer also with some forty years experience in the industry to test the viability of the project. The advice and support provided by local team members was invaluable. The group worked closely together bringing a craftsman like approach to the project, utilising and respecting Peter’s traditional techniques and marrying them to the newer modern construction solutions Greg and Les could bring to the table. After undertaking a number of trials and testing the Dragon I Panel was born, replacing the conventional SIP panel and the site limitations of using an OSB board.

The Dragon I Panel is an advanced

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Dragon I Panel

method of construction offering excellent thermal performance, lightweight structural strength with time and cost saving benefits over other methods and systems. Unlike traditional SIP building systems the new panel does not require the need for vapour control layers and other detailing that adds to the cost of the project. Moreover the panels can be used in floors, walls and roofs providing ecologically friendly and energy efficient buildings.

In the case of a new bungalow built

by Quantus at Torrington Park in North Finchley, it is estimated that the build cost came in at one third to one half of a traditional build cost.

This bungalow has a floor area of some 190 sq.m yet it took only 4 days to erect the walling using the Dragon I Panel from prepared slab and DPC to roof plate level, and 8 days to construct the complete shell of the house. The immensely quick build is without doubt

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a highly attractive attribute of using a SIP system compared to traditional construction using bricks and mortar.

The speed of build results in much reduced preliminaries attributed to Health and Safety requirements, welfare and security. Trades are off site sooner, and as there is less waste the site tends to be kept tidier with less clean up costs.

Furthermore Dragonboard is inert and harmless to the environment and any waste does not have to go to a licensed tip unlike OSB waste.

Site insurance costs are also reduced given the fire retardant qualities of Dragonboard. Fire has become a major problem affecting the timber build industry.

This year Quantus were also involved in the construction of a 3 bedroom semidetached house in Mays Lane in Barnet which because of site limitations, Peter turned to the Dragon I Panel to provide the ideal solution. The site consisted of a

Dragon I Panel

detached house with a side garden just large enough to convert the existing house into a pair of semi’s. However the gable of the new build was directly over the line of an existing 1.2m diameter culvert which precluded traditional build foundations.

The solution was to build a cantilevered concrete floor slab supported off driven concrete piles, over the top of the culvert and to take advantage of the relatively lightweight loading of the Dragon I Panel system to construct the two storey wall enclosure.

The design also had a single storey lean to extension built off the rear of the new build. This was open plan within the house requiring the introduction of a steel girder to support the rear wall of the house over. This girder was supported off the gable Dragon I panel with ease demonstrating the strength and robustness of the panel.

An under floor heating system was provided to meet customer demand and as with the bungalow a ProAir heat recovery ventilation system was deployed. Given the superior air tightness and high insulation levels afforded by the use of the Dragon I Panel, Peter used the services of ProAir to design and install the right system to ensure that the dwelling would be a pleasant and comfortable place to live in. The ProAir system takes a constant supply of fresh air from outside, filters

and pre-warms it, lifting the outside temperature to that selected for the dwelling. The fresh air supplied to the living areas is largely heated using the warm stale air that is exhausted from the kitchen and bathroom areas leading to pronounced energy and cost savings for the occupants. Coupled with the use of vapour permeable spray insulation in the roof and an air tightness of 0.77m³/h/ m²@50Pa afforded by the Dragon I Panel system, the result is a more energy efficient building that is both a healthy and pleasant place to live in.

To put this into perspective from a SAP Energy Assessment carried out by SHGL Sustainability Consultancy, the bungalow achieved an EPC Rating of B-85 and an Environmental Reading of B-86. SHGL state that the bungalow has effectively been designed using passive house ideas including low U Values for the fabric elements and higher efficiency windows than those required under building regulations. It has reduced overheating in summer, with a cross flow design that reduces the need for energy from cooling systems. This fabric first approach means the dwelling has effectively merged the high air tightness and insulation with an efficient MVHR system that reduces the energy demand and hence less need for the heating to be on as high as it would normally be.

The Dragon I Panel comes with a 10 year building warranty provided by CRL

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whose motto is Construction Insurance for the venturous of spirit.

Like the bungalow this project was finished in record time at a fraction of the cost of traditional build but with an equivalent valuation of some £1.25million. Peter has already commenced his next project in Kew Gardens and is looking to build another four to six houses in the London area over the next twelve months. In the course of this Peter is looking to build more modern contemporary designs with mono-pitch roofs using the same panel instead of the more traditional designs.

Peter not only appreciated the speed of build and all the benefits it brought but also regards the Dragon I Panel as an eco-product which is an additional benefit which planners will appreciate.

The ease of build allowed him to employ semi skilled labour which is good given the present shortage of skills in the industry.

He believes the new building system would be ideal in targeting the increasing housing shortage and the government aim to construct a million homes by 2020.

Tel: 0151 528 6660 Tel: 0135 270 0088 E: info@dragonboard.co.uk www.dragonipanel.com

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CONSTRUCTION:

Oakridge Construction

Oakridge Construction Ltd set the standard for health and safety CHAS accredited Oakridge Construction Ltd safeguards its employees CSCS and CPCS training

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ertfordshire based ground work specialist Oakridge Construction Ltd was founded by Managing Director, Matt Tipper, in 2006. The business operates as a specialist in the construction industry, frequently carrying bespoke groundwork and

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demolition for its clients. Since its inception nine years ago the business has accumulated a large portfolio of customers which includes, HG Construction, KTT Contractors and 8build.

Oakridge Construction Ltd prides itself on its ability to provide a high quality

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of service to its clients. The business employs dedicated management and on site teams are highly experienced, providing a flexible approach to meet and exceed the client’s expectations.

Oakridge Construction understand the requirement to deliver projects on time and on budget without comprising on

Oakridge Construction

health and safety or quality.

Oakridge Construction Ltd boasts an extensive portfolio of work that it has completed since its inception, ranging from service groundwork projects to building student accommodation and demolition work. The company has the capacity to undertake projects that are a minimum value of £10,000 up to a maximum of value of £750,000.

The company has a Quality Management System in order to provide clear guidelines on how it manages the quality of its services.

Oakridge Construction Ltd continuously endeavours to exceed its clients expectations. Regular meetings with its clients, employees and suppliers enables the business to create a more bespoke and personal service. A high quality customer care service is paramount to the business.

Health and safety is a priority at Oakridge Construction Ltd, as an accredited member of CHAS the business implements a proactive approach to health and safety which is composed of a mixture of policies and procedures rear ensure the health and safety of its employees at work.

Oakridge Construction Ltd utilises risk assessments and method statements to ensure that its staff are fully prepared to carry out working a safely as possible for each individual task on projects.

The company’s plant machinery is all maintained and certificated as required, with weekly visual inspections.

Furthermore Oakridge Construction Ltd’s staff are all fully qualified with CSCS and CPCS training and undertake weekly briefings with Tool Box Talks.

Oakridge Construction Ltd is committed to the protection and enhancement of the environment, adapting an ever-changing environmental policy. The business is able to decrease its impact on the environment by adhering to this policy. Oakridge Construction aims to continue improving its environmental performance of its activities, whilst adopting the latest environmental legislations and other various requirements.

Recently Oakridge Construction Ltd has completed a demolition project for

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an external courtyard at Kings College, London. In addition to this the business has being subcontracted work from 8build and completed school projects in Shropshire. Director, Matt Tipper, recalls one of its longest-running projects, which was refurbishing the high profiled Garrick Club. The project took two years to complete and during that time remained fully operational.

