“We dirty our hands every day, so we know how to clean” Established in 2010, Green Facilities Management is an eco-friendly commercial cleaning company providing reliable and innovative cleaning services to a range of businesses such as: offices and co-working spaces; retailers and restaurants; schools and education hubs; and museums
National Pile Croppers has always been proud of the continuous R&D that goes in to making its hydraulic pile croppers more efficient, safer, customer focused and productive. The latest development of this non-stop development programme is the new version of the company’s Quad XXL cropper which is proving to be
Speedy Hire, the UK’s leading construction equipment hire and service provider announces it will publish a carbon net-zero roadmap as part of its ‘Decade to Deliver’ strategy in July. As the first company in the hire sector to publicly sign up to science-based net-zero targets, Speedy has set a deadline to achieve net-zero across all scopes
With an increasing volume of substandard products on the market, the British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) has issued a handy checklist to help specifiers and users check whether personal protective equipment (PPE) is fit for purpose. BSIF analysis carried out last year showed that much of the PPE on the
Award-winning battery technology cuts both operating and capital costs. Almost every one of the 3,000 business executives in a survey reported by the influential magazine Forbes believed their companies lacked the capability to address major changes. * That doesn’t come as a surprise to Tom Burgess, Managing Director of international
New analysis of site data from 12 Keltbray construction projects has revealed staggering savings since the business introduced Aggreko’s battery technologies to decarbonise its power usage and reduce running costs. Keltbray is a construction engineering specialist delivering integrated solutions for complex building and infrastructure sectors across the UK. Recognised by
Another year, another stellar Hire Association Europe Event Hire Association (HAE EHA) Hire Awards of Excellence is in the bag with the glamorous evening having taken place on Saturday 22 April 2023. In its sixteenth year in our nation’s capital, the industry’s showpiece event took place at Grosvenor House, London.
Werner, the leading manufacturer of height access solutions, has announced the launch of its PROPLUS Mobile Access Tower. This new mobile tower, which boasts an ergonomic lightweight modular system, is designed to reach up to 5.4m, providing a safe and stable platform for industry professionals working at height. The PROPLUS
MGISS, one of the UK’s leading geospatial technology companies, has signed a partnership agreement with Leica Geosystems to drive a data-driven approach to the capture, management, and exploitation of asset information. AI, Data Analytics and Machine Learning are increasingly being used to drive value within utility and infrastructure organisations and it’s essential
First Mats, Birmingham’s leading workplace products specialist, today announced the launch of their revamped range of Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC) Bunds. The company has expanded its offerings, providing customers with a more diverse and complete selection of products at significantly reduced prices. The new IBC Bunds fully comply with UK
“We dirty our hands every day, so we know how to clean” Established in 2010, Green Facilities Management is an eco-friendly commercial cleaning company providing reliable and innovative cleaning services to a range of businesses such as: offices and co-working spaces; retailers and restaurants; schools and education hubs; and museums and leisure centres. One year ago, it began using the new Multiwash™ PRO scrubber-dryer from Truvox International. We spoke to Green FM CEO, Manu Sareen, to discover why the company had chosen Multiwash™ PRO, and more about its relationship with Truvox. “I first came across Truvox International and its original Multiwash™ machine about six years ago when we took over a retail cleaning contract and bought half a dozen machines,” says Manu Sareen. “They were reliable and delivered great results, but our current relationship with Truvox developed last year when we re-discovered the company and its newly released Multiwash™ PRO, which is considerably better and more efficient than other machines we were using. Ease of use and sustainability “Our mission is to provide and maintain a hygienic environment for staff and visitors at every location, boosting morale and productivity. One of the most important reasons to work with Truvox is to make life easier for our operatives, but we also know that we are working with a business where sustainability matters. “The Multiwash™ PRO is so easy to use, works on all surfaces, and requires minimal training. It’s not as bulky as other scrubber-driers but at the same time it is robust and durable, and is easy to