Business and Industry Today Issue 382

Top of the range Palazzo Lodge given a beautiful makeover

Cricket Club is bowled over by Burg-Wächter’s secure communities scheme

Burg-Wächter UK’s ‘Secure Communities Scheme’ has come to the aid of a Cheshire cricket and football club. The security specialist was impressed with an application from High Lane Cricket club of Stockport for the free-of-charge security support that the Secure Communities Scheme provides.

Following assessment of the club’s needs, Burg-Wächter has donated a selection of padlocks. The locks will be used to secure two areas: storage rooms housing training equipment for coaches to access, and a new container adjacent to the pavilion that is to provide extra storage space.

Burg-Wächter’s Secure Communities Scheme gives regional community leaders and volunteers the chance to win a security kit worth up to £200 for their organisation. Any regional initiative that is run by or supports the local community can apply.

The top selling Palazzo has had a re-vamp for 2023/24, that includes all new interior layout and interior designer finish including remote control dimmer adjustable mood lighting for both the kitchen and main bathroom, built in Bluetooth sound system, integrated Bosch appliances, designer furniture, backlit feature wall in lounge, underfloor heating in the bathroom and en-suite, floor to ceiling headboard in the master bedroom, wine cooler and much more, and of course the Kingston quality build finish as standard.

There is a whole range of colour schemes, furniture packages available

and of course, the stunning bathroom, with waterfall tap to the bath, mood down lighting on the wall behind the bath and inset into the bath panel all remote controlled, a stunning lodge that was the talk of the Stoneleigh Show.

Show lodge available to view at Thornton Country Lodge Retreats, Thornton Lane, Thornton Hill, York YO61 3QA.

Contact T 01482 835835 sales@kingstonplh.com www.kingstonplh.com https://www.facebook.com/ kingstonplh

Burg-Wächter launched the scheme in recognition of the fact that people around the country who are doing their bit for their community should not have to worry about the security of their premises, equipment or storage areas. The company’s Secure Communities Scheme is its way of saying thank you to community leaders for supporting people in their area.

The Secure Communities Scheme is an ongoing initiative, which has already

helped 105 regional causes through the provision of over 2,000 pieces of security equipment.

For further details of the scheme and rules of entry head to: www.burg.biz/uk/ community

For information on Burg-Wächter’s range of wired camera kits and other home security products, please visit: www.burg.biz/uk or call: 01274 395333.

Monogram Orthopaedics selects RTI Connext anywhere as the Connectivity Software Solution for Remote Surgery

Connext provides reliable and low-latency data transfer across networks enabling the world’s first fully Remote Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) procedure from over 2,000 miles away

Real-Time Innovations (RTI), the largest software framework company for autonomous systems, today announced Monogram Orthopaedics Inc. has selected RTI Connext® Anywhere to provide realtime connectivity during its fully remote simulated robotic surgery. Monogram recently achieved a significant industry milestone by completing the world’s first fully remote, robotically-assisted Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) procedure on a cadaver leg, where surgeons in New York City controlled an orthopedic robot located in Austin, Texas. Monogram uses Connext Anywhere to achieve reliable and low-latency communications for telesurgery, enabling highly precise and time-saving procedures.

In order to address the technical challenges of teleoperation, Monogram required a flexible software connectivity solution that was designed for distributed, secure, and reliable data flow. Connext Anywhere, based on the Data Distribution Service (DDS™) standard, accelerates development of intelligent and connected platforms, and provides a range of reliability features to optimise and prioritise real-time data flow over intermittent networks.

The Connext Anywhere Cloud Discovery

Source: Monogram Orthopaedics

Service minimises deployment-specific configuration while improving system scalability. This allows Monogram applications to dynamically discover each other across networks and establish efficient peer-to-peer communication. Monogram is able to take advantage of RTI’s extensive set of development tools in order to easily visualise data sharing across large-scale distributed surgical systems. This allows system developers to better observe behavior during test and deployment, and to more quickly identify configuration or network problems.

A full replay of the Monogram Orthopaedics remote simulated robotic surgery is available here: https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=j0OQk8mT-bs. To learn more about RTI in healthcare, please visit: https://www.rti.com/ industries/healthcare

From left to right: Kelly Jones, overseas player from Australia; Chris Simpson, HLCC Chairman; and young cricketing enthusiasts Rob Scarr and Oli Green

The best under the sun: The most alluring shade in the world

In this issue of Business & Industry Today, we are proud to announce Markilux as our Awning Design Manufacturing Company of the Month.

The UK restaurant industry has undergone a recent transformation, making it barely recognisable compared to a decade ago. Outdoor dining became the ‘norm’ during Lockdown and the trend has continued, with many diners enjoying the al fresco atmosphere. Even in the cooler months, outdoor heaters keep everyone cosy and comfortable. Major restaurants and hotels in cities like London or Brighton are now providing stylish, coloured awnings with atmospheric lighting and heating.

Markilux is the leading multi-award-winning manufacturer of designer awnings, often showcased across the UK hospitality industry. The stunning, five-star Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Hyde Park sports a stylish Markilux awning, showcasing its Edwardian architecture. The legendary fish and seafood restaurant: Scallop Shell in Bath, recommended by Marco Pierre White features a Markilux awning for finer dining.

The leading, innovative company has an illustrious history:

in 1972, CarlHinderich Schmitz founded Markilux in Emsdetten, North West Germany, part of the SchmitzWerke Group.

Originally created to manufacture bespoke awnings for patios, balconies, windows and conservatories, the company has grown exponentially: now a fourth-generational business, to become a globally leading brand for designer awnings.

Markilux awnings and other shading solutions provide the perfect shade cover for children’s outdoor play areas, fine dining cover in restaurants, bars and hotels and stylish privacy in homes and gardens, around the world.

The Markilux MX-4 won this year’s iF Design Award for garden product design, the MX-4 has also won this year’s (2023) Red Dot Award for Product Design, and the MX-2 won the German Design Award in 2022.

Building Design Company of the Month

The Markilux headquarters are still housed in its original location: Emsdetten, Germany but now has extensive offices throughout the USA, Australia, the Middle East and most European countries. We caught up with Nigel Shaw, the Managing Director of Markilux UK to find out more, “What makes Markilux unique is the combination of designer quality awnings and the weaving of our awning covers all under one roof, which is why we are truly ‘Made in Germany’ right down to the last detail.”

“In the UK, we have a new showroom at the Business Design Centre in Islington, London, a head office in Chester and a network of over 90 specialist dealers all over the country.”

“We are highly engaged in utilising the quality and design of our products in the commercial sector for hotels, restaurants – where outside dining and entertaining is becoming much more focused, and attractive for the business owners and customers.”

“We offer refinement of well-engineered products with a strong emphasis on aesthetic, good looks and design that will stand the test of time.”

The expertly designed awnings and other shading solutions are compliant with EN ISO-9001 standards and offer solar and rain seasonal protection, all year round. With

optimised UPF 50+ sun protection on hot summer days, the stylish awnings also offer lateral protection from low-lying sun, especially from a southerly/south-west direction. The industrially-engineered products protect against light breezes, allowing for al fresco dining throughout the year, and with infrared heaters and smart control technology, colder days are covered too.

The names of restaurants and hotels can be displayed clearly on the outside of the awning in respective fonts and sizes, allowing clear advertising from strategic vantage points.

With over 40 models and over 200 cover patterns, there is the perfect style and colour for every building, even panoramic windows, adding a dash of functionality and stylish panache to outdoor, shaded dining and living.

For a full consultation today, or to visit the London showroom, please see the website below: T 0800 014 9952 info@markilux.co.uk www.markilux.com

The landscape facilitators changing the narrative around architecture and nature

In this issue of Business & Industry Today, we are proud to announce Atelier Architecture & Design Ltd as our Building Design Company of the Month.

We are all familiar with the legendary Grand Designs series on Channel 4, with awe-inspiring, imaginative self-building design projects, in far-flung beauty spots around the country. Imagine watching an architectural promotional video blending Grand Designs, with Sir David Attenborough’s The Private Life of Plants. Introducing award-winning Atelier Architecture: where nature is revered as a sanctuary and where nature and architecture can co-exist in harmony.

Stephen Melvin is the Principal Director and refers to himself tellingly as a landscape facilitator, not an architect, “Using our Pioneer-Nature Method and Biophilic Design Principles: we look at the guiding evolution of the landscape, acting as a filter to support the nature processes, which were there before we were here and invariably, will be afterwards. It’s about putting people back in touch with nature and the landscape, something that has been largely lost over the last 400 years in this country. Our primary function is listening to the land.”

The team of landscape facilitators lovingly ‘draw out’ the landscape and design beautiful spaces to seamlessly

interact with the land. The practice was started in 1991 by Peter Melvin and is based in Marsworth, near Tring in Hertfordshire.

Over the last two decades, the visionary architectural company has won multiple awards, including: The UK Property Awards (Winner: 2020-2021) and LOOP Design Awards (Honourable Mention 2020.), and World Architecture Finalists in Display Category 2021.

The website showcases a stunning portfolio of design projects from all over the world, across leisure, residential, workplace & community and conservation areas.

One such project is The Norsk Nature Retreat in Drammen, Norway. Emerging from the lingering lake mist are woodland cabins, surrounded by towering, ancient Norwegian Spruces and Firs. The interiors house huge window spaces, looking out onto the remote woodland. The cabins merge with the woodland, creating a magical, storytelling narrative: where trees facilitate the rejuvenation of the retreat dwellers.

By contrast, there is a social housing complex that brings a myriad of light, communal spaces and green walkways to accessible living apartments for elders. The interconnecting designs have created a beautiful community: inviting companionship and shared living arrangements.

With detailed, due consideration given to the ecological, cultural and economic constraints of each site, the team act like visionary talisman: curating nurturing spaces, with wide, airy views of glorious views, as Stephen illustrates, “The focus is to reconnect people with nature and nature with people. To create exceptional buildings in outstanding landscapes that nurture both people and landscape.”

“Every project is unique, and requires analysis and interpretation of the unique context, including physical, social, economic, and cultural influences. We do have strategies in place to investigate these influences.”

“Whether in an urban or rural context we help our clients

to create spaces and surroundings that enable people to unwind, restore and rejuvenate. In the modern world, it is easy to lose connection with self, with the environment and with a sense of calm and exhilaration. The modern digital world is forcing people to disconnect, and we are offering the opposite.”

The expert team partner with a wide range of customers from: private homeowners, property developers, housing associations, Local Authorities, charities, and community bodies, and help all reconnect with the beauty of nature and the wider environment.

One of the areas of specialism is conservation repairs and the architects work in conjunction with English Heritage on Grade 1 listed structures. Many period buildings need specialist timber, brickwork, stonework, lead, metal or roofing repairs and the team practice a ‘like for like’ approach: replacing with minimal intervention.

If you’re embarking on a building project and would like some expert consultative advice, contact Principal Director Stephen Melvin, on the details below:

T 01442 828201

M 07970 701130

info@atelier-architects.co.uk

www.atelier-architects.co.uk

Nene Warehouse Solutions does it again

In this issue of Business and Industry Today, we are delighted to award Nene Warehouse Solutions as our Warehouse Solutions Company of the Year. Also featured earlier this year as our Company of the Month for its unrivalled storage solutions and exceptional aftercare support, Nene Warehouse Solutions is no stranger to such accolades. As a family-run company, Nene has been recognised in the industry as being on the receiving end of multiple awards since it first began. We caught up with Gary Coleman, Nene Warehouse Solutions Operations Director to see how the last 12 months have been for the company.

“It’s been incredible! So much for all the media talk last Autumn around a recession is just around the corner. Our industry certainly didn’t get the memo, but fingers crossed it carries on of course! After the

Gary described some recent developments within the company, “Things are always progressing, and evolving at Nene Warehouse Solutions, even after nearly 50 years of trading. We’ve created a new Automation and Robotics division to help our new and existing clients move into this rapidly growing sector of the industry. Using the skills and knowledge of the highly experienced solutions team, alongside this new division, we’re able to offer the clients the right solution for pretty much any storage or product flow challenge they are faced with.”

Another notable change within the business sees Nene partnering with eConform – the full rack asset and inspection software. Utilising industry-leading software, Nene believe in always combining its own expertise with the best tools available to deliver

To have the expertise and conscious vision to ensure its services always offer the most up to date solutions to combat industry and economic changes is a way of life for Nene, which is why its customers and the service they receive will always remain as the backbone of the company.

“Our USP is around service levels. We like to be in control of our destiny this way when we make a promise or commitment, we know we can honour it. Sitting on a stock holding of over £2,000,000 worth of equipment allows us full control of the supply and service to our clients. We’ve got many examples of where clients have made contact looking for a quick solution to help them out, and we’ve been able to deliver.

Short-term Nene is currently implementing both a new CRM system and a new project managing system, both of which will integrate into its existing SAP Business One ERP system. This will allow them to continue to streamline internal processes, which in turn will further improve its service to clients.

last two and a half years of record trading, it stands to reason that forecasts are set in line with previous years and also the growth plans. We’re happy with the continued growth we’re experiencing.”

Nene has over 100 years of design consultancy experience and a proven track-record for looking after its staff and customers. The company boasts an extensive base of over 5,000 customers, a nationwide team of over 200 accredited engineers, and a distribution facility dispatching to companies all over the UK and mainland Europe. Marked as the largest stockist of pallet racking in the UK – its head office, production, and distribution facility are now at 345,000 sq. ft., and its current stock holding sits at £2.5 million.

Nene is a powerhouse when it comes to successfully managing warehouse operations including the design, supply, install, maintenance and repair. To maximise and maintain the potential of the available storage space is a service to which Nene knows all too well through its experienced team of project managers and design engineers who offer a full turn-key solution.

the highest-quality service. To ensure its racking inspections are thorough, accurate and compliant with industry standards, eConform’s Racking Inspection Software is the best on the market.

Gary commented, “We’re really excited to have partnered with eConform. Born out of frustrations from all links in the chain, from SARI (SEMA approved rack inspectors), PRRS’ (person responsible for rack safety), rack manufacturers, suppliers, and installers, to clients, the software speeds up the entire process from inspection to repair, whilst at the same time giving the customer complete visibility of what is damaged. It’s truly changing the way the industry works, and we’re proud to be working with such a forward-thinking group of people.”

With interest rates the way they are going, capital is not always easy to obtain. We’ve offered rack hire options for over 20 years, but with capital becoming more and more difficult for some companies to obtain, we’ve increased our offering in finance options to include outright purchases too. This has been welcomed by many sectors, from start-ups to longestablished companies. I think there is still a bit of stigma around financing, but if you consider the vast majority of people borrow to finance their houses and cars in their personal lives, why shouldn’t businesses borrow too,” added Gary.

