Business and Industry Today Issue 399

Editor’s Comments

As we come to the end of 2024, we are honoured to have showcased some of the most innovative products and services that have entered the key sectors of UK industry over the past 12 months.

In our final issue, we highlight Ziegler UK as our Freight Forwarding Company of the Year. 2024 has been a transformative year for the company seeing them relocate their UK head office to a state-of-the-art facility as well as grow through branch mergers and strategic acquisition. Pages 4-5.

celebrating its 10th anniversary. This innovative company provides comprehensive digital cloud solutions tailored for fleet management across sectors, including commercial transport, public and private transportation, emergency services, and plant-hire vehicles.

Thirty Nine Cyber, a provider of cyber advisory services to all UK businesses, is our chosen Cyber Advisory Company of the Month. We delve into the company’s comprehensive cyber assessment and remediation services, and highlight its increasingly popular Cyber Maturity as a Service (CMaaS) process. Page 9.

As part of our End-of-Year Review, we’ve highlighted two standout companies.

First, on page 6, we feature CheckedSafe,

On the Cover

Ziegler 4-5

Second, on page 51, we spotlight Christeyns Food Hygiene, a premier chemicals supplier. Renowned for its holistic approach to hygiene solutions, Christeyns offers a leading range of chemical products designed to meet diverse industry needs.

2024 show reviews: APF, The Business Show, No Dig Live.

We look forward to 2025 and what the new year brings to the industry. Have a great Christmas and Happy New Year.

Don’t forget to send us your latest Business, Industry and Sustainable news and updates and email us: info@businessandindustrytoday.co.uk

Company of the Year 4-5

Ziegler UK is a growing market-leader in transport and logistics across the United Kingdom, covering an extensive range of freight transportation solutions.

Company of the Month 9

Thirty Nine Cyber provides cyber advisory services to all UK businesses through comprehensive cyber assessment and remediation services.

Warehouse & Logistics 10-11

Reaching their 10 Year Anniversary is a significant achievement for the team at Herd, a decade of rapid growth, which has been exciting, challenging and rewarding for everyone involved.

Industrial 12-15

At Cable Services, the UK’s trusted supplier of electrical cable and specialist equipment, we have invested in an automatic winding and measuring cable cutting machine at our Wrexham facility.

APF 2024 Review 16-22

300 exhibitors and 25,000 visitors attended APF 2025 from 19-21 September at Ragley Estate. The event showcased every aspect of managing forests, woodland, trees and timber.

No-Dig Live 2024 Review 26

No-Dig Live, the world’s largest and most highly regarded trenchless technology event, is a must attend event.

Contacts

BAIT Sales Manager, Harriet Parfitt – 0121 550 7510 harrietparfitt@businessandindustrytoday.co.uk

Editorial, Gina Burton – 07483 931474 – gina@businessandindustrytoday.co.uk

Production Manager, Robert Sharp – production@businessandindustrytoday.co.uk Accounts Department, Paul Whitaker – 0121 824 4742 accounts@businessandindustrytoday.co.uk

For more information or format requirements, see our Media Pack

The entire content of this publication is advertorial based. To place an advertorial or an advert, please call 0121 550 7510.

them on page 14

Excellence in supply

We are delighted to feature Ziegler UK in this issue of Business & industry Today as our celebrated Freight Forwarding Company of the Year

Ziegler UK is a growing market-leader in transport and logistics across the United Kingdom, covering an extensive range of freight transportation solutions including: road, air and ocean freight, logistics, customs clearance, e-commerce and other value-added services. Established in 2009, with close to 300 staff members, Ziegler UK is part of a worldwide group with 116 years of family-owned history. Now with 15 branches nationwide, the company has continued to embrace an exciting era of growth and investment in the British market by developing an international multimodal logistics service.

A significant contribution to Ziegler’s success is an innate ability to continuously adapt to market changes. Some notable milestones include the announcement of a move into a state-of-the-art 500,000ft2 ‘super hub’, the development of a VAT exemption initiative when importing into the EU and an ongoing commitment towards sustainability through leveraging eco-friendly practices across operations, promoting a greener approach to freight transportation.

Customer-centricity is naturally woven into the fabric of Ziegler’s services, with logistics solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of each client, fostering long-term partnerships based on trust and reliability. Whether it’s handling complex shipping requirements, managing inventory, or providing real-time tracking, Ziegler’s commitment to customer satisfaction is unwavering. Standing as a beacon of supply chain excellence in the realm of freight transportation and logistics, Ziegler continues to shape the future of global commerce, delivering results that redefine industry standards.

2024: Strategic investment and resilience

As we edge towards the end of 2024, we spoke to UK Managing Director, Lee Marshall, to find out how Ziegler UK has fared over the last twelve months, “2024 has been transformative for Ziegler UK. This year, we relocated our UK head office to a stateof-the-art facility, offering unprecedented storage capacity and increased throughput. This move has been complemented by the addition of exciting new customers from a variety of industries, demonstrating our flexibility and versatility. We’ve also grown through branch mergers and strategic acquisitions, strengthening our presence and service offerings across key locations. On a global scale, the Ziegler Group has demonstrated its dedication to sustainability, with significant progress in reducing carbon emissions. Despite the challenges facing the freight industry, Ziegler has consistently raised the bar, solidifying our position as a leader in logistics and showcasing our resilience, innovation, and commitment to excellence.

“Strategic investment and resilience have been key characteristics over this last year, focusing on growing and enhancing our customer service capabilities through significant developments, while also navigating unexpected rises in transportation costs. Despite these challenges, the financial security of the business remains robust with an upward trajectory on turnover from 2023, providing a strong foundation for continued growth. We recognise the importance of reinvestment and remain committed to innovating and improving our offerings to meet the evolving needs of our customers. This approach ensures we are well-positioned for future success while maintaining the high standards our clients expect from Ziegler.”

Spotlight on UK advancements

Firstly, the new purpose-built 500,000ft2 head office, Ziegler UK has introduced a value-added services facility: offering a comprehensive range of e-commerce solutions. Secondly, the Northampton branch, specialising in healthcare, has had a breakthrough year, securing a WDA license to enable controlled temperature storage, making the company the only WDA license holder with a full UK network. Thirdly, Ziegler UK are in the process of rolling out the highly anticipated MyZiegler platform, which will empower customers with seamless online quoting, booking, and tracking for road, air, and ocean shipments. These advancements reflect a steadfast commitment to innovation, versatility, and industry-leading service.

Lee Marshall, Managing Director

Expansive European Road freight network: Keeping things moving

Ziegler UK’s European road freight network spans 28 nations and is continuing to expand further. This extensive reach allows the company to provide reliable and efficient services across the continent. As a customer-focused business, Ziegler UK is always looking for ways to balance service excellence with cost-effectiveness.

“A great example of this is our promotion of groupage services, offering smaller businesses a more economical solution as they embark on their journey into international distribution. By consolidating shipments, we ensure they benefit from lower costs without compromising on quality or reliability, demonstrating our commitment to

supporting customers of all sizes in achieving their logistical goals.”

