Today we want to show you some of the most beautiful and interesting projects made in expanded metal, around Europe, from a leading company in this sector. Fils, with a long knowledge about expanded metal mesh manufacturing and a wide range of products, is an internationally recognized company able to
When looking for a new home, there is a lot of pressure. This is where you will live for the foreseeable future. It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the need for it to be perfect. Find a home comes with a long list of desirables. Everything from location to garden
Management can be a tricky business to take on. Many different aspects need taking care of – from dealing with tenants and their concerns to properly maintaining the property. However, if you’re not careful, property management has the potential to turn into a nightmare. So, don’t let it get to
Building your home is an exciting but daunting experience. After laying the foundation and having the framing of your soon-to-be house, the next step is to install your roof. As it protects you against the outdoor elements, choosing the roofing material for your home can be a frustrating decision you
Whether you’re in manufacturing, wholesale distribution, or in the retail sector, there comes a point when you’ll be needing a trucking partner. When your business scales up and need to transport bulky supplies and orders from one point to another, then you might consider working with a trucking company. Below
Commercial and industrial buildings are often designed with flat roofs. One of the reasons for this is its easy access and replacement. When it’s time to replace your roof, you will be faced with the dilemma of choosing the best and most affordable roofing materials and systems. There will be
Designing successful interior spaces for commercial environments is arguably both an art and a science. While the space should be cost-effective and work efficiently in terms of layout and traffic flow, it also needs to capture the imagination of the customer, reflecting the ever-changing expectations of your target audience and
Buying a generator set outright is only feasible if a business has the funds to afford the initial investment and is working on a long-term project that requires stable off-grid power. Because in most businesses this is not the case, rental is a compelling option. But not all rental options
As understanding of the climate crisis increases and the harm to ourselves, the environment, business, industry and the economy that will follow, so a desire to not only reduce carbon but to be seen reducing carbon increases. Two seemingly interchangeable terms often seen are ‘Carbon Neutral’ and ‘Net Zero Carbon’.
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has installed a state-of-the-art, Ophthalmic Theatre Suite and Day Case Unit in partnership with ModuleCo… ModuleCo has provided a state-of-the-art eye unit extension for the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust at their Musgrove Park Hospital site. Historically the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has had greater demand for ophthalmic surgeries than they had the capacity
Today we want to show you some of the most beautiful and interesting projects made in expanded metal, around Europe, from a leading company in this sector. Fils, with a long knowledge about expanded metal mesh manufacturing and a wide range of products, is an internationally recognized company able to give particular and customized solutions to the customers who turn to her and for those who are looking for something innovative. Let’s take a look at some of the projects realized in Europe: FILS for VOESTALPINE In 2018, the company has contributed to the realization of the architectural project of the Voestalpine headquarters, in Linz (Austria), integrating expanded mesh elements into the facades. The metal meshes have been positioned in such a way that the natural light input can be controlled into any office increasing comfort and productivity. Using the hexagonal geometry “ESEDRA” mesh, the “intelligent” shading of the stretched grid limits the passage of heat reducing the use of cooling systems in the summer months. Fils is very attentive to the environment and its protection. For this reason, thanks to their products, the company can control the amount of sunlight entering a building. The expanded mesh is a unique material, transparent and shady at the same time, thanks to its three-dimensional conformation. FILS for MERCEDEZ-BENZ In 2016, the company cooperated with Mercedez-Benz, for the world premiere of their AMG GT ROADSTER model, held in Paris (France), creating expanded mesh elements and large structures that gave character, solidity and momentum to their stand. Fils believes that expanded metal sheet equipment and stands accompany the communication and promotion of many products and services in a functional and pleasant way. Using the expanded mesh called “AMBASCIATA”, characterized by rhomboidal geometry, managed to elegantly blend the space in a game of lights and murals. FILS for SHOPPING 1 In 2014, Fils created for Wereldhave Belgium the entire façade of Shopping Center 1, located in Genk (Belgium), using the renovated custom-made expanded metal mesh, thus creating an attractive envelope. Fils deals with products such as expanded metal nets that can be edged, curved and bent to make facades and coatings in various forms. The basic idea is that each building has its own character and for this reason, using the hexagonal mesh “STADIUM” expanded metal in this case, has made this building unique. What characterizes this company and makes it competitive in the market is that Fils, with its professionalism and flexibility, is a safe and reliable reference for designers who often need tailor made solutions, studied side by side, case by case, from the idea to the realization. In addition, their products boast the brand “100% made in Italy“, which is a security for their customers and not only, all products are strictly manufactured according to the current regulations on safety and accident prevention. This company differs for the vocation “green” because it maintains production processes and uses materials attentive to the environmental impact. For them, respect for the environment means looking to the future. These are just some of the reasons that make Fils great and synonymous with quality in the field of expanded metal production.