The business is currently looking maintain its leading position int the construction industry via increasing its annual turnover by 50%, Oakridge Construction Ltd intends to achieve this by managing its growth to maximise its potential and by establishing new working relationships with clients.

Tel: 01582 792954 www.oakridgeconstruction.co.uk

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CONSTRUCTION:

Spot on concrete

ON THE SPOT Spot On Concrete completes installation of two new windmills

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pot On Concrete is a specialist concrete business, which is located close to the town centre of Halifax. The organisation has now been running for ten successful years, after the first eighteen months, three of the four partners decided to close and sell the business until current Managing Director, Steven walker, decided to step up and buy the other three partners out and run it my himself.

When Steven took full ownership of the business it only had two trucks,

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but over the years he has built up his fleet to eight. Spot On Concrete has recently moved into a new purpose built premises. The reason behind the recent relocation is because people decided to continuously break into the old building to vandalise the property, damage the trucks and steal diesel.

Spot On Concrete’s brand new site includes ‘The Pit’, which corresponds with the eco policy of the company. The pit is a large concrete lined hole which is filled up with water and that water is then pumped into large tanks to be

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turned into cement. This is an extremely effective way of recycling water. The pit has large surrounding walls to prevent the water from being contaminated.

Steven told us during an interview that further expansion is no longer needed as business is currently running how it should and that the extra work load would be too much because of the 24/7 service they currently provide.

During normal working hours Steven has employed a highly capable and reliable work force of fifteen people and additionally uses contractors who

Spot on concrete

‘‘Recently two windmills have just been installed on windy hill by Spot On Concrete; this was achievable because they own 4x4 trucks which made getting to the site easier. The majority of the fleet is made up of Scania trucks; Steven has also used Renault trucks but was not impressed when they repeatedly broke.’’

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CONSTRUCTION:

Spot on concrete

Tel: 01909 561141 Enquiries: 9am to 5pm weekdays

We are proud to supply Spot on Concrete with quality sand and aggregate Peakstone Aggregates Ltd have been established since 2003, we supply quality limestone, sandstone and recycled aggregates to all areas of Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Nottingham.

• • • • •

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Crushed Concrete Washed Grit Sand Building Sand Fill/Cable Sand Processed Gravel

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Filter Media Topsoils Processed Ash Concreting Aggregates Armour Stone

Tel: 01909 561141 | Fax: 01909 560654 sales@peakstoneaggs.com

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Tarmac Planings Rockery Stone Recycled Products Muckaway Services Limestone Dust

Peakstone Aggregates Ltd 246 Rotherham Road, Maltby, S66 8ND

Spot on concrete

run the nights. Spot On Concrete has very loyal employees, as some members of staff have been working there a staggering 8 years.

Recently two windmills have just been installed on windy hill by Spot On Concrete; this was achievable because they own 4x4 trucks which made getting to the site easier. The majority of the fleet is made up of Scania trucks; Steven has also used Renault trucks but was not impressed when they repeatedly broke.

Steven always has the customer’s best interests at heart; he will not charge you for his time (as long as it is within reason) unlike most companies.Furthermore, Steven has always shown a massive amount of dedication to completing a

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job. Take for example, one year when Stobart rail needed the company for an emergency on Christmas, Steven arrived at Hull station in the midst of a cold Christmas Eve, endlessly waiting, attempting to keep the sand and cement warm so the mixture will reach his high standard.

Future plans for Spot On Concrete include investing in new pumps for the trucks as they make it easier to get the concrete from the trucks to where it needs to be laid.

Tel: 01422 248888 www.spotonconcrete.co.uk

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CONSTRUCTION:

Tippers R US

Commercial vehicle hire specialist adds thirty brand new MAN vehicles to its 200 strong fleet Trucks R Us welcomes twenty brand new Euro 6 MAN TGS 35.400’s and TGS 32.400’s

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T

rucks R Us is a privately owned sales and hire company which endeavuor’s to satisfy customer requirements. The business is owned by businessman Guy Nicholls and has a long history which can be traced all the way back to 1927.

The company operates as a specialist in the truck industry and its sister company Tippers R Us which is a Recycling Aggregates company. Both are based in Ipswich and provide a dedicated variety of services nationwide across the UK. Trucks R Us commands a wealth of experience in the industry, which when combined with its wide range of services and expertise in the commercial vehicle hire sector of the industry presents an excellent and near unparalleled rental service in the UK. Since its inception Trucks R Us has accumulated a forty strong workforce of fully qualified and industry experienced staff members that are committed to providing clients with the highly bespoke truck rental service that the company is known for. In addition to its rental service the sister company has established an impressive reputation in the construction industry with its aggregates business, which produces crushed and recycled aggregate materials.

The company offers its clients with exclusive access to its ever expanding fleet of vehicles that ranges from small vans to Transit vans, large trucks to box lorries and beavertails.

Boasting thirty years of hire experience in the industry, Trucks R Us is confident that it can provide a fast, professional and reliable service.

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Tippers R US

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CONSTRUCTION:

Tippers R US

Specialising in all aspects of Commercial, Plant, Agricultural and industrial tyre fitting Anglia Truck Tyre Management provides a full and comprehensive range of tyre services including regular service visits and fleet inspections.

Our professional and dedicated team can offer you a full and comprehensive truck tyre service: • Regrooving

• Balancing

• Tyre pressure maintenance

• Valves, valve extensions & clips

• Wheel nut torque

• Puncture repairs

• Twinning

• Major repairs

• Turn on rim

• Wheels

We are proud to support Tippers R Us and wish them continued success for the future.

Anglian Truck Tyre Management Ltd 72 Notley Enterprise Park Raydon Road, Great Wenham Colchester, Essex, CO7 6QD

www.angliantrucktyres.co.uk Tel: 01473 313103

Email: angliantrucktyre@btconnect.com

Also in association with Premier Bodyworks Tel: 01284 755558 Fax: 01284 756110 Email: sales@premierbodyworks.co.uk

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21 Cratfield Road, Moreton Hall Industrial Estate, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk,IP32 7DF

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Tippers R US

‘‘Trucks R Us currently runs a hire fleet in excess of 200 vehicles plus a further 20 MAN 8 wheel Tipper Trucks for its aggregates business.’’

Trucks R Us currently runs a hire fleet in excess of 200 vehicles plus a further 20 MAN 8 wheel Tipper Trucks for its aggregates business. The modern fleet is fully equipped with the latest industry innovated technologies such as fleet tracking systems and telematics. By utilising technology the company is able to monitor driving behaviours as well as monitor the vehicles location at all times.

Owner, Guy Nicholls, has recently invested over £3 million in to the Trucks R Us fleet. The recent investment secured the introduction of eight brand new Euro

6 MAN TGS 35.400 vehicles and two brand new TGS 32.400 vehicles. The company has also added four MAN 26.340 and six 18.250s which they have had fitted with low profile beavertail bodies. Guy Nicholls has extensive experience using MAN vehicles and felt that the brand was an obvious choice.

Another £3.5 Million has been invested into their new state of the art head office, in the out skirts of Ipswich and boasts a 12 bay work shop due to be revealed in April 2016.

