Accomplished expert Lesley Anderson takes the helm at SPA A MAJOR player in Scotland’s thriving procurement sector has appointed renowned expert Lesley Anderson as its permanent head. Now she will drive the development of the Scottish Procurement Alliance (SPA), which has £1.1billion of contracts under management and is also delivering
Abloy UK has appointed Jason Boyce ASyl as the new Commercial Product Manager for Electronic Access Control, specialising in the Aperio access control solution. Aperio wireless devices from Abloy UK extend the reach of an access control system or replace mechanical locks with intelligent access control. They operate wire-free, so
Electric remotely operated vehicles (eROVs) that perform maintenance and repair tasks on offshore wind turbines are being developed by the National Robotarium in partnership with Fugro, the world’s leading Geo-data specialist. Deployed from Fugro’s uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), the companies are working closely together to explore how the offshore energy
A new homes development in Congleton has won a prestigious award from the LABC, beating dozens of other sites in the north. Bloor Homes’ Hudson Meadows development won at The Bricks in the development of the year between 51-100 homes category, for the North of England. The Bricks Site Recognition
Heritage bridge works specialist Spencer Group has been praised for its work to completely refurbish and rebuild one of the world’s oldest suspension bridges. Spencer Group has completed a programme of essential works to preserve Union Chain Bridge linking England and Scotland, which is more than 200 years old. The
City Plumbing has launched an industry-leading rewards scheme, empowering trade customers to benefit from stronger pricing and promotions, accrue points to turn purchases into exciting lifestyle benefits, and access educational added value content. My City Plumbing Rewards went nationwide on 1 June following a successful pilot scheme in Scotland. As
Poole-based housebuilder AJC Group has submitted an Outline Planning Application to Bournemouth, Poole, and Christchurch (BCP) Council for the proposed redevelopment of 245-251 High Street North, Poole. The planning application proposes demolition of an existing three-storey commercial building, with the erection of a five-storey apartment scheme, including a ground floor
First view of the S7X, the world’s first all-electric skid-steer loader, and other exciting concepts and new technology such as MaxControl with the new Kishi physical remote This year’s Bobcat Demo Days event is playing host to customers, dealers and the press from all over Europe, the Middle East and
Travis Perkins is the first builders’ merchants to make shopping online and through its app frictionless with the launch of its Online Trade Counter and new shared access feature. The launch of Travis Perkins Online Trade Counter allows trade account holders to shop quickly and seamlessly for products they buy
Parliamentarians and experts from across the heating industry gathered in the Cholmondeley Room at the House of Lords on 24 April, to explore the findings of Vaillant’s installer survey report looking into attitudes towards heat pump training, and for the launch of Vaillant Aspire, the new learning pathway designed to
Accomplished expert Lesley Anderson takes the helm at SPA A MAJOR player in Scotland’s thriving procurement sector has appointed renowned expert Lesley Anderson as its permanent head. Now she will drive the development of the Scottish Procurement Alliance (SPA), which has £1.1billion of contracts under management and is also delivering a benefits scheme worth millions of pounds for local communities. Lesley, who has 27 years in the public and private procurement sector and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply, said: “Our role in supporting the delivery of projects for public sector organisations is crucial in the growth of communities. “The projects procured through our solutions offer access to facilities and provides opportunities for children and adults of all ages to thrive within their improved surroundings. “SPA supports councils, housing associations, blue light services, the NHS, further and higher education providers and many other public bodies to build, maintain and refurbish vital social housing and public buildings. “Across the supply chain that means hundreds of Scottish SMEs get the chance to bid for and win lucrative work that creates jobs and employment across the country. “But the most rewarding part is that, as a proud not for profit organisation, we also put our surpluses back into the communities where we operate, through our innovative Community Benefit Fund, which enriches and improves thousands of lives. “It makes me incredibly proud to take up this role and to further this commitment to Scottish communities, our partners and to lead a team of people who consistently impress me.” SPA is Scotland’s largest free-to-join procurement organisation, ensuring its 120 partners can use its extensive frameworks to secure the works and services they need while being confident that the delivery is fully compliant and