Why choose Ziegler UK: Meeting the needs of all customers

Ziegler UK brings a unique advantage to market by understanding that supply chain solutions are never ‘one size fits all’. While larger competitors dominate the market, businesses are increasingly turning to Ziegler for tailored services that address individual needs. Ziegler prides itself on thinking outside the box and going beyond the regimented processes many larger players adhere to.

“For instance, we specialise in handling complex, out-of-gauge freight – an area where options are surprisingly limited in the industry. By offering innovative, flexible, and customer-centric solutions, we ensure clients receive not only the highest quality service but also the support they need to navigate their specific logistical challenges with confidence.”

Looking ahead: further expansion to sustainability best practice

In both the long and short-term, Ziegler remains focused on expansion while maintaining commitment to service excellence. While recognising that the industry continues to evolve from a technology perspective, the globally established company is always evaluating ways to enhance this for the simplification of process, giving customers maximum value for money. One key goal is activating VAT exemption for EU imports through the highly anticipated Ziegler:SMART service.

“Furthermore, with laser focus on the transportation industry’s global impact on emissions, we look to ramp up our sustainability commitments having released our first Corporate Sustainability Report earlier this year, prioritising CO2 reduction across our operations.

“Ziegler Group’s Brussels headquarters collects & reuses rainwater & uses heat exchangers from the Brussels Maritime Canal to provide both thermal heating & air conditioning. Our new UK warehouse has solar panels installed and uses SMART movement-activation to activate LED lighting for reduced energy consumption and we hope to emulate more practices from Belgium soon.

“Being selected as Freight Forwarding Company of the Year is a tremendous honour and a testament to everything we strive for at Ziegler. We understand this award reflects a wide range of considerations, but the greatest recognition I can offer is to our incredible team. Their hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence are the driving forces behind our success. While it is humbling to receive such a prestigious

accolade, I believe I speak for everyone at Ziegler when I say it’s a recognition that we have truly earned. This award reinforces our passion for delivering exceptional service and inspires us to continue setting the standard in the freight forwarding industry.

“With 116 years of experience, Ziegler is proud to be a fourth-generation family business operating globally with coverage in nearly 200 countries. We’ve successfully navigated many industry challenges, including geopolitical tensions, rising fuel costs, and Brexit, to name but a few. The stability of our business is a testament to our resilience and success. For businesses seeking a reliable supply chain partner: whether for the first time or to achieve better service – Ziegler offers a level of expertise and dedication that consistently exceeds expectations. We are committed to delivering innovative, customerfocused solutions that ensure our clients’ supply chains run seamlessly, no matter the complexity.”

To find out more about the full range of freight forwarding solutions and warehouse fulfilment/ storage, please see the website below: T +44 (0)1375 802900 sales.enquiries@zieglergroup.com www.zieglergroup.com/uk

How Ziegler can transform your supply chain: www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmRBe4H88PY

Celebrating 10 years of CheckedSafe Fleet Management

We are delighted to welcome back CheckedSafe as Business & Industry Today’s End of Year Recommended Company.

Multi-Award-Winning CheckedSafe offers a complete digital cloud solutions package to fleet management across commercial fleet transport, public and private transport, emergency services and plant-hire vehicles. This effectively allows companies to monitor vehicle compliance across every vehicle in the UK and even while abroad. It costs as little as £1 per vehicle per week for a costeffective paperless reporting system.

These multiple award-winning solutions have entirely digitised vehicle compliance, significantly streamlining the daily operations of both fleet drivers and management. Bus, HGV, Van, Car, Grey Fleet, Plant & Machinery (any commercial vehicle) drivers can download a handy app onto their mobile devices to use tailor-made vehicle checklists. The app even functions whilst in remote areas with no phone signals to enable checks to be completed on the move. This flexible, handy app is so easy to use: just check and go! The main office then receives each report allowing for a complete audit trail across the company. This seamless system makes sure that vehicles are Driver and Vehicle Standards (DVSA) compliant and automatically generates scheduling slots for vehicle ad-hoc repair as well as routine MOTs and servicing.

We caught up with Director & Co-Founder, Gary Hawthorne, to find out how CheckedSafe has fared over 2024, “We expanded our portfolio of compliance tools to include Driver Licencing Checks and GB Domestic Hours modules – these have all been successfully completed and launched. We are delighted to say that the GB Domestic Hours App is a market-first in the UK and was the result of intensive R&D. We created the algorithm around a

complex set of rules that are currently managed by paper systems only.

“CheckedSafe is a compliance tech company co-created by Darran Harris and myself ten years ago. Darran has over 20 years’ industry expertise as a Litigation Solicitor, specialising in road traffic issues and has worked as a solicitor with major logistics companies, successfully representing them at Public Enquiries. I have over 30 years as a Transport Professional, from, initially Driver, Manager, TFGM (was GMPTE), Central Government Owner/ Operator and as a DVSA Accredited Earned Recognition Auditor.

employees and whole fleets manage compliance, as Gary continues, “Moving people from paper to technology ensures huge savings in time, paper and storage – all of which impact the environment. You can now effectively manage a 100-strong vehicle fleet from your mobile phone, if you so wish (though a laptop is advisable, with secure backoffice options). Therefore, there really is no need to store copious boxes of reports plus everything is received in ‘Realtime’ so any defects/issues can be resolved quickly. This reduces overall long-term costs and downtime as better repair planning can be achieved.”

“We are professionals in our respective industry not salespeople or tech people. We both have a passion for compliance facilitating change for the better. As an ex-Operator, I fully understand the issues at hand and as an Accredited Auditor, I know the challenges companies face daily. This has allowed us through CheckedSafe to develop our product base from an expert knowledge base. After designing our ideas on paper, we hand it over to our Tech Wizards to digitise those concepts. This ‘old school’ format allows us to really thrash out the ideas on paper first before committing to the tech stage.”

Looking ahead to next year and beyond, CheckedSafe is focused on building further on this year’s product line by tweaking existing products, providing add-ons to new products and back links to other areas of the platform. With growing client demand, CheckedSafe is looking forward to future collaborations.

“Our unique joint partnership has thrived in the commercial fleet community, as we know our product inside out and why it’s required. We are happy to collaborate with other ‘professional companies’ and prefer to do so, rather than try to compete with established solutions. In fact, new tech collaboration with APIs is much easier now, so bringing together expert areas is a far better model than trying to split the atom alone.”

Commercial fleet compliance has historically remained heavily paper-based but the trend is now moving towards technology, especially with increased Grey Fleet ownership. CheckedSafe are the go-to experts in this domain and support private

“We have a very exciting project for early 2025 but are keeping tight-lipped for now. It will be a very exciting addition to our existing product portfolio. We take great pride in our customer-centric focus: developing off the basis of customer feedback. All requests are evaluated and then we develop and launch that feature for the whole CheckedSafe client base. We do not charge for this as we believe in sharing good practice and one idea may actually benefit many others.”

To find out more about CheckedSafe or to access the 30 day free trial, please visit the website below: T 01282 908429 info@checkedsafe.com www.checkedsafe.com

Fleet Management

Optimise your Fleet. Maximise your Savings with Herd Connect Brilliant Fleet Management Solution.

At Herd we take care of a broad range of services including vehicle acquisition, service and maintenance, repairs, and driver management through to de-fleet, refurb, and disposal. Our team of fleet professionals become an extension of your own fleet team and support your fleet operation. Additionally, our national supplier network provides significant savings on service, maintenance & repair costs.