The new vehicles include MAN

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tipmatic gearboxes and a mixture of Thompson Load Master and Thompson Load Master Lighter bodies. The business is looking to make further investments into additional MAN vehicles.

Tel: 01473 612761 www.tru7.com

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Tone Scaffolding

CONSTRUCTION:

Expanding its workforce

Tone Scaffolding Services welcome new operational management staff and apprentices to the business

T

one Scaffolding Services has established its dominance operating in the scaffolding industry by been at the innovative forefront for the last 20 years. Tone Scaffolding Service has developed a strong reputation for providing a high quality service to its customers and additionally for its ability to deliver some of the most complex projects in the industry. The Croydon based business operates nationwide from the highlands of Scotland to the south coast of England, with its power and industrial division projects cover a wide range of remote areas facilitating water treatment works and power distribution projects.

Tone Scaffolding operates 5 main divisions which are: rail, power, town (major inner-city commercial builds), aviation and industrial.

By having a wide area of operations the company has effectively dispersed itself throughout the UK in multiple industries guaranteeing consistent work.

The business’ divisions are comprised of specialist individuals with experience specific to the sector they are working in. Whether that be in safety critical areas beneath overhead power lines or on live rail stations we ensure we have the right people in place with right the experience necessary to deliver a premier service.

In addition to this Tone Scaffolding Services operate a Special Projects division which has capability and capacity of tackling large one off projects from the London Power Tunnels to Paddington Station’s redevelopment.

The TONE Group also comprises of additional businesses media structures who service film and broadcast events and sister company Austin Lewis who

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concentrates on staging and seating.

Both companies we are also looking to develop their respective fleets to keep to the same high standards expected from our original scaffolding fleet.

Above all the company is committed to providing a first class service to its clients, guarantee value for money and ensure it always deliver safety first.

Currently the company owns and operates a large fleet of 98 vehicles, composed of 31 3.5 tonne (and above) vehicles, 50 small vans and 17 cars. In addition to its fleet vehicles the company also has plant -which it owns including anything from traditional fork lifts to spider MWEPs. Tone Scaffolding has implemented numerous improvements to its fleet of vehicles since adopting the FORS system, which includes a side scan sensors to alert the driver when the cyclist comes up the near side of the vehicle giving proximity guidance.

The business has also invested in a left turn warning to give an audible signal to any cyclist looking to pass on the inside. Cameras for rear and near

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side blind spot checks to improve allround vision for the driver have also been introduced to the fleet.

Furthermore to this the company has have introduced a handbrake warning system which alerts the driver if handbrake is not applied as soon as any vehicle door is opened and also a new handrail system for its trailers.

This year marks Tone Scaffolding Services celebrates its 20th year since its founding in 1995. Throughout the company’s career it has received a number of safety awards including an award for achieving 4 years RIDDOR free at Heathrow Airport and also the Beacon Safety award as part of the Farringdon Station redevelopment team.

Tone Scaffolding Services carry out operations with an environmental conscience by using a sustainable timber procurement policy. The company feels that due to the number of scaffold boards it uses it is necessary to ensure they are sustainably sourced from reputable suppliers. Moreover Tone Scaffolding

Tone Scaffolding Beachers Coaches Services has also retrofitted all of its vehicles to reduce harmful diesel emissions and reduce the risk of employees developing harmful cardiopulmonary conditions in later life.

Tone Scaffolding Services is utterly dedicated in its duty to ensure that its employees and those affected by the business’s activities are never placed at unnecessary risk and all measures that can be taken to safe guard them are taken. The business operates a red, amber and green card system to monitor safety performance on site and ensure operatives are compliant with company policy and site specific rules.

When the economy declined in 2008 to then worsen in 2012 multiple industries were affected by the devastated economic climate with several companies suffering greatly. However Tone Scaffolding Services luckily managed to survive the downturn Logistics Manager Paul Healey commented on the aftermath of the downturn, “So far we have been lucky enough to pull through a time of economic uncertainty in the industry but due to the competitive nature of the scaffolding industry you can never be complacent.

Thankfully we have long established relationships with a number of clients for whom we have delivered a quality service for a number of years and despite the down turn they have valued this service and chosen to continue to work with us.”

Recently Tone Scaffolding Services has heavily invested in its staff members by significantly increasing the number of its operational management staff.

Additionally the company has expanded its workforce via a brand new apprenticeship scheme- something which the business is very excited for.

In regards to the future Tone Scaffolding Services is hoping to train the next generation of scaffolders to work to the same high standard that the company currently provides- this will be achieved via the intended further development of the business’ apprenticeship scheme.

Additionally the company aims to continue achieving success in its main sectors of operation, rail, industrial and power. Tone Scaffolding Services also hopes to achieve FORS Gold status in the next 12 months.

Tone Scaffolding Services has been a member of FORS (Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme) for the last 2 years and currently holds a Silver membership. The business feels that being a member of FORS has had a definite positive impact on the company as a whole. FORS has enabled the company to identify dangerous driving behaviours and seek to address them with managerial reviews. Paul Healey added, “We also feel that the standards are beneficial to the wider community as the cyclists which we come into contact with can feel the roads which TONE fleet vehicles operate will hopefully be on their way to becoming a safer place in which to travel.”

As a member of FORS Tone Scaffolding Services ensures that its drivers carry out regular vehicle checks, and should the event occur complete accident forms within 24hrs. The business carries out post-accident reviews to try and rectify dangerous behaviours and look to improve the safety practices of its workforce wherever possible.

Tel: 02086843771 www.tonescaffolding.co.uk

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33

Travis Perkins

CONSTRUCTION:

Travis Perkins Plc has dominated the construction industry for over 200 years The UK’s largest Builder’s Merchant Travis Perkins talks to Transport Monthly

F

ormed by the merger of Sandall Perkins and Travis and Arnold in 1988, Travis Perkins Plc is defined by its enviable reputation for outstanding product quality and first rate customer service and firmly established itself as the UK’s largest builder’s merchant. It employs 24000 members of staff 30,000 colleagues across circa 2000over 2,000 branches and stores around the UK. The company is always taking on new staff.

Regarding the future the business aims to cement its leading position in the industry via expansion and growth.

Travis Perkins operates UK-wide

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and operates 19 companies ranging from builder’s merchants, insulation specialists and retailers including Wickes and Toolstation. With the majority of its products requiring delivery to site, the company has to have the capacity to carry a wide variety of commodities, therefore a diverse portfolio of vehicles is required, often with specialist equipment on board.

This mix of vehicle includes consists of 2,700 company cars, 800 grey fleet cars, 1,500 vans and 2500 heavy commercial vehicles. The commercial vehicle section of the fleet is compose mainly of 18 tonne and 26 tonne Hiabs

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and is supported by 4,000 pieces of plant machinery. As an environmentally conscious business Travis Perkins plc has already begun replacing its older Euro 5 legislated vehicles with the latest Euro 6 vehicles. Additionally the company has invested in tracking technologies for its fleet, which provide instant valuable feedback such as driver behaviour, location and drop information.

Travis Perkins is a member of both the FTA (Freight Transport Association), FORS (Fleet Operators Recognition Scheme) and CLOCS (Construction Logistics and Cycle Safety) Having

Travis Bywaters Perkins

been a member of FORS since its inception in 2007, the business is one of the first eight companies to have obtained the prestigious Gold accreditation. The company receives a plethora of benefits from its membership with FORS, most notably is that the accreditation reinforces the company’s vehicle standards and its reputation in the industry.