achieves value for money. It was founded in 2016 as the Scottish business unit of the LHC Procurement Group (LHC), which has been supporting public sector organisations across the UK with technical procurement expertise for over 50 years. That gives it insight at a local, regional and national level into the challenges and priorities for the public sector and it applies this knowledge to develop solutions that meet the evolving needs of its partners. Lesley, who joined SPA in 2017 has now been appointed Regional Director and will lead the 12-strong Scottish team, based in Livingston, West Lothian. They aim to further develop the suite of free, added value services offered to partners, including specialist technical, procurement and social value advisory support. Lesley’s team will also build on the successes of the SPA Community Benefit Fund (CBF), delivered by long-standing housing charity partner, Lintel Trust. Since 2017 the CBF has delivered more than £1.7million of grants and match funding to scores of community groups, charities and causes. Projects have included Holiday Hunger programmes, community gardens, employability initiatives, digital inclusion, apprenticeship support funds and specialist mental health services. These projects have helped improve the lives of at least 19,000 people while delivering social value of more than £3.9 million. LHC Group Managing Director, Clive Feeney said: “Lesley has an outstanding reputation within the procurement industry. Her impressive CV is backed up with a fantastic track record. “She’s already taken great strides in making sure we work more closely than ever with our partners to deliver exactly what they need and her commitment to delivering benefits to Scottish communities is firmly rooted. “I wish Lesley every success going forward in what is a very exciting time for SPA.” SPA’s 120 partners cover a diverse range of public sector entities from small cooperatives, regional and national registered social landlords (RSLs), as well as local authorities. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Abloy UK has appointed Jason Boyce ASyl as the new Commercial Product Manager for Electronic Access Control, specialising in the Aperio access control solution. Aperio wireless devices from Abloy UK extend the reach of an access control system or replace mechanical locks with intelligent access control. They operate wire-free, so battery-powered Aperio devices are fast and cost-effective to install and save money in operating and maintenance costs. Jason brings a wealth of experience from his previous roles, which include being a qualified electrician, working in the IP and telecoms sector, and 15 years in the world of enterprise access control before setting up his own business as an independent security consultant. He then began his career with Abloy as a Business Development Manager in the education sector, before being promoted. Jason’s new role sees him responsible for the product management and commercial success of Aperio. By combining his experience both in sales and as a consultant, he can identify client needs and help them overcome challenges with access control and security. When discussing what characteristics make him an excellent fit for the role, he said: “My background as a consultant has allowed me to take a step back and look at things differently and ask probing meaningful questions to find the best solution to a problem. “Often clients don’t know what solution they need, so we have to ask what issues they are trying to overcome and see things from a different perspective. Ultimately, we are a trusted advisor, but we also have the portfolio of products to resolve their problems.” Jason added: “I strongly believe in the Aperio system and the many benefits it offers a range of sectors, due to its flexible nature. I am looking forward to proactively creating a new strategy for how to market and communicate this. Our solutions are already very popular, but it would be interesting to take these into different verticals and identify where they can make a real difference.” Pat Jefferies, Commercial Director at Abloy UK, explains why Jason was the ideal choice for this role: “Having worked with Jason for the last couple of years, we identified an excellent opportunity to get somebody with his unique and varied experience into the role of Commercial Product Manager. “Jason has a strong vision of how to implement his strategy and new ways of working that will better position us in the market and service our customer’s needs. We are delighted to have him on board and are excited to see how he makes this role his own.” To learn more about Aperio and how it can help your business, contact Jason Boyce via email: jason.boyce@assaabloy.com. For further information on products and services available from Abloy, visit https://bit.ly/3MWQWdQ call 01902 364 500, or email info@abloy.