All maintenance work and spend is managed and authorised by the Herd Group Technical team. The team monitor and manage the workflow between ourselves and the repairer garages providing scrutiny of work undertaken and authorisation through our network of garages.

We customise our SMR authorisation process to meet individual client requirements.

Current Herd Connect customers have benefited from cost savings on unnecessary servicing, excessive labour times, and our diligence on warranty compliance.

ONLY ESSENTIAL REPAIRS AUTHORISED

Our in-house team challenge garages to ensure only the correct work is carried out, when a garage requests authorisation for brake discs and pads, we query things like the thickness of the discs, in order to confirm if they are actually required. Potential Saving over £200!

REDUCING COSTS & ENSURING WARRANTY COMPLIANCE

Herd’s in-house Technical team challenge service requirements. We check whether fuel and air filter changes are necessary due to the age of vehicle. We also ensure oil grades are recorded – an important factor when asked to provide service history for a warranty claim. Potential Saving over £160!

THE HERD ADVANTAGE, A GOODWILL WIN!

Herd conduct extensive negotiations with garages and main dealers, we check what issues are covered under warranty. Recently saving one customer over £700 when they were advised that a shock absorber was not covered under warranty. More Savings!

EXPERT FLEET KNOWLEDGE IN ACTION

Our in-house team challenge labour time, with our extensive fleet knowledge we know the timescales involved in workshop jobs and push back on any unrealistic charges. Potential Saving over £100!

CHALLENGING UNNECESSARY SERVICES

It is not uncommon for garages to service vehicles that do not require servicing. The Herd team will check the mileage on a vehicle to see if a service is due, we will also ask a garage if the service light is on. Potential Saving over £180!

With Herd Connect Brilliant Fleet Management, our team of experts ensure that the best possible costs are achieved for our customers, while minimising downtime to keep vehicles on the road for longer.

Call us today to see how we can help you save money on your fleet: 01372 747333.

www.herdgroup.co.uk

Cyber security expertise: Assess. Address. Success. Help when you need it, not when you don’t

Here

at Business & Industry Today, we are

delighted to

showcase

Thirty Nine Cyber as our Cyber Advisory Company of the Month

A quick glance at the Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2024 by the Home Office: Department for Science, Innovation & Technology confirms that cyber security breaches and attacks remain ongoing concerns. Phishing, malware and targeted spam are the most common threats and a third of charities and half of businesses have reported one cyber security breach or attack in the last year. Basic cyber hygiene measures can protect against basic threats, using malware protection, updated firewalls, cloud back-up and robust password policies but SMEs now need to consider more sophisticated cyber security risk assessments.

including the following:

● Cyber security strategy

● Incident & crisis management

● Strategic planning & road mapping

● Incident & crisis management

● Technology evaluation & implementation

● Supplier risk management

● Security cultural awareness

● Risk management & compliance

● Programme monitoring & optimisation

queries from many SMEs about cyber security.

“Our team are ready to support you with robust cyber strategies, to bolster confidence and ward off any potential cyber security threats. From a comprehensive pre-assessment, assessment, post-assessment and follow-up, our streamlined process will ascertain cyber health and risks, in proportion to each business. The post-assessment report will set out bespoke findings and suggest clear, actionable recommendations.”

For some, this amounts to needless expense and yet more insurance policies but when viewed strategically, aligning business models with cyber security assessments offers a robust long-term protection and peace of mind.

The fact remains that as many as 1 in 3 businesses estimate they will see one weekly cyberattack attempt. The financial and reputational damage of these attacks can have serious ramifications. Many SMEs mistakenly think they are not at risk of cyber-attacks but in actual fact, 43% of all cyberattacks are aimed at SMEs.

Thirty Nine Cyber provides cyber advisory services to all UK businesses through comprehensive cyber assessment and remediation services, all proportionate to the risk appetite and resources of each organisation. Cyber Maturity as a Service (CMaaS) offers a full range of bespoke elements for all clients,

The company was established in April 2024 by experienced co-founders Gareth Stewart & Stuart Avery. Both bring a wealth of industrial and public sector experience from cyber security and business strategy, with in-depth knowledge of architecture, Cloud, SaaS, COBIT, NIST and much more.

We caught up with Stuart to find out more about Thirty Nine Cyber, “We provide proportionate services that are unique because we tailor them to be highly relevant for the individual organisation but maintain consistency by using frameworks, what we do is always mindful of the business model of our customer and therefore more relevant in terms of output.

“Our target customer base includes the following: SME and CMM organisations in the professional services, investment services (PE/ VC), Life Sciences, Tech and Innovation manufacturing, and Government (Blue Light and LA).

“We had a successful exhibit at The Business Show 2024 at London’s flagship ExCeL a few weeks ago. The footfall was excellent and we answered

Cyber Maturity as a Service (CMaaS) uses an assess-address-success process for all clients. By understanding each business model, Thirty Nine Cyber develops the right assessment for each organisation, creates and executes strategies to achieve outcomes and provides timely updates of all progress.

“Our range of four assessments include: the UK National Cyber Security Centre – Cyber Assessment Framework (available in full and lite), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) – Cyber Security Framework Alignment Assessment (2.0), ISO27001:2022 Alignment Assessment, and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 62443 for Operational Technology Control Systems alignment assessment.

“The Assessment 1a – UK National Cyber Security Centre – Cyber Assessment Framework (lite assessment) is ideal for SMEs to identify alignments to the cyber assessment framework.

“Looking ahead to the future, we wish to extend our service to include a facility that allows for customers to conduct assisted self-assessments on-line. Watch this space!”

Thirty Nine Cyber is here to help all businesses, small or large through its industry-leading cyber advisory services. This includes Cyber Maturity Assessment (CAF), Cyber Programme Development & Delivery and Virtual CISO.

For more information about all services, click here: www.thirtyninecyber.com or contact the team directly on +44 (0)7930 999238 or email: info@thirtyninecyber.com

Warehouse & Logistics

Hörmann Transdek launches range of scissor lifts

A new range of scissor lifts has been launched by Hörmann Transdek which are ideal for loading bay areas, especially in the retail sector where space can be restricted. The new range provides a fast, efficient, and safe way to load and unload trailers with bed heights up to 1,590mm. Suitable for serving vehicles at traditional docks or level access bays, Hörmann Transdek scissor lifts can also be used for moving goods between split levels in factories and warehouses.

Serving both internal and external locations, the unique low profile design scissor lifts are primarily designed to be surface mounted which means there is no need for expensive pits or civil works on site. This reduces costs and unnecessary disruption for the customer and allows for rapid installation, which can be achieved in under one day. The range is available in two sizes: 6 or 9-cage variants offering lifting capacities of up to 3,000kg, covered pod options can also be provided for external applications.

The lifts are fitted with a gas sprung heavy duty bridge plate which ensures safe and precise bridging between the platform and the trailer, whilst a hydraulic, fixed lead-on ramp with a low gradient provides easy, safe access at ground level. The lifts are

operated via a simple set of hand-held controls, from either ground level or within the platform to offer greater flexibility for any application.