Its membership of FORS, requires Travis Perkins to keep its trucks fully road legal and operational at all times as well as take responsibility for securing cargo safely.

Health and safety at the heart of all Travis Perkins does. Indeed, it is one of its five core values. The company has implemented industry leading policies and procedures to ensure the safety of its customers, suppliers and employees. The company continues to innovate and recently collaborated with its crane grab manufacturer to redesign the way its truck could be unloaded without requiring the driver to step foot on the bed of the vehicle – a known high injury risk area.

Travis Perkins currently employs

30,000 colleagues across over 2,000 branches and stores around the UK. Ford and Slater is fully supportive of Travis Perkins plc’s commitment to compliance and safety by supplying high quality DAF trucks packed with safety equipment.

With a relationship spanning over 20 years, both companies work very closely together, with Ford and Slater employing a supplier implant based on site at Travis Perkins plc’s head office in Northampton. This allows them to manage the organisation’s existing vehicles and new orders more quickly and efficiently. Graham Bellman, Director of Fleet at Travis Perkins plc, explains what this means for the company. “Buying the truck is the really easy bit. It’s keeping that truck on the road, working it hard for up to 10 years, which is what it’s all about. Ford and Slater help us to achieve that.”

To maintain Travis Perkins plc’s FORS and CLOCS accreditations, and particularly FORS Gold, which they have successfully achieved for the past three years, the following elements are fitted to the company’s trucks: a 4 way

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CCTV recording camera system allows the driver to see the rear, front and both sides of the vehicle on a screen in the cab, side scan sensors are fitted on the vehicle which alerts the driver of close objects and announces that the vehicle is turning left when the left hand indicator is activated, rear warning signs on the near side of the vehicle alert cyclists and pedestrians to potential dangers, Fresnel lens on the window of the passenger door provides a downward view of the blind-spot around the passenger door and a class VI mirror fitted to the front of the vehicle provides the driver with a view of the area directly in front of the vehicle and blind-spot extending beyond the passenger side.

These features plus many others give these DAF trucks the highest safety specifications, significantly reducing the risk of accidents on the road.

Ford and Slater pride themselves on building close working relationships with customers and a fleet of vehicles which is right for their business.

Joint Managing Director of Ford and

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Travis Perkins

Slater, Tim Strevens explained, “We are delighted to continue the long and successful relationship we have with Travis Perkins plc. Over the next three years, we will continue to work closely with their team to ensure that each new batch of vehicles which enters service exactly meets their specification and is fitted with all necessary equipment for FORS and CLOCS accreditations.”

Bellman concludes; “It’s the ongoing service and support that sets DAF head and shoulders above the competition, and Ford and Slater are an integral part of that. Ford and Slater is a real people business, and we have great relationships at all levels.”

Tel: 01604683105 www.travisperkins.co.uk

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37

Worsely Plant

CONSTRUCTION:

Worsley Plant Expands with a New Base in Scotland and a new General Manager for London and the South This year Worsley Plant successfully launched a new REMU Screening Bucket to the UK - the Crossover bucket

W

orsley Plant, established in 1996 by the Managing Director Sean Heron, have grown to become one of the UK’s leading providers of materials processing equipment to the demolition, construction, waste management, landscaping and recycling industries. Wheel loader and excavatormounted screening and crushing buckets, demolition attachments (shears, grabs, pulverisers, shears), as well as density separation equipment, are all available for sale or hire nationwide.

Most recently they have added a fully

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automatic quickcoupler system to their growing range of equipment.

The company whose Head Office is based in Middlewich, Cheshire, pride itself on putting you, the customer, first. Their team members are trained in customer satisfaction, and all of their products are backed up with a comprehensive parts stock ready for next-day delivery UK wide. Demonstrations can be arranged, allowing you to see an attachment or machine in action before you make a decision. With Worsley Plant, you can satisfy all your plant hire needs through a single, reliable and highly experienced

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source that understands your business and its specific demands.

The team is constantly growing with recent appointments of a General Manager – Southern to compliment a Sales Team covering the UK. The role will also entail setting up a new Southern base, to better server the needs of customers in that region. This year also saw the introduction of a base in Scotland. With the Head Office based Support Staff and a dedicated team of Fitters and Installation Engineers to service customer needs, the company is continuing to grow. A new workshop

Worsely Plant facility has just been built at the Head Office in Middlewich.

The company’s range of demolition and recycling equipment, includes ROTAR’s range of grabs, pulverisers and shears ideal for all your demolition projects. It also includes the Max X Tract density separator, which is ideal to separate out waste to generate revenue and reduce the volume of material that needs to be bought in or sent to landfill. Their Screening and Crushing Buckets from MB and REMU allow you to recycle materials on site saving valuable time and money. Finally to complete the range is the new LEHNHOFF Variolock fully automatic quickcoupler system, which allows you to change your hydraulic attachments in just 15 seconds.

Worsley Plant continues to build on its success due to the increased demand for companies to be environmentally aware, save time and money on projects.

Industry developments such as the changes to landfill tax have also meant that they have a stronger case for the use of their equipment.

The new workshop in Middlewich and base in Scotland are designed to house and service their growing range of equipment and stock requirements, as well as working to strengthen their offering in the area of customer service.

Also the business prides itself in the successful collaboration with their five leading suppliers, including the new partnership with Lehnhoff and the introduction to the UK market of the award winning Variolock Quickcoupler.

Since it’s launch it has successfully been installed at various customer sites helping them change attachments safely and effortlessly, within 15 seconds from the comfort of the cab.

In addition this year they have successfully launched a new REMU Screening Bucket to the UK - the Crossover bucket (XO for short). For us in the UK, it is a totally new concept in the attachment sector, offering customers the most versatile attachment for their construction machinery. Put simply it is a bucket frame which can be connected to several work modules, enabling fast changes for different jobs. Basically you are changing the module instead of the bucket.

Worsley Plant’s clients come from a range of different industries including recycling, construction, demolition, landscaping and waste management across the UK. Some of their client’s hire

equipment when required for specific jobs, whilst others have purchased equipment as they can see the benefits and cost savings of doing this in the longer term.

Clients range from large waste and recycling transfer stations handling construction and demolition waste and commercial and industrial waste, to construction contractors working on luxury house builds, to companies building country paths and bridges in the Scottish countryside. Worsley Plant works with all customers on an on going basis to save them time, money and transportation on their projects by allowing them to reuse materials and make money from recovered materials.

All of their product ranges can be configured to meet the criteria of just about every waste processing, recycling and waste sorting application you may encounter. This level of flexibility means that most customers take delivery of unique solutions that have been created especially for their needs. Worsley Plant’s unique products have a triple focus of reducing landfill, increasing revenue from high value material collection as well as providing benefits for the environment.

The focus on saving money and budget cuts in the industry means the business needs to focus on promoting the benefits their products offer even harder. However, the business feels that it is lucky in that that’s exactly what the products can help a customer do – save time and money on their projects. Additionally they also have to

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work hard to show how their offering is better than that of the competition.

Therefore, awareness is also key – as the company expands, Worsley Plant have shown commitment to the customer by opening new bases and workshops.

Worsley Plant aims to continue to be seen as a market leader in their industry sector, and to continue to grow the business. The business wants to be known as the number one place to go for excavator attachments.