move from one place to another. The machine washes, scrubs and dries in a single pass, giving improved and unrivalled cleaning results – and leaves floors ready for staff and customers to walk on. “The Multiwash™ PRO is effective when used with only water and no chemicals. However, the water in London is very hard and can leave mineral deposits on the floor, so we use a pH neutral detergent to cater for this problem. “Another positive contribution to sustainability is the machine’s reliability. It needs less maintenance and engineer visits than other machines, so that helps reduce its carbon footprint. “Green FM is proud to be an ethical and sustainable business, and Multiwash™ PRO and Truvox International are a great fit for us and our clients. ‘We dirty our hands every day, so we know how to clean’ “Since the pandemic, our clients and their customers expect to see us cleaning. Before, we were often expected to clean out-of-hours and behind-the-scenes, as if we weren’t even there! Now we can carry out cleaning in plain sight, and so the fact that Multiwash™ PRO also looks good and highly professional is another benefit. “As part of our business, we offer a consultancy service for companies and FMs which have their own in-house cleaning facilities, and we are quick to recommend the use of Truvox machines,” says Manu Sareen. “Green FM has been active in the cleaning industry for many years, so we know from experience which machines deliver the best results. We like technology and work with tech-savvy suppliers, and will only recommend the best. We only want to use the most innovative equipment, and I often say: ‘We dirty our hands every day, so we know how to clean’.” https://www.truvox.com/our-products/scrubber-dryers Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
National Pile Croppers has always been proud of the continuous R&D that goes in to making its hydraulic pile croppers more efficient, safer, customer focused and productive. The latest development of this non-stop development programme is the new version of the company’s Quad XXL cropper which is proving to be an essential tool on HS2. As the leading supplier of hydraulic pile croppers across the world, National Pile Croppers (NPC) array has been in demand on large multi-site infrastructure projects for some time. The croppers have now found a particular niche on HS2 where a variety of contractors and civil engineering companies have used the UK manufactured and supported croppers to great success. As with any NPC product however, there is constant vigilance of where refinements can be made, with the needs of HS2 in particular leading to the revision of members of the NPC armoury. Bigger, better and more powerful With a project as big and as demanding as HS2, there has arisen a requirement for even larger more powerful pile croppers. “As we always work closely with our customers to ensure that they are getting the very best in hydraulic pile cropping, we soon identified a need for an even larger cropper,” says NPC director Lee Aston. This has led directly to the development of the new Quad XXL. “We have a well-proven and existing range of Quad croppers that cover virtually any requirement, with our Quad XL 1000 cropper for one being designed to be used for the reduction of augured (round) piles up to 1050mm in diameter. As with the entire Quad range, it utilises four powerful and fully synchronised rams with specially designed blades to give a superb pile cut. The cropper will also hold the cut pile section safely for removal to a designated safe area. Best utilised on piles with ‘de-bonded’ reinforcement bars, it has proved to be the ideal solution when reducing contiguous and secant piled walls with spacing as close as 150mm. However, on some parts of HS2, the Quad XL although effective, needed to be super-sized to make it even more productive,” adds Lee. A beast of a machine The new Quad XXL is a true cropping behemoth being designed and developed to deal with piles of between 900 and 1200m in size. Weighing in at a mighty 3,675kg, it is best used on an excavator of at least 31t in weight. “Although big, the new Quad XXL is still easy to use, and our experienced support staff are at hand from the initial order to the installation on site to make sure that customers get what they pay for. Operation is still simple, with the cropper being lowered to the ideal height, with the jaws then being closed until pile sections ‘pop’ free. The broken pile section then can be easily removed for recycling to a dumper or a specified area. “The feedback we’ve received has been beyond our expectations. Our customers seem to want more and more of the Quad XXL as the targets and deadlines shorten on HS2. Despite its size and power, the new Quad XXL is as efficient as the other members of the Quad range, delivering an effective solution wherever it has been used,” conclude Lee Aston. The new Quad XXL from National Pile Croppers is now available for hire or purchase throughout