Network Rail-approved supplier Scott Parnell has launched its latest product for the rail industry. The ARCOsizeZERO is an elevated troughing system for the easy installation of lightweight fibre optic cables which will form the backbone of the digital age. The new product is an extension of Scott Parnell’s existing ARCOSYSTEM,
Huddersfield-based truck rental specialists Mac’s Truck Rental are celebrating a successful first half of to the year, following their well-publicised site move to a new custom facility on Crosland Road. Mac’s Truck Rental hail their success as a direct result of the improved services they now offer. This provides businesses
Britain’s leading rail freight company, DB Cargo UK, has announced that thanks to a three-year deal with SSE Business Energy, all of its rail sites and offices will be powered by 100% renewable electricity. “Our customers have long understood the environmental benefits of moving their goods via rail rather than
Automation is nothing new in the manufacturing and distribution industry. After all, robots have been helping out on production lines since the 1970s, from shuttling parts to constructing car chassis. But the latest wave of automation is both more autonomous and more mobile than ever before – and it’s already
There are all sorts of reasons for requiring pallet deliveries to a construction site. It could be for moving large appliances such as air conditioning units ready for installation or smaller items but in large quantities, like floor tiles or anything else. Arranging pallet delivery to a construction site isn’t
An AJ Top 100 architectural practice, Stephen George + Partners LLP (SGP), has completed a £7.7 million, 5,894 m2 new build warehouse, factory and office building on a vacant 4.5 acre plot at the Watermead Business Park, Syston, near Leicester. The facility was built for Albert Browne, owned by STERIS
Chris Rekowski, Sales Negotiator at the Keyline Swindon branch, has qualified as an HGV driver thanks to the company’s ‘Warehouse to Wheels’ programme. Having joined Keyline in September 2017, Chris has received his HGV licence and now, in addition to his current role, he will be acting as a backup
London is one of the busiest cities in the world. With a population of almost 9 million and an annual tourist influx of almost 32 million, it’s safe to say that the Big Smoke’s airports, which include Heathrow, Luton, Stansted and Gatwick, are a never ending hive of activity. And
Volumetric offsite methods offer complete solutions to housing, hospitals, student accommodation, office buildings and schools. Amongst other advantages, volumetric offsite construction brings to the factory all critical activities linked to the structure, mechanical and electrical work as well as to the exterior and interior finishes, including special equipment. A Volumetric
A firm in the North East is to begin supplying graphene commercially for the first time, and has more deals in the pipeline, only weeks after MP’s criticised UK industry for failing to capitalise on the wonder-material’s discovery. Graphene was first isolated in 2004 at the University of Manchester. The
Network Rail-approved supplier Scott Parnell has launched its latest product for the rail industry. The ARCOsizeZERO is an elevated troughing system for the easy installation of lightweight fibre optic cables which will form the backbone of the digital age. The new product is an extension of Scott Parnell’s existing ARCOSYSTEM, but with a clear focus on delivering increased capabilities to the industry’s communications network. ARCOsizeZERO is a flexible system made of corrosion-resistant GRP (glass-reinforced plastic) material. It comes in complete six metre pieces which are simply slid into position without the need for loose nuts and bolts – minimising installation time for on-site engineers and thereby reducing the risk from working trackside. Unlike traditional troughing, which is unnecessarily bulky for this application, the latest product is slim yet durable: offering the ideal solution for installation projects in congested areas or over difficult terrain. Troughs can be placed alongside railway lines or mounted to walls for tunnels and bridges, taking up far less space than normal cable-carrying channels. Established in 2012, Scott Parnell is a groundworks and civil engineering products specialist, and a Network Rail-approved supplier of the respected ARCOSYSTEM range of solutions. The organisation’s focus is on researching and creating innovative solutions for the rail sector. Commenting on the new product launch, founder Steve Parnell said: “As populations expand and passenger volumes increase, the supporting systems will demand better connectivity. Telecommunications capabilities will rely on the development of infrastructure to support a modern IP network for track-to-train communications. The ARCOsizeZERO is aimed at meeting these demands, by offering a flexible solution for the distribution of fibre optic cables. “We are delighted to launch this new product with a focus firmly on the future. The system enjoys the same benefits as our existing troughing products, but with the purpose of creating a fast and efficient communications network for both day-to-day rail operations and passenger connectivity.” ARCOsizeZERO can be utilised in conjunction with ARCOSYSTEM Size 1 and Size 2, ensuring the product line is ‘future-proof’ as additional cable capacity can be added after the original installation.
