The employees from engineering solutions provider, Boulting Group, have worked really hard and managed to raise £14,683.31 for cancer centre The Christie, the largest single-site cancer centre in Europe, treating more than 44,000 patients a year. The money raised will help fund the important work and support the facilities provided
A spate of security breaches related to internet connected devices has been welcomed by the UK government with new guidelines that seek to ensure the software is automatically updated, the passwords can’t be reset to factory defaults and that any sensitive data transmitted by apps is encrypted. However, James Fenner,
A team of engineers from Cardiff University are looking into microscopic bacteria that could help create ‘self-healing’ buildings, offering the perfect protection against cracks and other deterioration. The two-year study has been exploring how damage could trigger the release of bacteria and a few other helping chemicals that will allow
AEI Cables has committed to a further prestige standard as it continues to fight against non-approved cables, proving its commitment to quality and service delivery across its markets. The cable leader is demonstrating its dedication in all aspects of the ISO 9001-2015 standard for management systems, which addresses customer focus,
RCM has announced its latest acquisition – the Rockpanel exterior cladding, part of the Rockwool group, the world leader in stone wall solutions. Rockpanel is now part of RCM’s extensive portfolio of façades offerings. The façade is quick and easy to install, easy to maintain, highly cost-effective, and virtually waste-free.
Nic Collins, the area technical manager at Sika Refurbishment, wants to remind us how important the roof and concrete maintenance is for the upkeep of buildings, particularly for those of historical interest. Pitch-less roofs unadorned by modern drainage features are susceptible to ponding, which can lead to blistering to the
An upgraded version of GreenCoat Pural by SSAB using the patented Bio-based Technology (BT) coating made from Swedish rapeseed oil is now available. GreenCoat Pural BT is part of the GreenCoat premium steel product range, which is the greenest collection of colour coated steel products for the building industry. GreenCoat
The story of how two electrical specialists teamed up and succeeded in the Middle East following the global oil price crash ~ During times of economic uncertainty, it is often prudent for business leaders to diversify their companies’ products, services and markets to mitigate their risk exposure. In the
Offsite Solutions has won the Manufacturer of the Year Award. The leading bathroom pod manufacturer in the UK took home the award from the Made in the South West Awards. The annual awards have been created in order to showcase the manufacturing excellence across the South West and celebrate the
The established Scottish offsite manufacturing specialists, as well as full timber frame housing kit manufacturers, Scotframe Timber Engineering has announced that they have been acquired by a multinational construction group. The offsite manufacturer of timber frame housing solutions has been acquired by Saint-Gobain. Scotframe has their headquarters in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire
The employees from engineering solutions provider, Boulting Group, have worked really hard and managed to raise £14,683.31 for cancer centre The Christie, the largest single-site cancer centre in Europe, treating more than 44,000 patients a year. The money raised will help fund the important work and support the facilities provided for cancer patients and their families. “Cancer is one of the few remaining human diseases that scientists are yet to cure. Recent breakthroughs in stem cell research in particular means that we are closer than ever to overcoming cancer,” said Josh Groarke, deputy group managing director at Boulting Group, “This is why we’re proud of the determination of our staff and it means that, this year, we have presented The Christie with our biggest charitable donation to date.” Dave Jackson, Billy Ramsay, Matt Hemsworth and Kevin O’Hara took part in a 60 mile Manchester to Blackpool bike ride, while Victoria McWhirter competed in her first Pretty Muddy event and Sam Blair entered the Tough Mudder event. Staff who did not fancy getting muddy participated in a number of additional fundraising events throughout the year, including Boulting’s inaugural Summer Ball, which took place at the Principal Hotel in Manchester raising £7,400 as well as Easter and summer raffles and various dress-down days. “It has been an absolute pleasure being in partnership with Boulting Group over the past year. It has gone over and above to raise an incredible amount of money and we really appreciate its dedication and efforts,” said Danielle Carney, Corporate Fundraising Manager at The Christie. Located in Warrington, with additional sites across the UK, Boulting Group is a multi- disciplined engineering solutions provider, operating in a diverse range of industry sectors in the UK and internationally. Boulting provides a wide scope of project services from project management, design, fabrication and installation to commissioning and ongoing maintenance services and has strong in-house resources in all the major engineering construction disciplines, including mechanical, electrical and instrumentation, technology, HVAC/sophisticated environments.