CE marked and built in conformity with EN1570 and the Machinery Directive, Hörmann Transdek scissor lifts are built for a lifetime of robust and safe operation. Designed with operator safety as a priority, a range of safety features have been incorporated, including a curtain to prevent access under the platform when it is in a raised position, electronic safety edges fitted around the lift table, a sliding personnel gate and fall protection gates with robust locking mechanisms.

James MacDonald, Business Development Manager for Hörmann Transdek, comments, “Our new range of UK manufactured scissor lifts simply remove the headaches logistic professionals face when it comes to lifting and moving goods around their network. They provide a rugged, safe and reliable operation whether loading/ unloading vehicles or lifting goods between split levels. Their rapid installation together with their optimal flexibility offer logistics and warehousing operators a truly cost-effective solution for their material and goods handling needs.

“While we expect that the majority of scissor lifts that will be supplied into the market will be surface-mounted, with our unique design we can easily install these into existing pits to accommodate every application. At Transdek we provide the engineering skills and project management expertise to facilitate any sitespecific needs and deliver tailored solutions as required, our doors are always open, and we actively encourage clients to visit our UK factory to further see how we can help them.”

To demonstrate the fast and effective operation of the Hörmann Transdek scissor lift the company has produced a short video which is available to view at: www.youtube.com/ watch?v=CUjHFP1_HhM

To find out more about Hörmann Transdek UK loading and lifting solutions, visit: www.transdek.com or call 01302 752276.

10 years and counting. The Herd marches on…

Reaching their 10 Year Anniversary is a significant achievement for the team at Herd, a decade of rapid growth, which has been exciting, challenging and rewarding for everyone involved.

In 2014, Nigel Schroder, Founder and Group CEO of the Herd Group, saw an opportunity, a huge space in the vehicle rental sector that was crying out to be filled. Herd has grown from a small daily rental company, with just over 100 vans on fleet, based on a single site in Epsom Surrey, to being one of the most diverse and recognised brands in the hire and fleet management space today.

refreshed and launched to the market, Herd anticipates a wave of new franchises to be added to the current network over the next 24 months.

Schroder explains, “It all started with our Vanimals, the wraps we add to our B2C fleet, with each Vanimal denoting the size of the van. They started to grow and multiply until eventually we had a whole Herd of Vanimals and hence the Herd Group was formed.”

Herd has seen a decade of rapid growth. Building from their B2C foundations, Herd swiftly created a B2B offering, supplying commercial vehicles into local and national business across a whole range of business sectors.

The brand exploded when its successful franchise offering spread throughout the country, Vanimals sprung up everywhere! Recently

The roll out of Herd Connect followed, providing extensive and integrated fleet management solutions across a range of fleets allowing Herd to provide a true onestop-shop in the mobility support sector.

about what they do, how it impacts our customers and how we can do things better, a real entrepreneurial approach that makes a huge difference”

3. An absolute passion for Customer CARE – “From top to bottom we genuinely have a passion for Customer CARE. It’s not just a department, it’s every single person in our team, it’s part of our DNA. Without our customers we do not have a business”

Looking to the future, Herd is extremely well placed to build on its success of the last 10 years. Launched in 2024, Herd Synergy, combines all of the Herd Group’s portfolio of fleet solutions including fleet management, vehicle rental and remarketing under one banner and is building on the one-stop-shop solution provider, unique to the automotive sector.

Schroder puts the success of the business down to three key cornerstones:

1. Herd intensity – “We simply do not stand still, in order to be the best, we have to keep pushing, developing, and growing. Herd Intensity ensures we hit our goals and grab every opportunity”

2. An entrepreneurial attitude throughout the business – “It’s the ‘E’ of CARE, all of our team think

Schroder summed it all up, “We’ve got some great partners, absolutely fantastic customers, and a brilliant, brilliant team. They all make up the Herd Family and without any of these our business wouldn’t be where it is today. Thank you to everyone who has been on this journey with us, I simply can’t wait to see what the next 10 years holds!”

Contact T 01372 747333

www.herdgroup.co.uk

Warehouse & Logistics

Industrial cleaning machines

When it comes to industrial cleaning machines, Tennant Company has earned a strong reputation as the go-to supplier for professional and industrial cleaning equipment for warehouses, manufacturing facilities and industrial environments to help create and maintain cleaner, safer sites.

Head of Industrial for Tennant UK, Jamie Harris, says, “We believe that clean facilities are the foundations of a successful business, and with more than 150 years of experience, Tennant Company has constantly evolved to ensure customers have the right cleaning machines for their specific facilities, working with end users to develop the most appropriate solutions, and leading the way in robotic cleaning machines.”

“Every year,” says Jamie, “we know that our customers face challenges like the need to reduce spend and reduce cost, the rising expectations of their customers and end users, the rise in competition across the industry, rising health and safety risks, and improving operational consistency.”

For industrial environments. Cleaning is less of a choice and more a vital necessity for maintaining clean and safe environments for staff and visitors, but the difficulty comes from minimising the disruptions which can be avoided with traditional after-hours cleaning.

On any given day, warehouse floors, workshop areas, office carpets, staff rooms and canteens, and building entrances and customer waiting areas face dirt and debris blowing in, spills that must be mopped immediately, along with the scratches and scuffs from day-to-day use, all of which must be swept, cleaned, scrubbed, buffed, and polished way.

cleaners, and robotic cleaning machines.

Sweepers: Control dust and debris with a Tennant indoor or outdoor floor cleaning machine.

From battery-powered walk-behind floor sweepers to industrial ride-on sweepers, a dependable floor sweeper from Tennant will help you keep your facility free of debris and dust.

Renowned for their highquality construction, Tennant sweepers are designed to stand up to the harshest – and handle the most delicate – environments.

Scrubber Dryers: From a variety of floor washer scrubbers: walk-behind, ride-on and robotic cleaning machines.

Whether your facility needs a walk-behind or a ride-on scrubber, the Tennant brand stands for a dependable, long-lasting machine with time-tested components.

Take your scrubbing performance to the next level when you add on innovative, industryleading cleaning technologies that minimise water use and diminish – or eliminate –the need for detergents so you can maintain a safer, eco-friendlier facility.

As a global leader in the design, manufacture and supply of industrial cleaning machines, Tennant offers a wide selection of cleaning machines, suited to both large areas & small space cleaning, including scrubber dryers, walk-behind and ride-on sweepers, combination Sweeper-Scrubbers, industrial vacuum

Combined SweeperScrubbers: Industrial cleaning for indoor and outdoor areas in a single pass.

Whether your cleaning team only has time for onepass cleaning or you only have room – on the floor or in your budget – for a single machine, industrial sweeper-scrubbers from Tennant will help you keep your facility looking the best it can possibly look.

Choose the high-quality construction of a Tennant sweeper-scrubber for durable and dependable performance in challenging environments.

Industrial Vacuum Cleaners: Industrial filtration for continuous cleaning in heavy-duty areas.

Industrial vacuum cleaners play a crucial role in maintaining cleanliness and efficiency in manufacturing and logistics environments. These specialised machines are designed to handle large volumes of debris, dust, and spills, ensuring a safe and hygienic workspace.

Made with reliable

construction for intensive use, these industrial cleaning machines feature impressive filter systems and are equipped with big and braked wheels for manoeuvrability within an industrial factory.