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Electric remotely operated vehicles (eROVs) that perform maintenance and repair tasks on offshore wind turbines are being developed by the National Robotarium in partnership with Fugro, the world’s leading Geo-data specialist. Deployed from Fugro’s uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), the companies are working closely together to explore how the offshore energy sector can benefit from advancing this autonomous technology. The £1.4 million Underwater Intervention for Offshore Renewable Energies (UNITE) project aims to dramatically improve health and safety for workers by reducing the need for potentially hazardous offshore maintenance missions conducted by crewed support vessels. The remotely operated robotic systems will address a number of additional sector challenges including supporting industry to reduce carbon emissions, improve offshore turbine productivity through reduced downtime, and make maintenance and repair exercises more cost-effective and timely. The UK has more than 11,000 offshore wind assets around its shores, with thousands more planned by 2050. On average, each turbine requires up to three maintenance check-ups per year and this figure increases as turbines age and require more maintenance to stay fully operational. Current industry maintenance methods involve vessels travelling into and working in areas of open ocean where a mix of trained divers and ship-based crews manually inspect and or deploy tele-operated robots for repair of individual wind turbines. When applied to the whole of the UK’s offshore wind sector, this translates into potentially hundreds of thousands of crewed maintenance missions every year which are costly for business, contribute emissions to the environment and present a safety risk for workers. In addition to supporting the uncrewed and remotely operated vessels, the pioneering research project will help develop autonomous and semi-autonomous ROVs capable of conducting subsea inspection, maintenance and repair tasks which can be monitored onshore whilst remotely deployed and operated from anywhere in the world. Researchers will specifically focus on developing technologies which allow robots to build more accurate maps of the subsea terrain to better navigate obstacles and targets. The project will also explore how robots autonomously interact with underwater structures, such as grasping or moving objects, whilst being subject to external forces like changing currents or rough seas. The project will be delivered by researchers from Heriot-Watt University and Imperial College London working within the National Robotarium, the UK’s leading AI and Robotics centre, in collaboration with Fugro and funded by the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council, part of UK Research and Innovation. The National Robotarium is part of the Data-Driven Innovation initiative, supported by £21 million from the UK Government and £1.4 million from the Scottish Government. The initiative aims to turn Edinburgh into the data capital of Europe and is part of the wider £1.3 billion Edinburgh and South-East Scotland City Region Deal. Prof. Yvan Petillot is academic co-lead at the National Robotarium and principal investigator of the UNITE project. He said: “We’re only a generation away from our obligation to deliver on our net zero promises by 2050 and 2045 in Scotland, so can’t afford to let the challenges faced by the offshore renewables sector slow down the construction and operation of essential, green energy assets like wind turbines. “Remote inspection and repair using robotic systems deployed in the field and controlled from shore is within our grasp. The long-term ambition is for crewless boats to be able to do this autonomously without direct human control based on a predetermined maintenance cycle – critical if we’re to see the widespread adoption of robotics in the rapidly expanding offshore wind sector. “The National Robotarium’s partnership with Fugro presents an exciting opportunity to develop this next generation of underwater technologies as well as the skills and expertise needed to support the transition to net zero. UNITE has enormous potential to power the UK’s offshore renewable sector and beyond, delivering worldwide economic and environmental impact that can benefit communities around the world.” Mark Bruce, Global Product Manager – Next Generation ROV Systems at Fugro, said: “As the expansion and influence of marine robotics stretches ever further across the marine industry, we are committed to leading the industry’s remote and autonomous revolution. Key to this is overcoming the challenges of remote operations by increasing our awareness and autonomy level in the sub-sea environment. It’s an exciting time as we bring more USVs and respective eROVs into the market, working on commercial projects across Europe providing greater agility, safety and sustainability.” UK Government Minister for Scotland Malcolm Offord said: “This pioneering research into remote robotic systems will create the next generation of underwater technologies that will reduce carbon emissions, increase productivity and make offshore work safer. “The UK Government has invested £21 million in the National Robotarium to foster their world-leading research and support high quality jobs, investment and growth. This is part of £2.3 billion for regional projects levelling up right across Scotland.” Scottish