When looking for a new home, there is a lot of pressure. This is where you will live for the foreseeable future. It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the need for it to be perfect. Find a home comes with a long list of desirables. Everything from location to garden space has to be covered. When it comes to redesigning and making your home yours, the ideas start coming to the surface, and it starts to get really exciting! While you may envision yourself working on DIY projects and renovating your home yourself, there are some things to look out for before you invest. Here are the essentials before you take the leap: The Size of the Project Before you start looking for a house, decide exactly how much you want to take on. Renovatinos take time and can become costly. After you have worked out the budget for investing, consider your budget for the work that needs to be done to the house. Think about how much time you have on your hands for these projects and whether or not you will take on the work yourself. Deciding to work on your home is an exciting challenge, however, you have to know that you really can do it yourself. It’s a common mistake to get excited about renovating by yourself while house hunting and then realise it’s not possible. Plan the project out before you invest and include the potential cost of hiring workers too. Should you not have the money to start renovations immediately, think about how long you’ll be willing to wait to make them. If you invest in a home with a tacky bathroom that makes you cringe every time you walk in, you will want to know when you can redesign it. You have to factor in your happiness. Wear and Tear There are so many houses on the market that have potential. With a little vision and some knowledge of what is possible, you could transform down-and-out rooms into a beautiful living space. Invite someone who is knowledgeable architectural design or construction to analyse what is possible. They will highlight any damage or issues that could result in calling pest control, or worse, further down the line. Take your time and inspect the wear and tear of the house thoroughly before taking the leap and buying the home. Any hidden damage that you can’t see, could be detectable by someone knowledgeable. This could save on expensive repairs in the future. Signs of Losing Patience House hunting can be exhausting. Hopping from property to property; seeing locations too far from work or neighbourhoods that don’t meet your requirements. After a while it can get you down. This is when impulse investments are made. Take a break. Recalibrate and redefine exactly what you are looking for. If you haven’t already, get an estate agent involved. There is no way to peek into the future, but your new home is waiting for you. By taking time to work out how much you can take on, analysing what is possible with renovations, and having patience, you’ll find the home that you are looking for.
Management can be a tricky business to take on. Many different aspects need taking care of – from dealing with tenants and their concerns to properly maintaining the property. However, if you’re not careful, property management has the potential to turn into a nightmare. So, don’t let it get to that phase. Be Proactive: Conduct Periodic Repair, Inspection, and Maintenance Homeowners are not the only ones who have an interest in their property. Your tenants expect a certain level of service and amenities as well. Prioritize your repairs so that more serious issues do not fall through the cracks. For example, you can have movers shift buildup stuff so the building remains clean and clutter-free. Alternatively, you can have an appropriate waste management system that gives existing tenants and potential ones a peaceful mind. Also, remember to inspect your unit and conduct periodic repairs, inspections, and maintenance. This will prevent minor problems from becoming major headaches. Finally, make sure to have a maintenance schedule that allows you to work your way down the list and tackle each repair as it arises. Having this type of plan in place can help reduce tenant complaints about minor issues, like leaky faucets or clogged gutters. Have a Method for Attracting the Right Tenants Your property management methods should have a way to attract the right tenants. If you are struggling with this, consider adding an application fee or pre-qualification questions that weed out those who aren’t serious. In addition, implement a credit check criteria for screening purposes and ensure your applicants provide recommendations as proof of a good tenant. You should also consider creating an incentive program for the best tenants to keep your property management team busy with things other than evicting. It may be worth considering adding move-in bonuses, referral programs, and renewal incentives that can help you attract the best applicants and keep them around. Have Open Communication With Tenants Open communication is essential for healthy property management. When you have an open line of communication with your tenants, they are less likely to complain or make noise about every little problem. A few simple phrases can keep them happy and the relationship on good terms. The best way to start is with a simple “hello” when you see them. It may feel awkward at first, but once the tenant realizes that their landlord cares about them, they will begin to open up more often. Acquire and Use IT Systems IT systems are an integral part of property management trends. They can help you streamline your processes and get a better overview of how profitable your properties are. Still, most importantly, they allow you to be flexible in the face of changing competition and market conditions. Once you acquire IT systems for yourself, there is no going back: it’s going to be the unbreakable backbone of your property management. Conclusion The problem is that many property managers are not proactive enough to ensure success. But, if you recognize the warning signs and take action when needed, your property management strategies can be an excellent asset for your business.