Robotic Cleaning Machines: The future of leaning with Autonomous Mobile Robotics

Boost productivity while setting a new standard for clean with Tennant’s lineup of robotic cleaning machines.

These revolutionary, reliable cleaning machines are as effective as they are efficient, and each is designed to work safely alongside staff – freeing employees up to focus on tasks that really move the needle.

Unlike other robotic cleaning machines currently in the market, Tennant boast the T16AMR, the world’s first robotic scrubber dryer designed specifically for industrial and manufacturing warehouse facilities.

The T16AMR features a 910mm cleaning path and has a 225 litre recovery tank and powered by field-

tested, vision-based BrainOS® artificial intelligence and robotic technology.

In addition to manufacturing top-tier machines and pioneering cleaning innovations, Tennant is your trusted partner for parts, supplies and service.

Alongside the above product categories, Tennant UK are able to offer customers cleaning machines in almost every category including small space cleaning machines like the iMop for hard to reach areas such as toilet cubicles or under racking, as well as carpet cleaners, backpack vacuums and burnishers.

The best way to find the right cleaning machine for your facility is with a free, no-obligation on-site demonstration.

Contact the Tennant UK team today to book yours on 01604 583191 or email: tennantuksales@ tennantco.com and quote Business and Industry Today.

Cable Services Group expands capacity with advanced cable cutting machine

At Cable Services, the UK’s trusted supplier of electrical cable and specialist equipment, we have invested in an automatic winding and measuring cable cutting machine at our Wrexham facility. This £90,000 investment reflects our commitment to offering an economically valuable and highly efficient service for our valued customers.

We are known for providing tailored solutions that meet the exact needs of our customers. We recognise the growing demand for a flexible service that eradicates waste and delivers cost efficiencies. The efficiency and precision of this new machine support the industry’s commitment to operational sustainability and allow us to pass on cost savings to our customers.

Commenting on this latest investment, Jason Bostock, Managing Director of Cable Services Group, said, “We continue to make significant investments in our operations across the Group to better serve our customers. This new machine more than doubles our capacity, and it also enhances our ability to

flexibility

sites.

meet the specific needs of our customers promptly and efficiently. Customers can order customcut cable lengths to suit the exact needs of their projects, providing

“Installing the advanced Loimex TRG250 alongside our existing cutting machine has significantly boosted our cut-to-length capability. To achieve seamless integration and optimise performance, expert trainers from Loimex conducted an intensive three-day training programme for all warehouse operators at our Wrexham facility. This highly engaging, practical training course equipped our team with the skills needed to operate the machine efficiently, ensuring consistent quality and precision.”

Warren Hughes, Warehouse Manager, praised the

New PIUK website available now

We have been actively working on a new PIUK website. This will give easier access to all things relating to PIUK, including past presentations and videos of the seminars, training courses, past editions of this newsletter and of course how to join us an obtain all of the benefits associated with that.

Please visit: www.profinet.co.uk to access the new website.

training provided by Loimex. He said, “We were impressed with Loimex’s training, and the support received to date has been exceptional. Having direct access to the manufacturer’s training experts was invaluable, allowing us to ask questions that directly relate to our dayto-day operations. With this training, we are confident in our ability to use this technology to its full potential, ensuring we provide a highly responsive and agile service that meets the needs of industry.”

The new automatic TRG250 from Loimex handles electrical cables with the utmost accuracy. It accommodates cables ranging from 1 to 100mm in diameter, wire ropes from 1 to 33mm, and wooden drums up to 2,500mm, with a maximum weight capacity of 5,000kg. With its advanced safety features, the machine complies with CE directives, reflecting our consistent delivery of safe and reliable products that meet the highest industry standards.

For more information about our cable cutting capabilities or to place an order, please contact us at: www.cableservices.co.uk

Menzel pitches up with quick delivery to UK

Custom design and fast delivery of IM B5 squirrel cage compressor package motor with support foot

When a customer on the Wirral suffered a failure of a critical 600kw, 6,000V, 4pole compressor motor his immediate response was to ask the compressor packager for a replacement. With a like for like OEM replacement not available in under 30 weeks and his only alternative to hire diesel driven plant at extremely high monthly rentals it was not looking good!

However, one call to Menzel Motors from his Service Partner and frowns turned to smiles as Menzel confirmed they had configured a similar set up for other seemingly captive customers before.

A review of current available stock, a drawing and images showing how the motor would be configured in 2-3 weeks and an order was placed. Within fourteen days the motor was delivered to the UK site ready to be installed!

“Thank you for the excellent turnaround with this motor. We have exceeded the customer’s delivery expectations and they are extremely pleased with the service we were able to offer with Menzel’s close support. Once again, we appreciate all of your efforts and look forward to working with you in the future.”

Menzel continues to be the go-to brand in time of real need for quick replacement motors.

Performance data of the squirrel cage compressor motor:

● Menzel motor type: MEBKGR400L-04

● Motor standard: IEC/EN 60034-1

● Nominal power: 600kW

● Nominal voltage: 6,000V (6kV)

● Nominal frequency: 50Hz

● Number of poles: 4 poles

● Nominal speed: 1,490 min-1

● Design: IM B5

● Frame Size/Shaft height: 400mm

● Degree of protection: IP 55

● Cooling type: IC 411 TEFC Totally Enclosed Fan Cooled

● Weight: 4,200kg

www.menzel-motors.com

beyond the traditional supply of full drums to

New fibre cable SlimLine™ Capping reduces plastic by 54%

In a groundbreaking development for the fibre optic industry, UK-based OPT Services has unveiled SlimLine™ Capping, an innovative fibre cable protection solution that combines environmental sustainability with enhanced installation efficiency.

The eco-friendly innovation marks the first significant advancement in fibre cable capping in 40 years, offering full compatibility with existing Capping 25 products. SlimLine™ Capping reduces plastic usage by over 50% compared to traditional designs, translating to approximately 165kg of plastic saved for every 1,000 installations.

durability and UV stability. The product features built-in cable separation for multiple operators and moulded knockouts for controlled cable exit, addressing the evolving needs of the fibre optic sector.

As the UK’s fibre-tothe-premises (FTTP) market continues to grow, SlimLine™ Capping is poised to play a crucial role in achieving the government's target of 99% Gigabit-capable coverage by 2030. This innovative solution not only enhances the efficiency and aesthetics of fibre deployments but also significantly reduces the industry’s environmental impact.

Excellence in vibration monitoring

Maintec is the longest standing exhibition for the predictive maintenance, reliability and asset management industry, and Chris Hansford, Managing Director of Hansford Sensors Ltd, has been attending the show for almost 40 years.

As a globally recognised leader in industrial vibration monitoring, Hansford Sensors designs & manufactures a broad range of high-performance equipment. Its offerings include accelerometers, vibration sensors, 4-20mA transmitters, cable assemblies, & industrial enclosures. At Maintec 2024, Hansford Sensors highlighted key products like its Accelerometer Power Supply Modules & Vibration Sensors, showcasing its commitment to delivering reliable solutions for industrial applications.

As well as Vibration Systems & Switches, Hansford Sensors also offer a range of accessories for vibration monitoring that include DIN rail mounted monitoring and protection modules, vibration switches and charge amplifiers.

