Hope Construction Materials, the UK’s leading independent supplier of cement and concrete, has announced the launch of its new bagged cement product, available later this year. Their Professional Grade Cement will be available to customers across the southern half of England, the newest entrant into a UK bagged cement market worth £180m annually. The newly revealed product pack design, developed in association with Cognition Agency, features a large ram – a nod to the firm’s rich Derbyshire roots and the source of the raw materials used to make the cement. The ram’s head is transparent to ensure the consistent colour provided by Hope is clearly visible, something many potential customers said was important to them. All the bags will be plastic, weatherproof and packed using the best equipment on the market, meaning merchants and builders will be able to confidently store the bags outdoors. Hope cement had previously been available in bags through a third party supplier, but this launch marks the first time Hope cement will be in the firm’s packaging. Hope’s facility will have extensive capacity and will put them in a great position to enhance service levels in the sector, a goal which has been central to their plans. Hope’s Professional Grade Cement and service offering is the culmination of an extensive 18 month research and development process, which saw hundreds of merchants and professional builders surveyed to ensure the product exceeds their needs and service adds real value to customers. The cement will be produced at the renowned Hope Works in Derbyshire, which has been making cement for more than 80 years. It will then be transported by rail for bagging and distribution from Hope’s new Dagenham plant which is set to open in the second quarter of 2016. Gary Brennand, Hope’s Commercial Director for Cement, said: “Hope Works has been making cement for more than 80 years and has an outstanding reputation for consistent quality and service. We are delighted to be able to offer our product in our own branded bag to customers for the very first time. “For 18 months we have spoken at length to builders and merchants to understand their needs and how we can add value to them. Using this insight we have developed a full package which we believe will redefine the sector and are really excited about sharing it all. Revealing our Hope Professional Grade Cement branding is just the start. “We are also pleased that the product launch will see jobs created in the Dagenham area to ensure we are prepared to meet the anticipated demand for Hope Professional Grade Cement.” Full technical detail will be released prior to launch. In the meantime, please visit www.HopeCement.com and follow @Hope_InABag.

It was just last year that I found myself on the hiking trail of the Scottish West Highland Way, completely isolated with my teammates along with a heap of snow and cold weather. Our expedition was cancelled and we had to complete a newly arranged one later that year. This may be an odd way of relating what I have just told you to energy and power, but for many people, a reliance on power and energy is vital. Batteries come in two types; consumer and industrial. The majority of us are mostly familiarised with consumer batteries, the easily replaceable and recognisable small parts needed to power our remote controls and annoying presents on Christmas Day. However, many people will not take in to consideration the industrial style batteries used in the more powerful forms of technology such as Metabo power tools, as well as any wrapping needed to transport these items with products such as machine stretch wrap. My above statement may seem unfair however if you are in an employment sector demanding that you deal with industrial style batteries daily. This article is aimed at those using heavy industrial batteries and the benefits you could reap from investing in a new and innovative type. Lithium Ion batteries are a new form of battery with three key benefits including; no charge memory, a low self-discharge giving them a low maintenance and only one needed regular charge. The specialist cells in the new LiHD model mean that the power within the tool it is used in is given a higher current. Lithium ion came about as an alternative to normal lithium batteries which used metal and gave them a real instability. As well as when their non-rechargeable aspect when first introduced in the 1970s. The scientific aspect of how lithium ion works is by using three aspects as its conductor; a cathode, anode and electrolyte – a metal oxide is used for the cathode and a porous metal for the anode. I make as much effort as I possibly can to stay in touch with my best friend – my granny. Since coming to university this has become a bit of a challenge, but I make sure to phone her at least once a day. We discuss many different issues; including politics, religion and the current state of the economy. I know, you envy how much of a life I have. When I was in search of a job, I asked my granny why it was she thought it was harder to get a job and this lead on to the economic state of the country. I am not condoning this opinion or in fact saying it is correct, but my granny explained to me, in her opinion why employment in Britain currently stands the way it does. She puts it down to a lack of productivity and idleness within a lot of people, and because of this employers become more and more reluctant to dish out jobs and will only hire the best of the best. There are of course websites such as Search which offer a vast range of employment in various and exciting career sectors. So, if you happen to be the employer, you may question how you are able to increase productivity in the workplace. Well, if your company involves the usage of power tools you may be in luck. As I have mentioned before, the lithium ion battery is rechargeable with no memory effect and when you are not using the battery it has a slow loss of charge. SNAPCO is a Scottish based company and a major supplier of Metabo power tools, in particular the Metabo 18 V LiHD battery, a battery including all of the benefits I have noted above. As well as this SNAPCO also offer great packaging, with stretch wrap products – a product often overlooked by most of society when it is something needed to transport most of society’s material needs – maybe even their lithium ion batteries…