A spate of security breaches related to internet connected devices has been welcomed by the UK government with new guidelines that seek to ensure the software is automatically updated, the passwords can’t be reset to factory defaults and that any sensitive data transmitted by apps is encrypted. However, James Fenner, founder and managing director at Silk Road, argued that by only issuing guidelines, and not making them legally binding, the government has fallen short in its care of vulnerable homeowners. “The Internet of Things is expanding at an incredible pace and there is much that smart tech can do to enhance home life. However, the pace of introduction means that the government has been left scrabbling to keep up and has been left wanting when it comes to matters of security,” said James. “Where vulnerable groups such as the elderly are using this technology in their homes in order to boost their independence, it is particularly important that security concerns are addressed swiftly and robustly.” Instead of using locks and burglar alarms to protect their homes, people have started turning to technology to achieve that. In the US, 73% of millennial women see smart home technology as a way to keep their homes safe. But despite the proliferation of these technologies, many consumers are concerned about their smart home data being hacked by cybercriminals. For this reason, many companies have started developing security devices to protect the connected homes. But it is the government that should be doing more about the possible cyber-attacks because if it doesn’t, then it will be those with money to spend who will benefit from the best protection. “Smart tech has an important role to play in the way that we live in and enjoy our homes. We just need to ensure that security matters are addressed at the same pace as innovations are achieved,” concluded James Fenner.
A team of engineers from Cardiff University are looking into microscopic bacteria that could help create ‘self-healing’ buildings, offering the perfect protection against cracks and other deterioration. The two-year study has been exploring how damage could trigger the release of bacteria and a few other helping chemicals that will allow buildings to repair themselves freely. When mixed with precursor chemicals, these microorganisms can produce mineral deposits such as calcium carbonate, which is a key component in rocks and other masonry materials. The study’s principal investigator, Dr Mike Harbottle, said bacteria could be “entombed” within spores of the mineral, alongside the precursor chemical. “When damage occurs to the masonry, the deposits within the mineral are also damaged, exposing both the bacteria and the chemicals, which react with each other again to produce even more mineral, thus healing the damage.” Buildings are constantly damaged by weathering. “These could be physical, chemical or biological changes which can all slowly attack the masonry structure,” said research fellow Magdalini Theodoridou. “Over time, usually many years, this damage builds up until fractures arise. Whilst these may not compromise the integrity of a structure immediately, if allowed to develop then damage may become critical.” During the study, the team will be developing ways of introducing the substances into the masonry either during the material production or after the buildings have gone up. A possible solution is thought to be the spraying of the building with a liquid containing the bacteria and other chemicals. The research is funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship scheme.
AEI Cables has committed to a further prestige standard as it continues to fight against non-approved cables, proving its commitment to quality and service delivery across its markets. The cable leader is demonstrating its dedication in all aspects of the ISO 9001-2015 standard for management systems, which addresses customer focus, motivation of senior management, processes and continual improvement awarded by the cable industry body, the British Approvals Service Cables (BASEC). This accreditation is complemented further by AEI Cables’ approvals from organisations such as Lloyds, the MoD, Network Rail and LUL, as well as American and Canadian approval systems and others worldwide. The management system ISO 9001-2015 scheme assesses a company’s ability to produce and supply goods and services constantly to specification and customer requirements in a safe manner and taking into consideration the environmental needs. “AEI Cables stands for quality across all of its business dealings and this is another sign of our commitment to it. We have a proven track record but we will not rest on our laurels,” said Stuart Dover, commercial manager for AEI Cables. “With the rising issue of non-approved cabling, we bring reassurance and peace of when it comes to product performance, and we look forward to supporting our customers in the UK and worldwide.” The markets that AEI Cables operates in include construction, industrial, fire protection, defence, mining, and rail. All of the company’s products for these markets are supplied with approvals from independent industry bodies such as BASEC and LPCB covering design, manufacture and supply. AEI Cables is one of the most respected cable experts worldwide, being committed to quality, safety and service with no compromise. The company has been in use for more than 170 years and it has delivered cables for prestige projects such as Manchester Airport, the White City complex, and Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.