Manufactured in the UK using Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate (ASA), SlimLine™ Capping boasts improved

For more information about SlimLine™ Capping, visit the website at: www.optservices.co.uk or call 01473 612188.

Factory of the Future

Construction has started on a state-of-the-art Factory of the Future at Global Point in Newtownabbey led by Queen’s University Belfast, which is key to an exciting future for advanced manufacturing in Northern Ireland.

US Special Envoy to NI for Economic Affairs Joe Kennedy III joined Queen’s University Vice-Chancellor Professor, Sir Ian Greer, and Mayor of Antrim & Newtownabbey Councillor, Neil Kelly, on a site visit along with key representatives from industry, government and academia, who are driving forward the ambitious project.

They marked a major milestone for the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC) through a £100m investment, expected to create up to 1,500 jobs across Northern Ireland, contribute £1bn to the economy and train 300

apprentices by 2050.

The Factory of the Future is being delivered in partnership with industry, Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council and Ulster University as part of a wider £230m transformational programme of innovation led by Queen’s and supported by the UK Government and Northern Ireland Executive through Belfast Region City Deal. Almost £80m of funding for AMIC has come from the City Deal.

Due to open in 2026, the 10,000m² open access manufacturing and engineering innovation centre with capacity for 150 staff, is being built by Henry Brothers. It’s set to reinvigorate local industrial potential and address the future technology and skills challenges faced by the region’s manufacturing sector.

AMIC will provide a specialised environment for advanced manufacturing, materials, and engineering sectors to access the latest digital, automation and robotics technology, supported by experienced engineers and underpinned by academic excellence.

we-are-amic.com www.belfastregioncitydeal.co.uk

Vibration monitoring products are crucial in industry because they help detect early signs of machinery malfunction, such as misalignment, imbalance, or bearing failures. Hansford Sensors systems are ideal to support various outputs like AC acceleration and velocity, ensuring versatility in usage. Its products are designed for robustness with IP ratings suitable for harsh environments, making them ideal for industries such as manufacturing, power, and mining.

What’s more, Hansford Sensors also provide an online calculator designed to simplify your vibration analysis. From an input of acceleration, velocity or displacement the Vibration Calculator converts the amplitude and frequency into a range of engineering units to optimise analytical performance.

For more information on all products, or to use the calculator, please see below: T 0845 680 1957 sales@hansfordsensors.com https://hansfordsensors.com

Hansford Sensors is a leading global manufacturer of industrial vibration monitoring equipment. We design, develop and manufacture a range of high-performance industrial accelerometers, vibration sensors, 4-20mA transmitters, cable assemblies, industrial enclosures and ancillary equipment. These product can be used in a wide range of industries including petrochemical, metal, paper & recycling.

Quarrying & Mining

PEMO PUMPS since 1947 – popular at Hillhead 2024!

PEMO PUMPS was a hit at the biennial, iconic Hillhead 2024, held from 25-27 June at Hillhead Quarry, near Buxton in Derbyshire. Known as the ‘giant’ among expos, Hillhead attracts the world’s biggest names from across quarrying, construction and recycling.

PEMO PUMPS is a brand of Perissinotto SpA and was established in 1947 by Antonio Perissinotto. The first pumps were primarily used in marble and granite cutting processes across the construction sector before diversifying into the steel industry, then chemical and wastewater treatment. Over the last twelve months, the company has expanded its warehouse by 2,000m2 to aid further pump production for growing global demand.

Hillhead was the perfect place to showcase the leading range of mining slurry pumps from PEMO PUMPS, in collaboration with machinery manufacturers: CDE Group. PEMO Slurry Pumps are precision designed for mining and aggregate excavation and come with a diverse range of models and configurations. These include horizontal, vertical and submersible designs and are ideal for abrasive and/or acid corrosive fluid applications.

Available in rubber-lined, Hardalloy PEMO (750800HB), stainless steel and Hastelloy, many models can operate pressures up to 20bar (290psi) and applications include slurry transfer in ponds, hydrocyclone feed and yellowcake slurry transfer.

Visitors flocked to the PEMO PUMPS stand, to learn more about slurry and sludge transfer applications. The horizontal models of the AO/AB and AO/AB/DC series are flagship PEMO models – primarily utilised for conveying concentrated slurries from thickeners to ponds or to filter press systems, in the case of high-pressure losses due to long pumping distances. Models in this series can operate up to 1,500m3/h (6,613gpm, with a maximum head on some models reaching 150m/H20 (492ft).

PEMO PUMPS are the ‘industry’s pumps of choice’ across mining, aggregate washing, quarry, and mineral extraction processes. The pumps are intricately designed and manufactured to firstly, robustly withstand abrasive slurries and secondly, to operate with. Common deployment includes: feeding the classifier, transporting slurry to the flotation system, tailing thickener and filtration/dewatering system. Renowned across

many sectors, PEMO PUMOS are admired for abrasionresistant characteristics, corrosion-resistance against aggressive fluids, super non-clogging casing and impeller design, leakage and contamination-proof to industrial-strength single, double or cartridge mechanical seals, flowrate up to 2,000m3/h and TDH up to 160m.c.l.

PEMO PUMPS offer over 3,000 pump models with fully customised hydraulics and materials to a loyal customer base across more than 100 countries. The purpose-built warehouse has over 10,000 components, which streamlines customer requests quickly and without delay.

For the UK market, PEMO pumps have partnered with Crest Pumps as their distributor. Crest Pumps have specialised in process pumps since 1973 and has a team of sales engineers located across the UK dedicated in providing you with the best pump solutions tailored to your specific needs.

Interested? Click on the PEMO PUMPS website below: www.pemopumps.com

Editor’s Comments

As we come to the end of 2024, we are honoured to have showcased some of the most innovative sustainable products and services that have entered the key sectors of UK industry over the past 12 months.

In our final issue, we highlight two Company of the Year award winners.

offerings for Feed and Food customers, setting new benchmarks in the industry. Learn more about their achievements on page 8.

A&S International, a distinguished technical sales consultancy, represents an impressive portfolio of machinery lubrication and bioremediation brands. Their exceptional expertise and forward-thinking approach have truly stood out this year, earning them the title of our MRO Company of the Year. Page 4.

Our second award recipient is Cefetra, honoured as our Farming & Agriculture Company of the Year for their exceptional innovation and leadership in advancing sustainable agriculture. The company has recently expanded its

Other features include our worthy Company of the Month winners. You can find Indeco Ind SpA, our Demolition Machinery Manufacturer of the Month on page 5, Blended Products our Speciality Gases & Chemicals Company of the Month on page 10, and BlakerTech our Specialist Recycling Equipment Company of the Month on page 15.

2024 show reviews include: Solar & Storage Live, Recycling Expo, and AQE.

We look forward to 2025 and what the new year brings to the industry. Have a great Christmas and Happy New Year.