Building your home is an exciting but daunting experience. After laying the foundation and having the framing of your soon-to-be house, the next step is to install your roof. As it protects you against the outdoor elements, choosing the roofing material for your home can be a frustrating decision you need to make. With various roofing options to choose from, it can be challenging to find the right one that fits your home’s aesthetics and functionalities. With that said, this article would make it easier for you. Provided below is a breakdown of the different roofing materials available, highlighting their benefits and weaknesses so you can choose the right one for your home’s needs. 1. Asphalt Composite Shingles Being the most common material offered by roofing companies like Smith Roofing and others, asphalt composite shingles are preferred for their efficiency across several climates and environmental conditions. Its upfront cost is generally low, depending on your area. Asphalt shingles can resist water and can be designed to resemble wood, tile, and slate shingles. It’s easy to install, maintain, and repair, making it an excellent option for the basic American first-time homeowner. They do, however, have a shorter lifespan than most materials and require replacement after about two decades. 2. Slate Shingles Slate shingles are a mainstay roofing material option for homeowners who accept only the finest. This roofing material features timeless beauty and comes in numerous shades and colors with pleasing textures. This is why most historical buildings and luxurious homes choose it as their roof. Genuine slate roofing is made from thin sheets of real stone that can last for centuries. It’s no wonder why it’s called the ‘forever roof,’ outliving homeowners and generations. Since slate tends to cleave off thin sheets, this material is easy to quarry, making it suitable for roofing. Plus, its longevity also makes it eco-friendly since a single slate roof lifespan equates to 3-4 roofs being replaced and thrown in landfills in its time. Slate roofs are entirely fireproof and can withstand snow, high winds, heavy rains; also, they don’t grow mold or fungus. With such significant advantages, you should expect a slate roof to be expensive. While it’s durable, slate shingles tend to break easily when hit with force from hail and other debris. Repairing the damage can be pretty costly too, especially that you can’t go the DIY route. Slate shingles will require highly specialized skills to install and repair. However, if you’re interested in making a life-long roofing investment, then slate shingles will be your best choice. 3. Rubber Slate Tiles If you’re looking for a greener, safer, and more lightweight alternative to authentic slate shingles, rubber slates are a good option. They’re convincing stand-ins for natural slate tiles that it’s virtually impossible to distinguish from the real ones. This material is constructed from engineered polymers combined with recycled rubbers and plastic. Synthetic slate tiles are fire-resistant and are effective against external fire exposures. They’re also quite lightweight, making them suitable for houses that can’t support the heaviness of natural slate. They’re also cheaper than real slate and can be trimmed to make custom adjustments to roofs. Although synthetic slate tiles may not be as durable as real stones, rubber tiles usually come with a long warranty of up to 50 years. 4. Rolled Roofing This type of roofing material is preferred for low-slope residential roofs and out-buildings such as sheds, garages, shops, and other utilitarian structures. A rolled roofing features long rolls of asphalt- and mineral-saturated material topped with mineral granules. They come in large strips of thin roofing rolls of about 36 ft. long by 36 in. wide that are easy to cut and customize as needed. However, it comes with several disadvantages. You don’t get a lot of color choices; also, it’s not that appealing and it only lasts about 5-8 years. Still, rolled roofing provides a convenient, fast, and cheap way of covering sloped-roof buildings such as home workshops where aesthetics isn’t that important. 5. Wood Shingles And Shakes Do you want something appealing with a rustic aesthetic? Go with wood shingles and shakes. Wood roofs are among the most attractive roofing materials, making them a popular option for luxury houses. Wood shingles and shakes are generally manufactured from 4 kinds of trees— redwood, red cedar, pine, and cypress. While both are made from natural wood, there’s a difference between wood shingles and shakes. Shingles are usually thin, wedge-shaped wood slabs produced by precise sawing. This offers an even and clean look to your roof. Shakes, on the other hand, are produced by splitting wood and features thicker wedges with rougher textures. These rough edges somewhat give a unique rustic look that many homeowners desire. It offers a lot more dimension, particularly when layered together. While properly installed wood shingles or shakes can last between 25-40 years, they’re a poor choice in high-moisture areas as well as places prone to wildfires. The good news is some wood shingles are treated to be fire-resistant, preventing premature decay in some climates. Some wood materials like pine are also treated with preservatives to keep the pesky insects and early decaying and rotting. 