A pioneering Scottish engineering design specialist has become one of the first independent consultancies to exploit the advantages of IDEA STatiCa, the first software in the world which can design and check all steel connections and joints regardless of complexity. Applied Engineering Design (AED), which has offices in Edinburgh and Bath,
Malaga airport sees around 19 million visitors each year, and is Spain’s fourth largest airport after Madrid, Barcelona and Palma de Majorca. So why are so many people choosing Malaga as the destination of choice for this year’s holiday? Well the simple answer is that Malaga airport is perfectly situated
Cibes Lift UK has unveiled its new global rebrand to demonstrate how the company has changed since it was established in the 1940s – as well as hinting at its intentions for future expansion. Its old logo featured a man flexing his muscles, which the company say successfully communicated its former focus on manufacturing
GMI Construction Group, a fast-expanding building and construction services company has announced that it has started construction of a 103,000 sq ft distribution unit at St. Modwen Park Burton (formerly known as Burton Gateway). The new speculative unit, which is being built for expert developer and regeneration specialist, St. Modwen,
House builders Crossman Homes is installing electric car charging points at five of its recent developments and has committed to integrating them in all future schemes. The company will be installing charging points at its developments at Weston Park and at Lansdown Court in Lansdown in Bath and at Speedwell
The installation of fall protection systems can, unfortunately, be perceived as an inconvenience or, worse yet, an opportunity for cost-cutting. Fall protection equipment is vital to the safety of those that work at height but can count for little if incorrectly installed. When lives are at stake you don’t get
Family owned builders merchants, Chandler Building Supplies, has announced its sponsorship of this year’s Seven Port Challenge. The 180 km charity cycling challenge covers seven ports across England and France over four days. A team of six from the builders merchants is taking on the difficult challenge of cycling ‘The
Clare Adamson, Convener of Holyrood’s Cross Party Group on Accident Prevention and Safety has become the latest member of the Scottish Parliament to back the campaign to regulate electricians and supports SELECT, the electrotechnical trade association, for raising awareness by campaigning for recognition of Electricians as a Profession. Clare, who
Listed buildings enjoy special protection to preserve our national heritage, but because of their age and methods of construction these building can be particularly susceptible to deterioration and decay. One of the biggest threats to timber framed historical homes or other period buildings with timber features is wood rot. While
World leading geospatial mapping technology specialist, GeoSLAM, has launched its latest product that is set to shake up the property sector by offering property professionals the ability to capture floorplans and hi-res photography simultaneously. The ZEB PANO, a handheld SLAM (simultaneous, localization and mapping) scanner and panoramic camera, has been
A pioneering Scottish engineering design specialist has become one of the first independent consultancies to exploit the advantages of IDEA STatiCa, the first software in the world which can design and check all steel connections and joints regardless of complexity. Applied Engineering Design (AED), which has offices in Edinburgh and Bath, is one of the few smaller firms to offer clients the revolutionary system which designs and checks welded or bolted connections, 2D or 3D joints, anchoring or footing of all topologies. IDEA STatiCa streamlines fabrication for clients and provides clear pass/fail checks according to EC/AISC/CISC standards as well as importing data from the most widespread FEA and CAD programs. AED is using the technique on a major project for the multi-billion pound Battersea Power Station development in London, which is providing 4000 new homes on the south bank of the River Thames. Together with its client Icon Fabrications, AED has been tasked by the Robert Bird Group with creating a high-level temporary roadway at the site which is capable of carrying heavy construction traffic. Once its use as a site connection is finished, the structural beams and columns will be encased in concrete and flats will be built on top of the deck. Tim Hetherington, Director of AED, said: “It is a particularly complex commission and we have become early adopters of IDEA STatiCa because its advanced design and check process is both powerful and quick enough to be a useful tool in our everyday work as structural engineers for fabricators. “I had become aware of the limitations of commonplace software and I had been looking for an alternative. IDEA STatiCa is very expensive, which is why it is largely used by bigger consultancies, but I have been persuaded by the value that it adds to our offering.” AED has also employed the software on work for the new £12.5 million Laidlaw Music Centre, which is being constructed at the University of St Andrews. The building will house a performance venue, a rehearsal space and a high-tech recording facility. IDEA STatiCa’s advanced steel connection designs have also been introduced by AED into the steel podium for a new Edinburgh flats development at Waterfront 3, where the unique capabilities of the software have enabled the use of innovative connection types, delivering better value for AED’s clients. AED was founded in 2008 and now has offices in Edinburgh and Bath. It has a turnover of £650,000 and employs 10 people. It undertakes most of its detailed design and coordination work in house. The company serves individuals and businesses in sectors including industry and commerce, sport and education, infrastructure and property maintenance.