the UK and will be introduced globally in the coming months. New Quad XXL technical specifications Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Speedy Hire, the UK’s leading construction equipment hire and service provider announces it will publish a carbon net-zero roadmap as part of its ‘Decade to Deliver’ strategy in July. As the first company in the hire sector to publicly sign up to science-based net-zero targets, Speedy has set a deadline to achieve net-zero across all scopes by 2040, 10 years before the government deadline. As part of Speedy’s ‘Decade to Deliver’ strategy, it will publish a net-zero roadmap with clear steps to reduce Scope 1 & 2 emissions by 50% and Scope 3 emissions by 42% by 2030. As a trusted and critical supplier of equipment and services to the construction and infrastructure markets, Speedy plays a leading role in ECO product evolution, forming close collaborations with partners to innovate and deliver first to market solutions designed to decarbonise traditional diesel products and reduce carbon emissions across the supply chain. Amelia Woodley, ESG Director, Speedy Hire said: “The announcement of Government support for the CO2nstructZero net-zero roadmap from Minister of State Nusrat Ghani on Monday 6th June is a welcomed critical step towards decarbonising the industry. It is important that the industry collaborates and agrees on concrete and actionable steps to drive the sustainable and technological revolution within the sector. “At Speedy, we are accelerating product innovation and decarbonisation solutions in collaboration with our partners, prioritising the long-term vision of sustained net-zero. This is why we have set Science Based Targets to bring us substantially closer to meeting The UK Government’s 2050 net-zero ambitions, in-line with the CO2nstructZero net-zero roadmap”. To learn more about Speedy, it’s work with suppliers and its net-zero targets visit: www.speedyservices.com/esg Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
With an increasing volume of substandard products on the market, the British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) has issued a handy checklist to help specifiers and users check whether personal protective equipment (PPE) is fit for purpose. BSIF analysis carried out last year showed that much of the PPE on the market fails to match up to the advertised protection. It completed tests on 127 non-member products, which included checking their compliance with relevant standards and testing whether they perform as claimed. Only 18 (15%) of these products were fully compliant. This means 108 products (85%) failed to meet the regulatory criteria, many of which are still for sale to unsuspecting users. The findings around non-member products contrast with the results of tests on products supplied by BSIF Registered Safety Suppliers, whose products are tested annually as part of the scheme’s audit process. Of 387 tests completed on Registered Safety Suppliers’ products, 332 (86%) passed immediately, and of the 55 (14%) that initially did not meet the test criteria, all issues were subsequently resolved. The new BSIF PPE checklist has been created to help specifiers and users ensure that PPE complies with the law and conforms to PPE Regulation 2016/425. It presents a series of questions to ask when purchasing PPE, which are divided into sections for ease of use: Product Markings, Required Documentation, Product Condition, and Storage. Examples of questions included in the checklist are: • Does the PPE have a UKCA, UKNI or CE Mark applied to it? • Was the PPE issued with User Instructions included? • Is there a Declaration of Conformity with the PPE • Is the PPE clean, undamaged and suitable for use? • Was the PPE stored correctly, according to the User Instructions? If any questions present cause for concern, users are advised to seek support and guidance from their company’s health & safety advisor and the manufacturer of the PPE. The BSIF can also provide general guidance. BSIF CEO Alan Murray says: “This checklist is a reminder that while anyone can sell safety, you shouldn’t buy safety from just anyone. Failing to check your PPE is fit for purpose could leave you or your employees, for whom you have a duty of care, vulnerable and unprotected, and also expose your organisation to the risk of prosecution. The easiest way to check your PPE is compliant is by only buying from a Registered Safety Supplier.” The checklist can be downloaded for free at: Check-your-PPE.pdf (bsif.co.uk) The BSIF also offers an‘Is it Genuine – Certification Checklist’ that providesfurther advice on how to check if the supporting documentation for your PPE is genuine and what to do if you are concerned. It can be downloaded athttps://www.bsif.