The business continues to work closely with all customers, not just at the start of a rental or the beginning of a sale, but on a continual basis to ensure they are getting the best from their equipment, and are using them to their full potential. Worsley Plant is always on hand to offer advice and work closely with their suppliers to ensure that as they expand their product range, they have the back up to service these.

Moreover the company has added to their expert team as required to make sure they continue to meet customer’s expectations.

The main focus of Worsley Plant is on saving the environment and recycling materials and helping others to do this. It is increasingly important in the industry today to be able to show your green credentials, and by recycling materials a company can save time, money and the environment all in one when working with Worsley Plant.

Tel: 01606 835544 www.worsleyplant.co.uk

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8 Build

DESIGN:

CELEBRATING TEN YEARS OF 8BUILD

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8 Build

8build has just invested in PVs to reduce its carbon emissions

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DESIGN:

8 Build

8

build first began in 2005, founded by eight people that wanted to start a business that drove honesty back into the London construction market with a ‘Client First’ approach to delivery. The business has grown steadily since its inception, carrying out work of all types; fit out, refurbishment and new build, working in a variety of sectors including commercial fit out, high-end residential, schools and higher education, museums, bars and restaurants. 8build has also expanded its reach within the APAC region by opening an office in Singapore, which has been a great success. 8build is currently celebrating its tenth birthday.

The company has the capacity to provide an excellent range of services which includes the management of all types of construction projects. 8build employs over 100 dedicated and well trained staff members who are all multi skilled at delivering all types of projects.

8build’s client base is varied across the various sectors; it works directly for individuals, large corporates, charities, small and large developers, and many more. The company prides itself on being agile and adaptable enough to adjust its approach to work with a diverse group of clients.

8build adopts a very practical approach to health and safety in the workplace. The company believes that good practice insures that individuals return home in the evening in the same condition as they left in the morning. By engaging with the workforce in practical steps to mitigate risk and injury, 8build is able to maintain a very high standard across all of its projects.

As a business, 8build is very conscious of the effects that it has on the environment and as a result invest in schemes that off-set the carbon it produces to make the business ‘carbon neutral’. It recently invested in PVs at its Head Office, which contributes to reducing the energy it consumes. The company also consistently divert 100% of its construction waste from land fill. However, when it is involved with delivering projects, the environmental agenda is often dictated by the client and its professional team.

After having been suppressed for a number of years the construction sector has begun to regain its momentum, with the pipeline of schemes increasing in a surge rather than a controlled and regulated flow. This has already put huge

42

pressure on the supply chain which has contracted in recent times to ride out the recession.

8build’s Director, Andy Tooley, commented on 8build’s strategy to continue thriving post recession, “With the economy returning from the recessive era that followed the demise of Leman Brothers, we have instigated an optimistic restructure to have a solid team in place that will enable us to surf on top of the wave rather than be left behind in the becalmed waters that may follow. We have built a very strong fit out team and enhanced our new build and refurb capabilities with appointments of key business leaders and deliverers.”

Recently the business has received an increase in the volume of potential tenders, 8build is having to become more selective of the categories of work and types of contracts that it engages with, this is to ensure that the company can maintain the high quality of service that the company has gained an excellent reputation for.

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Andy Tooley commented, “We are also conscious that whilst there is potential to win a large volume of work at present, we need to be measured in what we pitch for in order to allocate the right resource and management.”

8build intends to grow as a business, with its focus on providing a high quality service being paramount to the expansion. It aims to develop further into multiple sectors and to continue the enhancement of its skills and specialties in these sectors.

Tel: 02077104488 www.8build.co.uk

8 Build

rear of Flowers Farm, Hemel Hempstead Road, Redbourn, Hertfordshire AL3 7AE Tel. 01582 792954 Oakridge Construction Ltd399716 specialise 07769 970943, 07778 565661, 07811 info@oakridgeconstruction.co.uk in the commercial sector of the www.oakridgeconstruction.co.uk construction industry.

Providing the following services–

o o o o o o o

Groundworks RC Frames Drainage External works Enabling works Specialist builderswork Specialist demolitions

Providing the following services: ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑

Groundworks RC Frames Drainage External works

☑ Enabling works ☑ Specialist builderswork ☑ Specialist demolitions

Tel: 01582 792954 Mobile: 07769 970943, 07778 565661, 07811 399716 info@oakridgeconstruction.co.uk www.oakridgeconstruction.co.uk Rear Of Flowers Farm, Hemel Hempstead Road Redbourn, Hertfordshire AL3 7AE

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Orlight

DESIGN:

Orlight achieves prestigious Gold FORS accreditation Orlight increases its workforce by 30%

L

ighting design and manufacturing specialist Orlight was first established in 1997 by Kelly and Michael Dangoor. The business is operated from its Head Office and Distribution Centre based in St Albans, Hertfordshire and its Design Studio and Show Room in Chelsea, London.

Since its inception eighteen years ago Orlight has grown exponentially via perfectly timed expansions, most recently in marble supply, a consistent high quality of service and a loyal customer base.

The company works diligently to provide its extensive

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client base with a high calibre of service. Whilst Orlight predominantly operates in the UK, the business has plans to expand into the Middle East, with a particular focus on Dubai and the build up to the world expo in 2020.

Orlight runs a reliable fleet of Euro 6 commercial vehicles to carry out its services on a daily basis. The fleet consists of Ford, Isuzu and Mercedes-Benz manufactured vehicles. Orlight’s fleet is equipped the latest technologies, including a satellite navigation system, forward facing windscreen cameras, immobilised trackers, side sensors, reverse cameras, reverse beepers and a left indication beeper.

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Orlight

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Orlight

Orlight utilises its fleet to carry and distribute bespoke architectural lighting goods and marble products.

The business aims to maintain operating a modern fleet by making continuous investments into brand new vehicles and technologies.

The company adopts an active approach in the handling of its health and safety policies and procedures.

Orlight implements a weekly tool box talks for its staff members and instills them the importance of safe practice at work. The business employs a team of over seventy fully qualified staff members, whom endeavour to fulfil each customers specific requirement as safely as possible.

Orlight is highly conscious of its impact on the environment and as a result utilises a large recycling scheme in the business. At present the company recycles a wide variety of materials,

ranging from paper to cardboard to plastic to metal and aluminium.

During its long career Orlight has persevered through several economical downturns, in particular the 2008 recession that devastated several companies in the industry. When the British economy decline Orlight fulfilled the industry’s need for great value service without co promising its ability to maintain and enhance the quality of that service.

The business is a member of FORS (Fleet Operators Recognition Scheme) and thanks to its dedication has consistently improved on its membership to recently obtain its current Gold accreditation.

Orlight has had an exceptional year, the company has not only expanded its workforce by an impressive 30% but it has recently moved to a brand new premises to accommodate its

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increasing work flow, which has grown as a result of its Middle East exhibitions.

The company intends to continue growing as a business with its focus being applied to the expansion into the Middle East. Additionally Orlight aims to diversify its project portfolio with a vision to increase market share within the commercial sector.

Tel: 01923851890 www.orlight.com

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ENGINEERING:

Unitspark

Focusing on expansion and development Engineered the chassis and turning mechanisms for the “The Observatory” project by “SPUD”

U

nitspark started in 1987 and has been operational under its current owners for 20 years. Unitspark operate as a specialist engineering firm, producing and installing bespoke solutions to the water

industry.