Malaga airport sees around 19 million visitors each year, and is Spain’s fourth largest airport after Madrid, Barcelona and Palma de Majorca. So why are so many people choosing Malaga as the destination of choice for this year’s holiday? Well the simple answer is that Malaga airport is perfectly situated for going to the beautiful Costa del Sol and visiting the rest of Andalucia. This part of Spain enjoys over 300 days of amazing sunshine every single year, and a wealth of history and culture, delicious gastronomy and seafood and outstanding coastal views, it is no wonder it is so popular with travellers. Added to this, this busy international airport has hundreds of flights arriving and departing every day from across Europe and the world, including from lower cost budget airlines and so the options available for travellers are a lot more flexible and budgets affordable. Your journey made easier with great facilities With Malaga airport being such an important one, with three terminals and many facilities available, it makes visiting just that little bit easier. For arranging onward travel, especially if you want the freedom to explore the area then car hire in Malaga airport is a great option. There are many choices available of car size and rental package is additional extras that can all be booked online in advance which means that when you arrive you don’t have to worry about fighting the crowds for car hire. You can simply head to a transfer bus that will take you directly to the pick up site and be on your way quickly and easily. Many places are accessible 24 hours a day should you need assistance. Easy access to the Costa del Sol The location of the airport is perfect. It is a mere 8km from Malaga city center, a fantastic place to visit with a rich history showing roman and moorish influences, and great traditional cuisine. For art lovers this is also the birthplace of Pablo Picasso and there is plenty of opportunities to see his works and those of artists who were influenced by this great painter and sculptor. This is one of the best Malaga tourist attractions that you should see. It is also really easy to get to the popular holiday towns and resorts within a relatively short transfer time. For example Torremolinos and Benalmadena are all pretty close for family holidays. And at the other end of the scale for luxury and party holidays then Marbella and Puerto Banus are also very close by. Great for road trips across Andalucia If you really want to get a true taste of Spain, then flying into Malaga airport, using the city as a base and then getting out on the road to see everything the region has to offer is a brilliant idea, especially if you have thought ahead and booked a hire car. You can cruise up and down the amazing coastline visiting beaches, coves and villages usually out of reach for the average traveller. To give an example, the lovely fishing village of Nerja, with it’s white washed buildings and unspoilt streets is one not to be missed. It is also worth visiting the great cave network outside the village, where you can head underground and explore where the Neanderthals lived. Sometimes they hold classical concerts in those caves if you are lucky enough to visit at the right time. The acoustics are like no other. You can also head out to Grenada, a place of great beauty and fascinating heritage and architecture. It is only around an hour and a half away from Malaga, and has some of the most spectacular moorish buildings in the world, including the world famous Alhambra palace.
Cibes Lift UK has unveiled its new global rebrand to demonstrate how the company has changed since it was established in the 1940s – as well as hinting at its intentions for future expansion. Its old logo featured a man flexing his muscles, which the company say successfully communicated its former focus on manufacturing goods lifting equipment. But bosses say it didn’t represent the current business offering of providing lift solutions to increase access in buildings across private dwellings and commercial buildings. Gary Sullivan, Head of Sales and Marketing, said: “The strongman logo was a great symbol for Cibes when the company manufactured lifting equipment for the Swedish industry. “Seventy years later, times have changed. Today we are making lift solutions for the different needs of our customers across the world. “Cibes’ new logo combines the simplicity of Scandinavian design with the vertical movement of a lift. “The ascending ‘e’ is a playful allusion to the movement during lift travel – but also a tribute to a company on the up.” The company decided to stick with its trademark orange for recognition and says that the bottom segment of the ‘e’ – which appears at the top of the logo – is to demonstrate the joy of bringing people together through its lifts. Over the past few years Cibes has expanded rapidly into various global markets and within the next five years the Cibes Lift Group – of which Cibes Lift UK is part – aims to grow revenue from €100m to €223m. The new logo is designed by the Dutch company Matisse. It’s been a busy start to 2019 for Cibes Lift UK – another key achievement was gaining two ISO certifications: Health and Safety Management standard ISO 45001:2018 and Environmental Management standard ISO 14001:2015. For more information about installing a Cibes Lift UK lift at your business premises – in a fuss free and efficient way – visit https://www.cibeslift.com/gb/.