Long-term and in keeping with current environmental challenges, Nene acknowledges the importance of minimising its negative impact on the environment. To combat this, it’s dedication to and commitment involves investing in energy-efficient infrastructure and promoting eco-friendly processes. To drive internal change, Nene formed an environmental committee in 2022. This committee enabled them to gather data on its carbon emissions, focus its investments, refine green practices, and raise awareness amongst its team, suppliers, and customers. Alongside installing 134 solar panels at its headquarters in Northamptonshire in 2022, Nene also has a fleet of 15 fully electric vehicles and 10 Rolec EV charging points available at its head office parking facility.

Add on to that the impressive achievement of conducting all racking installations, inspections, design surveys, and health & safety audits without the use of any paper, from even the smallest administrative tasks Nene is making strides in the industry and paving the way for a greener future.

In closing, we asked Gary how he felt receiving yet another award. “It’s an absolute honour and is a testament to all the great people we have here at Nene Warehouse Solutions. There’s a huge amount of experience and knowledge that we’re proud to say is shared continually which of course raises the skills of all of our team.”

Contact T 01327 300456 enquiries@nene.co.uk www.nene.co.uk

Aqua Safety Showers – working safely, together

Adhesives & glue guns

AdCo UK is one of the largest manufactures of shaped hotmelt adhesives and water-based adhesives for use in packaging and product assembly markets for over 21 years, from its Head Office and manufacturing facility in Liphook Hampshire with additional distribution facilities based in Leeds UK and a network of approved distributors based throughout the UK.

As well as supplying adhesives for all requirements, AdCo supplies a wide range of specialist applicators – from ProFlex industrial, heavy duty and professional glue guns to total melt, cartridge and bulk systems, we also manufacture and supply UF

resins, PVA Adhesives, PU Adhesives, Tapes and much more

As part of our commitment to offer our customers the correct solution for their needs AdCo are continually investing in research and development along with new state of the art manufacturing equipment to ensure we continue to meet the ever changing needs of all types of industry.

Thanks to our unrivalled knowledge of adhesives and application techniques, our highly skilled technicians can offer a ‘find and supply’ service to all our customers. With a combined industry experience

of over 120 years, our technicians can ensure that any bonding problem can be solved quickly and efficiently.

T 01428 751755 enquiries@adco.co.uk www.adco.co.uk

While we hope they are never needed, it is essential to make sure your safety showers are ready to go in the event of an emergency. Safety Showers are built to last around 20 years but if units aren’t regularly tested and maintained, the life span of 20 years can easily decrease.

Aqua Safety Showers are on hand to ensure your workers remain safe, just about everywhere.

Our range of emergency products and equipment offer protection against serious injury and are all built to exceed ANSI/EN safety standards.

We have the flexibility to adapt, modify or design bespoke units for each individual customer in our UK manufacturing facility.

Our goal is to create essential pieces of equipment that become the standard in every laboratory and facility that uses harmful substances.

Don’t wait for an emergency to occur to find out your site requires safety showers and eyebaths or that your current units are not functioning properly.

Book a free site visit with Aqua today for expert advice regarding current and future units – prepare and prevent instead of repair and repent.

T +44 (0)1942 318096

sales@aqua-safety.com

https://aqua-safety.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ aquasafetyshowers

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ aqua-safety-showers-international-ltd YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UC2IeWZzOlQDOrQiWVGYtYRw

Work safely in potentially explosive areas

The Schmersal Group has expanded its range of optoelectronic protective devices with a series of safety light curtains/grids in Ex design. The new EX-SLC/SLG440 series is designed in the ignition protection types EX d (gas atmospheres), EX t (dust atmospheres) and EX op is (optical radiation) and is thus especially suitable for access protection of potentially explosive areas in industrial production – namely for zones 1 and 21.

There is an elevated risk of explosion in many areas of manufacturing, such as in the chemicals industry, in refineries or paint shops where flammable coatings are being used. In industries that process bulk materials, such as in the animal feed or recycling industries, as well as in sawmills and plants that process cereals and grains, there is a risk of dust explosion and the occasional formation of a potentially explosive dust cloud during normal operation.

Schmersal has developed the SLC/SLG440 safety light curtain/grids in Ex version precisely for these applications. These devices can be installed in potentially explosive gaseous and dusty atmospheres of zones 1/21 and 2/22, category 2GD and are used to protect hazardous areas and machine access. When one or more of the beams is interrupted, hazardous movements are brought to a halt.

The series is ATEX certified and further certification – IECEx, INMETRO and CCC Ex – are due to follow. The sensor system is accommodated in a protective enclosure made from non-breakable glass. www.schmersal.co.uk

Why fleet and driver safety shouldn’t be a lottery

By Simon Turner, Campaign Manager for the Driving for Better Business programme

Do you play the National Lottery? Millions do and, every week, they buy a ticket in the hope of winning the jackpot. Yet the odds of doing that are a vanishingly small 1 in 45 million! And still millions of people think it might be them.

In Great Britain, there are roughly 20 million vehicles driven on business including company cars, vans, HGVs and private cars used for work journeys – some every day, some only occasionally.

Every year, according to government statistics, around 40,000 people are injured in collisions that involve someone who was driving for work. Plus, these are only the injuries that are reported – many aren’t. And there are many more that only involve damage to vehicles or property. This means the odds of being involved in an injury collision while driving for work are just 1 in 500 and yet very few people ever believe it will happen to them. If your drivers and vehicles aren’t managed well, then the odds could be even higher.

Anyone who manages company vehicles and their drivers has a legal duty of care under the Health and Safety at Work Act to take all ‘reasonably practicable’ steps to minimise the risk to staff, and anyone else who may be affected by the company’s operations.

In short, this legislation means that:

● The company mustn’t do anything that puts drivers at risk

● The company’s work-related driving activities mustn’t endanger any other road users

● Directors must put appropriate policies and procedures in place to ensure that this is so

● And all employees including drivers, managers and directors must follow those policies and procedures at all times.

The key to success is understanding how these legal responsibilities are shared across the business at all levels:

● Directors and managers have a responsibility to ensure that risks are identified and managed, and that the correct policies and procedures are put in place

● Your drivers have a responsibility to follow those procedures and behave responsibly at all times, driving safely and following the Highway Code

● Line managers, work schedulers and others may also have an important role to play in managing the risk, by ensuring that drivers aren’t subject to unreasonable demands that might encourage them to speed or increase the risk of fatigue.

Is this really how we do things round here?

Culture is vital to improving driver safety. Culture can be defined as ‘the way we do things round here.’ When new people start working for an organisation, they’ll look around them at how things are done and copy the prevailing behaviours. If they see corners being cut, they’ll cut corners themselves and, if they see everyone taking care to do things right, then they copy them to fit in.

This is why it’s so important to manage your drivers well, ensuring they are clear about the

The most obvious costs are fleet insurance premiums and repairs arising from unnecessary vehicle damage, whether that be serious collisions or just avoidable parking scrapes. However, there are many hidden costs that are also involved such as the increase in admin and management time sorting out claims and repairs, right up to staff absence and vehicle off road time if the incident was more serious.

Operational costs such as fuel, tyres, routine service and maintenance, insurance and damage repairs are often simply seen as the cost of doing business yet they can be significantly higher than they need to be when drivers and vehicles aren’t being managed properly.

then you aren’t managing – it’s as simple as that!

Stand up and be counted

It is vitally important that the leaders in charge of the business clearly commit to supporting those responsible for managing driver risk and that they can put into words why driver safety is so important to them personally and to the business as a whole.

Of course, leaders need to make sure their commitment is genuine or it all falls down very quickly. A leader that states how important driver safety is, and then fails to take an interest or

standards expected of them. It means you need to focus on three things: a good driving for work policy that is clearly communicated to all staff, and consistently applied and monitored.

These are the key building blocks of a strong and resilient safety culture. Remember – your existing drivers play a vital role in the successful integration of safe new drivers.

Just the cost of doing business?

Running vans can be an expensive business. While poor driving can obviously put your drivers and other road users at risk, it can also cost your organisation huge amounts of money, but often in ways, you may not realise.

You can only control costs if you are measuring and monitoring the right data and linking it to driver behaviour.

If you aren’t measuring and you aren’t monitoring

provide support when needed or, worse, actively goes against the policy such as failing to abide by a mobile phone policy or failing to pull up employees who don’t meet the standards, will quickly lose the support of the workforce and the culture will fail.

Don’t allow your driver risk management to become a lottery. Knowledge and careful planning are needed to ensure that you, your drivers, other road users and your business are fully protected, and the free Driving for Better Business programme can help.

If you’d like to learn more about what you and your organisation should be doing and whether you have any gaps in your driver risk management, join our free programme at: www.drivingforbetterbusiness.com. We have a wealth of free online tools and resources to help you understand where your priorities should be to reduce risk, control costs and improve efficiency.

Simon Turner MARRM MAFP, Campaign Manager, Driving for Better Business

Providing solutions for your force or torque measurement applications

automotive, and motorsport companies, and Business Development Manager Tony Rokins told us, “We work closely with companies which are undertaking research into product development, and so this includes universities and also medical companies who need load cells for weighing saline bags – we have a very wide and varied client portfolio.”

Interface Force is an internationally recognised brand and decades of experience have gone into making Interface manufactured load cells the benchmark for thousands of users around the world, and Interface Force Measurements was established in 1996 by Neil Johnstone.

Based in Crowthorn, Berkshire, Interface Force distributes to the whole of the UK & Ireland, but also overseas, especially into Turkey, Greece and the Middle East. The company is a primary distributor for Load Cells manufactured by Arizona-based Interface Inc., and it also supplies their Torque Transducers, associated electronics, multi-access Load Cells and the XSensor Pressure Mapping systems.

The global Interface Inc. is represented by a large network of distributors outside of the US, and they have requested products that are designed and manufactured in metric, with the precision and accuracy of all Interface products. These products are designed for an international buyer and user, and all specifications are in metric specs, a global standard for force measurement products.

Interface Force work mainly with aerospace,

In this crowded industry, Interface load cells and torque sensors have a hard-won reputation for reliable, accurate and repeatable test results. The range of pressure sensors and pressure mapping systems from industry leaders GP50 and XSensor back this reputation.

Tony continued, “With regards to force measurement, our load cells are preferred by aerospace companies because they are highly accurate, and the results are very repeatable. Also, the devices themselves are extremely reliable and so they are looked on very favourably by both automotive and aerospace manufacturers in particular.”

Interface Force is currently re-launching its XSensor

High Speed Pressure Mapping System – the company offers a range of pressure mapping systems that can be applied to anything from impact testing to pressure testing tires, runways, beds, seats and much more. The XSensor system is the

first system design to allow product designers and safety testing engineers to see, record and evaluate the distribution of force from high-speed impacts on safety equipment such as helmets and body armour.

The system is particularly popular with automotive and aerospace seating manufacturers as evaluating the performance of helmets and other protective equipment designed to prevent injury requires detailed understanding of the pressure distribution

on the body surface during dynamic impacts. Xsensor’s high speed HS Impact system combined with the thin conformable sensors allows customers to accurately measure those pressures and evaluate how different design configurations affect pressure distribution on impact.

In addition to this, the system is also used by manufacturers of office seating, companies that develop seating for the home, and bed manufacturers.

In spite of its success in the industry, Interface Force is very much looking to future development. Tony informed us, “We are building new Applications which are based around renewable energy, and we are also developing Cloud-based, Wifi and Bluetooth data acquisitions by making our devices wireless. This would mean customers being able to collect data from anywhere in the world via an App.”

This ever-growing comprehensive range of indicators, signal amplifiers, data loggers and wireless transmitters has been designed to complement the extensive range of load cells, torque transducers and pressure sensors, and the range has developed to ensure that customers have access to the most accurate, up-to-date, and cost-effective devices available.

Another new development is in the Airport environment, where Interface Force have begun to provide wireless monitoring of equipment on, for example, luggage carousels, and this product among many others have helped Interface Force to have a very successful past 12 months especially.

Interface Force’s product reliability is second to none and all of its product lines have to match this standard before ever being recommended to customers. Interface is the world’s trusted leader in technology, design and manufacturing of force measurement solutions. Its clients include a ‘who’s who’ of so many industries, and the company’s engineers around the world are empowered to create high-level tools and solutions that deliver consistent, high-quality performance.

For more information, please see below:

T +44 (0)1344 776666 info@interface.uk.com www.interfaceforce.co.uk

Pneumatic Diaphragm Pumps High Power Picosecond Pulse Laser

developed an Air Operated Diaphragm Pump featuring a globally patented, virtually wearfree, frictionless pivoting air valve eliminating most of the issues users face today.

Conventional Air Operated Diaphragm

Pumps

● High energy consumption

● High pulsation and heavy vibration

● Excessive noise levels

● Frequent maintenance

● Needs clean air

● Stalling and freezing

● Air valve maintenance taking over 55+ minutes

● Required constant operator monitoring

● High lifecycle cost

SAMOA® Air Operated Diaphragm Pumps

The picosecond pulse laser series FPYL-Q-PS is offered with peak power up to 100W at a repetition rate of 1MHz and a pulse width of <10ps. Available wavelengths are 266nm (1-8W), 355nm (1-50W), 532nm (1-80W) and 1,064nm (1-100W). The repetition frequency range is between 400kHz and 2MHz. The power stability is <3% (<1% optional).

Pneumatic Diaphragm Pumps are the most versatile pumps ever built. Even though these AODD pumps offer quite a few advantages over the electric operated pump technologies, there has not been a radical change or evolution in the basic design over years and almost every diaphragm pump had similar issues and problems.

SAMOA® – A European pump manufacturer, established in 1965, has been in the forefront of developing innovative air operated pump technologies over the last six decades. For the first time in the industry, SAMOA® has

● Significant energy savings up to 75%

● Offers smooth flow with reduced vibration

● Reduced noise

● Up to 4x longer life

● Can handle clean, dry, damp or even dirty air

● Stall-free and ice-free

● Air valve maintenance taking less than 5 minutes

● Remote monitoring and controlling capability

● Best total cost of ownership

www.samoaflow.co.uk

The pulse-to-pulse stability is <2%. Both are measured in rms and over 4 hours. The output beam is transverse mode TEM00 and has high beam quality of M2<1, 2. With a beam diameter of ~3mm and a divergence <1mrad the output beam is very well collimated.

The laser will be delivered with an appropriate power supply for the voltage range 100-240V as well as a water chiller.

Due to the high power with pulse widths <10ps these lasers are excellent suited for micro material processing. Typical applications are:

M-CNC Engineering

Based in Bridgwater, M-CNC Engineering has been supplying the aerospace, defence, oil & gas and motorsport sectors with precision manufacturing since 2011. Major investment in technology, staff, resource and location has paid dividends, attracting interest from industry heavyweights including Rolls Royce and Airbus.

For Business Development Manager, Leigh Howarth, engineering has shaped his career path and he’s developed a passion for championing the future of UK manufacturing. “My career in engineering started when a teacher took the time to fire my imagination! They saw the potential in me that others didn’t and opened my eyes to a world of creativity and innovation,” comments

Applications:

● Flexible Materials Processing

● Brittle Materials Processing

● OLEDs Processing

● Glass & Ceramic Cutting and Drilling

● Semiconductor Industry.

