March 20, 2020

Siemens appoints Apleona for FM services

Apleona HSG Facility Management UK has secured a multi-million pound FM services contract with Siemens Mobility Limited. The three-year deal with one of the UK’s largest transport technology organisations will see Apleona deliver services including mechanical & electrical, fabric maintenance, reactive works, grounds keeping, winterisation, and projects at 35 locations

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THE EFFECT OF COVID-19 ON CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

Conexus Law, the specialist advisory firm that provides legal and commercial advice to clients who work in sectors where the built environment, technology, engineering and people converge, is launching a range of fact sheets on the legal implications of the Covid-19.  The first one provides legal analysis alongside some valuable, practical

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Plastics and Supply Chain Sustainability

For most consumers today the words “plastic” and “sustainability” don’t often go together. However, manufacturers understand that reusable plastics are making supply chains more sustainable. Additionally, reusable plastics help to streamline a supply chain, reducing bottom lines and making products more affordable. This is especially true in the food supply

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Latest Issue
Issue 323 : Dec 2024

March 20, 2020

Siemens appoints Apleona for FM services

Apleona HSG Facility Management UK has secured a multi-million pound FM services contract with Siemens Mobility Limited. The three-year deal with one of the UK’s largest transport technology organisations will see Apleona deliver services including mechanical & electrical, fabric maintenance, reactive works, grounds keeping, winterisation, and projects at 35 locations ranging from Dundee in Scotland to Poole on the south coast of England. Siemens Mobility Limited supplies smart solutions for rail and road transport, including trains, traffic management systems and rail signalling and electrification, focussing on supporting passenger and freight services.

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THE EFFECT OF COVID-19 ON CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

Conexus Law, the specialist advisory firm that provides legal and commercial advice to clients who work in sectors where the built environment, technology, engineering and people converge, is launching a range of fact sheets on the legal implications of the Covid-19.  The first one provides legal analysis alongside some valuable, practical steps that may be taken by parties who find the impact of Covid-19 affects their ability to meet contractual obligations owed to others (upstream), or who find that their trading partners can no longer meet the obligations owed to them (downstream). Ed Cooke, Founder at Conexus Law, said: “In the modern commercial world, businesses are often heavily reliant on trading partners and long “just in time” supply chains in order to fulfil their contractual obligations.  The impact of Covid-19 could significantly upset those finely balanced arrangements and the relationships between parties may be tested in ways they had not previously contemplated. “As trading relationships are now often global, a complex interplay of laws from different jurisdictions may also be in play, some of which are potentially in conflict. For example, English law may govern your contract with your customer, but Chinese law may govern the law of your contract with a critical supplier enabling you to perform your customer contract.” The Conexus Law fact sheet advises that organisations identify whether there are any express provisions written into the contract which might be relevant to the Covid-19 situation.  For example, there is a large section on force majeure and whether it is applicable. Other areas include certain insurances and the importance of following all relevant procedures in the policy related to claims notification and submission of claims.  “The Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak is already having a significant impact on many individuals and businesses and it is becoming clearer that the impact will likely be more significant and longer lasting than we may have imagined at first. We hope these fact sheets provide helpful guidance during these challenging times,” concludes Ed. To download this fact sheet, free of charge, click here: https://7aee0ab1-94f5-4d7e-9556-9f9a01df3265.filesusr.com/ugd/b58c63_71a397aa9f414609913e82fc89d9417a.pdf

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Using The Best Commercial Solar Lights Can Be An Eco-Friendly Goal For 2020

The world is turning its focus to the point of environmental awareness as people strive to incorporate eco-friendlier methodology into their day-to-day practices. Everyone is becoming clean and ‘green’ as far as the things they purchase, the food they eat, and how they function on a regular basis. Reducing every person’s carbon footprint is the way to make the planet a healthier, safer place for the generations that follow. While you can effectively save the energy within your home or business through the installation of new windows and doors, a simple solution that can be implemented quickly is the use of commercial solar lights. These lights use the energy produced by the sun for power to light various areas throughout your property. They’re not only good for the planet; they’re cost-effective. Types Of Solar Lights There is a multitude of different types of solar lights spanning the market. Depending on your aesthetic, manufacturers have created a variety of styles, shapes, colors, and sizes so the lighting can be useful in any design scheme with them serving a wide range of purposes. Solar-powered path lights: Designing various pathways, sidewalks, even the driveway around the home or your small business are great ways to give curb appeal. But you can only really enjoy the beauty of this type of landscaping during the daytime. The perfect way to enhance these features is to add illumination that will showcase them even when it’s dark. Not only will solar lights add charm at night, but they will also act to protect visitors from missteps or falls when it’s difficult to see. Solar lights for decoration: Decorative lanterns, blown glass, string lights, and a host of other styles are the perfect backdrop to outdoor evening get-togethers, whether it be a pool party or a barbecue on the deck. They produce the ideal ambiance for the intimate gathering without the need for added expenses to run lighting for the event, plus they’re beautiful in comparison. For benefits of these light sources go to https://www.buildings.com/buzz/buildings-buzz/entryid/227/benefits-of-solar-lighting. Solar-powered spotlights: A solar spotlight boasts as being among the brightest of the solar family. It notes to produce light that is comparable to that of a 40-watt incandescent bulb. You can set these to highlight a focal point for which you want to bring special attention. Some people like to do this with their front door entryway and some have specific beloved garden elements they want to stand out. You can get these with the option of motion detection, so they come on when there is any type of movement. A motion-detected spotlight would be helpful at the entrance to a house or company front entry as people approach. Or you can merely have those that stay on. The main issue facing the environment is the ever-expanding carbon footprint that stems from energy production through the use of non-renewable sources. There are genuinely simplistic things that each person can do in an effort to reduce their impact. And solar lights are not only a way to do a good thing for the planet, but they are also a way for you to add cost-effective light sources to any environment. Click here to learn the benefits. The issue that some people face in going green or clean is that the price point for items such as the solar lights themselves can prove to be somewhat stifling at first glance. But when you take into consideration the amount of money that you save with energy bills, not to mention supplies such as light bulbs, you’ll see that you will truly get your money back and some. The amount of money in light bulbs for regular lighting alone can be incredible. When you purchase solar lights, there’s no added expense after that point. They have the potential to last for years with very little maintenance, if any. Solar lights provide an unlimited source of power if you place them where they can make contact with the sun. It’s an ideal alternative to any other resource, such as electricity. Going green doesn’t have to take tons of effort or be exhaustive. You can start small, and solar lights are ideal for