GMI Construction Group, a fast-expanding building and construction services company has announced that it has started construction of a 103,000 sq ft distribution unit at St. Modwen Park Burton (formerly known as Burton Gateway). The new speculative unit, which is being built for expert developer and regeneration specialist, St. Modwen, will include a 50m deep yard, 10 dock levellers (including 2 euro-docks) and grade A office space. Due to be completed this September, the unit further expands the industrial and logistics offering at the 1 million sq ft site. Once occupied, it could create in excess of 120 jobs in addition to the significant number of construction jobs created during the build. Work begins just a month after St. Modwen announced it had attracted two new tenants to the Park, with Supply Technologies taking a 25,446 sq ft unit and Keylite Roof Windows leasing a 40,730 sq ft unit, both of which were delivered as part of the second phase of development. Speaking about the announcement Martin Watson, Construction Director at GMI Construction, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded our second contract at St. Modwen Park Burton. Our commitment to deliver another quality product on time for St Modwen will be our ultimate focus moving forward.” Also commenting, Steven Smith, Senior Construction Manager at St. Modwen, said: “We are pleased to have instructed GMI Construction Group on this latest phase. GMI is a well-respected construction company and we have great confidence in the team’s ability to deliver this quality unit.” With Rob Richardson, Senior Development Manager at St. Modwen, going on to say “St. Modwen Park Burton has proven to be an incredibly popular site. This further investment is not only testament to our confidence in the Park, but in the wider industrial and logistics market in the Midlands.” Birmingham-based property agents Savills and Knight Frank are marketing the scheme on behalf of St. Modwen. Katie Aitchison, Associate Director at Savills, and Edward Kennerley, Associate at Knight Frank, said: “We are looking forward to unveiling the completed unit in September. The business park has attracted some excellent names and we’re confident that this additional unit will satisfy the demand for well-connected B2 and B8 space, attracting more great businesses and creating a significant number of jobs in the region.” St. Modwen Park Burton is one of the largest warehouse developments in the Midlands and is a key employment hub for East Staffordshire. The site already has more than 200,000 sq ft of space and is home to major names including Hellman Worldwide Logistics, who occupied the first unit in 2016. Strategically located adjacent to the A38, on the southern approach to Burton-upon-Trent, the site offers strong links to the M42 and A50. Nearby occupiers include Pirelli, Unilever, Boots, Holland & Barrett, Argos and Toyota.
House builders Crossman Homes is installing electric car charging points at five of its recent developments and has committed to integrating them in all future schemes. The company will be installing charging points at its developments at Weston Park and at Lansdown Court in Lansdown in Bath and at Speedwell Baths, Master’s Church and in Totterdown in Bristol. Brad Hughes, Crossman Homes, says: “As responsible developers it is our duty to ensure we’ve future proofed our developments and made provision for our home owners to make greener choices when it comes to transport and travelling, and often this starts at home. We’ll be installing electric car charging points at all of our developments in the future. “Electric car ownership is growing in popularity and will soon be much more accessible to many more drivers so anything we can do to make owning and charging these vehicles easier can only be a good thing. Only recently we replaced our company maintenance van with an electric one so we understand how vital it is to have access to charging points.” Figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show a dramatic rise in electric car sales in the UK. Registrations increased to an average of 5,000 per month in 2018.