Contact

T +49 (0)6172 27978-0 sales@frlaserco.com www.frlaserco.com

Leigh. “We need to inspire a new breed of engineer who will continue to pioneer and shape the UK’s undisputed heritage of manufacturing excellence.”

Strong relationships with business critical suppliers, ongoing apprenticeship programmes with their neighbouring college network and a host of B2B trade events and networking supports the continued success of M-CNC Engineering. However, the longevity of UK manufacturing doesn’t simply rely on advances in technology and process.

M-CNC Engineering is passionate about innovation in the UK manufacturing sector and the shared responsibility of businesses, enterprises, schools and colleges to inspire the next generation of master craftsmen. This passion led to the inception of Somerset’s first Festival of British Engineering & Manufacturing, a two day manufacturing expo which debuted in 2021 and was a resounding success.

T +44 (0)1278 684138 www.m-cnc.co.uk

Test, Measurement & Monitoring

Partnership with ALTER TECHNOLOGY UK

Frankfurt Laser Company is pleased to announce a contract based partnership with ALTER TECHNOLOGY UK.

Alter Technology Group’s core business is Photonic and Microelectronic based Semiconductor Assembly and Test Services but has recently been developing their own laser diode products and platforms.

They have been standardising their most common laser diode package offerings into a series of product and platform datasheets. As a packaging company, with full end to end laser diode assembly and test services in-house, their strength is the ability to offer a wider range of flexible and customisable laser diode solutions than offered by most laser diode manufacturers. By starting with bare laser diode chips from multiple chip manufacturers, they can quickly

and easily offer the market with a range of laser diode package solutions at various wavelengths and powers with agreed performance and specifications. This standardised approach results in no development costs, shortened lead times and reliable laser diode modules in industry standard packages. Many of their customers are OEM’s/System Integrators who are looking for a laser diode solution that is not offered by commercial off the shelf laser diode manufacturers without significant NRE and long lead times.

Their core standard platforms are broken down

into the following categories:

● REMOTE: VBG stabilised lasers into butterfly packages

● DRUMMOND: Collimated laser diodes into a thermally stabilised and hermetically sealed butterfly packages

● FLAME: FLAME is a compact, frequency stabilised laser module with integrated vapour cell that allows locking to spectral features of an atomic reference for metrology and quantum applications

● DEWAR: Collimated TO-can package to provide collimators at a wide range of wavelengths and power levels.

For more information, please visit our website or contact us:

T +49 (0)6172 27978-0 sales@frlaserco.com www.frlaserco.com

Force, torque and pressure measurement

Interface Force Measurements has been supporting UK industry with the highest quality force, torque and pressure sensors for more than 25 years.

You can benefit from our experience whenever you contact us about your next measurement application, experience gained helping designers and engineers across multiple industrial sectors.

We’ll use our experience and product knowledge to help you select the best sensors for your application from our wide range of

sensors from some of the world’s best sensor manufactures, including:

● Interface Inc – single, dual, 3 and 6 axis load cells and torque transducers

● AMTI – six-axis load cells and force plates

● GP50 – pressure and temperature sensors for oil/gas, aerospace, automotive food/ beverage and general industry

● DDM – miniature pressure sensors for automotive R&D

● XSensor – pressure mapping systems for bed/ mattress, seating, automotive R&D, tire testing applications and impact testing for seats, airbags, helmet and protective equipment

We can also help with your data collection needs which now includes Semota, our new continuous remote monitoring service. Offering continuous sensor data reporting to your iOS or Android device.

So, if you have a force, torque or pressure measurement challenge that you’d like our help with, please contact us.

T 01344 776666 info@interface.uk.com www.interfaceforce.co.uk https://twitter.com/LoadcellsUK

Cutting on the edge

The Laser Cutting Co (TLCC) has installed a new flat-bed fibre laser system that can also bevel part edges and cut countersinks, eliminating timeconsuming second operations.

“We’ve been growing significantly since the pandemic, both in terms of our customer base and month-onmonth revenue,” said Sales Director, Charlie Day.

“This prompted investment in the Trumpf TruLaser 5040 fibre 10kW flat-bed laser, which positions us for further growth as we can now process a significant volume of work in comparison with our competitors.”

The new machine arrived at the end of February 2022. It is the second Trumpf model on site, where it joins a TruLaser Tube 7000 CO2 machine, installed in 2020.

“One of our older flat-bed laser cutting machines was a 6kW model from a Trumpf competitor, which was proving slower than the general market demand,” said Mr Day. “The faster TruLaser 5040 fibre has provided a lot more capacity and is generally a much better machine.”

The EdgeLine Bevel function automatically inserts chamfers up to 45° and countersinks of various sizes, eliminating the need for secondary processes.

Mr Day added, “We want EdgeLine Bevel because many of our customers request countersinking and weld preps. While we can provide this service manually EdgeLine Bevel will prove to be much more efficient, accurate and productive. As a large proportion of our customer base is essentially fabrication, engineering and welding oriented, the ability to offer countersinks and bevels on all parts will provide us with an even stronger proposition.”

The company also offers its ‘Smart Design Production’ to support customers by redesigning

DMS technologies

At DMS technologies, we pride ourselves on being able to complete projects based on your unique specifications. We recognise that today’s engineers require more than just a battery supplier. Organisations require a battery partner to fully understand their requirements and provide appropriate solutions. As an independent provider, we will evaluate your requirement and look to balance quality, performance, and cost to provide you with the best solution for your needs.

We started 30 years ago as a battery pack manufacturer and remain a leading UK pack builder, still manufacturing large numbers of our original ‘Cyclon’ battery packs. Gradually adding more and more technologies and suppliers. Using lithium, alkaline and NiMH cells, we design and build packs for bespoke applications ranging from Oil & Gas to Emergency Lighting, offering a basic shrink wrap solution to a fully moulded plastic casing.

As a Yuasa, Enersys and Tadiran distributor we offer batteries for several different industrial applications, including, but not limited to:

● Emergency lighting

● Fire and Security

● UPS

● Telecom

Our team will work with you from conception through to design, build and release keeping you in touch at every stage of development.

Do you have projects in 2023 and beyond? Come and talk to the professionals.

Our range of batteries is also available on our online shop: https://dmsshop.co.uk

Call us on: +44 (0)1794 525400, email us on: sales@dmstech.co.uk or visit: https://dmstech.co.uk

parts in a way that reduces subsequent fabrication and assembly times and associated costs.

“Customers achieve approximately 50% time and cost savings on average through Smart Design Production,” continued Mr Day, “and EdgeLine Bevel will have a similar positive impact on our customers. If they need to weld the part after laser cutting and require a bevelled edge, it will simply arrive at their premises ready to process. If they combine that with tube from our TruLaser Tube machines then suddenly they can have a whole kit of products from us, complete with all countersinking and weld prep work already completed.”

Contact

T 0114 244 5544 sales@lasercutting.co.uk www.lasercutting.co.uk

AERZEN Machines

For over 150 years, AERZEN has been developing, manufacturing and supplying rotary lobe blowers and subsequently oil-free and oil-flooded screw compressors for complex and demanding air and gas applications. Our history has given rise to a unique knowledge of technological advances and know-how.

The chemical industry is completely dependent on reliable supplies of process gas. But each process is different and requires specialised machines. The solution: the efficient compressors and blowers from AERZEN – proven in numerous operating environments, suited for almost all media, unrivalled in their reliability, and adaptable to individual client specifications. Can the solution really be this easy? It can!

Whether in the chemical, petrochemical, energy industries, whether with ammonia, argon, styrene gas, vinyl chloride, or hydrogen – the oil-free compressors, blowers and vacuum pumps from AERZEN have proven themselves in over 10,000 installations and processes around the world. AERZEN always offers suitable solutions with its products.

All blowers and compressors can be used in hazardous areas Zone 1 and in Zone 2 as defined under ATEX Directive RL 2014/34/EU as well as the Machinery Directive, including the latest safety standard (EN 1012-3).

LET’S TALK

T +44 (0)20 8502 8100 sales-uk@aerzen.com www.aerzen.com

SUSTAINABILITY TOD AY

Grandeco introduces world’s first germkilling wallpaper

Self-disinfecting Pure & Protect® range kills 99.9% of bacteria

Wallpaper producer Grandeco has unveiled the world’s first germkilling wallpaper, marking a significant advancement in safer and healthier spaces for everyone.

The self-disinfecting Pure & Protect® range reduces the threat of germs, disease and sickness spreading in both commercial and private spaces.

The remarkable protective capabilities of the wallpaper derive from a unique mechanical process using Nobacoat® a transparent layer with distinct disinfectant properties. What is unique about this mechanical coating is that it is positively charged, which attracts negatively charged cell membranes. As soon as air moves, viruses, bacteria and fungi are attracted to the coating and pierced by it, making them harmless.

Used extensively in the automotive and construction industries, this is the first time this technology has been applied to wallpaper.

Airborne bacteria, viruses and moulds are efficiently eliminated by coming into contact with the wallpaper. Its coating obtains an elimination rate

Assessing the life cycle of an industrial or commercial metal roof before PV panel installation

of 99.9% in just one hour and stays effective for at least 12 years.

Due to its heavy-duty nature, this wallpaper is ideal for the work and family environment where there are large amounts of traffic and people.

Grandeco now brings this technology to your home. In our Atmosphere collection, Grandeco combines the best of two worlds. Thanks to Grandeco’s innovative Pure & Protect® technology, this trendy wallpaper collection is finished with an antiviral and antibacterial coating. Choose from the uni or striking stripe patterns in subdued colours and get creative. For an interior with impact!

To find out more about Pure & Protect® please visit: https://www. grandecogroup.com/en/company/pureand-protect/pure-and-protect

Due to the significant costs of a solar PV system, the condition of the roof is critical so it should be assessed prior to installation. The expected life cycle of commercial solar PV systems is around 20 to 25 years, therefore it is crucial that your roof is able to match this.

Failure to bring the roof back to standard can lead to corrosion of the roof sheets beneath the PV panels. Uninstalling and reinstalling PV panels in order to refurbish the roof or undertake a full roof replacement would be a costly and time consuming process.

For these reasons, it is essential that commercial metal roofs are inspected and refurbished prior to the installation of any solar PV panel systems. Sharmans have two roof refurbishment systems:

t Delcote® – The Full Roof Coating Backed by an industry leading 25 or 10 year product guarantee (Dual/Single Coat).

B Corp Training Programme with Beyondly

BCorpaccredited environmental consultancy and compliance scheme

Beyondly, in collaboration with ActNow

Consulting, are offering an exclusive, time-efficient support programme for small businesses who are looking to jump-start their journey to B Corp certification.

The B Corp movement aims to make business a force for good and transform the global economy to benefit all people, communities, and the planet.

Backed by an industry leading 15 year product guarantee.

Sharmans market leading roof refurbishment systems Delcote® and Seamsil® are proven to extend the life cycle of industrial and commercial roofs, therefore protecting the long term investment of a solar PV panel system.

Protect your solar PV investment and ensure that your roof is fit for purpose with Delcote® and Seamsil®

T 01298 812371 info@hdsharman.co.uk www.hdsharman.co.uk

The first step to becoming a certified B Corporation requires companies to complete the B Impact Assessment (BIA) and reach a target of 80 points. It is a challenging but rewarding process, as it helps businesses develop a framework to advance best practice across all aspects of their operations.

This tailored programme, aimed at small businesses, has been created to provide a deep dive into the B Impact Assessment, acknowledge issues that may arise throughout this process and provide guidance for collecting evidence and documentation to support your application.

The co-hort will be delivered by trained B Corp Consultants and will kick-off in September 2023. You will gain a wealth of knowledge and resources to drive your application forward. For more details and to book your place, please visit: www.beyond.ly

Panduit expands FlexFusion XGL Cabinet Solutions

Panduit has extended its cabinet range with the FlexFusion™ XGL cabinets. These are ideal for network and server equipment and provide maximum capacity to manage high cable density in data centre, enterprise or colocation deployment.

Available with lockable door solutions, customers can securely house 19” rack mount IT equipment, providing extensive cable management options within a thermal efficient cabinet suitable for hot aisle/cold aisle or thermal containment deployment. Manufactured in welded steel the cabinets are available in fixed configurations of 600mm and 800mm widths, 1,070mm and 1,200mm depths and 42RU and 48RU heights, increasing the ease of use of the FlexFusion family to offer customers precision solutions. The front single hinge door and split hinged rear doors provide 80% open perforation maximising the cooling airflow to the ITE, while maintaining strength and rigidity. Doors with 170-degree open angle minimise aisle obstruction. The horizontally split side panels allow ease of interconnection of equipment in a side-by-side configuration whilst brush cable top-of-the-cabinet entry points greatly reduce air leakage. www.panduit.com

t Seamsil® – The Cut Edge Corrosion Treatment

The world’s first pioneering, sustainable urinal maintenance product

In this issue of Sustainability Today, we are delighted to select Advanced Bacterial Sciences as our Environmental Services Company of the Month.

Biosciences has made great strides in the understanding of microorganisms (microbiota), leaving us better placed to create innovative microbiota solutions that benefit both humanity and our planet.

Advanced Bacterial Sciences (ABS) is a science-focussed organisation that brings the best scientific minds to the forefront of pioneering environmentally friendly waste management solutions. Known for its pivotal research and development in struvite and vivianite removal, in addition to enhanced methane generation potential from hard-to-digest AD feedstocks, the company holds a renowned, international pedigree.

Its comprehensive range is dedicated to proactive solutions associated with anaerobic digestion, nitrate-polluted waters including eutrophic freshwaters and marinas, enhanced wastewater treatment at source, degradation of oily sludges and hydrocarbon contamination, and the treatment of ammoniacal nitrogen and fats, oils and greases in blocked urinals and sewers.

Interlocking the brightest minds across chemistry, biology and engineering, ABS is leading the charge for naturally-occurring bacteria, eliminating the need for harmful, toxic chemicals or enzymes. From urinal maintenance, grease taps, freshwater nitrates, marine algal blooms to hydrocarbon pollutants, ABS is transforming our areas of outstanding beauty, rivers and freshwaters, air quality, to kitchen and bathroom hygiene. The range of products harnesses natural microorganisms, in place of harmful chemicals across waste treatment, food production, and pollution remediation. These include remedies such as: SLUDGEZAP1 (optimises bacterial operation of wastewater), ALGAEZAP1 (slow-release treatment) and URIZAP (for urinal maintenance.)

This leading environmental services company was the joint brainchild of Gareth Hughes, Roger Neville and Nigel Tuersley and was formally established in 2019. Spearheaded by Gareth Hughes, Bobby Holdbrook: Head of Business Development and Gabriela Meirelles: Head of Science & Innovation were then tasked with scientific innovation during COVID: a ‘once-in-a-century’ opportunity to explore the world of greener waste solutions.