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Is-it-Genuine-2023.pdf Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Award-winning battery technology cuts both operating and capital costs. Almost every one of the 3,000 business executives in a survey reported by the influential magazine Forbes believed their companies lacked the capability to address major changes. * That doesn’t come as a surprise to Tom Burgess, Managing Director of international specialist Triathlon Battery Solutions: “Making major changes can be disruptive. The bigger the change, the greater the risk, both for the organisation and the individual instigating it. “It’s one of the key reasons why our award-winning new QUASAR battery is proving so successful. Businesses currently operating either IC engine or traditional lead acid powered trucks can make massive cost savings and improvements to productivity – at low or no risk.” Here’s why. QUASAR provides a clean, no-compromise answer for organisations looking to switch away from diesel to a greener alternative (without sacrificing any power or go-anywhere performance). Developed to excel in the most demanding applications – including prolonged operation in extremely low temperatures with no power drop-off – QUASAR really comes into its own in heavy duty and multi-shift operations. For those wishing to replace or upgrade lead acid battery fleets, QUASAR is a total game-changer. It offers 25% greater run-time than traditional batteries, and typically delivers additional shifts. Full re-charge times are slashed by 50% and to keep you working even longer, QUASAR batteries can be opportunity charged. “QUASAR represents a much smaller step than committing to lithium-ion whilst offering almost all the same benefits,” explains Tom Burgess. “Not only is QUASAR cheaper than lithium-ion but it is potentially less disruptive, as some premises do not have the necessary power supply to sustain the high loads required for large numbers of recharging points… or can only achieve it at significant additional cost.” Perhaps the biggest bonus at the outset is the reduction in capital costs. Switching from traditional lead acid to QUASAR means fewer batteries and fewer chargers (plus all the associated equipment). Along with significantly lower capital investment, it also frees up additional valuable space. Tom Burgess adds: “As part of a world-leading organisation offering every type of battery technology, I believe QUASAR offers distinct advantages over both lithium-ion and traditional lead acid. Perhaps most important of all though, the benefits can be achieved with little or no disruption or risk.” To find out more aboutQUASAR, call 0161 6699180 or visit www.triathlon-batteries.co.uk/enhanced-lead-acid-batteries/ *https://www.forbes.com/sites/kathymillerperkins/2022/01/06/report-shows-anxious-leaders-in-2022-here-is-how-to-address-culture-fears/?sh=7e5cc28b28b7
New analysis of site data from 12 Keltbray construction projects has revealed staggering savings since the business introduced Aggreko’s battery technologies to decarbonise its power usage and reduce running costs. Keltbray is a construction engineering specialist delivering integrated solutions for complex building and infrastructure sectors across the UK. Recognised by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) for its efforts to quantifiably reduce the carbon emissions on its projects, the business is continually looking at new processes, technologies, and forward-thinking suppliers to partner with to continue such work. Data-led Improvement At the helm of its sustainability agenda is Kiro Tamer, Head of Environmental Sustainability, and ICE Carbon Champion. In 2021, Kiro approached Aggreko for support with Keltbray’s site power provision due to the capability of its specialist telemetry systems, which would allow the company to monitor equipment remotely. This was of particular interest to Kiro and his team as it would allow them to start monitoring power equipment performance around the clock to better inform their decarbonisation strategy. Battery Viability and Versatility In early 2022, Aggreko Sector Engineer Kath Argent began working in partnership with Keltbray to audit its power requirements across certain sites and identified the common issue of generator oversizing. Kath comments: “We often see hired equipment that is oversized as an attempted level of resilience, but it also means it is often running at less than 30% load and therefore inefficient. Aggreko right-sizes its equipment and implements other techniques, such as load on demand, for maximum efficiency.” Kath and her team also introduced battery energy storage system (BESS) technology as part of Aggreko’s Greener Upgrades portfolio. According to Aggreko, while the sustainable benefits of batteries have long been undisputed, until recently there had been low uptake across the construction industry due to the perceptions the technology was in its infancy. Kiro comments: “We wanted to look at batteries for some time, but it also needed to make commercial sense and market conditions just hadn’t made it viable until that point. When fuel prices started to rise around April, that’s