The installation of fall protection systems can, unfortunately, be perceived as an inconvenience or, worse yet, an opportunity for cost-cutting. Fall protection equipment is vital to the safety of those that work at height but can count for little if incorrectly installed. When lives are at stake you don’t get a second chance to make the right decision. That’s why it’s beneficial to partner with quality installers that can fully support you from the output, says Stuart Pierpoint, UK Sales Manager at HCL Safety. What does a quality installation look like? First and foremost, a quality installer should offer a range of installation options and be capable of accurately tailoring their services to suit each project’s unique requirements. After all, no two installations are the same and can often be dependent on the system specified and on-site practicalities. To effectively counteract potentially unexpected challenges and each project’s nuances, the installer should always be appropriately trained, competent, and experienced. Partnering with a quality installer also means that you receive much more than just the installation itself. You’re buying into a complete 360-degree offering, from the initial concept of design to pricing, to certification, servicing, and training. Covering all these things with one dependable partner can give you peace of mind and helps maintain consistency of quality. Issues surrounding poor installation Poor installation can cause many potential issues, all of which can lead to life-changing injuries or even fatalities. This is tragically demonstrated by the fact that falls from height remain the leading cause of workplace fatalities, according to HSE statistics – not to mention the negative impact on your business Fundamentally, bad installations come down to a lack of experience and competence which can culminate in a lack of attention to detail and/or poor planning and design at the outset. For instance, installing lifelines across roof lights or too close to an edge for a fall restraint application are mistakes which can have serious consequences and put operatives in dangerous situations that are often completely avoidable. New build vs. retrofit Typically, when faced with installing a system on a new build, there is a greater understanding of the building design, materials used, the fixing theory and the likely load requirements of a system. While this makes installation somewhat more straightforward, it’s the installer’s responsibility to keep the project compliant at each stage, from specification and contract stage, right through to installation and aftercare services. Any mistakes or inaccuracies could lead to increased costs or delayed projects. With retrofit projects, installers normally have less information at their disposal. It’s therefore crucial that they conduct a thorough site survey before any work commences. Understanding the unique characteristics of the building will help the installer accurately propose the right fall protection solution at hand. Fulfil your obligation Your responsibility to provide a safe working environment does not end when you specify a fall protection system. Firstly, not all fall protection systems are made equal. Carry out research and consult professionals to make sure that you’re installing the very best solution for the job at hand. Fall protection systems can often be let down by installation and in the wrong hands the risks are potentially catastrophic. Be sure to partner with fall protection specialists offering a quality end-to-end service. Doing so will help ensure that you’re not only fulfilling your safety obligation, but your ethical one too. For more information, please visit www.hclsafety.com
Family owned builders merchants, Chandler Building Supplies, has announced its sponsorship of this year’s Seven Port Challenge. The 180 km charity cycling challenge covers seven ports across England and France over four days. A team of six from the builders merchants is taking on the difficult challenge of cycling ‘The Beast’ – a 6 person tandem – for the first leg of the event from Brighton to Portsmouth on Thursday 2, May. The brave cyclists from the Brighton, Lewes, Ringmer, Petworth, Chertsey and Bookham branches of Chandlers Building Supplies are Jason Austin, Chris Vernon, Ashley Miles, Brian Smith and Stuart Campbell and Paul Hawes. Brian Smith from Chandlers Building Supplies, Brighton, said: “We’ll have to put in a lot of practice on the tandem before May 2. It’s a very tricky bike to master and it is quite heavy too. The guys are all up for it and have committed to hours of practice to master the ‘Beast’. Let’s hope that our six pairs of legs are up to the challenge. We’re all looking forward to it!” This 52 mile ride starts at the i360 in Brighton and the riders will cycle via Chandlers’s Brighton store near Shoreham port and then along to Portsmouth Harbour . Sue McKinney, marketing manager at Chandlers Building Supplies said: “As a family owned building merchants we are always keen to support the local charities in the areas in which we are located. We dedicated the opening of our extended Brighton store last summer to Off the Fence, homeless charity, one of the charities this event is also supporting along with the other Mayor’s Charities to include Rocking Horse, Grace Eyre Foundation and Martlets. “We are delighted to be involved in the Seven Port Challenge and are proud of our team of six who very readily jumping at the opportunity to get involved.” Follow the Chandlers Building Supplies team’s practice on the ‘Beast’ on twitter and Instagram: @ChandlersBS and @chandlersbuilding. To sponsor their efforts visit: www.gofundme.com/SevenPortChallenge <http://www.gofundme.com/SevenPortChallenge> #7PortChallenge The Seven Port Challenge is run by The Brighton & Hove Property Consortium in association with Colin Brace Properties. Chandlers is a privately-owned, independent roofing & builders’ merchant with branches across the South East of England & the Midlands.