It wasn’t long before Bobby and Gabriela had rigorously road-tested a new prototype, which was then successfully marketed as URIZAP: a game-changer in urinal maintenance. We caught up with Bobby for a scientific chat about this trailblazing product, “Gareth Hughes, our Executive Chairman gave a great talk on ‘sustainable bacterial solutions – the key to blockage-free and odourless urinals’ – at this year’s Facilities Show. URIZAP is ideal for those working in ‘Hard

Facilities’ – the linchpin of many of our public sector buildings from schools to council buildings. One of the most time-consuming jobs is resolving pipe blockages and URIZAP is our science-based panacea. Urinal maintenance is still an archaic industry – with many reaching for hazardous chemicals to tackle uric acid deposits and in the worst-case scenario, resulting in costly repairs and downtime.”

“Our simple-to-use powder treatment uses natural bacteria to absorb the uric acid and potassium phosphate deposits, preventing uric scale build-up and future blockages. After two weeks, all odours disappear too – leaving bathrooms smelling, and looking, clean and fresh.”

The science speaks for itself: based on 100 urinals the average savings are: 280,000 litres of water saved annually, 1,120 litres of chemicals, 1.4T of single-use plastic and 3,000kWh of energy, which translates to 2.5T reduction in carbon emissions.

This phenomenal product, devised during lockdown, is indeed a game-changer during the cost-of-living crisis-saving companies up and down the country thousands in costly repair jobs and its green credentials help meet sustainability targets.

“Hawksmoor is a prestigious award-winning steak restaurant company in London, New York and a third, due to open in Dublin shortly. The Air Street London restaurant overlooks Regent Street and has an outstanding seafood selection, with locally sourced produce from Brixham Market. There had been a persistent problem with blocked urinals and lingering odours, causing an unpleasant experience for diners and staff. Even after expensive rodding of the pipes, there were ongoing sanitary issues. The management team sought help from URIZAP and the cause was quickly identified as substantial uric acid scale build-up. Within three weeks, there was a significant reduction in uric scale and odour and after six weeks, the uric scale in the pipework had been substantially reduced, leaving washrooms clean and freshsmelling,” adds Bobby.

By tackling the issues at source, URIZAP goes beyond standard emulsifying of the uric acid crystals, which simply ‘moves the problem elsewhere’ rather than eradicating the problem. Using science-based evidence, URIZAP is exclusively the world’s first product designed to digest deposits, prevent uric-acid buildup and eliminate lingering odours.

By simply adding a 25g scoop weekly directly to the bowl, the ‘good bacteria’ does the rest: keeping urinals free from

Before URIZAP

After URIZAP

blockages and odours, while preventing unnecessary repair costs. “Although URIZAP is at an early adopter stage, it has been tremendously well received across the industry. We want to move past the ‘wild west’ mentality of needlessly flushing caustic chemicals and hoping for the best.”

“We are proud to say that our product is a triple winner: carbon, plastic and cost-saving but most importantly, planet-loving,” explains Bobby.

ABS is a winner when it comes to looking after its staff too: joining The Big Smile 10-mile trek, organised by The Walk & Talk Trust in the Lake District, the team embodied the importance of companionship in the beautiful scenery. As a previous sponsor of the charity’s campaigns, ABS is committed to promoting the physical and mental health benefits of all exercise, predominantly walking. From a new headquarters in Morecambe, Lancashire, the environmental services company is looking forward to launching its new product range in October. The collection of toilet/urinal descalers and surface cleaners can be used in conjunction with URIZAP, to keep washrooms clean and sparkling, prolonging the life cycle of all the pipe work.

For more information on URIZAP and all solutions, please see the website below:

T +44 (0)1524 481513 sales@abs.eco https://abs.eco

Adveco introduces the next generation of Packaged Electric Water Heating for commercial projects

Commercial hot water specialist Adveco introduces the next generation of FUSION electric water heating for commercial projects. FUSION-E is a tough, high-efficiency electric water heater. FUSION-T expands the system with the addition of a systemintegrated heat pump and advanced controls. Both ranges can be further expanded with the addition of an electric immersion for greater reliance (FUSION-Eplus and FUSION-Tplus).

FUSION is the perfect response for commercial building projects with small to medium basin and sink-led hot water demands. Taller buildings with basement plant rooms and businesses that depend on 24/7 hot water provision for continuity of service all gain advantages from FUSION as well as reducing carbon emissions and controlling costs.

FUSION starts with all new specially designed single –(ATSI) or twin-coil (ATST) corrosion-resistant stainless steel high-pressure indirect cylinders. Offering

capacities from 200 to 500 litres, the cylinders feature dedicated mounting points for Adveco’s 12 or 16kW ARDENT electric boiler. By mounting the electric boiler directly to the cylinder, FUSION is a more compact, space-saving option. Supplied with pre-built pipework the latest generation of FUSION is now faster and easier to install.

The electric boiler, with multiple immersions inside its sealed storage tank, provides automatically balanced usage to prolong system life and immediate resilience for the boiler. Used in a sealed ‘primary’ loop, the electric boiler heats the same water continuously effectively eliminating limescale issues typically found in electric systems used in hard water areas.

For the FUSION-T renewable variants, the 6 or 10kW monobloc air-to-water FPi-32 heat pump (ASHP) is used as a source for system preheat. Contribution from the ASHP is maximised via the bespoke FUSION Control Box.

These controls smartly balance the two heat sources, enabling the water in the cylinder to be heated in the most efficient way. As the electric boiler is not required to work as hard to raise flow temperatures to the 65°C demanded by commercial applications. Electrical demand on the boiler is reduced by as much as 30%, delivering operational savings and reducing carbon emissions by up to 71%.

The FUSION-T variants are perfect for organisations seeking to invest in a water heating application as part of a decarbonisation strategy without losing sight of higher operational costs associated with all-electric systems compared to equivalent gas-fired water heating. Where hot water demands become a business-critical service, FUSION will also support the addition of an Adveco backup immersion providing additional resilience. Fitted into the front-facing clean-out access, the immersion ensures there is no single point of failure for assured service provision.

When only used as an emergency heating source, or during periods of unplanned excess demand, the inclusion of an electric immersion can be extremely

advantageous. For FUSION systems incorporating the additional backup 6 or 12kW immersion (FUSION-Eplus & FUSION-Tplus) controls are further extended to incorporate SMS output to advise building managers of a fault scenario and automated engagement of the immersion back-up to guarantee business-critical hot water supply.

For commercial organisations seeking a hot water system for new buildings faced with the regulatory changes on new gas connections or planning to move from existing gas-fired systems to electrical alternatives, FUSION provides an impressive range of choices. Whether cost, sustainability or business security are the driving factors for specification, FUSION offers a comprehensive response that can be quickly matched to the requirements of a project.

T 01252 551540

https://adveco.co

Hydrogen Tech Expo Review – Top Exhibitors

Hydrogen Tech Expo Review 2023

The Hydrogen Tech Expo was back at the International Centre in Telford for an action-packed day on 30th March 2023. With all eyes on the UK Government’s 2050 net zero targets, the focus on UK electrolytic hydrogen production has increased simultaneously. UK hydrogen demand is predicted to reach 80-140 terawatt-hours by 2035, with potential hydrogen export opportunities to mainland Europe also expected to rise with demand.

There was an impressive range of leading UK industry experts speaking on subjects such: hydrogen-powered ferries and boats to strategic planning for gradual hydrogen transition.

With over 35 exhibitors showcasing new technologies and knowledge from hydrogen compressors & boosters, coaxial value technology for hydrogen vehicles, to fuel cell and hybrid technology development, it was the perfect opportunity for over 30,000 industry delegates to network and discover the latest advanced concepts, ready for the hydrogen generation.

Future Integrated

The new Integral process thermostats from -90 to 320°C LAUDA Technology is advancing the connectivity of temperature control technology with the new Integral process circulators.

The expo included interested parties from across green hydrogen, blue hydrogen, heavy industry, ammonia production, HGV, R&D and carbon capture sectors and included Government representatives, company founders and CEO’s.

Save the date: Hydrogen Tech Expo 6th March 2024

This is our pick of the best exhibitors from this year’s event, listed here in alphabetical order: Crowcon, Lauda Technology & Seetru Limited. Further details can be found on this page. https://www.hydrogentechexpo.co.uk

Crowcon: MPS™ sensor technology

tailor made for hydrogen detection

Crowcon Detection Instruments Ltd, part of Halma group plc, is committed to delivering safety, health, and environmental technologies to various industries. With a strong track record of growth, we specialise in gas detection, catering to current and future market needs. Our vision is to safeguard individuals and the environment from gas hazards through single and multi-gas monitors, offering personal and large-scale monitoring capabilities. Operating worldwide, Crowcon collaborates with regional offices and authorised partners.

With hydrogen set to play a vital role in producing cleaner energy. Specifically, within the UK, where the government has set a target to make the country a thriving hydrogen economy by 2030. Crowcon is pioneering advanced Molecular Property Spectrometer™ (MPS™)

Water Management

sensor technology that detects and accurately identifies over 15 different flammable gases in one device. MPS™ sensor technology is tailormade for Hydrogen detection. Increasingly used in industrial processes, infrared detectors cannot identify Hydrogen. With the MPS™ sensor, only one device is needed saving space without compromising on safety. Requiring reduced maintenance and zero calibration for five years along with the elimination of sensor poisoning, the shortfalls of traditional sensing technology are eliminated with MPS™ sensor technology.

Contact our team for more information: UK&EUsales@crowcon.com www.crowcon.com

Thanks to the modular interface concept and intuitive operation via the integrated web server, they are more user-friendly than ever. Thanks to a clever interface concept and integrated bypass, the LAUDA Integral allows for maximum flexibility. The newly developed, superior cooling technology guarantees maximum process reliability in accordance with the European F Gas Regulation.

Our Integral process circulators are your reliable partner for

development and quality assurance. Whether testing batteries, fuel cells, or electronic components, our LAUDA Integral will bring your test bench to the right temperature. The device design is also focused on userfriendliness: easy service access, clear operation, and simplified installation.

With its highly dynamic, precise temperature control, high connectivity and improved pump performance, your research and pilot plants will be sustainably fit for the future.

Seetru Limited

Seetru Limited offers a comprehensive range of safety valves for hydrogen applications, ensuring maximum safety and efficiency. With over 70 years of expertise in pressure relief technology, our valves are designed specifically to meet the demands of the hydrogen industry.

Suitable for hydrogen generation, fuel cells, compressors, pumps, fuelling systems, storage, pressure vessels, piping systems, and transportation, with set pressures up to 1,100 bar. Our compact and highly efficient valves incorporate Tutchtite-seal technology for repeatable bubble-tight sealing.

Available in bronze, brass, or stainless steel, they offer various connections for applications up to 300°C. Our safety valves

Lanes wins drainage contract for Derbyshire council

Drainage engineers from Lanes Group plc are carrying out important annual maintenance work for a Derbyshire council to ensure public spaces can be used and enjoyed by businesses, residents and visitors.

They have been working through a threeweek programme of surface drainage asset cleaning for Erewash Borough Council at dozens of locations in towns and villages across the local authority area.

The planned preventative maintenance (PPM) work is carried out every year across public spaces and facilities owned and managed by the borough council, including shopping precincts, leisure centres and car parks.

Critical drainage assets

Drainage engineers from the Lanes Derby depot are carrying out the work.

Lanes Area Development Manager Chris Norbury said, “We’re very pleased to have been awarded this project through competitive tender to support Erewash Borough Council’s asset maintenance programme.”

“We’re using our jet vac tankers to clean a range of different drainage assets at 41 locations right across the borough, including slot drains, road drains, surface water gullies and silt traps.”

“The drainage systems our teams are working on serve the busiest urban areas in the borough. They are critical for commercial activity and transport, so it’s vital they’re maintained to a high standard.”

Lanes is the largest independent wastewater and drainage maintenance specialist in the UK. The Derby depot is one of more than 40 depots and service delivery hubs the company operates.

Asset condition checks

Its teams are carrying out the work for the borough council during May and June, with much of it being done at weekends and during night shifts to minimise disruption for residents, businesses and road users.

Towns and villages they are working in include Ilkeston, Long Eaton, Sandiacre, and Breaston. Key sites include the marketplaces in Ilkeston and Long Eaton, and associated public car parks.

Where asset condition issues are encountered – for example, if there appears to be a difficult blockage – the borough council can authorise Lanes to carry out a CCTV drainage survey to establish their cause.

Chris Norbury said, “As Erewash borough

council has an established PPM programme, these drainage assets are well looked after, so the risk of serious blockages or of drains being damaged is reduced.

“However, as Lanes is the UK’s largest independent drainage specialist, if a problem is identified, whatever the size, complexity and urgency, we have the expertise, experience, and capacity to deal with it.”

Flood risk increase

Climate change is making the importance of drainage maintenance work like this more important than ever. Rainfall is becoming more volatile, with heavier downpours more probably throughout the year.

This can put extra strain on drainage systems, resulting in temporary pooling of water disrupting roads, pedestrian areas, and car parks. At worst, it can contribute to serious local flooding, causing damage to business premises and homes.

T 0800 526488 www.lanesfordrains.co.uk

comply with international standards such as TÜV, National Board, UV Stamp, EAC, Canadian CRN, PED, and are UKCA marked. Hydrogen plays a crucial role in achieving netzero emissions by 2050 and limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. As British manufacturers, we are proud to drive the hydrogen economy and accelerate the journey to net zero through our innovative solutions, quality products, and exceptional service.

Visit our website or contact us for more information:

T +44 (0)117 930 6100 info@seetru.com www.seetru.com

SUPPORTING THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY, ONE PUMP AT A TIME

PEMO is a globally-leading Italian design manufacturer of bespoke antiabrasive and anti-acid centrifugal slurry pumps. Established in 1947, the company has built and dispatched to date, over 40,000 slurry pumps.

The PEMO team has been showcasing its range of sturdy and unbreakable pumps to trade delegates at The World Biogas Expo (29th-30th March) and upcoming RWM/ESS 2023 Expo (previously RWM & Letsrecycle Live) from 13th-14th September and Pollutec (10th-13th October). The anti-abrasive centrifugal pumps are perfect for the biogas and biomethane production chains, for anaerobic digestion processes to recirculate OFMSW.

PEMO complies with the European Community’s Waste Directive, placing onus on the circular economy, through the FORSU treatment phases. The result is compost that is suitable for sustainable agriculture, floriculture and nurseries, increasing soil water retention and soil fertilisation in the process. The FORSU treatment reduces landfill waste and carbon footprint, further supporting the green age of sustainability.

PEMO’s centrifugal pumps have semi-open impellers and anti-clogging volutes that permit the transfer of highly viscous substrate containing fibres, filaments and large solid parts. The benefits of using PEMO pumps over single-screw pumps is a substantially longer maintenance tenure, up to 5-6 years, due to the HARDALLY PEMO weatheringresistant superalloy and flow rates up to 1,500m3/h.

For

A box that saves CO2: AXXUM and BECK

The LIGNOLOC® wooden nail has again inspired two experts to co-operate. AXXUM is one of the leading European providers of customised packaging and contract logistics solutions. Significant CO2 savings are to be achieved when building export crates with the ecological nail made of wood from fastening pioneer BECK.