The company has grown from humble beginnings to a £2m plus turnover company. With the skills of their highly trained workforce, they offer unique solutions to engineering problems. Not only are they a specialist in the water industry, Unitspark also operates many other fields including construction and manufacturing for local industries.

Their excellent fleet of 8 vehicles consists of 4 Ford Transit panel vans, 2 Ford Transit flatbeds ( 3.5t and 4.6t), 1 Iveco Eurocargo flatbed (7.5t), and 1 Ford Fiesta van. All of their flatbeds are fitted with hiab cranes so that they can carry out their own installations. Additionally all their vehicles are fitted with TomTom satellite navigation.

Operating in Herts, Bucks, Essex, Kent, London and the M4 corridor Unitspark manufacture bespoke metal work.

They then deliver to sites for their own site teams to install.

All of their transportation is carrying their own manufactured goods, equipment and labour from their workshops to sites.

They currently have their own highly trained workforce, and only use subcontractors for specialist services such as crane hire, scaffolding, electrical engineers and hydraulic engineers.

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Unitspark are members of Achilles and SafeContractor and the FORS scheme. They have been Bronze members of FORS since September 2014, and are currently putting the final touches to their application for Silver accreditation.

FORS Bronze has allowed the company to develop and display their commitment to legal compliance and Health & Safety whereas Silver and Gold go above and beyond. Silver is where you really start monitoring your performance as an operator and start to make those changes to the company where your vehicles are safer, your drivers are safer and you start to alter the impacts the company has on the industry, the community and the environment.

The membership also helps assure both their customers and the public that they are operating safely, legally, and doing everything that they practicably can to improve their transport systems. It also helps them to tender for works where Health & Safety is a number one priority.

As a company, they manage their internal systems frequently and constantly look for ways to evolve and improve the service they provide. As a FORS operator, it is their responsibility to ensure their systems are kept up to date with current standards, and that their drivers are fully aware of how they can operate in order to maximise the safety of their vehicle and the safety of others.

Unitspark places Health & Safety as its number one

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Unitspark priority, and their unblemished record is a reflection of this. They operate in confined spaces and high risk locations, and ensure that all equipment and PPE meets the requirements of the work.

Furthermore they ensure all employees are fully trained to the Health & Safety requirements of the environment and jobs. Unitspark is proud to acknowledge its achievement score of 96% with Achilles as part of their audit of Health & Safety, quality and environmental competencies.

The company have become involved in “The Observatory” project by “SPUD”, engineering a movable base for the sculptural installation that becomes an intervention, a space, a platform, a shelter, and a look-out for a series of artist's residencies to take place.

Unitspark has developed from a very small set up with a couple of employees to a well organised, efficient business employing over 30 employees. With their ambition focused on expansion and development into other key industries they are a business that is going places.

Tel: 01707 273 111 www.unitspark.com

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Stronghold

MANUFACTURER:

50 years of innovation in the industry Family-run curtain manufacturer paves the way with innovative graphic printing

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espoke vehicle curtain manufacturer Stronghold International Ltd first began 50 years ago, founded by Lance Rowell. Supported by his wife the family-run business began operations as a winter protection specialist company called Plastic Protections Ltd. The company established it’s self as a leading authority in the building and scaffolding industries after obtaining a lucrative ten year contract to supply full weather protection tarpaulins to the then Greater London Council. Due to the increasing success the business was forced to relocate to more substantial premises in Waltham Abbey that could produce & store the expanding workflow and allow for future diversification.

As the tarpaulin industry began to fill with competition, the family decided to purchase the first high frequency welding machine in UK and diversify into the ISO container covers and TIR trailer covers for the transport industry to fill a gap in an emerging market. Believing that the transport industry will only grow and develop the company’s future would be assured and it rebranded under the name of Stronghold.

The development and introduction of curtainsider trailers revolutionised the industry by allowing for a much quicker and more effective loading time for businesses.

Curtainsiders enabled Stronghold to provide a more bespoke service by close collaboration between the company and its customer is an integral part of Stronghold’s services. Lance’s son and current Chairman, Andrew Rowell relayed one of the company’s more unique requests outside of transport, were they were tasked with the design and installation of fabric sunshade blinds for the Equestrian Club of Riyadh.

Stronghold has always been at the forefront of the curtainsider industry for its consistent high quality standard and its excellent designs and innovation. The company became a pioneer in the transport industry thanks to the innovation of pvc welded webbing and moulded curtain EuroBuckles, concepts developed by founder Lance Rowell.

Further success led to a second relocation to a new site in Waltham Cross. However, with the continued growth and market leading popularity of the company another move and relocation was required before the turn of the millennium to a new purpose built manufacturing and warehousing facility in Hoddesdon.

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Stronghold

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Stronghold

MANUFACTURER: The new facility also gave the export arm of the business the ability to stock and distribute a comprehensive range of curtain hardware parts for the production of curtainsider covers and trailer bodywork in the emerging world market place. Stronghold exports and works with many tarpaulin manufacturers & distributors around the world supplying its unique EuroBuckles to aluminium curtain rails and corner tensioning devices.

The start of the recession in 2008 impacted the industry heavily, instantly reducing the frivolity of requests as businesses had to become more frugal to survive the downturn. Andrew admitted that the recession took nearly 2 years to have an impact on Stronghold, but when it did it hit hard. However, thanks to earlier savviness by the company having paid off it’s loans on the new premises, which gave the company a more comfortable financial position during the economic crisis. Stronghold believes that the industry had a turning point in 2012 but trade still continues to ebb and flow when compared to prerecession figures.

Stronghold is slowly building itself back up from the recession, at present Stronghold employs a team of 40+ diligent, professional and reliable workers. With current business levels the company foresees a steady requirement

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AS A LEADER IN OUR INDUSTRY WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON OUR ABILITY TO FIND IMAGINATIVE SOLUTIONS TO THE DAY IN, DAY OUT CHALLENGES THAT ARE A PART OF RESPONDING TO THE EVER-CHANGING CONCERNS AND DEMANDS OF OUR CUSTOMERS, THE MARKETPLACE AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. FABRIEKSTRAAT 23 I 8850 ARDOOIE BELGIUM I T +32 51 74 09 00 I F +32 51 74 09 64 I ARCHITECTURE@SIOEN I WWW.SIOEN.COM

Stronghold

MANUFACTURER:

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Stronghold

for additional labour into 2016.

A new area of growth for the company is coming through it’s graphics department SignStruck, which has just had a substantial investment in the latest digital print technology and operates from a dedicated production facility on Stronghold’s manufacturing site. Alan Westwood, Managing Director, has overseen this major project with a view to providing its existing customers the most comprehensive graphics one stop shop to steering the company into new areas of business for additional growth such as festival banners and building backdrops. Gone are the days where customer livery was just a name and phone number in block letters, we now live in world where full digital photographic print enables transport to bring marketing to the masses.

As for the future, Stronghold is looking to continue improving its manufacturing efficiency from using the new digital print technology to increase its core transport related business whilst building some new independent growth outside of the transport industry.

Tel: 01992 479470 www.stronghold.co.uk

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MANAGEMENT:

Colliers International

Remainder of UK expected to see significant reductions

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Colliers International

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MANAGEMENT:

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olliers International is one of the UK’s top real estate advisory organisations, employing around 800 people in 12 full service offices throughout the UK and Ireland.