Don’t forget to send us your latest Business, Industry and Sustainable news and updates and email us at: info@sustainabilitytoday.co.uk

A tool for evey job V On the Cover

Contacts

SUS Sales Manager, Jess Machin – 0121 550 7510 jessmachin@sustainabilitytoday.co.uk

Editorial, Gina Burton – 07483 931474 – gina@businessandindustrytoday.co.uk

Production Manager, Robert Sharp – production@businessandindustrytoday.co.uk Accounts Department, Paul Whitaker – 0121 824 4742 accounts@businessandindustrytoday.co.uk

For more information or format requirements, see our Media Pack

The entire content of this publication is advertorial based. To place an advertorial or an advert, please call 0121 550 7510.

SUSTAINABILITY TOD AY

Manufacturer of the Month V Founded in 1976, Indeco brings 48 years of expertise to the production of spare parts and custom hydraulic hammers for the earthmoving and mineral industries.

Company

of the Year VIII-IX

Cefetra Ltd, part of the Cefetra Group, is a leading global supplier of agricultural ingredients for animal nutrition, food, and energy sectors, with roots dating back to 1899.

Company

of the Month X-XI Blended Products has been delivering tailored solutions to a wide range of sectors, including refrigeration, food and beverage, water treatment, and heating, for over 21 years.

Recycling Expo Review XII-XIII

Company

Recycling Expo 2024, held at ExCeL London from 15-16 October, reaffirmed its status as the premier event for advancing the circular economy.

of the Month XV

BlakerTech leads in designing and manufacturing specialist metal recycling equipment, continuing a legacy of innovation and engineering excellence.

Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning XX-XXIII

Learn about tepeo’s smart heat batteries and Naked Energy’s cutting edge solutions for the decarbonisation of heat.

A&S International – see them on pages IV & VII

Lubrication reliability: Committed to sustainability

In this issue of Sustainability Today, we are delighted to welcome back A&S International

Ltd as our MRO Company of the Year

A&S International is a renowned technical sales consultancy representing a range of machinery lubrication & bioremediation brands through a growing global team of qualified distributors.

With expertise in the lubrication sector totalling almost four decades, A&S functions as an industry-leading distributor for a range of solutions in the MRO sector. The family-run SME was established six years ago by brothers Angus & Shaun Macdonald.

Located in Theale, Berkshire, A&S markets and sells a wide portfolio of products via a global distributor team, in addition to UK resellers and directly to UK end-users.

A&S works closely with their distributors who have many years of shared machinery lubrication knowledge, qualifications and expertise. With a respected programme of ongoing support such as regular training, consulting & client visits, the distributor network delivers outstanding added value to their clients as well as helping them improve the sustainability of their businesses.

The brands represented include: Fluitec, Hosepatch, isoPOD Lubricant Storage, MAK CHEM International, MAK LUBES International, Oil Spill Eater II, SulNOx Eco Fuel Conditioners, Sylmasta Pipe Repair and Viper Wire Rope Lubricators.

As this year draws to a close, we caught up with co-founders Angus and Shaun to review the company’s progress over the last twelve months, “The two words that sum up 2024 for us are progress and momentum. Our distributor network has now expanded to over 40 countries worldwide including new distributors in Brazil, Canada, Croatia, Mexico and Thailand. We are hoping to expand further into additional territories in Asia and Africa during 2025. Our visibility has moved up a gear with direct sales and enquiries arriving via our newly upgraded website and by utilising the services of an experienced marketing firm to raise our profile across all sectors.

“We have seen our sales increase 50% year-on-year with significant growth of the Oil Spill Eater II and SulNOx Eco Diesel Conditioner solutions. Oil Spill Eater II is increasingly popular with larger multinational companies, who are in turn recommending it to their end-users,” outlined Angus.

“This runs in tandem with the growth of Viper Wire Rope Lubricator sales across the UK. This solution allows wire ropes ranging in diameter from 6mm up to 165mm to be cleaned and lubricated simultaneously at speeds of up to 2,000m per hour – reducing lubrication labour by 90% & increasing wire rope life by up to 300%,” added Shaun.

A&S is a specialist in Lubrication Reliability, with a dedicated focus on sustainable solutions: in particular SulNOx Eco Diesel Conditioner, Oil Spill

Eater II, ML253 Ecology EAL Wire Rope Grease and Fluitec. These four brands help clients to progress towards decarbonisation & Net Zero goals across a range of sectors including: construction, maritime/shipping, haulage, mining, cement & concrete, food & beverage, plastics, ports and power generation.

SulNOx Eco Diesel Conditioner is a transitional solution that is added to fuels including diesel, biodiesel, MDO, MGO, petrol as well as HVO. With a mix ratio of 1:2,000 and no CAPEX required for implementation, clients are experiencing fuel savings of 5-8% and significant emission reductions including PM2.5 and 10 by more than 80%. This non-toxic, biodegradable solution contains an emulsifier that scavenges water in fuel and is instrumental in driving sustainable change, while future fuels are being developed.

Oil Spill Eater II is the only bioremediation solution that features on the MMO approved list for watercourse and coastal spillages. It is also used for remediating hydrocarbon contaminated soils at brownfield sites and lastly, cleaning up fuel and lubricants spills at industrial sites and service

stations. It contains a biological enzyme that is simply mixed 1:50 with naturally occurring water to help detoxify, remove flammability and bioremediate hydrocarbon spills on land and sea: essentially using ‘nature to support nature’.

The ML253 Ecology EAL Wire Rope Grease is a biodegradable non-toxic wire rope lubricant that is VGP Compliant and designed for use in the maritime and port sectors and other environmentally sensitive areas.

Fluitec boast a range of sustainable ‘Fill4Life’ treatments that transform lubricating fluids into assets. Their filtration & Solvancer solutions safely extend the life and performance of lubricants and machinery through a measure-consult-treat process.

A&S is a proud member of NOF, BSiF, the UKLA and the UK & Ireland Spill Association. With a steadfast commitment to sustainability, A&S continues to take steps to minimise its carbon footprint, including its ongoing membership of zellar.com, Sustainable Ports Association, Green Award Foundation & Thames Green Scheme as well as supporting tree planting through Creating Tomorrow's Forests.

T 0118 930 4321

hello@aands-international.com

https://aands.international

Demolition Machinery Manufacturer of the Month

A tool for every job

In this issue of Sustainability Today, we are pleased to feature Indeco Ind SpA as our Demolition Machinery Manufacturer of the Month

Founded in 1976, Indeco brings 48 years of expertise to the production of spare parts and custom hydraulic hammers for the earthmoving and mineral industries. Headquartered in Bari, Italy, this Italian manufacturer is committed to responding swiftly to market demands, supported by a nationwide sales network and comprehensive after-sales service.

Indeco's success is driven by the expertise and innovation of its outstanding planning and development team who represent the company’s commitment to excellence, playing a huge part in Indeco's growth in international markets and overall goal to become a one-stop shop for the sale of breakers and all demolition equipment.

As an established leading brand in the global demolition industry, Indeco has a global presence with offices in the UK, North America, Australia, Mexico, and Brazil, as well as long-standing partnerships in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

Indeco is most famous for its creation and design of its innovative range of Hydraulic Hammers for customers in the construction, demolition, mining, and infrastructure sectors. With a presence that spans across both public and private sectors, Indeco has built a strong international footprint and history of collaborations with major players from these industries.