A total of 6% CO2 savings. This is the result of the AXXUM tests, in which the new wooden nails from BECK are used instead of the usual steel nails. Mainly for the construction of wooden crates for packaging, assembly, and transportation of industrial goods.

Co-operation between AXXUM and BECK

For six months and the countries Germany, Belgium, Czech

Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary, AXXUM is currently the only company in the packaging industry with exclusive access to the special nails from Austria.

As part of the BREAKBULK trade fair, which took place in Rotterdam in June 2023, AXXUM was presenting the new highlight to its customers for the first time: the sustainable packaging solution for machines and systems.

T +43 7724 2111-0

office@beck-fastening.com

www.beck-fastening.com https://www.axxum.eu

Recycling & Waste Management

Leading plant hire company

Thomas Plant Hire has been a leading plant hire company since 1998, offering over 3,000 machines including telehandlers, 1.5 tonne to 50 tonne excavators, one tonne to 30 tonne dumpers and 72 dozers.

With a recent strategic investment of £50M in new plant and machinery and with an annual turnover of 30% year-on-year, the company has gone stratospheric.

Part of the Thomas Group, alongside seven other divisions, this family-owned business has been part of a major rebranding exercise this year, including a highly successful exhibition at the 2023 Plantworx Exhibition.

The company holds a large fleet of low-loaders, which can deliver and collect any size of plant and machinery. The dedicated group of mobile engineers offer support 24/7 across the length and breadth of the UK, helping customers keep moving. All hire plant and machinery are fully serviced on-site before delivery, maintaining the highest standards.

The staff at Thomas Group have a combined industrial experience of 70 years, meaning customers will have access to the best customer service at all times.

To find out more about Thomas Plant Hire, contact the customer service team today:

T 01352 721216 (Holywell)

T 0151 420 1159 (Widnes) enquiries@thomasplanthireltd.com https://www.thomasplanthire.co.uk

Quarrying & Mining

Mission and business-critical wireless connectivity applications

Linkwave Technologies Ltd, professionals in wireless connectivity, always relishes the chance to speak with other industry professionals in the mining and construction industries about its wireless connectivity products and services. The team is always available to discuss how Linkwave can connect businesses using its state of the art cellular and wifi solutions alongside explaining how Linkwave also offers host applications within routers, giving more power at the edge of technology in the most demanding environments.

Linkwave likes to highlight some fantastic products from its 5G range including Sierra Wireless modules and routers, Robustel and Celerway along with its range

FLENDER AIQ

AIQ is our new digital brand and stands for a new age of intelligence within our FLENDER gear units and couplings.

Customers will learn and experience that FLENDER equipment is smart, together with AIQ. We will equip our gear units and couplings with our intelligence ex works, with smart sensors and tools to be used for drive analytics, and process automation & optimisation.

of antenna solutions. As a long-standing UK Sierra Wireless module distributor, Linkwave recently welcomed the latest generation of 5G mobile broadband embedded modules – the RF-optimiser EM92 Series that are built to enable the most demanding business-critical, industrial and networking use cases into its portfolio. The RFoptimised modules are designed to reduce the complexity of 5G designs and improve global network coverage for easy integration of 5G connectivity into products.

If you’re interested in finding out more about Linkwave and its services, please see below:

T 01522 884750 https://linkwave.co.uk

With AIQ, we bring FLENDER knowhow and expertise to the customer's site.

FLENDER AIQ helps to:

t Avoid laborious maintenance and service measures and be informed

about upcoming maintenance tasks at an early stage

t Find the ideal maintenance interval, avoid unplanned shutdowns

t Be aware of current equipment status, locally or online, at all times

t Stop wasting time and money.

AIQ is the next step in helping plant operators to improve their plant availability, reduce unplanned costs, and help improve digital visibility.

AIQ-Going for greener drives.

T +44 (0)113 490 0410 flenderuk.gb@flender.com www.flender.com

Fully Charged Show Review – Top Exhibitors

Fully Charged LIVE (Farnborough) 2023

The Fully Charged LIVE show at Farnborough International from 28th-30th April was packed to the brim this Spring, with many hotly anticipated new electric vehicle models from leading car brands such as Jeep, Rivian, Ford and Vauxhall.

The running costs for EV’s are now averaging 47% less than petrol or diesel counterparts, with more and more affordable electric models coming onto the market.

There was a buzz in the air at the world’s biggest EV test drive programme, which included the affordable Dolphin EV from BYD. Fans of sports cars were definitely in for a treat: the Lotus Eletre SUV prove to be an electrifying crowd-puller. The new Rivian R1T electric pick-up meanwhile, proved popular with those looking for storage capabilities.

Fully Charged LIVE is the world’s number 1 home energy and electric vehicle experiential show and this year had over 300 exhibitors. With 96% of visitors intending to purchase an electric vehicle as their next car and 93% interested in optimising greener home energy, this is the ideal expo for companies ready to showcase products.

The M1CRO MACH1NES test track featured the latest electric scooters, skateboard and bikes, whilst the eclectic & electric area featured electric classic car models.

The Home Energy Advice Team and Zero Carbon

The Blair Project: Hydrogen karting for a green future

The Blair Project advertised at Fully Charged Farnborough in April. Such events provide platforms to showcase projects, initiatives, and training programs related to clean energy and electric vehicles, reaching a wide audience and generating awareness.

Kitchen areas showcased all the latest innovative green household technology, helping make houses fit for the green era.

Save the date: Fully Charged LIVE UK SOUTH 11th-13th Oct 2024 Farnborough International

This is our pick of the best exhibitors from this year’s event, listed here in alphabetical order: Artisan Electric Scooters, FLIT Bike, Intelligent Charging Systems, SIlent Classics & The Blair Project. Further details can be found on this page.

https://uk.fullycharged.live/south/exhibit

https://fullycharged.show/reviews

Intelligent Charging Systems

charge stations have the ability to load manage 252 stations without the need for any additional hardware. This enables peace of mind that any iCS EV charging installation can be setup to only operate within the spare electrical capacity available on-site.

For monitoring site electrical consumption, iCS have CT Clamps to suit all installations, 100A, 800A BiDirectional and even flexible CT clamps that monitor up to 3,000A.

Bi-Directional clamps allow the EV charger network to sense excess renewable generation (Solar, Wind, Hydro) and divert to the vehicles.

The Blair Projects ProtoEV STEM Challenge centres on the conversion of petrol-powered karts to electric karts. This challenge not only provides a hands-on learning experience but also contributes to building the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) workforce of the future by engaging young people in sustainable technology projects.

Additionally, The Blair Project conducts EV skills training for adults, which can help individuals gain the necessary knowledge and expertise in working with electric vehicles. By offering such training programs, The Blair Project

contributes to building a skilled workforce in the field of electric vehicles.

Moreover, The Blair Project aims to promote physics-related activities and careers to young people from BAME (Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic) backgrounds. This initiative is important for increasing diversity and representation in physics and related fields, creating opportunities and raising awareness

among underrepresented communities.

For the most accurate and up-todate information about The Blair Project’s activities, including the ProtoEV STEM Challenge and their involvement at Fully Charged Farnborough, please visit their official website or check their social media channels for announcements or events summaries.

Contact T +44 (0)7396 123858 info@theblairproject.org www.theblairproject.org

Electrifying classic car e-conversions

iCS provide an integrated solution for EV charging and home battery storage. Savvy consumers are reaping the rewards of using the excess energy produced from their solar PV arrays and the cheaper electricity available during off peak periods by storing this in battery modules for use at peak times. This cheaper electricity can be used for dedicated circuits and EV charging, all monitored & controlled from one free App, ics2.0lite.

The ‘Fully Charged’ events generated lots of interest from installers & end clients alike regarding load management of our EV charge stations for both residential & commercial applications. All iCS EV

Get in touch today to find out more: info@intelligentchargingsystems.co.uk

SilentClassics is no ordinary car manufacturer: the team of committed enthusiasts lovingly carry out electric conversions to classic cars, seamlessly merging classic design with a more sustainable future. At this year’s Fully Charged LIVE in Farnborough from 28th-30th April, the company showed off its Fiat 500E and Datsun 240Z models in the ‘electric & eclectic exhibition.’

The story began when CEO and Founder, Jack Kerridge restored his rather clapped-out old Fiat 126, with an electric engine

Energy efficient electric motorcycles & scooters

Horwin: An Austrian-born electric scooter brand is leading the charge across Europe with sales of its electrical twowheeled vehicles proving bigger and better than ever. Famed for their award-winning range of products including the EK range, the ever-popular CR6 and more recently with the launch of the SK3, Horwin has positioned itself as a company focused on driving innovation forward.

Popular amongst regular commuters and riders, Horwin also boasts strong support throughout the commercial delivery space, supplying industry leaders such as: Just Eat, Papa Johns and Domino’s Pizza, with affordable, high performing EV’s and bespoke ‘Cargo-DS’ scooters, suitably adjusted for delivery functionality.

Synonymous with durability, safety, and quality, it’s no surprise Horwin has become the leading electrical scooter brand in Germany and France, making it the most loved electric two-wheeled brand in Europe.

Horwin entered the UK market back in 2020 with the popular CR6 electric motorbike offering a premium, comfortable and exciting ride for motorbike and EV riders & enthusiasts nationwide. Following this success, Horwin then released the awardwinning EK1 & EK3 scooters, combining leading performance with award-winning

design, making it the perfect companion for city commuting.

With the recently launched SK3, Horwin was a hit at the Fully Charged Show, offering customers the chance to view, test ride and experience electric.

With new products on the horizon, Horwin UK is an EV brand to definitely keep your eye on.

For further information, please see the website: www.horwin.co.uk and promotional videos: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=LQCqYTQeQ9o https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=zSDSwvAWKtM

FLIT launches the M2 folding ebike

Weld-free manufacturing method reduces weight and folded size

FLIT has developed a weld-free manufacturing method that makes its folding electric bicycles lighter and more compact. Now their first ebike to use the new process, The FLIT M2, is ready for launch.

During the pandemic, bike frame welding increased to 15 months. Inspired by the automotive and aerospace industries, FLIT’s engineers developed a no-weld technique for building folding bike frames using structural adhesives. This brought manufacturing down to 2 months and allowed for more design, testing,

and manufacturing in Cambridge, FLIT’s hometown.

The FLIT M2 is designed to be both folding and electric from scratch, meaning that the

FLIT engineers, led by ex-JLR engineer Dave Henderson, could build the electronics and battery into its frame. At 14kg and designed to fit in a train luggage rack, you can carry it up to a flat, roll it through crowds, or tuck it in the corner of a cafe.

A first pre-order batch has already sold to the FLIT community with pre-orders now available to the public. The M2 will have a full retail price of £2,499 but it is currently reduced to £1,999 for pre-orders delivered by the end of 2023.

Contact

T +44 (0)1223 693132 hi@flit.bike https://flit.bike/m2

conversion. Now, with a new business location at Chaldicott Barns business park in Semley, Jack and his team are focussed on a greener future for the classic car industry, using the latest in electric battery technology. From its on-site workshop, using cutting-edge CNC capabilities, CAD software and 3D PRINTING, TIG/MIG welding and more traditional sheet metal forming techniques, the team are ready to welcome you and your classic car for an electric makeover.

Jack has paid homage to his lifelong love for Fiat cars, with the in-house Fiat 500E models, ready to buy with 21kWh Tesla battery pack (100-mile range) for a snip at £50,000 plus VAT. Customers with classic car models can receive a full conversion package from £28,000 plus VAT. For a full consultation, groundup conversion and restoration or to enquire more about the Fiat 500E, see the website below: T 01747 356553 info@silentclassics.co.uk https://www.silentclassics.co.uk

Eltek Data Loggers exceeds sales forecast despite supply chain issues

In this issue of Sustainability Today, we are pleased to feature Eltek Data Loggers as our Specialist Data Logging Company of the Year. With products designed and manufactured in Cambridge, UK, Eltek have nearly 40 years’ experience in designing, manufacturing and selling data logging systems, hardware and software for applications such as environmental monitoring, air quality, conservation, laboratory, building, industrial applications, utility suppliers and many more markets.

“Eltek is a small company that will work with customers to get the best solution for their logging and monitoring requirements. We can customise our standard products or design a new product to meet specific customer needs as well as support the customer through the whole product lifecycle. Our products include transmitters, receiver/loggers, wired dataloggers, mini dataloggers, software, and sensors. We supply targeted and innovative solutions for challenging monitoring projects and applications with lifetime support. We are a group of professional engineers that understand our customers’ requirements and are there to support them from the beginning to the end in designing the most cost-effective and reliable solution for their needs,” stated Brian Clarkstone, Managing Director.

Despite coming to terms with the emotional turmoil of losing two vital members of staff that sadly passed away in 2021/22, the last 12

months have been extremely successful for the company. “Our business is growing as we move away from COVID-19. Sales of our new browserbased software have increased significantly. Even though supply chain issues continue with suppliers increasing their prices and component lead times still longer than pre-pandemic, we have been successful in finding new customers and sales are 10% above forecast,” added Brian.

The Darca Connect software has been specifically designed for environmental monitoring on both large and small-scale sites.

The intelligent Browser Based

Software can be used for desktop, tablet and mobile and provides powerful but simple-to-use tools for metering sensors and analysing up-to-the-minute data either graphically or statistically. There are also versions specifically designed for site administrators to enable them to configure the system to give controlled access for departmental managers and secondary users. Some of these sites could include museums, pharmaceutical and distribution warehouses, schools, offices, research laboratories, and more. Features include a customisable dashboard, SMS and email alarms & notifications, charting, reports & analysis, zone graphics, metering, user management, and automation. “This has sold well particularly with the increase in home working. We are seeing a lot of interest in this product and sales are growing nicely,” said Brian.

Furthermore, Eltek has also increased its range of air quality monitoring products, and one particular product worth noting is the AQ211

comprehensive air quality monitor. Used to log a number of different types of data including temperature, humidity, CO2, NO2, CO, O3, PM10, PM2.5, PM1.0 and VOC’s, it has the ability to not only log data for standalone operations but to then send that data to the cloud using 4G LTE-M technology. This data can then be stored, displayed and analysed in any of the Eltek software packages.

The AQ211 follows on from the AQ110 to which researchers were able to mount long term monitoring campaigns including one successful study that allowed researchers to observe the impact of traffic pollution on both external and internal levels, indicating the importance of NO2 filtration in high pollution sites. The AQ112 is more developed and adds an Ozone sensor to the original AQ110 design.

The past 12 months has also welcomed an upgrade to the GD47, Eltek’s specialist CO2 sensor that is now compatible with Sigfox and LoRaWAN. Fitted with a new sensor, which can measure between 0–5,000ppm of CO2, it is also compatible with all other Eltek transmitters enabling you to build a complete environmental monitoring system.