RCM has announced its latest acquisition – the Rockpanel exterior cladding, part of the Rockwool group, the world leader in stone wall solutions. Rockpanel is now part of RCM’s extensive portfolio of façades offerings. The façade is quick and easy to install, easy to maintain, highly cost-effective, and virtually waste-free. The boards could be used as exterior cladding, for applications along the roofline and for building detailing. Each one of them is made from compressed mineral wool from basalt, which is then mixed with a small quantity of organic binder, resulting in a unique board that combines the strength and durability of stone with the workability of wood. The full range contains eleven products for different applications and finishes: Rockpanel Uni, Rockpanel Ply, Rockpanel Colours, Rockpanel Metallics, Rockpanel Chameleon, Rockpanel Brilliant, Rockpanel Woods, Rockpanel Natural, Rockpanel Stones, Rockpanel Lines 2 and Rockpanel Premium. In addition, all boards are available in various colours and are treated with a 4-layer water-based high quality coating that locks in their appearance, colour and finish for years to come. “RCM are delighted to be able to offer Rockpanel façades to our customers. It has added a new dimension to our façade portfolio and compliments the already existing range on offer. Rockpanel is made from natural volcanic rock-basalt and offers many benefits. It is as easy to process as wood, the colours remain stable and the material does not delaminate or rot. We look forward to increasing demand for this exceptional façade,” said Ian Quinton, Managing Director at RCM. RCM has already started supplying the Rockpanel range to various UK based project and is looking forward to expanding its façade range over the coming months. RCM is a major supplier of wall solutions for the UK construction industry, offering building boards, façades, breather membranes, and airtightness solutions. It is a market leader in providing innovative products and solutions designed and tested to meet the demands of the industry.
Nic Collins, the area technical manager at Sika Refurbishment, wants to remind us how important the roof and concrete maintenance is for the upkeep of buildings, particularly for those of historical interest. Pitch-less roofs unadorned by modern drainage features are susceptible to ponding, which can lead to blistering to the roof’s surface and valuable assets within the building becoming damaged. Exterior concrete elements such as soffits and parapets are also at risk of deterioration due to long-term ingress. To make sure this doesn’t happen to your building, Nic gives us a few advices. The first step towards avoiding the costly repairs of a water damaged roof is preventing it from becoming a major issue. A good corrosion survey, such as the one provided by Sika, measures the rate of delamination, its source and the effect on the concrete. Additionally, it also identifies the right products and systems to use as part of a refurbishment programme. The Sika survey investigates dust samples for chloride content and covers a meter reading and a test for levels of carbonation. A factual report based on the findings is then drawn-up and implemented as necessary. If a leak emanates from the roof’s area and threatens to cause long-term damage to surrounding concrete features, a roof survey is also advised. The Sika Liquid Plastics Area Technical Managers can conduct this survey and produce a full specification of the repair solution, with the project being monitored until its full completion by highly-experienced Field Technicians. Sika provided the products and expertise for two Grade II-listed buildings – the Hoover Building in Perivale, west London during its transformation into a luxury residential complex, and the Cunard, a former Second World War air raid shelter, now a high-end office block situated in a desirable dockyard location. By providing both the expertise and the quality products, Sika’s solution simplifies the refurbishment process for the client.
An upgraded version of GreenCoat Pural by SSAB using the patented Bio-based Technology (BT) coating made from Swedish rapeseed oil is now available. GreenCoat Pural BT is part of the GreenCoat premium steel product range, which is the greenest collection of colour coated steel products for the building industry. GreenCoat Pural has been the benchmark for roofing applications having the highest level of durability to withstand the harshest climates on earth for almost 30 years. The roof retains its appearance, is easy to maintain and is cost effective. It provides a maximum product lifetime due to its superior technical properties, such as Ruv4 UV radiation and RC5 corrosion resistance, as well as resistance from mechanical wear. The GreenCoat Pural BT offers builders a level of sustainability found nowhere else on the market, in addition to enhanced performance. “With GreenCoat® colour coated steels we provide the most sustainable products with the best technical properties for the building industry. GreenCoat® steels have the lowest thermal expansion of all metals to guarantee a clean look without buckling or deformation, for years to come,” said Olavi Huhtala, Executive Vice President SSAB Europe at SSAB Group. A lot of thought and research was put into the new steel product, involving consumer feedback, observing test results and utilizing the expertise of our partners. The end result is a product that combines the vision to deliver high-performance for greener living. “We have been using GreenCoat Pural successfully for 20 years. Now, we are taking a step further, advancing the creation of a more sustainable living environment in terms of roof construction. It was extremely rewarding to participate in the development of this unique, new generation of roofing products,” explains Juha Weckman, Director of Weckman Steel Oy, Finland. GreenCoat Pural BT is available in an extensive colour range inspired by the Nordic nature with the option of matt or regular gloss finishes.