Government Wellbeing Economy Secretary Neil Gray said: “This innovative research is another example of the valuable work conducted at the National Robotarium, which benefited from Scottish and UK Government support through the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal. “It recognises the growing and changing requirements of offshore wind businesses and can help boost productivity in an industry which is key to the just transition from fossil fuels and promises to create substantial numbers of well-paid green jobs. “As outlined in the draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan, delivering on our climate obligations is an absolute priority for this Government – but so too is our unwavering commitment to ensuring the journey to net zero is fair and just for everyone.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A new homes development in Congleton has won a prestigious award from the LABC, beating dozens of other sites in the north. Bloor Homes’ Hudson Meadows development won at The Bricks in the development of the year between 51-100 homes category, for the North of England. The Bricks Site Recognition Awards recognise developers which consistently deliver quality workmanship and site management throughout the year. Andrew Ward, Construction Director for Bloor Homes North West, said: “We’re very proud to win this award for our Hudson Meadows development in Congleton, which is a testament to the dedication of the whole team, led by site manager Fraser Murray. “A Bricks award win is based on an entire year of hard work, including many factors including site tidiness, communication, commitment to safety and of course ambition to deliver high-quality homes – which is why this is such a huge achievement. Congratulations to the whole team and thank you for your efforts this year!” With three and four-bedroom homes being built with wonderful views across the Peak District, Hudson Meadows is a flagship site for Bloor Homes – bolstered now by this award win. Three-bedroom homes are currently available from £284,995 and four-bedroom properties from £379,995. For more information, visit bloorhomes.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Heritage bridge works specialist Spencer Group has been praised for its work to completely refurbish and rebuild one of the world’s oldest suspension bridges. Spencer Group has completed a programme of essential works to preserve Union Chain Bridge linking England and Scotland, which is more than 200 years old. The crossing over the River Tweed from Horncliffe in Northumberland to Fishwick in Berwickshire has a single span of 449ft (137m) and was the longest wrought iron suspension bridge in the world when it opened in 1820. Union Chain Bridge, which is both a Grade I listed building in England and a Grade A listed building in Scotland, is credited with being a catalyst for bridge innovation. It influenced the design of many other famous structures and remains the world’s oldest suspension bridge still carrying traffic. A funding bid was submitted to the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) by Northumberland County Council, Scottish Borders Council, Museums Northumberland and community group the Friends of the Union Chain Bridge, amid concerns about the condition of the bridge. Following the successful bid, Spencer Group was appointed by Northumberland County Council to dismantle the bridge and carry out a complete refurbishment and rebuild. A key element of the project was to ensure modifications were in keeping with the historical significance of the bridge. This included restoring, rather than replacing, the suspension chains and using the same type of stone to repair masonry work on the bridge’s two towers. Ted Cawthorne, Honorary Treasurer of the Friends of the Union Chain Bridge, which was formed in 2014 and has more than 700 members, said: “It’s been an incredible job by Spencer Group and we’re absolutely delighted to have the bridge back. It’s a vital link between the communities on either side. “The bridge is an important part of the local scene, so we’re very pleased to have it back fully installed and in use again. “It looks wonderful and even more elegant than it did before. There are some differences that have been made during the restoration, with some necessary modern interventions, but that’s just a sign of this remarkable bridge moving with the times. “It’s a terrific achievement and it means a great deal to us to have it restored and fit for use for another 150-200 years. “The remarkable thing is that many of the original components are still intact, which means they will be 350-400-years-old by the time it might need another restoration.” Hull-based Spencer Group worked closely with the Friends of the Union Chain Bridge, along with other community groups, the two councils and Museums Northumberland to keep them informed and updated throughout the delivery of the project. Mr Cawthorne said: “Spencer Group have been fantastic and have engaged with us every step of the way. We couldn’t have asked for more. “It’s been a privilege to have them in the community and working with us. They’ve been marvellous and they’ve