Colliers International provides a broad range of real estate consultancy services including general practice surveying, fund management, destination consulting and property coinvestment.

Globally, Colliers International is one of the world’s largest commercial real estate firms, employing 16,300 professionals in 502 offices across 67 countries.

Retailers are sleep walking into major business rates changes, according to Colliers International, the global commercial real estate agency and consultancy, in new research published today.

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Colliers International ‘Business Rates: How the 2017 Rating Revaluation will affect High Street Retailers’ is a major study into the likely effects of forthcoming business rates changes for retailers across the UK. The Government’s decision to postpone the business rates revaluation has left a seven-year gap between valuations. In that time, the UK has emerged from recession and experienced a property boom and bust, producing major disparity in rent levels for retailers in different locations.

By January 2016, the government should have assessed around threequarters of properties for new business rates levels. But it isn’t until October 2016 when retailers will be informed.

This critical research based on Colliers’ Midsummer Retail report, indicates the likely winners and losers across 431 retail centres across the UK. 324 retail centres (‘retail centres’ are

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defined as in-town High Street shops and shopping malls) will see a decrease in business rates for retailers, with 21 experiencing no changes.

76 retail centres will see increases with the research indicating that the only losers under the new business rates regime are retail centres in London and the south east.

Dover Street in Central London is the nation’s biggest business rates loser where rates are expected to increase by 415 per cent. Alongside other premium addresses, London’s losers also include Brixton (128 per cent increase), Westfield London (102 per cent increase) and Southall (91 per cent increase).

While Marlow is predicted to be the biggest loser in the South East (58 per cent increase).

Although most of the Capital will see rates’ rises, some retail centres will see decreases. Floral Street, WC2 (17 per

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Colliers International

cent decrease), Fleet Street (13 per cent decrease) and Tottenham Court Road (12 per cent decrease) will have reductions alongside Ealing (46 per cent decrease), Ilford (38 per cent decrease) and Enfield (35 per cent decrease).

Newport in South Wales is the UK’s biggest winner with over a 71 per cent cut to business rates.

John Webber, Head of Rating, Colliers International, commenting on this latest research, said: “The 2017 rating revaluation will produce the largest changes to business rates for High Street retailers in a generation. We now understand that the bulk of assessments have been made and local councils are very nervous about widespread reductions in business rates revenue.

“Our message is clear: retailers need to start planning for these changes.

Retailers in London and the South East will, in some cases, face significant

rate rises. Budgeting to allow for this should be addressed now and we hope that our data serves as a wakeup call a clear 12 months before the government publishes the final details.

For retailers who are considering closing unprofitable shops in the North and the Midlands, this report should be good news with likely rates’ cuts only round the corner.

“For retailers who can expect a reduction in business rates, it’s

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important to be clear about rate liability.

This knowledge offers leverage for both landlord and tenant when it comes to rent negotiations. Retailers who could be sleep walking into rates changes are threatening the sustainability of their stores. We strongly urge them to wake up and act to protect their shops and the jobs which rely upon them.” www.colliers.com

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MANAGEMENT:

Housing Solutions

Leading provider of affordable homes in the South East Housing Solutions is investing £50 million into a regeneration program

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ousing Solutions is a leading provider of affordable homes in the South East of the United Kingdom. The company was established in 1995 and now own, manage and maintain more than 8,000 homes. The company prides itself on its ability to provide affordable homes to rent, shared ownership schemes, key worker housing and specialist accommodation for older people and people who need support and care to live within the community.

All of its homes are backed up by a range of housing services, including its own professional team of trades staff who provide a comprehensive repair and maintenance service. Housing Solutions is highly active and important members of the local community, and aim to make a real difference to the lives of its customers. They work with the business to make this happen, and to help it ensure that everything it does

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concentrates on meeting their needs.

Housing Solutions has developed a series of important initiatives dedicated to that goal. It’s award-winning repairs service for example – which has been designed and adapted to answer the needs of its tenants.

The business is investing £50 million in a regeneration programme – called Project Care -designed to improve the quality of accommodation for older people and people with learning disabilities across Buckinghamshire.

Under Project Care Housing Solutions will build eight new care homes, as well as accommodation in flats and shared houses for people with learning disabilities and nearly 200 new affordable homes. It is working in partnership with Buckinghamshire County Council and The Fremantle Trust, under the Project Care agreement.

The programme is on schedule to deliver 669 beds spaces by 2015.

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The company has delivered seven new residential care homes and ten supported housing units - a total of 580 beds - to date. The new care homes have all been designed in a series of wings to provide customers with a cosy environment rather then the feeling of living in a large care home.

Each wing is totally self contained with its own communal lounge and dining room and assisted bathing facilities. From every wing there is level access to outside space, either to a garden or patio from the ground floor or to balconies from the first floor. All customers will have ensuite rooms.

Each of the new care homes has an extensive kitchen, a hairdressing salon, treatment room, shop, smoking room for customers, offices and staff facilities.

Housing Solutions is fully committed to providing equality of opportunity for all. This is a key aspect in everything it does. The company aims to achieve

Housing Solutions

equality of opportunity in all of its activities, as a provider of affordable housing and as an employer it tries to reflect the diversity of the local community in its employees and those it houses.

In 2012 the business achieved Stage 2 of the Investors in Diversity quality mark. The action plan it has implemented to achieve this standard demonstrates its commitment to managing equality, diversity and inclusion effectively across everything it does.

The company always ensures that its policies and procedures are non-discriminatory and that action is taken to combat direct and indirect discrimination in all of its activities.

Housing Solutions expects its business partners and agents to be equally committed to best practice and ensure that their policies compliment its own.

All staff, customers and Board members are aware of how to communicate with people with disabilities and have positive attitudes towards disability. Disability Awareness Training is offered to staff, residents from Housing Solutions Residents’ Association Executive Committee and Board members on a regular basis. The aim is to give people an insight into and an understanding of the lives and needs of people with disabilities. It gives useful guidance on ways of communicating with people who are hearing or sight impaired. The trainer provides advice and covers some of the situations people may face with customers and colleagues and how to support them.

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Tel: 0800 876 6060 www.housingsolutions.co.uk

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TECHONLOGY:

Bloodhound

“BLOODHOUND’s engineers will use the power packs almost every day whilst they’re preparing for the world record bid.”

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Bloodhound

Hydraulic power packs streamline testing for BLOODHOUND’s world record bid

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TECHONLOGY:

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wo new hydraulic power packs delivered to the BLOODHOUND Supersonic Car (SSC) team this week will make safety and operational testing much easier, in the run-up to the project’s world land speed record bid.

There is a host of complicated hydraulics on board BLOODHOUND SSC. This includes rotary actuators, which open and close ball valves within the High Test Peroxide circuit; winglets that control downforce to the car; and symmetrical airbrake doors moved by two large hydraulic cylinders. It’s a major engineering task, which means there are hundreds of engineering checks to perform before the car attempts its world record bid in South Africa next year.

But running diagnostic checks is a challenge, as the on-board pump that powers them is connected to the jet engine – and it obviously isn’t practical to switch on a jet engine each time project engineers need to perform vital tests. That’s where the new power packs, supplied by motion control company Parker Hannifin, will make a difference.