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Plastics and Supply Chain Sustainability

For most consumers today the words “plastic” and “sustainability” don’t often go together. However, manufacturers understand that reusable plastics are making supply chains more sustainable. Additionally, reusable plastics help to streamline a supply chain, reducing bottom lines and making products more affordable. This is especially true in the food supply chain, where sustainability as well as cleanliness are of utmost importance. When looking at the journey a tomato takes from farm to a consumer’s home, it’s clear to see how often reusable plastics make it possible. Plastics in the Growing Process It used to be that tomato farming required in the US the use of a large amount of non-eco-friendly materials, such as metal and wood. However, the containers and other products made of these materials are damaging to the environment to create as they require mining or felling of trees. Additionally, these products weigh more than plastic, leading to raised shipping costs and adding to the fuel required to get these products to the farms and out for shipments. Nowadays, farmers use carefully sourced plastic systems to help them grow tomatoes safely and naturally. Plastic seedling trays, plastic irrigations systems, and plastic greenhouse covers allow farmers to grow tomatoes more efficiently and in all kinds of weather, yielding more abundant crops and reducing the overall carbon footprint of the tomato industry. Plastics in the Harvest Process Lipman Family Farms, located in Immokalee, Florida, is America’s largest field tomato grower. They pride themselves on being Earth-conscious and pioneering sustainable farming practices, which is why plastic harvest bins are their go-to containers when it’s time to pick the tomatoes. “The harvest bins are the foundation of our farming operation, they’re reusable to the point of five to six years,” says Louis DeMaso, Sustainability and Operations Analyst for Lipman Family Farms. “They hold about 5,000 pounds [so we use them] anytime we transport our bins from farm to packinghouse.” Not only are plastic harvest bins reusable, but they can be equipped with features such as ventilation, sturdy handles, and side-wall access. These features make harvesting easier for workers, thereby speeding up the process. Containers with these features can also protect the produce within, leading to less waste. All of this can contribute to reduced costs for the farmer and consumer. But perhaps the most crucial reason that plastic harvest bins have become preferable in agriculture explains DeMaso is that “from the food safety perspective, plastic is much cleaner.” Plastic is safer for food storage due to its nonporous nature. It does not absorb moisture, so bacteria is not able to grow. Washing plastic with sanitizer virtually guarantees a clean surface because substances cannot become trapped within the plastic, unlike cardboard, which very easily absorbs moisture, dirt, and germs. Plastics at the Packinghouse After the tomatoes are harvested, they are then sent to a packinghouse for washing and packaging. Specially designed reusable plastic crates allow for proper ventilation and automated sorting, all of which leads to reduced waste. Most tomatoes are then processed into sauces and soups. For this purpose, most packinghouses rely on intermediate bulk containers, or IBCs. These large plastic boxes are especially designed to hold liquids and can hold over 300 gallons. Their high-load capacity, durability, and reusability make IBCs far superior to traditional barrels. Plastics in Distribution There are many reusable plastics being used at the distribution level as well. Grocers rely on reusable plastic containers, or RPCs. These lightweight, foldable containers also often act as the “shelves” in produce displays. They are also easily stacked, and not expensive to ship due to their light weight. Additionally, plastic shipping pallets are used to send tomatoes and produce of all kinds to grocers and processors. They are lighter, take up far less vertical space than traditional pallets, and can nest into each other for return shipments, making them far more cost effective for shipping large quantities of goods. Plastics and International Trade For international transit, especially, plastic is preferable because the supply chain is longer. The durability of plastic, as opposed to wood, means the containers are less likely to be damaged on a long trip, even with hundreds of pounds of produce stacked on top of them. Plastic is often also easier to pass through international customs, as they’re naturally less likely to harbor dangerous germs, molds, or other contaminants. The United States has been a bit slower to adopt reusable plastics in general, likely because the initial cost of reusable packaging is higher than single-use options. However, companies like Reusable Transport Packaging are working to change that perception by offering rental models that allow farmers to only pay for the time they are using the containers. “Farmers still spend a lot of money on single use corrugated and or single use plastics for distribution to retailers. Our pay-per-use or milk man model allows users to cut out single use packaging waste, save money, and use a better reusable transport package,’ says Justin Bean, Business Development and Sales Manager at Reusable Transport Packaging. Many in the agriculture industry are also realizing the importance of using reusable packaging if they want to do business internationally. “There are a lot of countries especially in the EU that will not allow or simply don’t want their products shipped in single use cardboard or plastics,” says Bean. “We are able to work with those customers to provide a RTP that will work for them and protect their protects better in transit.” Looking at all the advantages of reusable plastics, it becomes clear why they have become a staple for supply chains in nearly every industry. Of course, agricultural shipping has additional concerns when it comes to maintaining food safety, making plastic containers an even more ideal solution.

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