when things started to change. Since then, the adoption of the technology has come along so quickly.” Throughout 2022, Keltbray introduced Aggreko’s battery storage systems on 12 projects which spanned six different counties. It included a wide array of developments such as the construction of the iconic East London neighborhood at Silvertown Keys, maintenance of a cargo shed at Heathrow Airport, new flood defenses for Sheffield City Council, a new housing development for a leading UK housebuilder and a large infrastructure project concerning the A30. Kiro adds: “The versatility of this technology is demonstrated via the wide variety of projects and sites we have been able to introduce it into, making it a fundamental part of our decarbonisation strategy. In just 12 months, we went from using no batteries, to them accounting for at least 25% of our temporary power procurement with Aggreko.” Staggering Savings As part of its commitment to work in partnership with Keltbray to help achieve its Net Zero goals, Aggreko’s insights team used its specialist telemetry system to analyse data from the 12 projects spanning 2022. By looking at load information and comparing traditional generator-only running costs against the new hybrid running costs, they were able to evaluate a reduction of over 200 tonnes of carbon. This was the result of saving over 75,000 litres of fuel, which equated to over £100,000 in fuel costs. Kiro adds: “Our industry is working relentlessly to become more sustainable, but there are still many hurdles to overcome. Power procurement has never been simple, and I think there is a general lack of understanding on how to reduce reliance on diesel generators where there is no access to the grid. But there are solutions out there – as evidenced in this sustainability success story. For those who want to reap the rewards, the technology is there for the taking and companies like Aggreko can help implement it smartly and quickly.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Another year, another stellar Hire Association Europe Event Hire Association (HAE EHA) Hire Awards of Excellence is in the bag with the glamorous evening having taken place on Saturday 22 April 2023. In its sixteenth year in our nation’s capital, the industry’s showpiece event took place at Grosvenor House, London. The show, itself an award winner having scored the Best Longstanding Event at the Association Excellence Awards, celebrates the outstanding achievements of hire and supply companies across the UK’s plant, tool, equipment and event hire industries. As CEO Paul Gaze said on the night: “People really are our greatest asset, and it is important that as a sector we work together to help promote careers and look for a much wider and broader range of candidates. We have some inspiring finalists for the 2023 Awards.” This year’s host was former Royal Marine and Elite Team Coach, Scotty Mills. The ‘secret weapon’ behind the success of the England football team at the 2018 World Cup kept everyone entertained and inspired with his commentary throughout the evening. The first accolade of the evening was for the Outstanding Contribution to Hire Award. With many worthy recipients across the plant, tool, equipment and event hire sectors this is an extremely tough award to give. But with 23 years’ experience across the sector and for championing improvements to the way the hire industry tackles mental health, Asif Latief, Managing Director of Boels Rental, took the applause and the award. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Werner, the leading manufacturer of height access solutions, has announced the launch of its PROPLUS Mobile Access Tower. This new mobile tower, which boasts an ergonomic lightweight modular system, is designed to reach up to 5.4m, providing a safe and stable platform for industry professionals working at height. The PROPLUS Mobile Access Tower is easy to erect, with the stackable system allowing users to build up to three working heights. Designed with a sturdy platform at the top of the tower featuring a trapdoor for easy access, it also has toe boards around the platform to prevent tools from falling. Certified to the latest EN 1004-1:2020 safety standard, this new tower features swivel castors which enable it to be moved easily, as well as a folding base frame single unit for quick and simple assembly. The compact base unit can also fit in the boot of most cars or vans, perfect for those using it on the move. Carolina Marino, Regional Product Manager UK, Tower & Platform Laddersat Werner, said: “The new PROPLUS Mobile Access Tower has been designed with trade professionals in mind, offering them a stackable, safe and secure platform for working at height. Workers can quickly and easily assemble the tower according to their needs thanks to the three different working heights of 2.65m, 3.65m and 5.40m, each of which contains a variety of components.” This sturdy platform has a load capacity of 184kg, as well as 250mm rung spacing up the side of the frame, enabling easy climbing to the top platform. Offering a lightweight, adjustable and sturdy solution, the tower also features stabilisers on each corner of the frame, providing improved stability and designed to bring height safety to any job. The Werner PROPLUS Mobile Access Tower is now available nationally. To find out more visitwernerco.co.uk To find out more about Werner’s range of products, please visit wernerco.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