Eltek is constantly pushing the barriers on innovation and technology, priming itself for a long and successful future to bring only the best products to the market. “We are always developing new products in response to customer demand. We are currently embracing IOT technologies such as SigFox and LoRa and will grow our range of hardware using these technologies. We have a long-term plan for continuous development of our Darca Connect Browser Software to give customers in different

market sectors the best possible experience,” added Brian.

In closing, we asked Brian how he felt about being selected as our Specialist Data Logging Company of the Year.

“We are delighted. This is very much a team effort and the last few years have been emotionally tough. Every member of our team has gone the extra mile over this period and they deserve the credit for this award.”

Brian continued, “Eltek sells through a network of specialist distributors each with expertise in their own field. Without these valued partners not only would we miss out on valuable business, but we would not be able to ensure that our products meet the exacting needs of our customers. We are also extremely grateful to University College London of whom we have a long history of collaboration with, helping us with the development of our air quality products and for sharing their experience of using these products with us.”

To provide lifetime support as well as custom solutions and not just standard systems is what Eltek do. Priding itself on offering the highestquality customer service runs in the company’s blood as without its customers or partners there would be no Eltek. Brian and his team are very much aware of this and want to thank their long-standing customers and partners for their loyalty.

For more information, please see below: T 01223 872111 sales@eltekdataloggers.co.uk https://www.eltekdataloggers.co.uk/index.php

From left to right: Eltek operations team, Charlie Smith (Production), Amanda Batty (Production) , Mike Bass (Engineering Director), Brian Clarkstone (Managing Director)

Futurebuild 2023 wraps up with optimism for the future

Futurebuild, the event dedicated to building a better future for the built environment calls a wrap on its exciting annual industry event held from 7th-9th March 2023.

Trailblazers from across the entire built environment came together to take a stand through innovation, knowledge-sharing and networking.

Across the three days, Futurebuild hosted over 17,800 visitors, 500 speakers, 400 exhibitors, 135 sessions, and 90 curators to join forces in creating a more sustainable future. With sustainability a more relevant topic than ever, Futurebuild’s expansive exhibition was specially curated to drive change across the entire

Classifieds

supply chain through showcasing the best in innovative bioproducts and sustainable solutions throughout the whole event.

Stay tuned for more

Futurebuild 2023 ended in the same way it began with an optimistic outlook for the future of the built environment. Visitors left with renewed excitement and new

LIGNOLOC® got ETA and a robot

knowledge of sustainable solutions and innovations in the sector.

Although the annual live event is over, Futurebuild works on providing content all year round. To relive the event, the full programme will be available in the coming weeks.

Having received insightful feedback from visitors on what they would like to see at Futurebuild 2024, the team is inspired to cover an even greater range of topics next year to again engage and challenge the industry to build better.

Save the date 5th-7th March 2024 – don’t miss out on next year’s show. www.futurebuild.co.uk

Wooden nail achieved European Technical Assessment

The European Technical Assessment (ETA) was granted to the LIGNOLOC® wooden nail for structural timber construction. The nail from RAIMUND BECK KG can now be used in load-bearing timber constructions throughout the EU. The approval applies to the nails without a head and enables the planning, design, and execution of load-bearing connections in timber frame construction. “This is a massive step forward for us and for our pursuit to establish LIGNOLOC®

as a standard practice in the European building sector and to further advance the ecological turnaround in construction,” explains Christian Beck, General Manager & CEO.

LIGNOLOC® for sustainable timber construction

LIGNOLOC® is the first collated wooden nail for future-oriented use in industrial production and ecological wood processing. By using the FASCO® LIGNOLOC®

pneumatic nailer, the nails can be driven into wood and wooden materials without pre-drilling and are permanently connected to the receiving base wood.

This year, BECK, and project partner KEHRATEC, presented a robot-assisted system for the fully or partially automated implementation of timber construction projects, particularly by pre-assembling completely glue-free and metal-free wall elements. Small and medium-sized timber construction companies and carpenters throughout Europe should be able to manufacture metal and glue-free mass timber wall elements themselves.

T +43 7724 2111-0 office@beck-fastening.com www.beck-fastening.com

Your first stop for portable waste compactors

Air Quality Company of the Year: UK’s first emissions-free dust suppression system for net-zero

In this issue of Sustainability Today, we are delighted to announce Air Spectrum Environmental Ltd as our Air Quality Company of the Year.

The Worcester, family-run company was founded over 25 years ago, supplying first-class, bespoke Air Quality services: dust management, odour control, air quality monitoring and consultancy to a wide spectrum of industries, from construction, demolition, recycling to agriculture.

Companies are always looking for new, innovative ways to mitigate against increasing dust levels across construction and demolition industries. Air Spectrum have spent recent years creating and supplying innovative alternatives to traditional dust suppression equipment. Offering a full-service approach, they

offer monitoring and assessments as well as treatment solutions for air quality issues. Air Spectrum’s range of air quality management equipment creates cleaner, healthier workspaces: thereby protecting the long-term health of on-site workers, visitors, and residents in the immediate vicinity.

Sustainability Today previously awarded Air Spectrum the Company of the Month Award for its nextgenerational 2021 ‘ecotech’ design. This is trailblazing, industry-first ingenuity: battery-powered mobile dust suppression, with the precise application of misted water to control clouding dust. Instead of the more traditional diesel-powered models, Air Spectrum has created a unique low-emission alternative, powered by rechargeable batteries.

The cutting-edge design has been further modified since 2021, as Rebecca Munson, Managing Director outlines, “We’ve been developing the range ever since, enabling various other pieces of equipment in our range to be battery-powered. We continue to innovate in this area and it’s always worth looking out for the latest ‘ecotech’ release. With sites becoming more and

more net-zero focused, these essentially emission-free alternatives are available to equipment traditionally used in these environments.”

The last twelve months have been monumental for air quality control across many sectors, including dust management and indoor AQ monitoring/control. With that in mind, Air Spectrum has made various partnerships to ensure customer demand is met and has increased its in-house manufacturing team capacity accordingly. With temperatures continuing to increase and dryer, hotter summers predicted to create dust and odour issues throughout the UK, companies are looking to invest in more robust air quality solutions.

“Summer is an incredibly busy time in the Air Quality industry: dust and odour are wreaking havoc on busy sites and we’re the first port of call to stop those issues for customers. Our long-term goals are to continue to innovate in the area and create more emission-free options for odour and dust management.” adds Rebecca.

Air Spectrum prides itself on providing cutting-edge research and development through its renowned, on-site laboratory: Spectrum OdourLab. The company

passed the annual proficiency test, complying with and exceeding stringent standards set by the European Odour Standard EN13725. The test measures accuracy and repeatability and Air Spectrum was ranked an astonishing second in the world for accuracy.

The recent appointment of Rebecca Munson as Managing Director has cemented a new chapter for the company as a world-class manufacturer of eco-friendly and sustainable air quality services.

The team were naturally delighted to be selected as our Air Quality Company of the Year.

“We are of course thrilled to be selected as Air Quality Company of the Year; it is great to be recognised for our efforts in the industry.”

“The next few years are key to spreading awareness regarding the dangers of poor air quality. It’s something that affects us all and thankfully there are multiple public health campaigns launching to bring further awareness to the general public. Together, we can make positive changes to ensure a safer and happier environment for us all.”

For more information and an initial consultation, please see details below:

T +44 (0)1905 362100 sales@airspectrum.com www.airspectrum.com

Sustainable Solutions Company of the Year 2023

Creating a circular world of good through regenerative design consulting

In this issue of Sustainability Today, we are delighted to recognise 540 WORLD with our sustainable solutions Company of the Year 2023 Award.

540 WORLD has continued to exceed expectations, making waves across the whole built environment with growing international consultancy and collaborations. The company were finalists for FSB London’s Sustainability Award 2023 and won the Greater London Enterprise Awards for Best Regenerative Design Consulting Firm 2023.

Over the last 12 months, the industry has asked increasingly challenging questions, engaged in sustainable knowledge-sharing, strategy formation and practical embedding of regenerative, circular design principles and materials in projects.

540 WORLD was delighted to be part of the World Circular Economic Forum 2023 report: Our Shared Understanding, The Circular Economy in the Built Environment, published 1 June (https://www.circularbuiltenvironment.com/ wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Our-SharedUnderstanding-a-circular-economy-in-the-builtenvironment-v19-01.06.23.pdf) as well as the technical working group for BREEAM, Principles for

Circular Buildings published in May 2023 (https:// bregroup.viewer.foleon.com/breeam/breeamcircularity-principles)

These are both significant free documents – the industry is clearly actively supporting the ‘how’ to enable circularity.

In the UK, 540 WORLD are Innovation Partners for Futurebuild, part of ReLondon’s Circular Network, founders of the first UK C2C® Circular Design Network (CircDNet), originators of the C2C Design Directory and consultants on various cutting-edge projects for the Environment Agency’s TEAM2100, all to support transitions to certified sustainable materials in projects.

Internationally there are also new collaborations, for example with the Institute of Interior Impact’s NL podcast Beyond Sustainability (https:// instituteofinteriorimpact.com/chaline) introducing global communities to C2C Certified®

2022-23 has been the year of early adopters: the beginning of regenerative design becoming practical in projects, such as: Google using Accoya® for their Kings Cross mullion cappings, Microsoft using C2C Certified flooring, TEAM2100 doing the rollout of the

world’s first biodiversedesigned sustainable fenders, Graphenstone paint in multiple projects and 540 WORLD consulting on TEAM2100 projects.

We spoke to 540 WORLD’S Founding Partner: Chaline Church to find out more about this pioneering company, “Circular design needs to happen at pace, if we are to align with planetary boundary science for a thriving planet and so far, certified, circular materials in UK projects have been slow to materialise.”

“Clients need to invest in changing linear design norms and actively embed circular, regenerative design ambitions with budgets to boot.”

“Articles like this plant a seed, helping people actively engage with facilitating a change for good, by engaging with the world’s most recognised global standard for sustainable products that are safe, circular and responsibly made, namely Cradle to Cradle Certified.”

“C2C Certified is exclusive to the C2C Products Innovation Institute: 540 WORLD’s knowledge partner for the C2C® CircDNet. CircDNet is open to all C2C Certified product manufacturers, their supply chains and clients seeking to make a positive impact.”

Graphenstone paint at Ergotec Health source: FreeSpace Design

Looking to the future, 540 WORLD is looking to work on more worldfirst projects for clients, supporting start-ups with developing products fit for the future and matchmaking the wonderful work of companies who are tirelessly working to ensure healthy, circular products are used in projects.

“We are really encouraged to win this award, but the real heroes to highlight are those creating circular projects today. For example, TEAM2100 has already embedded safe, certified sustainable materials in projects through C2C Certified product adoptions to support their eMission:2030 goals.

Our distinct circular materials consulting services are uniquely aligned with the global standard for products that have been assessed through the robust, fivecategory-sustainable goals, developed for safe, i.e., non-toxic, circular and socially fair products for C2C Certified.

540 WORLD hope your B2B readers connect to adopt safe, circular products that are certified sustainable to avoid greenwash. The planetary models show that for us to create a thriving future, we all need to impact every area we can at pace,” added Chaline on a final note.

For more information, please see the website below: info@540.world www.540.world

Air Spectrum Team holding the Company of the Year Award

World’s first biodiverse Accoya fender, source: 540 WORLD

Google’s Accoya mullion cappings source: Accsys

The Staycation era: Pushing the green agenda in toiletry packaging

In this issue of Business and Industry Today, we are delighted to announce Walter Geering as our Hospitality Toiletry Company of the Month.

The UK Hospitality industry went through a challenging time during the COVID-pandemic, with many businesses forced to close for good or quickly diversifying to stay afloat.

Walter Geering is a leading supplier of luxury toiletries, welcome packs, bedding, linen and towels and electrical items to the hospitality industry. Based in Ashford, Kent, the family-run business managed to weather the COVIDstorm, with quick-thinking ingenuity, as Jessica Marson, Head of Sales and Marketing explains, “Our company was established in 1903 by Walter Geering, who borrowed £20 from the bank to start a printing press. He was a true visionary, and during a world expedition, noticed that high-end hotels might benefit from personalised branding on shoe shining equipment.”

“Over our 120-year history, we’ve diversified and printed paper wrapping for apple varieties and provided floral cellophane wrapping to national florists. We know a thing

or two about diversification, so when COVID came along, we knew we had to re-consider our branding and core customers.”

“Our New Managing Director, Simon Wright joined us from the hospitality industry in 2019 and Lockdown actually gave him the perfect once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to immense himself in our company’s vision.”

“Once the Staycation boom took off, we quickly saw a business opportunity in the alternative accommodation provision.”

Walter Geering has always supplied to Hotels across the UK and Universities, looking for toiletry supplies for summer holiday conference guests. COVID suddenly opened up huge demand for holiday parks, Airbnb and holiday-home owners. Many accommodation providers allowed guests to bring dogs for the first time and the savvy-Ashford-based company came up with some innovative, business ideas: pet packs with a collapsible dog bowl, ball and waste bags with a wheat straw dispenser, kitchen and bathroom packs for self-catering, and birthday and games night packs.

Industrial Sealants & Adhesives

The innovative packs have been a huge hit across the accommodation industry and as Jessica remarks, have rivalled the original toiletries business, “Toiletries were always our bread n’ butter but the welcome packs have grown considerably in popularity. We’re all familiar with the ‘Super Host’ rating on Airbnb sites – these are all driven by customer reviews and one thing that customers love is a nice, thoughtful welcome pack.”

The kitchen packs include biodegradable dustbin liners, oxo biodegradable washing-up liquid and sponges, perfect for self-catering outlets and often the things that holidaymakers are most likely to forget. It’s the ‘little, extra touches’ that customers remember.

The Staycation looks like it’s here to stay, according to UK financial service company MoneyTransfers.com, with a whooping 72% of Brits choosing to holiday in the UK this year, despite the relaxing of post-COVID global travel restrictions and this means more demand for toiletry supplies.

“We don’t just supply regular miniature-bottled shampoo or shower gel to hotels or holiday parks. We are driving sustainable choices. Our Era collection contains toiletries packed in an oxo-biodegradable zip bag and the 35ml flip

top tubes are also oxo-biodegradable. We use innovative d2w technology in our manufacturing process, which is biodegradable, even in open environments.”

“We also use prevented ocean plastic: certified recycled plastic material collected from UK coastal areas at risk of ocean plastic pollution degradation.”

This leading toiletry and welcome pack supplier has continued to diversify over its impressive 120-year history and is looking forward to new ventures, “We will of course, keep pushing boundaries on sustainable bottles and packaging. In the short-term, we are streamlining our website into sub-accommodation divisions for easier online navigation. In the long-term, we may consider branching out into supplying across European countries,” concludes Jessica.

See Walter Geering at The Holiday Park & Resort Innovation: NEC 15th-16th November 2023.