really integrated into the community. “The team has been very approachable and all of them have been very friendly as well.” Union Chain Bridge is only accessible to one vehicle at a time due to its restricted width. It previously had a weight restriction of two tonnes but, following the restoration and rebuild, this has been increased to three tonnes. Spencer Group also remodelled the English and Scottish approach roads to incorporate parking for visitors to the bridge, which is accessible to both vehicles and pedestrians and is a popular tourist attraction. Joe DiMauro, Engineering Director for Spencer Bridge Engineering, said: “It’s been a privilege and an honour for us to carry out this crucial heritage project to preserve such a historical structure for future generations. “It’s been a long journey, from the initial planning through to removing the whole structure, refurbishing all the components, and completely rebuilding it. “It’s been incredible to have been part of the project from start to finish and it feels like a great achievement now that it’s complete.” For more information about Spencer Group’s bridge works expertise and the projects it has delivered, visit www.thespencergroup.co.uk/our-work/bridges Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
City Plumbing has launched an industry-leading rewards scheme, empowering trade customers to benefit from stronger pricing and promotions, accrue points to turn purchases into exciting lifestyle benefits, and access educational added value content. My City Plumbing Rewards went nationwide on 1 June following a successful pilot scheme in Scotland. As a member of the My City Plumbing Rewards club, trade customers can earn rewards on everything they buy, both in store and online, and cash them in for a range of products, treats and experiences. Rewards range from Google and Apple technology to larger items such as trips and holidays. The more a customer spends, the more rewards they can redeem, with an added benefit that points last for a full year before they expire. The news comes as plumbing and heating merchant City Plumbing aims to deepen its relationship with plumbing and heating installers and electricians – and to understand them better. CEO Dave Evans said “At City Plumbing we pride ourselves with delivering great value products and service to our customers. “Today we are pleased to launch our My City Plumbing Rewards scheme, a loyalty scheme that will offer our current and future customers great deals and opportunities to earn points to then redeem against lots of treats.” “My City Rewards alongside our extended range and ongoing value investments really makes City Plumbing the place to trade for all plumbing, heating, bathroom, electrical and energy efficiency needs.” My City Plumbing Rewards points will be added to a customer’s account online, in store and within the City Plumbing app, with no need for a physical card. Purchases at The Bathroom Showroom will also be included in the scheme, replacing and amalgamating a pre-existing rewards programme at the bathroom specialist. Points are tiered depending on the items bought, with extra Eco points on offer for Energy Efficient products. This means the scheme can also be used to nudge customers towards more sustainable choices as well as providing training discounts. My City Plumbing Rewards members will have access to new educational content, from training videos and quick fixes to frequently asked questions. In addition, customers will be able to donate their points to charity using our Points with Purpose option – either to City Plumbing’s official charity, the Teenage Cancer Trust, or one of a number of local charities. To find out more about My City Plumbing Rewards and how to register, go to: https://www.cityplumbing.co.uk/content/city-plumbing-rewards Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Poole-based housebuilder AJC Group has submitted an Outline Planning Application to Bournemouth, Poole, and Christchurch (BCP) Council for the proposed redevelopment of 245-251 High Street North, Poole. The planning application proposes demolition of an existing three-storey commercial building, with the erection of a five-storey apartment scheme, including a ground floor commercial unit. The residential development would provide much needed one- and two- bedroom housing within Poole. 32 apartments – including 28 one-bedroom homes, and four two-bedroom apartments – have been proposed. At the ground floor, there will be a cycle store with one bike space allocated for each apartment, and a bin store. The location of the site is highly sustainable, and within walking distance of an array of town centre amenities, tourist attractions, and transport links. High Street North adjoins the George roundabout, which is a key circulation point for vehicles travelling in and out of Poole town centre. The bus and train station – and the retail heart of the town centre – are close to the site, and the development lies within flood zone 1, which reflects the lowest level of risk. Christchurch-based ARC Architecture has created the design and drawings for the outline application. David Cracklen, Director of AJC