Construction Inflatables are excited to launch their new range of inflatable structures.  A revolutionary new option consisting of four key product lines which offer protection and a covered workspace specifically for the construction industry. Construction Inflatables believe the product is ideal for any building site environment, from full construction through to overnight retail shop-fit or residential alterations. They are fully reusable, with installation time from as little as ten minutes and the costs far outweighing those of constructing a similar sized enclosure from ‘hard’ materials. Mark Wadsworth, Director at Construction Inflatables comments “These structures encompass several common issues associated with construction sites and projects to develop a unique and inspiring solution. They have been a huge hit with Health & Safety advisors and consultants throughout the industry and recently picked up a ‘Highly Commended’ mention in the Mace 2015 “Safety First, Second Nature” Awards.” Their key range consists of a Cutting Station, Working Pod, Hoarding Wall and various sized domed structures and Air Roofs. As well as these options, the team are able to fully design and manufacture products which suit their client’s specific project needs. All units are flame resistant and ideal for both indoor and outdoor use. With limitless design possibilities, only restricted by the limit of an individual’s imagination, these products represent the next phase of national and international construction safety. Call Construction Inflatables now to discuss your options or to arrange a viewing. Contact the team at info@constructioninflatables.com or call us on 020 3633 3493.

Managed Services was on hand to provide emergency support to customers dealing with the serious effects of adverse weather conditions over the Christmas period. Travis Perkins Managed Services provided emergency support to a number of housing associations over the Christmas period, helping repairs and maintenance teams to quickly respond to the impact of flooding. Managed Service colleagues across the UK donated their own time to customers affected by the adverse weather conditions that impacted parts of the UK end of December. Salix Homes, a housing association based in Salford, had 300 of its properties flooded and required immediate access to a range of repair materials. The store manager opened the housing association’s dedicated Managed Services store on the New Year Bank Holiday after an urgent call, whilst the team’s project manager was able to quickly source 150 dehumidifiers from stores in Yorkshire and Cumbria. Meanwhile, the Managed Services team in Gwynedd opened the dedicated store on three separate occasions over Christmas for housing association Cartrefi Cymunedol Gwynedd (CCG). The branch managers and project manager were on 24 hour call and opened the store on Boxing Day to provide CCG with FloodSax™. The next day, there were further flood warnings so Managed Services colleagues joined CCG in preparing 200 sandbags and sourced 53 buckets for the housing association. Finally, Managed Services and Wolverhampton Homes have partnered to help flood victims in York. A few team members from the housing association are volunteering their time to help with cleaning and clearing properties and Managed Services have donated a selection of materials, including mops, brooms and brushes. Stuart Hough, Managing Director at Managed Services, says: “A number of our customers fell victim to flooding over the Christmas period, but I’m proud to say that my colleagues pitched in to help wherever they could. Instant access to equipment and repair materials was crucial in helping housing association operatives to deal with flood damage quickly and efficiently. We’re always striving to make things easier for our customers – even if that means opening up on Christmas Day!”

Atlas Copco has reached an agreement to acquire Italian pump manufacturer Varisco. Varisco is based in Padua near Venice, employs about 135 people ahd had revenues in 2014 of €30m. Its pumps are typically used in the construction, mining, and oil and gas industries; they are also used in industrial process plants and by emergency services in dealing with floods. “The pump business is a focused growth segment for us,” said Andrew Walker, president of Atlas Copco’s Construction Technique business area. “Varisco’s outstanding products and customer base make this an attractive acquisition.” Varisco will become part of the Portable Energy division in the Construction Technique business area. The acquisition is expected to be completed shortly. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.