Huddersfield-based truck rental specialists Mac’s Truck Rental are celebrating a successful first half of to the year, following their well-publicised site move to a new custom facility on Crosland Road. Mac’s Truck Rental hail their success as a direct result of the improved services they now offer. This provides businesses across the UK with access to trucks built specific to their needs, with mounted cranes, custom bodies and more. In fact, the business has seen an increased number of local clients, with the local construction industry thriving in recent months. Industrial and commercial property projects are on the rise, and this is where the contract hire Mac’s Trucks offer can provide a significant benefit to businesses, explains Selena McDade-Smith, Head of Rental: “Mac’s Trucks has always been known for the quality of their service, and the huge capability of our team. When we originally established Mac’s Truck Rental, that was a key consideration in deciding on the contact hire option we provide for truck financing. This means that when businesses lease a truck from us, they still get access to our incredible service all as part of their truck hire – which includes servicing, maintenance, and breakdown assistance, because of the customer-focused contract hire option we provide.” The truck hire-specialist’s approach has been recognised as part of the BVRLA, the British Vehicle Renting and Leasing Association, the leading trade body for vehicle rental. After consistent year on year growth, Mac’s Truck Rental is now launching a standalone website, offering businesses more information on the trucks they can hire, as well as the custom-build facilities available from their new HQ. [URL: https://macstruckrental.co.uk] Mac’s Truck Rental continue to invest in their fleet and premises, providing another positive story for local industry.
Britain’s leading rail freight company, DB Cargo UK, has announced that thanks to a three-year deal with SSE Business Energy, all of its rail sites and offices will be powered by 100% renewable electricity. “Our customers have long understood the environmental benefits of moving their goods via rail rather than road; however our customers are increasingly more environmentally aware, with ‘green issues’ becoming prominent on their daily agendas. This initiative not only demonstrates DB Cargo’s understanding of our customers’ requirements but also supports DB Cargo’s vision for global sustainability,” said Roger Neary, Head of Sales at DB Cargo UK. As part of the agreement, SSE Business Energy will supply all sites belonging to DB Cargo UK and will allow the rail freight company to report zero carbon emission electricity, preventing an estimated 5,000 tonnes of CO2e from entering the atmosphere each year. This volume of saved carbon is the equivalent to powering almost 4,000 homes with green electricity or taking approximately 17 million miles driven by an average car off the road. “This is a massive step forward to improving our impact on the environment. We are committed to work with our suppliers to support our DB2020+ Group global strategy to become an Eco-Pioneer by 2020,” said Andrea Jones, Head of Procurement at DB Cargo UK. In order to identify and evaluate supplier options and arrange the deal, DB Cargo UK worked with Schneider Electric, as well as DB Schenker UK and Arriva UK Group. The rail freight company ultimately selected SSE Business Energy based on price and additional services. “As technologies advance and prices fall, renewables make good business sense, but with an array of options, finding the right source and supplier and negotiating favourable terms, can be daunting. Through a rigorous selection process, DB Cargo made a milestone investment that serves its customers, communities and long-term operational needs,” explained Andy Dewis, Vice President of Energy & Sustainability Service at Schneider Electric.