6. Built-Up Roofing (BUR) One of the oldest material choices for flat roofs or low pitch roofs, built-up roofing systems has been here for over 100 years. Sometimes called tar and gravel roofs, a BUR system is constructed with several layers of roof felt saturated with asphalt. The felt is applied in overlapping layers, forming a barrier of 2-4 layers of thick material. Then, a coating of finely crushed stone is embedded in the hot tar over the top, creating impenetrable and durable roofing. It can have a different number of layers or plies, depending on what you need. BUR systems are often applied directly to roof decks or insulation. They’re great for warmer climates and can be walked on without any damage. On average, they have a lifespan of 15-30 years, but some well-maintained BUR systems can
Whether you’re in manufacturing, wholesale distribution, or in the retail sector, there comes a point when you’ll be needing a trucking partner. When your business scales up and need to transport bulky supplies and orders from one point to another, then you might consider working with a trucking company. Below are some of the signs that it’s time for your business to have a trucking partner. 1. Your Business Is Expanding When business is good, it is only a matter of time before expansion will be in the works. Once this happens, you may need to eventually transport supplies or goods to distributors and retailers across various cities and states. Are you in food manufacturing and would need to frequently transport goods across state borders or within a state’s boundaries because of a business expansion? If yes, then you’ll need a trucking partner that specializes in interstate trucking. Whether your business is doing interstate or intrastate commerce, there’s a trucking partner that can fit your needs. You can learn more about interstate vs intrastate trucking to help you determine the best trucking partner for your business needs. Interstate commerce refers to selling, buying, or moving products and services across state borders. On the other hand, intrastate commerce is any trade or transportation within a state. Both of these types of businesses include running long-haul loads. 2. Your Products Are Getting In-Demand Do you have seasonal products that are in demand at certain times of the year? For instance, if you create Christmas decorations and you need to supply warehouses and stores in different states, then you need a trucking partner to load everything and deliver loads to their intended destinations. While you can buy a utility vehicle and deliver retailer orders by yourself, it’s best to work with a trucking company that can deliver bulky goods in one trip and assign somebody (field employee or subcontractor) to manage deliveries in a specific place of destination. In this way, you avoid spending a lot of money shipping all orders by yourself or paying each parcel to a courier. Aside from that, professional truckers know how to load, handle, and discharge various goods or products safely. 3. You Need To Handle Heavy-Duty Materials If you recently added a line of business such as a material handling equipment business, you would need the help of a trucking company to transport racks, workbenches, stacking frames, trolly lifts, and other equipment from point A to point B without so much stress and hassle. Trucking service companies have the right tools and equipment to load heavy-duty devices inside a truck and bring them safely to their final destination. 4. Stricter Border Protocols Border control stations are sometimes strict with protocols because of legal, health, and safety issues. Hence, heavy loads should be transported by qualified vehicles such as trucks with proper credentials and permits to ensure full compliance. So, it’s about time to work with a trucking company if you read or hear tightening of borders across the country to avoid transport delays and costly business flow disruption. 5. Stricter Safety Transport Client Requirements If you have new clients with stricter transport requirements for the goods they’ve ordered, then you need a reliable trucking partner to adhere to this demand. Or if you simply want to protect your goods, hiring a trucking company is your best option. You can save money from buying a truck or renting one and driving it by yourself. A good trucking company has expert drivers who can drive your goods safely across borders. 6. You’re Moving If you need to move headquarters, you might need to also haul plenty of office supplies and heavy-duty equipment from your old place to your new business establishment. You can avoid spending a lot of time, money, and energy coming back and forth by simply hiring a trucking company to help you move. How To Choose A Trucking Partner You need to make sure that your prospective trucking partner has been in the business for at least three years. It’s also recommended to select a trucking company with experience transporting the types of products you have and one that stays abreast with the latest trucking trends, especially in automation. Take time to research the company as well, including its services, rates, and customer service. You need to make sure that you’ll work with a legitimate and reliable trucking company with the appropriate credentials, permits, and licenses to avoid trouble. Conclusion If you have an expanding business or your products are growing in demand rapidly, a trucking company can help you with logistics. Managing a large business without a trucking partner can be challenging. Whether you’re into interstate or intrastate commerce, a trucking company can help you move a high volume of goods from one area to another without so much hassle.