Group, said: “We are very pleased to have lodged our outline plans for this scheme with BCP Council. The proposals for this central urban development project would work in harmony with the site’s opportunities and constraints. The design reflects the evolving character of the locality and makes optimal use of the land. High Street North is a vibrant part of Poole and these plans will enhance the current surroundings, as well as working in line with the Poole Local Plan, which aims to transform and enhance the town centre. “Our outline proposals are for a highly sustainable development, without car parking, as the site’s central location will encourage healthy alternative forms of transport, as promoted in the Local Plan.” The proposed design of the building is of a modern and contemporary style, featuring full length windows at the front of the elevation, which would allow light to flood into each of the 32 apartments. The scale of the scheme has been carefully considered and will sit comfortably within the existing street scene, complementing the modern buildings in close proximity. The internal layout includes a lift to enable wheelchair accessibility to all floors. AJC Group has also outlined that seven of the apartments will be compliant with M4(2) considerations, designed as ‘accessible and adaptable homes’. 10% of the scheme will be allocated for affordable housing, but this could be increased at a later stage in the planning process. The new scheme would be constructed to a very high EPC rating and incorporate a proportion of energy use from renewable energy sources. AJC Group is on track to deliver over 200 mixed-tenure homes during 2023, reflecting a total construction value in excess of £100m. The firm has become one of the most active residential development specialists across the Wessex region. Six sites are currently under construction by AJC Group, including a development in the village of Okeford Fitzpaine near Blandford Forum in rural Dorset. Live projects on Lindsay Road, The Sloop, and Herbert Avenue, are all located in Poole, while The Sonnet apartment scheme is in Bournemouth. The firm has also recently started construction at one of its largest projects, which will deliver 57 affordable houses and apartments for Aster Group within the former Dorchester Brewery regeneration scheme. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
First view of the S7X, the world’s first all-electric skid-steer loader, and other exciting concepts and new technology such as MaxControl with the new Kishi physical remote This year’s Bobcat Demo Days event is playing host to customers, dealers and the press from all over Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), who have come to see the latest that Bobcat has to offer. This includes the first look at Bobcat’s S7X, the world’s first all-electric skid-steer loader, one of three new loader concepts being shown at the event. Visitors can also experience exciting new technology developments, including the exciting MaxControl system with the new Kishi physical remote. Bobcat Demo Days 2023 Highlights Blending established products with new developments, Demo Days 2023 provides an industry unique opportunity to try out the full range of Bobcat wheeled and tracked loaders, mini-excavators, telehandlers, light compaction products and attachments in working conditions. Bobcat is also showing how the recently acquired Doosan Industrial Vehicle forklifts and Doosan Portable Power products will look in signature Bobcat white and orange branding. Highlights of the product array at the 2023 Bobcat Demo Days Concept machines and technology Bobcat Wheel Loader Portfolio Continues to Expand Bobcat is showing both smaller and larger sized models in line with the company‘s commitment to become a compact wheel loader full liner in the near future. New L95 Compact Wheel Loader The new L95 model being previewed at Demo Days will be the next addition to the Bobcat compact wheel loader line-up, following on from the original L85 machine launched in 2021. The L95 is powered by a powerful Bobcat 75 HP engine and offers a top speed of 40 km/h and an increased lift capacity. Like the L85, there are multiple Bobcat loader attachments approved for use on the L95. Among the new attachments are a 1.0 m3 general purpose bucket and a 1.5 m3 light material bucket and new grapple bucket and tines attachments for agriculture. Other new features include an air-ride heated seat; DAB+ radio with phone connectivity and improved automatic ride control, high flow and quick tach systems. Bobcat Wheel Loader Portfolio Tests Market Interest With Two New Concepts At the smaller end of the range, the company is displaying a new concept machine – the L40 – in the 2-3 tonne category. The L40 weighs less than 2.5 tonne and is designed as a powerful load and carry, application-focused machine. Whilst it is simple, robust, and easy to operate, the L40 is designed for heavy duty applications such as road maintenance and construction. Bobcat is also showing the L35, a new small articulated loader (SAL) concept machine, which is an extension of the existing SAL portfolio to cover the market segment for high