Like ground support equipment for

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Bloodhound

BLOODHOUND SSC, the Parker units plug directly into the car, allowing key hydraulic tests to take place without the need to start the jet engine and onboard pump.

Many power packs are reliant on visual checks, but the new BLOODHOUND equipment features Parker’s IQAN touchscreen display.

Designed like a tablet, IQAN brings together all the signals that come from the unit, such as pressure, flow and system health. The easy-read display flags condition changes and provides warning signals to show any potential problems, such as a blocked filter; if a fault arose, a ‘system health’ box on the main screen would prompt the operator to investigate further. There is also an integrated failsafe mode, which protects the HPU and car should critical operational limits occur (for example, excessive oil temperature, low oil level or system contamination).

Maintaining clean oil is critical for BLOODHOUND SSC, as the aircraftspecification hydraulic valves on the car are intolerant to the very fine South African desert dust. So there’s even a full conditioning system built into the power packs - this continuously

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filters and cools the oil in the unit. Plus, machine diagnostics and electronic readouts on these packs will help the team spot any oil deterioration quickly and easily. Built-in condition monitoring through Parker’s icountPD device provides a continuous screen reading on the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) code for the hydraulic oil; particle counts are read by a laser beam, converted into ISO cleanliness figures and displayed onscreen. All system data generated by the power packs can also be downloaded and analysed by the BLOODHOUND team.

The packs are designed for easy mobility. Around 1.4 metres long, 1.2 metres wide and 1.4 metres high, they are built on a base frame with wheels that makes them easy to transport.

Mark Chapman, chief engineer on the BLOODHOUND Project, said: “The new power packs will let us check settings, operation and safety when the car is stationary. That’s important while we build BLOODHOUND SSC – and it will be mission-critical on our land speed runs in Newquay and South Africa in 2016 and 2017. So the packs will join us on the journey.

Bloodhound

“It’s not practical to operate a jet engine for a couple of minutes to perform tests like pressure checks. But plugging the vehicle into one of these units is quick and easy.”

Parker’s Mark Cattermole said: “The conditioning system and two-stage checking process are useful features.

If everything is OK, the system will run without hindrance. But if there are any potential problems, prompts will appear on-screen to automatically warn the team there’s a problem; and if the situation isn’t sorted out, the system will go into failsafe mode and shut the system down, to avoid risking damage to BLOODHOUND’s hydraulics.”

“BLOODHOUND’s engineers will use the power packs almost every day whilst they’re preparing for the world record bid.” www.bloodhoundssc.com

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TECHNOLOGY:

Drax Group Plc

Winter’s on the way – time for the renewables industry to step up and make its case I

t’s definitely that time of the year.

The days are shorter, the nights longer and the weather’s turning.

And that always means two things: one, that the UK’s ability to meet winter electricity needs is under close scrutiny; and two, energy bills are on the minds of households and businesses up and down the country.

It is also this time of year when journalists become more interested in stories about power capacity over the cold, dark months. National Grid recently announced that it was forced to spend millions of pounds to prevent power shortages after it issued a ‘Notice of Inadequate System Margin’ – and many are legitimately asking how the Government plans to keep the lights on and at what cost.

As the questions around possible electricity shortages increase, policy makers are also facing the small matter of negotiating a global deal on climate change at the next UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, now a matter of weeks away.

It is at these moments the UK’s renewables sector needs to come forward and be confident about the positive role it can play in meeting the big energy challenges facing the UK. We need to avoid a situation in which the fossil-fuel revivalists, spurred on by consumer concerns about energy costs, hog the affordable capacity debate. We have a strong argument to make – we just need to make it in the right way.

Advocates for renewable power should always keep the public front of mind and respect what are legitimate concerns about the cost of living.

However, it is equally important that those who develop policy – and

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indeed those who comment on it – understand or are reminded how the renewable energy sector operates and why it exists in the first place. The Paris climate talks are a perfect backdrop against which to do this.

At the forefront of the Drax Group is the UK’s largest power station which is responsible for generating 7-8% of our electricity. During my time as CEO the business has transformed itself from the UK’s biggest emitter of CO2 to Europe’s largest decarbonisation project. When I am asked about Drax’s role in the energy mix I tell people that the challenge we first sought to meet when we started this journey has barely changed.

The UK needs to keep the lights on, and that requires electricity generation that can respond to the peaks and troughs of consumer and business demand. National Grid’s latest announcement makes this even more pressing. Furthermore, the UK has legal targets to reduce carbon emissions by 80 per cent compared with 1990 levels by 2050 and to source 15% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020. It therefore needs to keep the lights on in an environmentally friendly way.

The third element of what has become known as the ‘energy trilemma’ is that we have a duty to deliver the above in the most affordable way possible.

It is on this third element that the anti-renewables lobby, drawing on concerns about the cost of living, has had its greatest impact in recent years, flippantly brushing aside the realities of the trilemma.

Drax is proud that it can offer an answer to the trilemma because of its use of a renewable technology that meets the demands of reliability,

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sustainability and cost effectiveness.

We call it biomass – fuel made with latest compression technology from low value wood and residues sourced from commercial forestry and timber processing operations, primarily in North America and Europe.

Drax has been involved with biomass technology for over a decade and through the development of pioneering technology more than half the electricity we produce now comes from biomass. Embracing innovation has been at the heart of our business since the start and it has ensured that we can now generate power using biomass as an efficient coal replacement delivering low carbon, renewable power on demand, whenever it is needed. In cruder terms, biomass doesn’t rely on the sun shining or the wind blowing (although these renewables can and do provide a perfectly complimentary supply of electricity).

Engineering innovation has also allowed us to use the existing power station and distribution network meaning it is one of the cheapest renewable energy sources we have available in the UK. A recent independent study by Frontier Economics showed replacing Drax’s three biomass-fired power units with offshore wind would cost the UK an additional £2.5bn £3.4bn. The UK’s Department of Energy and Climate Change has commissioned a new independent study into ‘full system’ costs – that is, the true end-to-end cost of renewable electricity generation – and the sector eagerly awaits the results.

Finally, the environmental credentials of sustainable biomass are impressive. Drax’s conversion to biomass means our carbon emissions are 86% less compared to coal and we

Drax Group Plc Midland Rock

saved our 20 millionth tonne of carbon earlier this year. By the time we have installed the technology to upgrade half of the plant to run on biomass, due to be completed in 2016, we will be saving twelve million tonnes of carbon per year – the equivalent of decarbonising Britain’s entire industrial processes sector, which includes cement, iron and steel production, or taking more than three million cars off our roads.

In the past few years the renewable energy debate has become heated and deeply political. Those renewable energy generators – like Drax – that offer a clear answer to a real problem need to make sure we drag the debate kicking and screaming back to why we are here in the first place: the need for reliable, affordable, low-carbon energy. As the winter nights draw in and politicians from around the world gather to hammer out a climate

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change deal, let’s step up and make our case.

Dorothy Thompson is Chief Executive of Drax Group Plc

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Woodberry Down. Investing in the skills that keep Britain’s heritage alive.

Since 2010, Woodberry Down’s workforce has gone from having only 4 apprentices on site to 42 apprentices in 2014, creating exceptional value for business, the economy and the local community.

For more information please contact us at the Woodberry Down Regeneration Project Office, Units A&B Riverside Apartments, Goodchild Road, London, N4 2BA or call +44 (0)207 977 9100.

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