The story of how two electrical specialists teamed up and succeeded in the Middle East following the global oil price crash ~ During times of economic uncertainty, it is often prudent for business leaders to diversify their companies’ products, services and markets to mitigate their risk exposure. In the same way that many businesses are now adjusting their strategic outlook in light of Brexit, others are using the opportunity to enter into new markets. Following a similar period of uncertainty in 2015, after the global oil and gas price crashed, load bank specialist Crestchic and power distribution specialist ide Systems teamed up to take on the Middle East power rental market. It may come as a surprise to learn that some of the world’s biggest companies started out life in a very different form to the brands we know and love today. For example, Twitter started life as a podcasting service, Starbucks used to sell coffee machines, Nokia began as a paper mill, Hewlett-Packard specialised in electrical testing products and even Apple teetered on the brink of bankruptcy before Steve Jobs launched the iPod. A difficult dilemma Similarly, Crestchic found itself in need of an adjustment to its business model when the global price of oil and gas crashed. One of a group of companies owned by AIM-listed Northbridge Industrial Services plc, Crestchic is the world’s largest specialist load bank manufacturer, having sold and hired equipment to companies worldwide for over 25 years. “Following the oil price crash, our parent company Northbridge plc faced a growing risk-exposure to a portion of its investment portfolio, which consists of businesses serving the oil and gas market,” explained Chris Caldwell, European rental director of Crestchic. “To mitigate this risk, we adjusted Crestchic’s strategic focus to capitalise on the growing power market.” The rapid growth of social media, online services and cloud computing in recent years has given rise to an increasing dependence on temporary and emergency backup power supplies, which are used to power the new wave of data centres. This is particularly true in applications such as financial services, hospitals and commercial buildings. Here, the use of load banks to test mission-critical power supplies is equally as important as the power supplies themselves. With a product range designed and manufactured in the UK, Crestchic has established successful rental operations in countries including the UK, France, Germany, Singapore, China and the USA. Generator rental companies typically purchase Crestchic’s load banks, transformers and critical testing equipment to fill a shortfall in their supply inventory. A fresh perspective As part of its diversification strategy, Crestchic spotted an opportunity to gain increased market penetration in the Middle East where Northbridge plc already operated a Crestchic Middle East (CME) rental fulfilment warehouse, as well as Tasman, an oil and gas tools business, in Jebel Ali, UAE. In order to deliver a full portfolio of rental equipment, Crestchic turned to power-distribution specialist ide Systems. Based in Cannock, Staffordshire, with outlets in London and Glasgow, ide Systems specialises in the rental and bespoke engineering of products including distribution boards, changeover systems, inline protection, and cabling. They typically supply sectors such as events, construction, commerce, healthcare, and military. “Having already worked with Crestchic to supply rental equipment into France and Germany, we were keen to join forces to take on the Middle East rental market,” explained Ian Thomas, managing director of ide Systems. “We entered into a joint venture and used a revenue sharing model. We supplied the capital investment for the rental equipment while Crestchic supplied the facilities and the team required to manage the day-to-day rental operations. “Our research in the Middle East showed that it was ideally located to make a significant impact on the rental market and provide easy access to neighbouring regions including North Africa and India, as well as the wider Middle East and Asia.” Many GCC countries are still recovering from the 2009 global economic crisis, with average economic growth in the region forecast at 1.8 per cent according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Countering this trend, Dubai has certainly bounced back much faster thanks to its more diversified economy and is now set to experience 3.7 per cent economic growth in 2016. This is despite estimates by the IMF showing that low oil prices in the Arabian Gulf will result in the loss of $140 billion in export revenue. Part of the reason why Dubai has bucked the economic downturn is the government’s creation of economic hubs such as the Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA). Boasting one of the Middle East’s busiest ports, the Jebel Ali Free Zone is a state-owned free economic zone designed to provide foreign businesses with a low-tax, low-bureaucracy, environment that delivers extensive infrastructure supported by excellent logistics. Overcoming obstacles Taking advantage of this opportunity, ide Systems provided a suite of electrical equipment ranging from power distribution boards, automatic changeover