performance machines which are easy to transport on a trailer. The machine weight is again below 2.5 tonne, which allows easy transportation and a high lift capacity. The engine power on the L35 is 57 HP, which allows for higher travel speeds and pushing power. The L35 is designed to be a tool carrier machine with high hydraulic power available for demanding attachments such as snow blowers, sweepers or angle brooms and it is equipped with a telescopic boom as standard to ensure a higher working range. Jaroslav Fiser, Product Line Director Loaders for Doosan Bobcat EMEA, says: “With the new L95 loader and the smaller wheeled loader concepts, we are once again demonstrating our commitment to offer the most complete loader portfolio in the world. Demo Days also provides our dealers and customers with an exclusive first look at the new L35 and L40 concept machines that enables them to participate in the development process as well as provide us with their valued assessments and feedback.“ Demonstrating Super Flow on T86 Compact Track Loader One of the most exciting aspects of the new top-of-the-range T86 compact track and S86 skid-steer loaders is that both machines have for the first time three different auxiliary flow outputs, including a new, industry unique Super Flow function taking auxiliary flow to 159 l/min. At Demo Days, Bobcat is presenting the T86 in a forestry application that amply demonstrates the Super Flow function by equipping the machine with the new XT FRC extra torque forestry cutter. Supplied as a plug and play solution, the new forestry cutter with 2 m width is perfect for mulching tree sections into smaller chips. The XT FRC can even operate below grade to process mulch into the soil. Despite the power of the attachment, the compact size and manoeuvrability of the T86 allow the operator to easily move between trees and surgically cut only the damaged/unwanted tree sections. S7X: The World’s First All-Electric Skid-Steer Loader with 8 Hour Run Time Like the T7X, the world’s first all-electric compact track loader unveiled last year, the S7X prototype is all electric, as it is powered by a 60.5-kWh, lithium-ion battery, features electric drive motors and utilizes ball screw actuators for lift and tilt functions. Together, the battery and electrical powertrain generate incredible performance characteristics, with instantaneous torque that is as much as three times greater than traditional loaders. The powerful loader balances sustainability and performance with zero emissions and is equipped to outperform its diesel-powered equivalent. This all-electric skid-steer loader offers operators a smooth and comfortable experience with minimal vibration and nearly silent operation. “The S7X can operate for up to 8 hours on a single charge depending on the application, giving most operators more than a full day’s work when breaks and downtime are considered. A full charge takes approximately 10 hours,” adds Joel Honeyman, VP Global Innovation, Doosan Bobcat. Bobcat MaxControl with New Razer Kishi Gaming Controller Bobcat MaxControl Remote Operation provides convenient, easily accessible remote-control operation using an app on an iPhone. As is being demonstrated at Demo Days, Bobcat has combined MaxControl with the universal Razer Kishi mobile gaming controller designed to bring console-level comfort in controlling the machine. “At Bobcat, we like packaging complex solutions into
Travis Perkins is the first builders’ merchants to make shopping online and through its app frictionless with the launch of its Online Trade Counter and new shared access feature. The launch of Travis Perkins Online Trade Counter allows trade account holders to shop quickly and seamlessly for products they buy most at their trade prices without having to navigate through product information and payment screens, reducing the time it takes to order. The Online Trade Counter means customers only need a couple of clicks to complete their order, selecting from their regularly purchased products, and it stores billing and delivery information. This means that customers can order products straight to site more quickly than ever before. Kyle Leivers, Head of Digital at Travis Perkins says: “We’re always looking for new and innovative ways to create a better experience for our customers. We know many builders and tradespeople often purchase from a regular pool of products and want a hassle-free and frictionless route to ordering and delivering to site. They want to find the products they regularly buy quickly, be reassured it is at the same price they normally buy it at and delivered to a site of their choosing. The Online Trade Counter offers customers value, convenience and consistency above everything else.” Travis Perkins has also enabled shared access on its platform, giving firms a new way to offer access to their Trade Account for their employees. Users can choose to give their team access and set permissions based on the tasks they want them to perform. By opening their profile, customers can share their Travis Perkins account with whoever needs it. After choosing their access type, those contacts will be emailed with access details.