Clare Adamson, Convener of Holyrood’s Cross Party Group on Accident Prevention and Safety has become the latest member of the Scottish Parliament to back the campaign to regulate electricians and supports SELECT, the electrotechnical trade association, for raising awareness by campaigning for recognition of Electricians as a Profession. Clare, who is the MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, has added her name to the Wall of Support, a striking graphic representation of the ever-growing numbers of organisations and individuals backing the campaign. Clare said: “I am very aware of the importance of Electrical Safety. Consumers deserve the assurance that when they engage the services of an electrician that the person is qualified and accredited to complete the work safely and to the highest industry standard. SELECT’s campaign to have the trade of Electrician recognised as a profession has shone a light on this issue and I support the progress being made in regulation of this industry to ensure that my constituents are protected and can have confidence going forward.” Ms Adamson’s endorsement of the campaign adds to widespread backing across the construction industry for the move which is also backed by the Scottish Joint Industry Board (SJIB) and Unite the Union. The Wall of Support illustrates vividly the strength of feeling across a huge range of disciplines that being an electrician is a highly-skilled and professional occupation and that those who practise it must be suitably qualified. Alan Wilson, Acting Managing Director at SELECT, said: ““The Wall shows in a dramatic fashion the strength of feeling that exists within the construction sector about the issue of professional recognition. We would like to thank Clare for backing us in such a public manner. Our aim is that in future no one in Scotland should have to tolerate the anxiety and upset to which she and her family have been exposed. Bodies which have contributed a brick in the Wall include: Electrical Safety First, The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS); the Scottish Association of Landlords; the Specialist Engineering Contractors’ Group; the Association of Electrical Safety Managers; Energy Action Scotland; BAM Construction; the Scottish Building Federation; the Federation of Master Builders; and the Energy Saving Trust. For more information please contact Alan Wilson, Acting Managing Director at SELECT, the Electrical Contractors’ Association of Scotland, The Walled Garden, Bush Estate, Midlothian, EH26 0SB. T: 0131 445 5577. F: 0131 445 5548. E: admin@select.org.uk. W: www.select.org.uk Twitter: http://twitter.com/updates_select https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWJVjt14CvIig8bIKwidVug
Listed buildings enjoy special protection to preserve our national heritage, but because of their age and methods of construction these building can be particularly susceptible to deterioration and decay. One of the biggest threats to timber framed historical homes or other period buildings with timber features is wood rot. While wood is a beautiful, natural building material widely used for construction over the centuries, it is also surprisingly vulnerable. Without ongoing care and maintenance, both dry rot and wet rot can cause significant structural damage over time, potentially costing thousands to repair. If you are thinking of buying a listed building, or you already own one, here’s what you should be looking out for. How to deal with dry rot Dry rot in a building is also caused by a fungal infection – most commonly Serpula Lacrymans – but it spreads without the presence of moisture, making it potentially a much more serious issue. When dry rot spreads, it can quickly damage the structural integrity of the property; it can affect both wood and masonry. If you suspect an outbreak of dry rot in your listed building, you should seek professional advice urgently. Dry rot develops from spores that land on a surface with the right conditions for growth. Timber with a moisture content of 20% is perfect, and dry rot will rapidly germinate, multiply and spread, shedding more spores and also spreading as mycelium. For timber to develop the right conditions for dry rot to thrive, there’s typically a building fault that must be identified and treated quickly. Poor ventilation, leaking gutters or penetrating damp are among the usual culprits. While the early stages of dry rot may not be that obvious to the layman’s eye, it’s much easier to spot once it has a fruiting body or has reached the mycelium stage. Look out for similar symptoms as for wet rot – brittle, shrinking timbers, dark patches – as well as signature cracking as can be seen on the image below. The fungus itself is likely to have a musty, mushroomy smell, and there may be visible pancake-like mushrooms (the fruiting body) as well as soft, creamy or lilac colour cotton-wool like mycelium that spreads across the timber, along with red dust from the spores. Source: Hutton & Rostron The treatment of dry rot, again, starts with identifying the culprit. Find the source of the moisture and fix the problem, and assess the scale of the damage done. For a detailed and accurate diagnosis to be made, you