Commercial and industrial buildings are often designed with flat roofs. One of the reasons for this is its easy access and replacement. When it’s time to replace your roof, you will be faced with the dilemma of choosing the best and most affordable roofing materials and systems. There will be lots of considerations and roofing systems to choose. A wise way to resolve your roofing issue without going overboard on your construction budget is understanding the benefits and strengths of each roofing material and coating options. To ensure you get the best results, explore all possible roofing systems, the available materials and coating products. For a start, here are some considerations: Modified Bitumen Roofing Modified bitumen roofing is a single-ply roof system that is simply rolled on top of the roof surface. This is different from the conventional laying and heating of the roof with a blow torch. Installation of modified bitumen is no longer dangerous as it used to be. The new roofing system is simply done by peeling off the protective layer and sticking the material to the flat surface. This is even tagged as environment-friendly material as it cuts energy costs. The sun reflects on it so solar energy is contributing to the light inside the building. This is, so far, the most preferred roofing installation option. This is called by roofing construction experts roofing asphalt. It contains polyester and fiberglass. Mixing them with asphalt guarantees you good quality and strength to your roofing system. All the materials are held together in sheets with refined crude oil. The finished product is normally 39 inches long mod bit sheets. Built-Up Roofing The main material used for this type of roofing is gravel. This is pleasing to the eye though. The price for this type of roofing system is a bit lower compared to the other roofing installation works. The top layer of your roof will be heavy as it would carry the whole weight of the gravel. For this reason, joists will be required. It must be installed alongside the existing roof as a reinforced foundation. Otherwise, the roofing might collapse and can cause more damage. Building contractors are not fond of this as this would require more manpower. While you save from the cost of the materials, you will be paying more for labor. This flat roof option is best for structures that do not have occupants yet. That means closing the building temporarily while the installation is going on. Plus, it requires a healing or drying period. Business owners look at it as business downtime. They would rather look for another option. Something that would not hamper the business. A choice that can keep going even when flat roof repair or installation is going on. Ethylene and Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) Roofing Rubber roofing is the other term for EPDM Roofing. This type of roofing system is lighter compared to the other flat roof replacement systems. When you choose this type of roofing work, you need not install roof deck reinforcements. The byproduct of ethylene and propylene mixed with natural gas is a single-ply rubber sheet which when installed are tucked with adhesive by the seams. As time passes by, seams would require maintenance as this is where the leaks start to develop. Thus, this is not the most preferred option among roofing contractors. EPDM Manufacturers are in the works to develop a leak-free sealing system along with the sheets to avoid cumulation of running water on the sides. EPDM roofing comes in 4 layers – Elastomeric Base, AFR Fire Retardant, Polyester Reinforced Fiber, and EPDM Top Layer, which is sometimes optional. Due to the tough layering, this type of roofing can withstand strong winds and heavy rains. The material may be cost-effective. The long-term roofing goal is something that holds up building owners in choosing this. Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) Roofing Insulation boards are installed over roof decks’ membranes. This is the typical installation of a PVC roofing system. Flat roofs are not supposed to be complicated. If it can overcome rooftop hazards, that will be good to go. The cons of PVC materials primarily include the cost. This requires the initial roof removed and that would mean additional cost to the building owner. This option is perfect for structures that must be highly resistant to fire, grease, and other harmful chemicals. PVC is favored over EPDM among contractors. It has a life expectancy of around 20 to 30 years. Clients can pick from varied thickness options for much better quality. The thicker the PVC boards, the more likely they can withstand stronger roof dangers. The seams of PVC roofs are welded so it is great in keeping the water out. No leaks for years. That is when seams are properly welded. Professional repairmen are the best go-to installers to ensure quality work and fewer chances of poor installation.