Home security is a low priority for Brits this winter Despite an alarming increase in home burglaries over the winter months, additional home security is not a high priority for UK homeowners. New research from Toolstation, the trade and DIY supplier, has revealed that home security is a low priority for Brits, with only 13% viewing the installation of either security lighting, a burglar alarm or exterior locks as a top priority in the list of things to do around the home. In fact, for almost half of Brits increasing home security doesn’t make the top three! UK homeowners have rated fitting draught excluders as more important than upgrading or installing simple security measures.  This is despite thefts rising by 38% in the 5 months after the clocks go back[i] and the average burglary costing homeowners £2,178[ii]. John Meaden, Director of Marketing at Toolstation says: “The next five months is the peak time for home burglaries and it’s surprising that home security is such a low priority for Brits. The cost of securing our homes has to be a good investment against the cost and stress of being burgled.  It seems that there is an opportunity here for the sector to more effectively communicate the long term benefits of investment in protecting homes and possessions from opportunistic burglaries with some simple but effective precautions such as security lighting.” Toolstation stock a wide range of safety and security products for protecting homes, including safety cameras, security lighting, burglar alarms and locks, available online and in 200+ branches UK wide. [i] http://www.co-operative.coop/corporate/press/press-releases/insurance/spike-in-home-thefts-when-clocks-go-back/ [ii] http://www.yourmortgage.co.uk/first-time-buyers/home-burglaries-up-over-winter/  

Reports from all over the world are showing a decline in the steel industry. The dream was for China and India to power global steel production, creating a countless amount of steel, however it appears that the demand for steel has not only decreased throughout the world, but people may stop needing it completely. This will have a major impact on workers in the steel industry, and according to Business Insider, China’s steel industry has a big and growing debt problem, which may be linked to this decline. As per Macquarie “The whole steel sector is struggling and no one can be insulated. The sector is facing increasing pressure on funding as banks have been tightening lending to the sector — both loans and the financing provided for steel and raw material stockpiles,”. Unless the volume decreases or a demand for steel increases, things are looking pretty bad. An Overview of the Report on Steel Wire Rope Industry Trends 2009-2019 Proofresearchreports.com have carried out market research, providing a professional and thorough market survey on the Global and Chinese Steel Wire Industry from 2009-2019, which will give you further information within this area. The report begins by reviewing the basic information of ‘Rope Services Direct, everything from its classification and application, to its manufacturing technology. The report then goes on to explore the global and China’s leading steel wire rope manufacturers, detailing the following: Product specification Capacity Production value Cost-efficiency Gross margin Market share Later on it examines the upstream raw materials, downstream marker and the current market dynamics of the Steel Wire Rope Industry. The report concludes by making proposals and feasibility analysis for a new project of the steel wire rope industry, providing a complete insight of 2009-2014 global and Chinese steel wire rope industry. For further information visit proofresearchreports.com, where you can request further information.

The launch of a new range of next-generation LED spotlights has made it easier than ever to replace out-dated, inefficient halogen lamps with cost- and carbon-cutting LED alternatives. The new GU10 range from leading manufacturer LUMiLife – now available at trade.ledhut.co.uk – offers a like-for-like replacement for traditional spotlights, with no need to compromise on light quality. With unrivalled brightness ranging from 250 to 550 lumens, the latest LUMiLife GU10 models have been developed to match the lighting output of halogen spotlights in the 35W to 70W range, whilst cutting electricity consumption by up to 90% and lasting up to 20 times longer. Dan Hawkes, senior trade account manager for LEDHut Trade and LUMiLife, says: “Brightness is always a key concern for our customers when specifying halogen replacements, and this has been top of the list when developing the new LUMiLife GU10 spots. The R&D process has focused heavily on enhancing the luminosity of each lamp without reducing its efficiency, to make sure it offers optimum light quality and impressive energy savings. “The launch of the new range really is the evolution that the LED industry has been waiting for – offering a true retrofit solution. Matching brightness means contractors can replace older, energy-guzzling spotlights with full peace of mind; providing unbeatable lighting performance, backed by long-term cost savings for up to 25,000 hours of use.” The new LUMiLife spotlights are designed to work seamlessly with existing GU10 fittings, and each lamp is clearly marked with an equivalent halogen wattage (35W, 50W, 60W, 70W), allowing for straightforward retrofit replacement. With 2,700k, 4,000k and 5,000k colour options, the range offers outputs spanning 3.6W to 7W.  Dimmable variants are also available. LUMiLife GU10 lamps are fully compliant with CE health, safety and environmental protection standards. They also meet European ErP (Energy-related Product) efficiency criteria and are approved for use throughout the EU – providing added peace of mind for trade customers. The new LUMiLife GU10s are now available at LEDHut Trade, along with a range of next-generation MR16s. With prices starting at £1.84, all of the new products in both ranges are backed by LEDHut Trade’s market-leading five-year warranty and are eligible for next-day delivery. For more information please visit trade.ledhut.co.uk/spot-light-evolution or call 0161 655 0660.