may have to explore beyond the affected area, look under floorboards, behind plaster and render and so forth. Cut the infected timbers to at least 50cm past the visible rot affected area and apply a suitable dry rot fungicide liberally, including any replacement timbers before they are installed. For walls and brickwork, remove any dry rot growth with a stiff brush, then sterilise the entire area with a dry rot treatment for walls and masonry. How do deal with wet rot Wet rot is typically found in timbers that have been exposed to damp or wet conditions over long periods of time, which has the effect of making the substance soft and unstable. The moisture can come from a variety of sources including excessive condensation in bathrooms and kitchens, leaky roofs, damp basement walls, defect guttering or drainage, or penetrating damp. What exactly is wet rot? Well, it’s a general term used for types of fungus that thrive in damp environments which, if left undealt with, can cause damage to timber as well as plaster, wallpaper and carpets. Coniophora Puteana (‘cellar fungus’) is one of the best known wet rot fungus, so called because it loves basements and other dark areas. Wet rot in timber is relatively easy to spot though many people confuse symptoms of wet rot and dry rot. Common indicators for wet rot include the tell-tale damp, musty odour, darker patches, a soft or spongy texture, discernible shrinkage and cracking, and even visible fungal growth. Source: DIY Doctor If you want to make sure, take a screwdriver and prod an unobtrusive part of the suspected area to see how solid it is. The less resistance you encounter, the more serious the wood rot issue you’re dealing with. It’s also worth getting a specialist damp or wet rot survey carried out for an accurate diagnosis and assessment of the extent of the problem. Remedial action for wet rot starts with identifying the source of the moisture and fixing it. The next step is to treat the affected timber or, if unsalvageable, replace it. Apply a fungicide and allow the wood to dry out completely before using a wood hardener. Treat the surrounding timbers too, even if they appear to be unaffected, to stop the risk of wood rot spreading and to prevent any future outbreaks. For widespread wet fungal infections, you may be left with no option but to replace the timbers. For any structural repairs you wish to carry out on a listed building, it’s important to get proper advice from your local planning authority. Don’t simply assume that repairs using like-for-like materials won’t require planning consent, since there may be special historic or architectural interest in the removed/replaced materials.
World leading geospatial mapping technology specialist, GeoSLAM, has launched its latest product that is set to shake up the property sector by offering property professionals the ability to capture floorplans and hi-res photography simultaneously. The ZEB PANO, a handheld SLAM (simultaneous, localization and mapping) scanner and panoramic camera, has been developed for the property sector. SLAM technology is widely known for its use in the automotive industry for self-driving cars, but the technology has applications far beyond that. Capable of capturing 43,000 data points per second and high-resolution panoramic imagery at the same time, the ZEB PANO stores the exact location of each panoramic image enabling quicker, more accurate, and less intrusive property surveys. Property agents can use this information to create a floorplan and property descriptions in considerably less time. Complementing the existing ZEB range of scanners, the scanner’s ‘walk-and-scan’ method of data collection allows users to quickly and easily survey a property, producing accurate data and high-resolution photography. Following the announcement of its partnership with GeoSLAM, Netherlands-based ZIEN24, a market leader in home visualisations for both realtors and consumers, is already putting the ZEB PANO to the test, helping to quickly and accurately generate a building’s floor plans. Commenting on the launch of the ZEB PANO, GeoSLAM CEO, Shelley Copsey, added: “We’ve seen how transformative our geospatial technology is across multiple industries, and I’m delighted to be launching the ZEB PANO to the property sector. By embracing digitalized workflows and new technology, we’re already seeing significant competitive advantage being achieved by those adopting this new way of working. “With time pressures and constraints a regular challenge for stakeholders in the property industry, the ZEB PANO will help to streamline the process of generating building images giving operators the accurate property dimensions with only one visit to the property required.” On the partnership, managing director of Zien24, Boy van Houten, added: “We’re always looking for the next way to make the process of selling a house easier and quicker. Working with GeoSLAM, and using the ZEB REVO RT, has already transformed the way we run our business. They understand the importance of a strong digital workflow, and we can’t wait for our customers to start seeing the benefit.” For more information on the mapping and monitoring solutions from GeoSLAM, visit www.geoslam.com.