For more information on the whole product range, please see the website below:

T 01233 658085

sales@waltergeering.co.uk

https://www.waltergeering.co.uk

https://www.linkedin.com/company/walter-geering

https://www.facebook.com/WalterGeering1903

medmix wins landmark German court ruling on counterfeit static mixing tips

medmix, a global leader in high-precision delivery devices, has won a landmark court ruling in Germany to help protect its customers from counterfeit products. Found to be in breach of Unfair Competition Law, a distributor of cattle care products in Baden-Württemberg agreed to a Judgement by Acknowledgement at Cologne District Court for selling imitations of the patented Quadro™ static mixing tips, owned by medmix, type MFQ (Court ref: 84 O 131/22).

As well as agreeing to cease the infringement and provide information regarding the source of the counterfeits – this distributor will introduce high quality, genuine Quadro mixing tips as part of its range.

“This is a landmark ruling against counterfeiters of our patented mixing tips for industrial sealants and adhesives,” said Hans-Peter Brack, Head of IP Management at medmix group. “We are totally committed to defending our rights and removing inferior counterfeit products from the market. We actively support distributors to supply only genuine Quadro products, ensuring that users receive the safest and most effective solution.”

Static mixing tips are used in two-component adhesives and sealant applications. In the case of the Quadro MFQ mixing tip, both material components of a cartridge are mixed by the specific inlet structure of the tip. Typically, this tip has always been designed with a unique and distinctive visual appearance in green with a white interface to be mounted on the cartridge. Mixing tips require regular replacement, and cheap counterfeits are often available on e-commerce websites. However, inferior tips can offer poor and even dangerous mixing results, as well as the risk of breakage or leakage, which could be avoided by using tested, highquality originals.

“Hoof repair is usually an undertaking for farmers and vital to the welfare of the animal. Using an inferior mixing tip can mean that a cow or horse is receiving poor quality care, which may result in distress. By using a high-quality static mixing tip, farmers and veterinarians can ensure optimal treatment and a much happier animal,” Hans-Peter explained.

In this case, an approved distributor alerted medmix to the counterfeits, but the company takes further steps to identify poor quality imitations. medmix works with customs and border control to stop counterfeits entering local markets and regularly screens trade shows for counterfeits. Internet trademark and image monitoring are used with reference to 3D and other trademarks held by the business, allowing automated assistance in the identification of infringements. Information is also available on the medmix website to help customers spot and avoid fakes.

Hans-Peter added, “As well as defending

the rights and safety of our customers and end users, we want to improve the supply chain. Accordingly, we will be supporting the corresponding distributor in Germany to provide original products, so that they can sell genuine, authentic mixing tips. We have also given permission for medmix branding to be incorporated in its brochures and other communication tools for the purpose of identifying our genuine Quadro products.

“We are experienced at defending our rights in the dental industry, but this ruling shows that we are ready to protect our innovations for the industrial market too. As a technology company, we are dedicated to removing counterfeits from sale and ensuring that our customers and distributors, as well as end users, do not suffer the consequences of fake mixing tips.”

Contact T +41 41 723 73 00

communications@medmix.com

www.medmix.swiss

Quadro mixer in the typical colours of white and green, quadratic shape and the Quadro logo

The UK’s premier farm machinery show was back with a bang this year on the 10th-11th January at the NEC in Birmingham.

LAMMA 2023 TR-8 Double Bale Handler offers expert handling capacity

Over 40,000 people attended the show over the two days that offered the perfect surroundings for farmers from all sectors to connect with companies who provide cutting-edge machinery, technology and equipment for the farming industry.

Over 600 exhibitors were in attendance to showcase the latest tractors, combines, arable and grassland machinery, as well as a wide range of new technology, services and tools for every sector. Well-known brands such as ADM Agriculture LTD, Heath Engineering, The National Association of Agricultural Contractors, and many more were all excited to enhance their brand awareness and network with fellow industry professionals and potential new customers.

Visitors had a fantastic opportunity to visit the Farm Safety and Security Zone where they could access and improve their on-farm safety and security. Visitors and exhibitors were also able to learn about investment opportunities in the UK and how to expand a business in foreign markets in the International Export Advice Centre, which was sponsored by the Department of International Trade.

One of the main attractions was the Future Farming Trail – the go-to feature that enabled the discovery of the evolution of agriculture, featuring the latest and greatest innovation for the future under one roof using VR headsets.

Alongside many product launches, innovations and presentations, LAMMA 2023 was a great success, and set up the stage for a fantastic 2024 expo that will be held on the 17th & 18th January 2024, NEC, Birmingham.

This is our second pick of the best exhibitors from this year’s event, listed here in alphabetical order: AG Crop & Environment, Butyl Products (Butek Tanks) IG Agro & JM Agri Design. Further details can be found on this page.

Contact https://www.lammashow.com

The UK’s largest supplier of agricultural machinery to Ukraine

From completing full engine rebuilds to line boring and axle repair, IG Agro offer a service you can trust to get the job done. From their service workshop, IG Agro is proud of its reputation as an industry leader providing customers with an unbeatable service and product support. Alongside full-service shops, servicing, repairs, accident repair and maintenance on the complete line of John Deere, JCB and other Agriquip Brands, IG Agro also has a fleet of mobile service vehicles, which allow them to better service customers at their own locations.

JM Agri Design bought its customised range of TR Bale Handlers to this year’s LAMMA Show at the NEC. Customers from the agricultural industry flocked to see the TR-8 Double Bale Handler in action, which offers seamless efficiency: more than 115%, compared to standard mounted single bale handlers.

The in-cab control box gives the choice of independent operation of each arm, or in tandem and the slim functionality means the TR-8 can easily manoeuvre between bales, moving stacked bales for resale, without damage to the plastic wrap.

JM Agri Design has been a leading design manufacturer of TR bale handlers, since its inception in 2015. Founder Joseph Moynihan

has developed a unique patented bale handling range, capable of loading and unloading wrapped/ unwrapped bales in round or square dimensions.

The premium TR range are all designed and manufactured in-house at the County Kerry site, in Ireland, with a standard check valve fitted to secure a consistent grip on the bale.

UK Customers can browse the range of TR-Bale Handlers on

the company website, with full specifications listed and the YouTube site below, has showcase videos of the handling capabilities of all the TR-models.

For more information, please see the website or YouTube link below:

T 00353 872193062

https://jmagridesign.co.uk

https://www.youtube. com/channel/ UCjRdeBnw3JRvnQZ8daBBmEA

Protect your work and your crop –use Agrirepel® Wrap!

plastic, Agrirepel® is taking care of the environment. The additive is indeed neither dangerous for humans, for the cattle/sheep/horses nor for the pests that are useful for the ecosystem.

It was another busy expo for IG Agro at this year’s LAMMA Show 2023 as they showcased their wide range of farming equipment and services to an eagerly anticipated audience.

Since 2020, IG Agro has been serving the Agricultural industry with the highest quality customer service and largest variety of farm equipment from multiple lines including John Deere and JCB Agriculture.

You can also check out their full range of used agricultural machinery. Known as the UK’s largest supplier of used agricultural machinery to Ukraine, IG Agro can match any requirement.

To support these services you can also get in touch with IG Agro for any parts, air condition requirements or line boring services.

See below for more details:

T 07718 303355 djerelolal@gmail.com https://igagro.co.uk

Specialises in repair and diagnostics of John Deere and JCB machinery

Ag Crop & Environment Ltd is bringing the Agrirepel® range in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland! Agrirepel® Wrap, our bale wrap, and Agrirepel® Bag, silage bags, have been designed to repel birds and rodents. Developed with the highest quality film, Agrirepel® Wrap and Bag include a natural additive that sends birds and rodents away from your crop.

Used exactly the same way as your usual wrap or silage bags, you don’t need to change your habits. Same storage, same manipulation, same recycling but a much better service for you: you will save a lot of crop with Agrirepel® products, as well as time and money!

By using the natural ingredient Combirepel™ and wasting less

Agrirepel® products are already recognised by users in many places: Best Innovation award at Sommet d’Or in France in 2017, Second prize for Agrirepel Bag at Agritrade Canada in 2019, videos by Machinery Pete in the USA and by Agry Video in Switzerland…

Contact ACE for more information at: contact@ace-ag.co.uk!

Butek Tanks

Butek Tanks is part of Butyl Products Limited, founded in 1965, which specialises in the design, development, manufacture, and optional installation of a range of liquid containment products.

The Butek Tank division was formed to provide additional support and technical services for UK tank enquiries to enable our customers to purchase a bulk liquid storage system to meet their requirements for a variety of applications, direct from the manufacturer.

IG Agro LTD strive to be your one stop repair service. If you are searching for a business that can repair a tractor or perform any mild welding, feel free to contact us for a trustworthy and fair service. IG Agro LTD provides 24-hour mobile mechanic and hydraulic hose service with it’s service truck. IG Agro LTD has since grown the business to setting up an undercover workshop as a base of operations and still offering the mobile mechanic and breakdown service. The team of IG Agro LTD consists numbers of mechanics with a combined total industry experience. When it comes to delivering professional workmanship, we are professionally certified and we never compromise with quality.

Please

Tel +44 (0)7718 303355 | Email djerelolal@gmail.com

Our team of technical advisors are on hand to provide technical information to enable you to choose the correct tank for your application and further advise on the available size, material, fittings and installation options.

Purchasing directly from the factory enables you to have a bespoke tank produced from various materials and thicknesses to suit a particular application or you can choose one of our standard tank options that we hold in stock at our UK headquarters.

We have manufactured and installed tanks since 1965 for humanitarian aid and industrial projects worldwide, as well as domestically for agricultural, horticultural and general irrigation projects.

Contact T 01277 653281 enquiries@butektanks.co.uk www.butektanks.co.uk

Automated AI offers companies a competitive sales and marketing edge

In this issue of Business & Industry Today, we are delighted to announce Carbon & Finch as our Software Development Company of the Month.

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIot) has created revolutionary, seamless, automated solutions within a cloud-based infrastructure. The AI potential is gathering momentum, as more businesses search for optimised marketing and sales services, to maximise workflow, increase sales and improve overall ROI.

Carbon & Finch are a leading, global Microsoft Technology consultancy offering the perfect solution: JeffreyAI: a sales & marketing automation tool. The automated platform offers endless capabilities from: assigning tasks, replying to emails, honing in on KPI’s, managing the workforce and pipeline, setting daily, weekly and monthly targets, all through an automated platform. With pre-programmable settings, the plug n’play functionality allows your sales & marketing team to focus on what they do best: increase sales.

“We all know that cartoon of the cart with square wheels, dreaming of round wheels: we are asking companies to do the same now: be more forward-thinking. AI is the future and we can offer a remote cloud-based workhorse, that

and online maintenance and support, though the two are mutually compatible. As a Microsoft partner, Carbon & Finch are industry experts in delivering Microsoft Dynamics and Office 365, but offer the full life cycle from initial enquiry to design, implementation, configuration, through to data migration. The online dynamics support team are certified Microsoft Dynamics Professionals, offering instant online global support.

With Jimmi at the helm, the team are in expert hands: with over 20 years’ experience designing, implementing and advising on ERP implementation and software development projects, he brings technical expertise. The leading investment management firm: Goldman Sachs selected Jimmi to be part of a handpicked small business coaching programme, which led to peak performance coaching by the CEO of the Year: 2019: Eric Partaker.

is already moving from analogue to hyper-automation engagements, within a buyer-centric model on a digital platform. Autonomous prospecting is the future, and with automated solutions, AI can help companies understand more about their customer demographics. Artificial Intelligence has the ability to fully analyse customer/ sales dialogues, and with added monitored social media engagement, can create a full customer profile. With a platform holding customer data, the AI will drive lead generation and optimise the marketing of the right product, to the right person at the right time,” wrote Jimmi on the Carbon & Finch LinkedIn Blog.

“We interested in educating people: helping spread awareness of exactly what AI can do for companies, to futureproof their ROI’s.”

“Companies can take out a free 30-day trial of JeffreyAI, to see if it works for them. As a Lead Forensics Partner, this means that you can see who has visited which part of your website and for how long and what company they work for. This allows for detailed user analytics,

which is indispensable for targeted sales and marketing programmes,” laid out Jimmi.

Carbon & Finch have been busy promoting their extensive range of software and AI solutions at trade show recently, including the Surrey Business Expo 2023 at Surrey Sports Park in Guildford, to impressed delegates, as part of a wider drive to showcase exactly how the company can help businesses.

The support ticket package for example, provides businesses with a flexible choice of support for Dynamics 365 F&O, with fast-tracked troubleshooting, reduced costs and proactive customer service support. Companies can choose between basic, standard or premium Microsoft

completes all the organisational backbone work, leaving your sales & marketing team focussed on speaking to customers and strategic sales. After all, sales are the bloodline of any company,” explains CEO Jimmi Jakobsen.

“Companies are still ambiguous about AI capability, but it is already here: helping maximise sales and marketing targets across the globe. We can provide consultancy for companies, who are unsure about making that transition, especially SME’s, who might be feeling unable to make that leap.”

Carbon & Finch has been providing solutions for enterprises across the world for over 15 years, using Microsoft technologies. The family-run business is located in the market town of Epsom, near West London and reported an impressive 80% increased revenue last year.

“We offer bespoke consultancy for enterprises across the world, from Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the US, with industries ranging from retail, banking, insurance to manufacturing. At Carbon & Finch: we design, implement and advise on the ERP implementation and a whole range of software development. We are a one-stop-shop offering Microsoft Licences, the integration of 3rd party applications, secure data migration to cloud-based storage, custom reporting & analytics, bespoke solution design & development, system configuration, through to our JeffreyAI workflow automation,” expands Jimmi.

The expert company is two-tiered: offering consultancy

“I started my own accountancy practice aged 18 and by the age of 20, was working for a software company. This is my area of expertise and I decided 15 years ago to start Carbon & Finch, utilising my areas of expertise,” explains Jimmi.

With an exponential sales increase, the company has fared well, under Jimmi’s expert eye. As a Microsoft partner, the team can offer a full range of implementation services from: project planning and management, system configuration, data migration, through to ongoing training and support.

Every business is different and Carbon & Finch has supported small and large companies with the number of employees ranging from two to over 12,000, across a range of industries. The Development Services offer bespoke solutions for individual company requirement, and Carbon & Finch are particularly interested in helping SMEs realise their sales & marketing targets, through digital AI, “Selling

bundles: offering a flexible support package dependant on budgets and requirements.

“In the future, we hope to offer face-to-face networking sessions for SME companies interested in our product range at our Epsom base.”

“We are also interested in providing opportunities for the next generation, through a variety of apprenticeship opportunities. These include Microsoft Dynamics 365 Functional Consultant Apprenticeships. These are perfect for students currently completing a relative computing course, with basic knowledge of C# and C#.Net Framework,” concludes Jimmi.

If your company is ready to embark on the AI journey, book in for a consultation with Carbon & Finch today. For more information, please see the website below: T 0161 907 4721 support@carbonandfinch.com https://carbonandfinch.com www.jeffreyai.com

Financial Services Company of the Month

Navigating the winds of change to steer your businesses successfully from start-up to exit

Pollock & Associates: Anthony Pollock to find out more.