Automation is nothing new in the manufacturing and distribution industry. After all, robots have been helping out on production lines since the 1970s, from shuttling parts to constructing car chassis. But the latest wave of automation is both more autonomous and more mobile than ever before – and it’s already at work in a facility near you. Here’s what you need to know about robots and storage, or what’s known as an automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS). An AS/RS is a computer-controlled system that’s designed to locate, place and retrieve loads from racking and other storage. An AS/RS usually operates with complete autonomy, although it will tend to have some human oversight. In large scale operations, the AS/RS will receive its orders automatically in conjunction with an eCommerce system, and will set to work retrieving the items in question. The AS/RS concept has been around in some form since the 1960s. You may recognise the concept from depictions of archives in science fiction: a robot on a shuttle, lift or crane navigates a line of shelves, plucks out an item, and returns it to the operator. Many of today’s systems operate in a similar fashion, though their abilities have increased: modern systems can now pick smaller, more delicate items, and do so with dramatically improved speed. The most common automated storage systems operate by moving autonomous vehicles along guided rollers alongside shelves. When they are in position, a series of lifts carry the vehicle up to the correct pallet, which is then withdrawn from the shelf and ferried back. This is often quicker and always safer than involving employees in the retrieval process, and allows human resources to be distributed elsewhere in the business. An AS/RS using lifts is also known as a Vertical Lift Module (VLM). A VLM allows for storage on more levels than are traditionally available in a pallet racking solution, with the potential for eight or more tiers of as much as 100 ft tall. Such a system can accommodate over 14,000 pallets in just 30,000 square feet of floor space – saving up to 70,000 sq/ft saving on a traditional three-tiered layout. The efficiency savings this provides can then be reinvested in further internal and external expansion for production or distribution purposes. Amazon’s Kiva robots represent the current pinnacle of this technology. These squat, heavy lifting robots are what’s known as Unit Load AS/RS, and are more reminiscent of giant Roombas than your stereotypical robot. They’ve proved so efficient however that Amazon has rolled them out to its global warehouses, and they now help to manage the bulk of its Amazon Pantry stock. The robots are able to navigate down aisles of racking without collisions, and can locate pallets by scanning QR codes, a blocky barcode like image. They can then lift an entire pallet on their ‘back’, and carry it to human workers to open and pack the contents. All of this is carried out autonomously based on order volume for various products, and is only overseen by a human controller. The development of both sensor and wireless technology has dramatically altered the capabilities of an AS/RS. Advanced sensors similar to those used in autonomous cars prevent the robots from colliding with storage units or people, ensuring safe retrieval. The ability to grip and locomote with greater dexterity has also allowed for smaller objects to be transported, and the development of what are known as Mini-Load AS/RS. Wireless technologies such as RFID, Wi-Fi and NFC meanwhile allow the units to communicate information wirelessly, locating objects which have been tagged with visual codes or microchips. They can then tell a centralised system when they have successfully retrieved the item, automating the inventory management process with absolute accuracy. Automated storage and retrieval systems have a number of requirements which may be beyond smaller businesses; these include heavy health & safety oversight, centralised inventory management and eCommerce systems, and significant capital investment. Many businesses may benefit instead from the installation of more efficient, high density pallet racking, or the space saving effects of a mobile shelving solution. For those at the cutting edge, however, AS/RS represents the pinnacle of efficiency savings in storage and distribution, and something to keep a watchful eye on for the future. This post was written by Invicta Pallet Racking. For over 25 years we have been at the forefront of the archive storage industry throughout the UK and Europe, designing and installing some of the largest racking and storage systems currently found on the market.
There are all sorts of reasons for requiring pallet deliveries to a construction site. It could be for moving large appliances such as air conditioning units ready for installation or smaller items but in large quantities, like floor tiles or anything else. Arranging pallet delivery to a construction site isn’t as simple as ordering an item from Amazon though, there are extra considerations you must take to ensure the whole process runs smoothly. When you’re ordering pallets to be sent to a construction site, these are some of the main things to think about. Time Pallet deliveries are large and sometimes awkward, delivered on lorries that may struggle to get to certain locations. Of course, they should be arranged depending on the working hours of the construction site so there’s someone there to let them in. Yet also you need to make sure there are enough people present to help unload and move any pallets, which is why organising delivery too early or late in the day is inadvisable. Plus, during rush hour these vehicles may find it harder to deliver so more towards the middle of the day could be best. Weight Depending on the delivery service you use, they will likely charge based on the size and weight of your pallet deliveries. This means it can be more cost effective in some cases to arrange for more items to be delivered together or order in bulk. On the other hand, if you only need a small amount then it can be worth looking at options for a smaller pallet or crate to save on delivery costs. Access One of the main ways deliveries can get held up is by getting stuck on route or being unable to access the construction site. There are many stories of lorry drivers following sat-navs and getting lost or stuck. If your construction site is hard to access or surrounded by narrow, country lanes, inform the delivery company of this before they set off to avoid such issues. Price Finally, price will be a major factor in deciding what pallet delivery company to use. Depending on what you are getting delivered and where from, it may even be tempting to collect yourself if it’s fairly local. Otherwise, be sure to compare all the options available and maybe even negotiate to secure the best possible deal. Before you arrange pallet delivery to your construction site make sure you’ve checked off all of these important considerations for a successful experience.