Parliamentarians and experts from across the heating industry gathered in the Cholmondeley Room at the House of Lords on 24 April, to explore the findings of Vaillant’s installer survey report looking into attitudes towards heat pump training, and for the launch of Vaillant Aspire, the new learning pathway designed to upskill heating engineers to fit heat pumps. The event – Aspiring to a Green Future – was hosted by Baroness Parminter, Chair of the Environment and Climate Change Committee, who was joined by key speakers Dr Alan Whitehead MP, Lord Callanan and Vaillant’s Director of Technologies and Training, Mark Wilkins. In her opening remarks, Baroness Parminter highlighted the House of Lords recent review of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) which found that a lack of heat pump installers remains a key barrier to the uptake of low carbon technology in the UK. Referring to the launch of Aspire as a ‘positive step forward’ in tackling this issue, the Baroness also voiced that she was ‘delighted’ to support Vaillant’s work in this area, including Vaillant’s recent survey of installers to better understand their attitudes on upskilling to fit heat pumps. Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Net Zero, Dr Alan Whitehead, also welcomed the launch of Aspire as a robust response to the challenges in rolling out heat pumps in the UK. Making it clear that the UK needs to be committed to supporting the deployment of heat pumps in the short and medium term, he stated that heat pumps are ‘crucial’ to the decarbonisation of domestic heating. Dr Whitehead also outlined Labour’s position on heat pumps, commenting that supporting homeowners with insulation and fabric efficiencies was a top priority through its comprehensive Home Retrofit Programme. With an aim of making 19 million UK homes more energy efficient, the programme would provide support for ‘whole home treatment’ to prepare domestic housing for low carbon heating systems. He said: “Making heat pumps core to the net zero agenda was an important first step, however we now need to look at what the key blockers to progress are. This includes the lack of qualified installers available to install them; the cost of heat pumps which is something we can look to address through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme; and finally, availability of the product itself. The scaling-up of heat pump production here in the UK is vital to ensuring security of supply and meeting domestic demand. “I’m therefore delighted to be here today, as Vaillant is helping to address all these challenges through its new heat pump production line in Belper, to the launch of this bespoke learning pathway to support the upskilling and reskilling of traditional gas boiler installers. What innovative businesses, such as Vaillant, need now is clear direction and a partnership-based approach from Government. The low carbon heating sector presents enormous opportunities for the future, and we must ensure this potential is fulfilled.” Mark Wilkins, Vaillant’s Technologies, and Training Director presented the key findings of Vaillant’s recent installer survey, which helped to develop the Aspire learning pathway. Vaillant surveyed more than 1,100 installers to get a deeper understanding of their barriers and motivators behind reskilling to install heat pumps. Encouragingly, the majority of those who took part in the survey recognised a need to train, with 87% of installers answering ‘yes’ or ‘maybe’ when asked if they were interested in undertaking air source heat pump training in the next 12 months. The top three motivators of these installers looking to undertake heat pump training were future-proofing their business or career development, the benefits for the environment by supporting the net zero agenda, and personal financial benefits from installing a diverse range of heating technologies. Mark commented: “It’s clear that the target of installing 600K heat pumps by 2028 will be a significant challenge, and part of that challenge is building a community of expert installers. Vaillant estimates that to achieve this target we would need 40,000 installers working full-time on heat pumps only. However, as most installers will also still be servicing and maintaining gas boilers at least in the short to medium term, Vaillant estimates up to 100K installers will need to be trained to meet the 600K heat pump target. The launch of Aspire will be a significant step in achieving this goal, to ensure that consumers can find appropriately skilled installers for heat pump installations, as well as traditional heating systems. “Vaillant’s Installer Survey: Aspiring to a Green Future revealed one of the biggest barriers to undertaking heat pump training was a lack of support from Government. This was prior to the launch of the Heat Training Grant, which Vaillant is delighted to be supporting in order to provide our installers with £500 towards heat pump training. I’m also incredibly pleased that we were able to hold this event in Parliament with messages of support from Government Ministers, and positive feedback about our new Aspire training offer.” Out of the 994 installers surveyed by Vaillant who expressed an interest in upskilling, 55% felt that they would prefer ‘entirely in-person training’ when it came to air source heat pumps, whilst ‘a combination of in-person and online’ was preferred by 40% of those surveyed. Mark added: “Aspire is a pioneering learning pathway that is bespoke to each individual and their current skill set, with a mix of online and face-to-face modules held in one of our six Centres of Excellence. We are also working with higher-learning facilities across the UK to upskill college lecturers, as this ensures that the next generation of heating engineers receive relevant training reflective of this new, low carbon landscape. It’s important that we recognise NAPIT and MCS too, for supporting this Aspire pathway with accreditation – fundamental for installers when they are putting their heat pump training into practice.” Guests were treated to a House of Lords afternoon tea, whilst Lord Callanan, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance) gave the closing remarks. He said: “We want to see