In this issue of Business and Industry Today, we are delighted to select Anthony Pollock & Associates as our financial services Company of the Month.

In business circles, the term ‘scaling up’ has become synonymous with shifting direction to increase revenue and profit margins however this is a misnomer since the businesses components grow at different rates alongside the growth in revenue. Scaling requires a different set of management skills from growing revenues and profits, which many business owners do not understand. Experienced advice is crucial.

When English poet (and ex-Poet Laureate) John Masefield wrote his poem, ‘Sea Fever,’ he opened with these two lines, “I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, and all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by.”

The poem conjures up a sailing ship navigating by the stars through the vast expanse of sea and sky: the navigation motif is exactly how expert financial services operate. We chatted with CEO of Anthony

Anthony explained, “We help businesses navigate to a safe harbour, across the seven seas of commercial opportunity, buffeted by market forces, tacking through the winds of technological change, and avoiding the rocks financial disaster to reach their safe harbour destination. Sticking with the metaphor, we hold the compass and charts, whilst the company mans and officers steer the ship. We can even offer a GPS.”

“We are industry agnostic, though our target customers are in the 1-20+ million turnover bracket. We work with purpose-driven businesses who need an informed perspective providing innovative customised solutions to the issues that they face, so they can accomplish their goals.”

“We achieve this through our four main pillars: helping at start-up, getting businesses back on track, scaling the business safely and preparing for exit.”

With over 35 years’ experience, including 10 years as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in start-ups/early stage of business development, Anthony is expertly placed to offer purposeful, insightful, commercial financially driven solutions for business owners.

In 2022, he started developing further advisory services in ‘scale-up’ and ‘exitplanning’ strategies at the St James Square office in London. With a further office in Spencers Wood, Berkshire, the team has grown to include associates across marketing, sales, Bookkeeping and M&A.

Anthony continued, “We offer remote virtual sessions with companies all over the world, but we have noticed more recently, companies returning to face-to-face meetings. With many working partnerships lasting between three to five years, it is important to build a strong relationship.”

“We are currently focussing on our new

services helping companies ‘scaling safely’ and ‘preparing for a successful exit.’”

“We have an expert scale-up partner, in Mark Baxter, who advises scale up businesses and has had successful hands-on experience. The support of such an experienced adviser for your businesses is vital to its success.”

“With regards to exit planning, last year the team incorporated a tried and tested exit planning toolkit successfully used by over 70,000 businesses around the world. We believe that this provides a structured process for those businesses planning for exit in the next three to five years.”

Looking to the future, the team are designing a new service that will substantially de-risk investments in owner-managed businesses by private investors, venture capital and private equity companies. It will achieve this by adding new dimensions to the traditional due diligence processes employed by investors to uncover elements of risk, that are only normally recognised too late after investment decisions have been made.

Anthony Pollock & Associates run webinars on subjects such as scaling up and preparing for exit, please see the Eventbrite links below:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/challenge-thefunder-learn-how-to-raise-capital-for-your-businesseurope-tickets-656650147267?aff=oddtdtcreator https://www.eventbrite.com/e/challenge-thefunder-learn-how-to-raise-capital-for-your-businessasiaau-registration-638556639097?aff=erelexpml t&keep_tld=1

For further information on services and to book a call, please see below:

T +44 (0)791 907 8167

Anthony.Pollock@anthonypollock.co.uk www.anthonypollock.co.uk

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ anthony-pollock-virtual-cfo-services

https://calendly.com/anthony-pollock/ follow-up-zoom-business-and-industry-today

Cleaning & Facilities Management

Hygiene Trio join forces

Danish food hygiene equipment expert joins forces with Warrington hygiene solution provider Christeyns Food Hygiene and application partner H&M Disinfection Systems Ltd, to offer unique turnkey solution.

The leading family-owned supplier of detergents and disinfectants, Christeyns Food Hygiene, has joined forces in a tripartner initiative with specialist producers of worldrenowned equipment manufacturer Foamico and hygiene equipment specialists H&M Disinfection.

This partnership provides the confidence that hygiene operations need to deliver world-class cleaning in the demanding food, dairy and beverage

industries from design and supply to effective cleaning and disinfection.

For over 30 years, Christeyns

Food Hygiene has produced effective formulations of detergents and disinfectants for all applications in the food, dairy and beverage industries with customers from across a range of household consumer brands and suppliers to the UK’s food retailers.

As part of family-owned Belgium parent company, Christeyns NV, the firm draws on the expertise and knowledge of a multi-national team of experts.

Foamico is an independent manufacturer of superior cleaning solutions in the food, dairy and beverage industries. Its core business is

to develop, manufacture and deliver reliable and efficient cleaning solutions for surface and open plant cleaning worldwide. Operating in 50 countries, Foamico’s key focus in on food safety with a reputation for innovation and reliability.

Having worked with CFH for three decades, H&M Disinfection Ltd have built a reputation for providing high quality, bespoke hygiene application equipment, which is the cornerstone of many customer’s food safety management systems. The partnership was formalised last year to provide customers with a more stream-lined service in the provision of top-quality formulations and equipment.

Christeyns Food Hygiene: www.christeyns.com

Foamico: www.foamico.com

H&M Disinfection Systems: www.hmdis.co.uk

Cleenol launches new Easidose range of cleaning products

Long established

Cleenol, a leading developer and manufacturer of quality cleaning and hygiene products, has announced it is rebranding its market-leading Evolution 1000 range as Easidose.

The name of the new range is in recognition of its ‘easy to dose’ characteristics, as Paul Twiss, Head of Marketing at Cleenol, explains, “Our Evolution Super Concentrates system redefined cleaning chemicals. As part of the range, we wanted to create an additional system that ran parallel with our wall mounted dosing systems, one where the was no need for additional hardware. This is why we’re proud to introduce the brand new Easidose range.”

bottle of Easidose has a specially designed

Also embedded

heavy-duty refill flasks will be available as part of the Easidose range and also an updated Evolution 1.5 litre range.

Both brands share a similar design, so the new flasks will show both Easidose & Evolution logos.

The new Easidose range comprises multisurface cleaners and degreasers, floor cleaners, anti-bacterial bath and washroom cleaners, air fresheners, window and stainless-steel cleaners and toilet cleaners. Each 1 litre bottle can make up to 300 refill flasks, saving single use plastic while taking up little storage space.

To find out more, contact: sales@cleenol.co.uk or visit: www.cleenol.com

Anthony Pollock, CEO of Anthony Pollock & Associates

Financial Services Company of the Month

Recalibrate and revolutionise your business with dedicated financial support

In this issue of Business & Industry Today, we are delighted to acknowledge RLJB Business Consulting Ltd as our Financial Services Company of the Month.

Financial Directors are the linchpins of long-term company financial growth and prosperity. Using astute strategies, they have the expertise to analyse accounting operations and transform business practices, ensuring the longevity of companies in an ever-changing world. They are often visionaries, with extraordinary communication skills and solid knowledge of corporate finance and best practice.

Roy Brown is the Founder/Managing Director of RLJB Business Consulting Ltd and embodies forensiclevel knowledge of business, expert knowledge of Cloud-based software, with astute, sharp business prowess. With over 30 years' experience across a wide range of commercial areas: from the Financial Director at LEE Filters to the Chair of Trustees at Panavision UK Ltd, Roy has worked outside of the UK negotiating tough decisions at top level and helping companies oversee difficult transitions. As a Qualified Chartered Management Accountant, Chartered Global Management Accountants with being granted a practising certificate under CIMA, this enables him to provide both Financial Director services and allows him to provide Statutory Accountants and Corporation Tax returns. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Directors, so Roy is well placed to help all companies from fledgling SMEs to global corporations in many aspects of a business.

Based in Hampshire, Roy started his company in 2017, but it was during Lockdown, when his experience and knowledge significantly support business through the world of business disruption.

“The successive Lockdowns gave me a real opportunity to support companies through the

unprecedented processes of furloughing, loans and finding strategies to survive one of the toughest economic periods in UK history. Working with a crash repair company was challenging – due to Lockdown: (thankfully) there were fewer car crashes, but it was devastating for this business area. After a thorough analysis of the company’s cashflow management, business strategy and workplace structure, we came out the other side. The company has now been voted The Best Crash Repairs Company in the UK, with an exclusive deal with Direct Line Insurance. Also, a company that provided Medical and Security service to events saw its business devasted. I helped them with a strategy to survive and the result was they became winners of southern enterprise awards Best Event Medical Cover Provider 2022.”

“Today I work with over 60 different companies, London based supply of appliances, beauty, carpentry, event management, coffee distributors, lift repairs to emergency services, helping them with three key components: Business Components, Business Infrastructure and Virtual Business & (FD) services.”

Roy can work remotely and offer support to companies all over the country, using the latest Cloud-based software such as Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, Futrli and many others but his passion is to visit companies in-person to really understand the business, “It’s important to visit companies in realtime – to really gauge the mood, to read the body

language and build a relationship. Many companies focus on the latest LinkedIn marketing trends to build brand awareness and drive profits and yes, that’s important but many neglect the basics: the legality of a new premises, the latest HMRC compliance and effective staff structuring. Visiting in person lets me see the whole picture, such as poor working morale or excess spending.”

Roy’s business experience bridges the gap between business needs and accountancy, Roy offers businesses a unique perspective on their financial workings – something that internal staff often miss. It’s a fact that many businesses can’t afford their own Financial Directors or don’t want one but maybe in danger of over-spending or restrictive cashflow operations. The beauty of partnering with an expert, independent Financial Director like Roy is that he comes in with fresh eyes and can quickly see areas that require improvement or conversely hold growth potential, as Roy shares, “My aim is to identify the cause of the restraints in your business and cure them, not treat the symptoms. I adopt a ‘right first time’ approach and work to prevent the downward spiral effects when things start to go wrong.”

Having worked across finance, HR, IT and procurement in the business sector: growing a manufacturing operation into a global phenomenon with an annual turnover of £20 million and previously working as a pension trustee and Chairman for decades, has given Roy an excellent insight into the innermost workings of business at the highest level. Now Chair of the Hampshire branch of CIMA to further pass on his experiences.

Potentially when businesses sense decline on the horizon, they buckle but for Roy it’s an opportunity to reinvest, diversify or simply revert back to the drawing board. All businesses go through ups and downs and for Roy, it’s a chance to look at a business through an objective lens and come up with some exciting, original strategies. Recently bring Reborn Aviation back from the brink of going out of business. Setting up a group structure for D&S Appliance to maximise their success.

RLJB Business Consulting is committed to exceptional accountancy advice, bookkeeping and bold, decision making for all companies, from startups to fourth-generational companies.

The UK business has always had a great entrepreneurial spirit and Lockdown gave many people the space and opportunity to start their dream business. Navigating the world of the PAYE system, VAT registration and post-Brexit shipping rules can be tricky and that’s where Roy comes in, with his wealth of experience and knowledge. Also running his own account practise, “Once a new SME business is set on its maiden voyage in the business world, it’s exciting to watch and I can still come back and offer maintenance advice on an ad hoc basis. I’ve worked with many companies over the years: KBR Aspire Defence Ltd, Drinks 21, Interbev, Collingwood Services Ltd to Woodrow and it doesn’t matter if they’re fledgling or multi-award winning, I offer the same professional expertise with my advice.”

Roy’s long-term customers are inclined to agree and leave glowing testimonies on his website, praising his meticulous attention-to-detail and expert knowledge, “Roy is one of the calmest and most resilient professional contractors I’ve met in a long while. His adaptable attitude, willingness to roll his sleeves up and ability to influence a variety of personality types, means that he is great value for money. He is down-to-earth, approachable and can distil complex financial concepts into everyday terms we can all relate to,” concluded David Clark: Associate DirectorInterim Division at Woodrow Mercer.

Looking forward to the next 12 months, Roy is looking to grow the business and take on new, more complex clients.

If you’re looking to analyse your business model, Roy can offer expert advice and strategic expertise on the following areas: Business Components (taxes, customers to funding), Business infrastructure (cashflow management to Government grants) and Virtual FD Services, to maximise profit areas.

RLJB Business Consulting Ltd will be at: The Business Show from 22nd-23rd November: ExCeL, London to chat further in person.

For more information, please see Roy’s website below:

T 07741 589633

roy@rljbconsulting.co.uk www.rljbconsulting.co.uk

Engineering working on plane at Reborn Avionics the new company out of the restructuring

John & Elena at I M Accident a Repair Centre with their award for 2023 after nearly going out of business in 2020

Roy Brown, Founder & Marketing Director at RLJB Business Consulting

Roy Brown visiting Gerald at Peaberry Coffee Roasters. He imports and roasts coffee beans in the UK

many industries they supply.

Manufacturing the products from virgin material also means that they can easily be recycled at the end of their long life. Yvonne Bryant says, “It needs to be said that not all plastic is bad plastic and the virgin grade plastic we use can be recycled and still be in use 100 years from now.”

Products can be manufactured from the existing range or bespoke for the clients particular requirement, browse the range at: www.bryantplastics.co.uk, call on: 01535 357480 or email: sales@bryantplastics.co.uk.

The role of FM in keeping the warehouse and logistics sector moving

Warehouse management can be time consuming and often resource intensive. Any unforeseen delays can be costly plus there are also added demands for the industry to increase productivity while at the same time reduce operational costs.

This business model relies on all aspects of the operation running efficiently and if faults are found or maintenance is needed, that they will be dealt with swiftly and smoothly reducing any downtime. Reduce operating inefficiencies By working with a facilities management company, businesses in this sector can ensure their facility is managed effectively, helping to reduce operating inefficiencies.

Precision FM has been working with a large automotive parts supplier for over five years, and looks after the facilities management of their distribution warehouse in the West Midlands, which is one of the largest of its kind in Europe.

The team at Precision FM know that in order to provide the best level of service, they must first align their own deliverables with the stringent KPIs their client will be measured against, and ensure that they can work in partnership with them to deliver real value.

By outsourcing the management of a facility to an external company, businesses in the warehousing and logistic sector can benefit from a wide range of services that can help keep operations running efficiently.

To find out more about the services offered by Precision FM to the warehouse and logistics sector, please visit: https://www.precisionfm.co.uk/sectors/ industrial-logistics or contact the team on: 0116 366 6508 or info@precisionfm.co.uk.

With technical expertise in explosion protection, we provide a comprehensive service to offer help and advice on your project.

Our website is an open-source platform which allows you to download drawings, manuals & a questionnaire with all the information required to define the vent area to protect yourprocess (Filters, Dust Collectors, Silos, Elevators).

Our modern in house test facility provides pressure test certificates along with certificates of conformity following the latest standards.

Our staff pride themselves on offering you, the customer, a first class product and service.

CERTIFICATIONS:

• NFPA certified

• Ex II GD

• EN 14491-2012/ EN 149942007/ EN 14797-2007/ EN 1127.1-2011

• EN 16009-2011

• EU Certificate: INERIS 15 ATEX 0001X

• EU Certificate: INERIS 14 ATEX 0049X

• Production quality assurance notification: INERIS 08ATEXQ406