Designing successful interior spaces for commercial environments is arguably both an art and a science. While the space should be cost-effective and work efficiently in terms of layout and traffic flow, it also needs to capture the imagination of the customer, reflecting the ever-changing expectations of your target audience and the commercial interiors trends of the moment. That said, unique interior design for offices, shops or restaurants is about more than delivering kerb appeal. While the exterior is obviously an important element, it’s all about creating curiosity and enticing people to come in. A positive first impression of your business can go a long way in establishing your brand authority in today’s competitive world. Here are four practical tips to achieve this. 1. Create engaging spaces Interior design should be engaging – you want those who use the space to be uplifted and inspired and to love spending time there. What exactly this means depends on your business characteristics and values, and the tastes of your customers and staff. Take the example of a company with modern eco-friendly values. Deep, cool tones such as greys and charcoals, perhaps with a hint of green, could be a suitable colour palette. Add lighter neutrals such as taupe, stone and ivory to create balance and to keep the space both contemporary and relevant. Ideally, use colours that reflect your business brand to enhance its visibility. Use patterns to add visual interest to your commercial interiors. Large-scale geometric patterns on hard wearing luxury vinyl flooring, for instance, combine both practicality and style. For inspiration, take a look at this great selection. Making a striking impact on anyone who walks in through the door, it’s a great way to make a statement and give your business a strong personality. 2. All eyes on your products and services One of the key reasons why the interior design of commercial spaces is so important is because it needs to satisfy the needs and wants of your (potential) clients. Showcase your product or service offering and use design to emphasise what your company does. Give your business environment the voice to speak directly to the customer and place your business ahead of the competition. There’s a whole arsenal of tools at your disposal to create the right interior design vibe. From colour schemes, patterns and fabric choices to furniture, fixtures and fittings, every design choice should focus on the client and the product. Without that key connection, your customers will lose focus and sales will drop as a result. 3. The importance of space and layout While maximising the available space used to mean making your square footage work hard, in these pandemic-driven times it is more likely to mean spacing out your employees, your products and service offerings, and your customers. Reconsidering the existing layout could mean being more creative with storage units and organisation of the workspace and workflow. For instance, you could remove tall floor cupboards and install wall cabinets instead, using the floor space thus freed up to position extra desks for your staff to work from. Think multifunctional or modular furniture such as cabinets with slide-out seats, handy for impromptu business meetings. Chairs with tablet arms are another nifty idea to help space out employees and minimise congestion. 4. Make your design accessible and inclusive Gone are the days when accessibility in building design was added as an afterthought, with features such as removable wheelchair ramps or special disabled toilets. Today’s commercial spaces have inclusivity at the core, meaning successful business interiors must be accessible to everyone in your target audience, able-bodied or not. The principles of Universal Design anticipate problems and eliminate them. Creating a space where everyone feels comfortable and their needs catered for may involve flexible office furniture and technology that can be tweaked and adjusted as necessary to suit the user, including height-adjustable office desks and moveable monitor arms, accessible plug sockets and underfloor cable management. For commercial buildings with multiple floors, it should go without saying that multi-level mobility should be your top priority. Have lifts in place so that older people or differently abled people can comfortably move around the building, and avoid steps and thresholds between different areas of the building as well as at entrance and exit points.