An AJ Top 100 architectural practice, Stephen George + Partners LLP (SGP), has completed a £7.7 million, 5,894 m2 new build warehouse, factory and office building on a vacant 4.5 acre plot at the Watermead Business Park, Syston, near Leicester. The facility was built for Albert Browne, owned by STERIS Corporation, and it will showcase the company’s product quality and high level of quality assurance in its production methods, as well as merging staff and processes from two sites whilst allowing space for any potential future expansion. “Working alongside Albert Browne and the STERIS Corporation, SGP has designed a flexible, high-quality production facility whose refined design delivers a contemporary building that meets the clients’ current and future needs,” said Ian Yallop, chairman of SGP. The purpose-built facility uses a contemporary form with large areas of glazing and a simple neutral colour palette. Three interlocking forms with an asymmetric curved roof contain the main production and storage building whilst a lower block contains the office and R&D functions. A change in colour on each block helps to break down the overall mass, forming an animated ‘gateway’ into the city and responding to glimpsed views from the A607. The entrances are emphasised by a two storey blue framed glazed structure containing reception and meeting rooms with a double height void over the reception area. Stephen George + Partners is one of the UK’s leading architectural practices, employing over 85 staff across offices in London, Leicester, Leeds, Birmingham and Solihull. With its strategic geographical locations and talented architectural design teams, the practice specialises in masterplanning and the residential, industrial, logistics, office, education, health and retail sectors. Success in the UK has led to opportunities overseas, resulting in the establishment of Stephen George International in 2009. In 2016 Stephen George + Partners turned over £6 million.
Chris Rekowski, Sales Negotiator at the Keyline Swindon branch, has qualified as an HGV driver thanks to the company’s ‘Warehouse to Wheels’ programme. Having joined Keyline in September 2017, Chris has received his HGV licence and now, in addition to his current role, he will be acting as a backup driver. The programme is open to all Keyline branch staff and takes four to six months to complete. Those on the course receive introductory training on the roles and responsibilities of drivers, as well as a tailored programme of driving tuition before taking their practical test. At the end, a category C licence is received meaning the driver can take charge of vehicles weighing over 3.5 tonnes. Warehouse to Wheels allows Keyline to utilise existing loyal members of staff, instead of relying on agency drivers, and Chris was recently presented with his licence by Jason Southern, Keyline Swindon Branch Manager and Paul Tkocz, Assistant Branch manager. Jason commented: “The Warehouse to Wheels programme highlights Keyline’s commitment to staff development and ensures we have quality drivers who exceed our customers’ expectations. Since joining Keyline, Chris has become an invaluable member of the branch team and has shown great dedication in ensuring our customers receive the best service possible. Congratulations to him for gaining his HGV licence.”
London is one of the busiest cities in the world. With a population of almost 9 million and an annual tourist influx of almost 32 million, it’s safe to say that the Big Smoke’s airports, which include Heathrow, Luton, Stansted and Gatwick, are a never ending hive of activity. And these record numbers show no signs of slowing down. In fact, they’re increasing. A swelling population as well as sharp increases in tourism mean that London will struggle to meet the transport demands in regards to the number of people it can fly in and out of the city. While this is great news for the economy, it’s put a massive strain on the airports, runways and airlines that struggle to keep up with the constant demand placed on their services. To solve the issue two solutions were proposed: the construction of a third runway at Heathrow, or a complete expansion at Gatwick. And while the contract was ultimately awarded to Heathrow, is this really the right choice? Gatwick – the argument Ferrying over 44 million passengers per year, Gatwick is the UK’s second busiest airport behind Heathrow. It lies 40 kilometres from the centre of London, making it ideal for commuting quickly while still being far enough away to avoid excessive air pollution within city limits. In addition to commercial flights, there are also a fair number of charter flights from Gatwick, particularly with the rising popularity of specialised booking services. The argument for expanding the terminal is that by doing so, due to the merit of its location, London would be spared excessive noise pollution and help to ease some of the pressures that currently weigh on Heathrow. They argue that by building an extra runway at Heathrow instead, an estimated 130,000 planes will be flown over London, resulting in a massive amount of noise pollution. Heathrow – the right move? The plan to build a third runway at Heathrow is estimated to cost just shy of £18 billion and expected to be operational by 2026. Although this seems like a lot of money, it’s been proposed as the most cost effective option for accommodating the large number of expected incoming passengers in the future. It’s a small price to pay for what will supposedly bring economic benefits of up to £61 billion. However, the plan to build at Heathrow has come under harsh criticism especially where air pollution is concerned. The primary concern is that the quality of air around Heathrow is below the EU’s current health standards and will only continue to get worse if a third runway is constructed. Heathrow maintains that it has taken steps to mitigate the pollution and that its third runway will be within the parameters that the EU has set. The government has also promised to adhere to strict noise targets by encouraging the use of quieter planes as well as stricter adherence to a flight timetable to allow residents to enjoy noise breaks. Nevertheless, the public will have to wait until the runway is completely operational to determine, once and for all, if choosing to build at Heathrow was indeed the smart choice.