MGISS, one of the UK’s leading geospatial technology companies, has signed a partnership agreement with Leica Geosystems to drive a data-driven approach to the capture, management, and exploitation of asset information. AI, Data Analytics and Machine Learning are increasingly being used to drive value within utility and infrastructure organisations and it’s essential that the asset data being used is accurate and richly attributed to deliver the required results. The development of Digital Twins, BIM and GIS are demonstrating the value of a data-driven approach to industry challenges surrounding productivity, resilience, and asset performance. By placing easy to use Apps leveraging high accuracy satellite positioning in the hands of field users, the capture, management, and utilisation of authoritative asset information has become more accessible to those tasked with maintaining the asset estate. MGISS have been servicing the needs of utility, infrastructure, and environmental clients for more than 10 years. With asset data management often seen as a cost centre, the team are keen to ensure clients can leverage their leverage investment in asset information as part of MGISS’s development of insight services to build asset management as a value centre. The inclusion of Leica Geosystems Zeno range of products to the portfolio will enable MGISS to operate with increased confidence across the UK’s Utility, Infrastructure, and environmental communities to drive economic value, resilience, and improved sustainability. The Zeno product range will allow us to support our clients on their preferred Windows, iOS or Android platform and enable workflows that easily integrate with GIS systems including Esri. Michael Darracott, Managing Director at MGISS, said: “This wider and more customer-focussed relationship with Leica Geosystems will strengthen our solution portfolio, support our plans for growth, and provide our customers with more readily integrated technologies to underpin their customer, operational, and sustainability goals in an increasingly challenging environment”. Jonn Hicks, Managing Director at Leica Geosystems, said “It was a very easy decision for us to partner with the team at MGISS. With their extensive industry experience and expertise, we are looking forward to working with them to provide Leica Geosystems GNSS sensors to deliver accurate data for the asset management market.” Find out more by visiting www.mgiss.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
First Mats, Birmingham’s leading workplace products specialist, today announced the launch of their revamped range of Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC) Bunds. The company has expanded its offerings, providing customers with a more diverse and complete selection of products at significantly reduced prices. The new IBC Bunds fully comply with UK regulations and have a three-year guarantee on many products. IBC Bunds are essential containment systems designed to prevent leakage and spillage of hazardous materials stored in Intermediate Bulk Containers. These containers are commonly used to transport and store chemicals, oils, and other potentially harmful substances. Bunds play a crucial role in minimising the risk of environmental damage and ensuring workplace safety. “We are proud to present our new range of IBC Bunds, which offers our customers an even better selection of high-quality, compliant containment products,” said Richard O’Connor, Marketing Director at First Mats. “We have worked tirelessly to develop this new range that meets industry standards while offering significant cost savings for our customers.” Customers can conveniently order their new IBC Bunds from the First Mats website (www.firstmats.co.uk) or by contacting the award-nominated sales and support team. About First Mats First Mats is a Birmingham-based workplace products specialist dedicated to providing high-quality products and outstanding customer service. With years of experience in the industry, First Mats offers a comprehensive range of products, including IBC Bunds, safety matting, and a wide variety of workplace essentials. The company is committed to ensuring the highest standards of safety and compliance for businesses across the UK. For more information, please visit www.firstmats.co.uk or contact the sales and support team at info@firstmats.co.uk or by phone at 0121 702 1659. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