Buying a generator set outright is only feasible if a business has the funds to afford the initial investment and is working on a long-term project that requires stable off-grid power. Because in most businesses this is not the case, rental is a compelling option. But not all rental options were made equal. Here Dean Harris, Sales Engineer at Energyst UK & Ireland, explains the difference between short and long-term genset rental. Renting a genset allows businesses to avoid paying out a large initial sum. One example is a recycling plant, which recently took out a five-year contract because it does not have access to a mains power supply for the foreseeable future. The customer did not want to spend three quarters of a million pounds on the three gensets that it required, so opted for rental to bridge the power gap. Rental also gives businesses the opportunity to have a genset on site in a matter of days, rather than waiting 16 to 20 weeks for a purchased system to be custom built and installed. Rental customers can also pass the maintenance costs and challenges that come with purchasing onto their supplier. If a business decides to rent, there are two main options — short-term and long-term rental. Short-term rental can be from a few days to just under a month and long-term rental typically is anywhere up to two years, but some businesses opt for even longer periods of up to ten years. Short-term rental Businesses can quickly get their project’s power requirements met by opting for a short-term rental. A rental genset can be quickly introduced to prevent downtime when an existing embedded generator is faulty and needs maintenance work or for projects that only last a few days or weeks. Consider this example. A company performs five major services each year to check its systems can run up to 2000 kVA, during which the gensets powering the operation must be taken offline. The business could not justify spending half a million pounds on a supplementary genset, only to use it for five or six weeks of the year. Instead, it chose to rent a genset during testing, saving footprint space, the large initial investment and ongoing maintenance costs. Long-term rental In addition to the financial benefits of renting a genset, customers can also pass on the operational costs to the rental supplier when renting long-term. The rental supplier can monitor the performance, load and operating hours to see when the genset needs maintenance work, rather than the business carrying this out themselves, providing peace of mind. The renter can also hand over fuel management to the supplier, as well as negotiate a cheaper price per litre when buying in bulk. Long-term rental can be suitable for standby applications for critical facilities, such as hospitals, airports or data centres. Critical facilities have stringent testing requirements to ensure the equipment kicks in when needed, so leaving this in the hands of experts can save time, money and hassle. In addition, long-term rental provides flexibility to businesses during times of changing demand. If a manufacturing business wants to extend its production line and increase the power supplied, it can easily swap out the current rental genset for a bigger one or rent an additional system, without investing large sums of money for the expansion. Ultimately, the value of the rental agreement depends on the project length and the specific requirements of each business. Renting for a longer period will reduce the daily rental rate, but short-term rentals provide more flexibility for businesses who may want a genset for a week. Fully understanding the power requirements of each project before renting a genset will help businesses make an informed decision. Visit the Energyst website to learn more about our genset rental options https://www.finning.com/Energyst.
As understanding of the climate crisis increases and the harm to ourselves, the environment, business, industry and the economy that will follow, so a desire to not only reduce carbon but to be seen reducing carbon increases. Two seemingly interchangeable terms often seen are ‘Carbon Neutral’ and ‘Net Zero Carbon’. The two, however, are not the same thing. Carbon neutral refers to a policy of not increasing carbon emissions and of achieving carbon reduction through offsets. While Net zero Carbon means making changes to reduce carbon emissions to the lowest amount – and offsetting as a last resort. The offsetting is used to counteract the essential emissions that remain after all available reduction initiatives have been implemented. In both cases Carbon Offsetting removes CO2 from the environment. For it to count, that removal must be permanent and accredited or licensed. Projects can offer a range of benefits. As well as reducing carbon from the atmosphere, offset projects can be selected to also offer social and community benefits. Projects can range from local planting of trees to the funding of projects that empower families in developing countries to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels. Examples include afforestation, reforestation and conservation. Alternative investments can also be made in initiatives that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as in cattle feed that reduces the methane output of cows. Other offsetting projects enhance biodiversity, improve soil quality, food production or rainwater absorption. Projects that benefit soil quality are particularly pertinent to global warming and climate change, as soil is a significant store of carbo, holding three times as much carbon as the atmosphere – and the importance of