systems, switches, inline protection, cabling and more. “However, simply supplying the equipment was not enough,” continued Thomas. “We faced some key challenges unique to the Middle East. We had to make some minor modifications to the equipment to withstand the extreme temperatures, especially for outdoor use and at events. “Because the ambient temperatures can potentially cause internal components to fail, we adapted the equipment to include forced ventilation and added solar-gain shields to the housing to limit thermal issues. Many of the larger power distribution boards also needed to be adapted with caster wheels, trolleys and cradles for larger corporate events.” Compliance challenges As well as making technical modifications, the weaker regulatory framework in the region posed a challenge. To overcome this problem, the company ensured that all equipment was tested and certified to the highest levels, going beyond the regulatory requirements. “One of the weaknesses of the Middle East rental market is that many providers simply don’t test equipment properly,” explained Thomas. “This means that businesses who want to rent equipment cannot be entirely sure whether it was tested 12 hours ago or
Offsite Solutions has won the Manufacturer of the Year Award. The leading bathroom pod manufacturer in the UK took home the award from the Made in the South West Awards. The annual awards have been created in order to showcase the manufacturing excellence across the South West and celebrate the commitment that has been made by the region’s businesses to achieving world-class quality and performance. The companies that are entered into these awards represent a diverse range of industries, from aerospace and building products to food and drink brands. The winners at this awards ceremony are then automatically put through to the Made in the UK Awards. Offsite Solutions were presented with the Manufacturer of the Year Award for companies with less than £25 million a year turnover at a ceremony that took place in the Grand Hotel, Bristol. The category that Offsite Solutions was included in assessed manufacturing excellence as well as sales growth and regional economic impact. The judges for the Made in the South West Awards praised the spread of sectors that Offsite Solutions is able to flourish in as well as their £5 million factory investment programme that is now in progress. The company are thrilled with this latest accolade and the Managing Director of Offsite Solutions, James Stephens has said that the recognition is a testament to the hard work and talent that has been shown by the teams working across the company. Offsite Solutions are proud to be leaders in the market of offsite bathroom pod manufacture and are committed to innovation. As a part of their focus on innovation, Offsite Solutions invest in state of the art production facilities in Highbridge which will allow the company to continue to offer the very best quality bathroom pod products available on the market. Offsite offer a comprehensive and expanding range of bathroom pods to suit a wide range of building types and finishes. Being named Manufacturer of the Year will no doubt boost the company’s success going forward.
The established Scottish offsite manufacturing specialists, as well as full timber frame housing kit manufacturers, Scotframe Timber Engineering has announced that they have been acquired by a multinational construction group. The offsite manufacturer of timber frame housing solutions has been acquired by Saint-Gobain. Scotframe has their headquarters in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire and has over 160 employees. The company had reported sales last year of around £30 million. The company has become well-known for providing modular housing and is a market leader in the manufacture and supply of closed panel systems. On top of this, Scotframe works to supply customers with full timber frame housing kits to be installed by small and medium sized builders, developers or self-builders across the UK. This acquisition marks a new start for the offsite manufacturing experts and there is a great deal of potential in becoming a part of Saint-Gobain group. The multi-national construction group has a great reputation and shows a good level of business strength which could lead to an equally strong future for Scotframe. The Saint-Gobain Group was first established in 1655 in north east France. The company was the first to produce glass on an industrial scale and has since managed to expand, working in a number of different locations around the world. The construction group has a strong presence in Scotland and has recently completed the Queensferry Crossing which is known for being the longest three-tower cable-stayed bridge in the world. The Founder and MD of Scotframe, Bob Edwards will be staying with the company and will continue working as Managing Director after the acquisition. It is also thought that following the takeover Scotframe will continue to operate business as usual, working to serve customers with high-quality manufactured products. Bob Edwards has said that nothing will change for Scotframe customers, but the company will be making the most of an opportunity to be a part of a global construction group.