Volumetric offsite methods offer complete solutions to housing, hospitals, student accommodation, office buildings and schools. Amongst other advantages, volumetric offsite construction brings to the factory all critical activities linked to the structure, mechanical and electrical work as well as to the exterior and interior finishes, including special equipment. A Volumetric approach ensures better quality control, but also limits the work to be carried on site to groundwork and foundations, connection to services, and minor finish work. As a result of this, volumetric offsite methods have the potential to help achieve a waste reduction of up to 90% on site compared to traditional construction. By bringing most trades within a controlled factory environment it has been proven that the generation of waste can be limited to less than 1.8% of the total weight of materials processed, and that appropriate recycling measures can limit the waste sent to landfill to less than 0.6%. Volumetric modular manufacturing is based on a lean design and procurement process that optimises the use of materials and ensures better management of resources. Utilising flexible modular construction systems, projects can be undertaken on designated sites that are unsuitable for conventional building developments. Offsite construction enables much of the work to be completed prior to delivery, controlling costs and minimising disruption on site. As a sustainable form of construction, modular buildings offer a unique approach to recycling. By reconfiguring used buildings they are able to breathe new life into existing structures, preserving the embodied energy from the original manufacturing phase and significantly reducing the use of materials. Modules are designed to be dismantled, relocated or recycled at any stage during their lifespan; this approach is integral to the build process, removing the requirement for demolition and in turn minimising the need for disposal in landfill sites. Prefabrication techniques produce a low-energy approach coupled with fast-track construction processes, both equating to minimised carbon emissions. Oliver Lowrie, Director for Ackroyd Lowrie is an architect and co-founder of Ackroyd Lowrie. He will be discussing ‘Optimising design for Volumetric production’ at Explore Offsite Outlooks. Oliver will be joined at Explore Offsite Outlooks by an outstanding speaker line-up that includes: Andrew Orriss, Sales Director – SIG360; Ben Lever, Future Skills Manager – CITB; John Eynon, Engagement Lead – BIM Alliance; Alan Clucas, Director – Explore Manufacturing – Laing O’Rourke… and more. For the full list of speakers go to: http://www.exploreoffsite.co.uk/2018-events/explore-offsite-outlooks/conference-speakers/ This one-day conference and exhibition will create a platform for clients and their professional advisers, contractors and project managers and offsite technology suppliers to network with industry experts to discuss the latest developments in digital construction for the offsite sector. The Explore Offsite Outlooks conference and supporting exhibition is taking place on 28 February 2018. Tickets cost just £125 + vat and includes entry into the conference and exhibition, lunch and refreshments. There will also be an optional guided tour of the BRE Innovation Park. To find out more or to secure your place at Explore Offsite Outlooks go to: www.exploreoffsite.co.uk/book
A firm in the North East is to begin supplying graphene commercially for the first time, and has more deals in the pipeline, only weeks after MP’s criticised UK industry for failing to capitalise on the wonder-material’s discovery. Graphene was first isolated in 2004 at the University of Manchester. The material is a thin layer of pure carbon that has a number of potential uses because it is light, tough, strong and a good conductor. MP’s on the Science and Technology Select Committee have recently questioned the progress being made into the commercialisation of graphene, after £120 million of public funding was invested into its research over the last five years. However, soon after the comments were made, Redcar-based Applied Graphene Materials (AGM) secured its first production order and commercial application of its “graphene nanoplatelets”. The deal with Century Composites will see the firm supply the graphene to strengthen a number of high performance fishing rods. Chief executive of Applied Graphene Materials, John Mabbitt, said the next supply deal was likely to be next year for a paint with improved resistance corrosion. The company’s graphene has been proven to significantly improve resistance moisture penetration. Mabbitt commented: “Graphene is not going to sell itself itself. You have to demonstrate to people what it can do in certain circumstances. We are providing a materials solution that improves properties or cost, competing against other materials. “There are between 25 to 40 companies around globally supplying graphene. They are a similar size and at a similar stage to us.” AGM’s patented process for producing graphene differs from most methods, which rely on splitting layers of graphite using chemical, mechanical techniques or putting energy into it. Instead, AGM’s process involves catalytically cracking alcohol and then reassembling the carbon atoms into the benzene rings which form the basis of the graphene.