soil quality has often been overlooked. Food production benefits are relevant too given that crop failure is a significant negative impact of climate change, devastating communities and forcing migration. There are carbon offset schemes offered that are sold on an arbitrary average carbon footprint basis, as opposed to a quantified footprint. The risk with these is that they offer the temptation of an easy-to-buy option, which not only does not include any emission reductions they also may fail to meet sufficient offset to address the problem of climate change. These are sold on the basis that a true quantification of your carbon footprint can be expensive, time-consuming and complicated but this need not be the case. Net Zero Carbon Commitments always involve emission reductions. This requires an initial carbon footprint measurement. This is followed by strategic greenhouse gas emission reduction initiatives, the implementation of renewable energy solutions and then carbon offsetting. The right carbon reduction service can offer you all of these. Furthermore, they can support you in your net zero commitment with ongoing monitoring both of the success of the initiatives but also of emerging technologies for further emission reduction opportunities. These could be in the form of technology, or availability of alternative energy – or internal opportunities from changes in processes, or collaborative opportunities with your supply chain. Potential opportunities could arise with local business partners such as neighbouring manufacturing facilities with whom you may be able to trade reused processed heat or reuse or repurpose materials. For example, could your carbon cardboard waste be shredded to become their packaging material or could waste heat from your processes be used for their hot water or offices? This sort of methodical, structured and quantified approach leads to more optimised use of resources, lowers energy bills, reduces waste, reduces reliance on the national grid, delivers true reductions in emissions and so true reduced harm to the environment.
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has installed a state-of-the-art, Ophthalmic Theatre Suite and Day Case Unit in partnership with ModuleCo… ModuleCo has provided a state-of-the-art eye unit extension for the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust at their Musgrove Park Hospital site. Historically the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has had greater demand for ophthalmic surgeries than they had the capacity to meet. Their eye unit is the busiest department at Musgrove Park Hospital, carrying out over 3,000 operations every year and providing nearly 50,000 outpatient appointments. This development is a key part of ‘Musgrove 2030’ – an ambitious programme to transform the hospital’s facilities and help make sure patients are cared for in the right place to meet their health needs. The state-of-the-art theatre and day ward suite is the first part in the development of a new eye care unit at the hospital, with a fifth theatre expected to be in operation at the site later this year. It has created additional operating theatre space, more recovery space and dedicated patient areas which help them feel comfortable when receiving care. Matthew Bryant, chief operating officer at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust (hospital services), said “The new ophthalmic theatre suite is a very important part of our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. “It’s the first time we’ve had a permanent dedicated day surgery theatre for eye surgery in Taunton and we are pleased to be able to offer patients a more positive experience in a better environment. “The additional capacity created by the new ophthalmic theatre suite, along with the hub for macular and glaucoma care introduced this year at Chard Hospital, will also help to reduce waiting times.” To maximise the space and provide all the accommodation needed, the ModuleCo design team developed a bespoke Day Surgery facility design consisting of multiple modules of varying sizes, making up a 484m2 footprint. A ceiling mounted microscope and laser equipment had to be factored into the design to create the specialist Ophthalmic Operating Theatre. The theatre is supported by an integral scrub, lay-up prep, anaesthetic room, dirty utility, 15-patient day ward and multiple consultation rooms for consultants to speak confidentially to, and examine, patients before their operation. The suite was constructed off-site, with nearly 90% of the construction process taking place in ModuleCo’s factory facility, and was installed over a weekend with minimal disruption to the active hospital site. Sales and Marketing Director for ModuleCo and project sponsor, Jonathan Brindley, said: “All of us at ModuleCo take great pride in our continued partnership with Somerset NHS Foundation Trust and supporting them to deliver specialised care to their communities. “The feedback from the surgical team when using the facility is excellent and I know they have been very keen to use the new theatre suite since we first started discussions last December. “It is pleasing to see that we have been able to deliver upon what was originally promised in terms of timescales, quality and the permanent feel and performance of the final build.” The Trust hope that the additional capacity and forming of a dedicated Ophthalmology Centre will help reduce waiting times for routine treatment for the people of Somerset and also marks a very important step in the Trust’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