Mark Gee, Managing Director from Indeco (UK) Ltd, said, “Our hydraulic demolition hammers are designed with a focus on reliability, durability, and operational efficiency. Thanks to our extensive experience and continuous innovation, we offer products with advanced technologies, such as vibration and wear reduction systems, ensuring superior performance even in the most demanding conditions. Additionally, our widespread after-sales service network ensures timely and personalised support, a significant added value that competitors often cannot match with the same quality.”

Recently, Indeco has optimised its line of hydraulic hammers, to provide greater energy savings and environmental sustainability without compromise to power or efficiency. These models have already been showcased at major trade shows around the world, highlighting the reason as to why Indeco is making such big advancements in the construction industry.

“These models address the growing customer need for more efficient and ecofriendly operations. Moreover, we are developing innovative accessories that enhance the versatility of our products, making them ideal for specific applications. Our motto is to innovate a tool for every job, and this is why our complete range of solutions cater to every job that needs completing across the demolition, construction, and recycling industries.”

of Italian high-tech and construction quality applied to demolition, every machine is the byproduct of the extensive research that has gone into hydraulic systems, materials, heat treatment, and accessories, to make them the best on the market.

With its many different models that are divided into large, medium, and small sizes with various versions, Indeco has the widest range of hammers available anywhere in the world. Expressing the very best

Recently, Indeco has also invested in new manufacturing technologies to further improve the quality of its products, and to reduce the environmental impact of its production processes. Additionally, the company has expanded its distribution and service network in key regions to get even closer to its global customers.

“We are working on several innovation-focused projects, such as integrating remote monitoring systems into our products to facilitate predictive maintenance and minimise downtime. Furthermore, we also aim to strengthen our presence in emerging markets and develop strategic partnerships to expand our product portfolio.

“We are proud of our success, which is not only based on the quality of our products but also on the dedication and professionalism of our team. We continue to invest in people and technology to remain a reference point in the industry and meet the ever-growing expectations of our customers.”

To find more information about the company, its products, and the latest news, see below where you will also find specific content, such as technical sheets, demonstration videos, and updates about Indeco’s most recent activities.

T 01606 597560

info@indeco.it https://indeco.it/en

Solar & Storage Live UK 2024

Solar & Storage Live UK 2024 sets new attendance record, solidifying it as the nation’s top solar event

Solar & Storage Live UK 2024 finished on a high in September, having drawn over 15,000 attendees to Birmingham’s NEC and breaking records as the most-attended event in Solar & Storage Live history.

Over three days, professionals from across the solar and energy storage industries explored innovations, networked with peers, and connected with over 500 exhibitors showcasing the latest in solar technology and energy storage solutions.

With 250 speakers, all experts in their fields, the event delivered valuable insights into emerging market trends, policy developments, industry solutions, and talent training.

Six on-site theatres featured discussions on solar projects, training workshops, and demonstrations, making the event a comprehensive showcase for the industry.

Furthermore, with 435,949 social media impressions and over 54,130 connections made through the event app, Solar & Storage Live UK 2024 demonstrated its digital reach alongside inperson engagement.

All these factors worked together to underscore the event’s role as the premier hub for solar and energy storage.

Lawrie Wilson, European Sales Manager for Jinko ESS Europe, praised the event, saying, “Solar & Storage Live is a great place to meet old and new customers, network, create opportunities, and get your brand out to a lot of people very quickly.”

Salman Latif, UK National Sales Manager for Solis, highlighted the event’s significance, noting, “This flagship event offers a central hub for networking in the UK’s solar industry. We’ve been busy meeting a range of clients in an ideal setting.”

The event also celebrated top industry talent at its awards evening, recognising achievements with awards including and more: t Contractor of the Year – Emtec Energy

t Solar and/or Storage Product Innovation –Sungrow

t Lifetime Achievement Award – Nick Boyle, CEO, Lightsource BP

t Women in Energy Award – Liz Cammack (previously MacFarlane), Segen Ltd

Looking ahead, Solar & Storage Live UK aims to build on this year’s success, fostering continued growth and innovation within the renewable energy sector.

This is our pick of the best exhibitors from this year’s show, listed here in alphabetical order: Vattenfall. Further details can be found below.

Sign up for the 2025 edition is free, and can be found at the event’s website: www.terrapinn.com/ exhibition/solar-storage-live/index.stm

Cefetra: Leading the way in sustainable agriculture and innovation

In this issue of Sustainability Today, we are pleased to feature Cefetra as our Farming & Agriculture Company of the Year

Cefetra Ltd, part of the Cefetra Group, is a leading global supplier of agricultural ingredients for animal nutrition, food, and energy sectors, with roots dating back to 1899. Headquartered in Glasgow, Cefetra UK serves the UK and Ireland’s agricultural sectors, supplying the feed, food, drink, and fuel businesses with sustainable supply chains. A key focus of the company is grain origination (wheat, barley, maize, and more), while also offering inputs like cover crop seeds and low-carbon fertilisers to support farmers’ transition to a sustainable future.

In July 2024, we recognised Cefetra as our Climate-Positive Farming Solutions Company of the Month, celebrating a period of remarkable growth and success for the organisation. Recently, we reconnected with Andrew Mackay, Managing Director at Cefetra, to reflect on how 2024 has unfolded for the company.

“Over the last 12 months, we have been making excellent progress on several fronts. We have expanded our farm origination programme by increasing our contacts with farmers and by signing a long-term marketing agreement with CMG, a national farmers Co-op. We are also pleased to have finalised our agreement with the Bristol Port Company which will give us access to a major import terminal in Portbury. As a result, we are

able to offer a wide range of products to our growing customer base in the Southwest of England and Wales at competitive prices.”

As part of its focus on sustainability in agriculture, last year Cefetra launched Cefetra Ecosystem Services in partnership with Soil Capital. The programme promotes sustainable farming by supporting farmers in reducing CO2, enhancing biodiversity, and managing water. It rewards CO2 reductions, fosters regenerative practices for lower-carbon crops, and supplies verified products to cut customers' Scope 3 emissions, benefiting both ecosystems and economies.

uniqueness and number of longterm partnerships formed with farmers, boasting a number of benefits to sustainable farming practices.

The company’s approach to key partnerships has made it the success it is today. Building longterm and strong relationships with its suppliers, consumers, and service providers is key to maintaining its independent market position while growing trust and reliability with its customers.

“Currently, we are truly focused on how we can help farmers and consumers move further towards their sustainability goals. Our ambitions with Cefetra Ecosystem Services stem from our customer’s need to reduce their Scope 3 Emissions. Being uniquely placed in the supply chain allows us to be able to work in collaboration with both the farmer and consumer and support them equally as they make their commitment to sustainability,” added Andrew Mackay.

Cefetra has recently enhanced its services for Feed and Food customers by broadening its involvement in the supply chain for organic ingredients. In a remarkably short time, the company has secured a position among the top three suppliers of these products in the UK. Additionally, for its European clients, Cefetra has partnered with Anglo American Crop Nutrition to market and distribute Poly4, an innovative new fertiliser, across Europe.

Looking ahead, Cefetra is primed for further success, as it continues growing with its business partners, a strong and resilient product portfolio that resembles sustainability, product value, and social responsibility with a balanced concern for people, the planet, and profit.

In closing, we asked Andrew Mackay how he felt receiving the award, “We are honoured that you are recognising our achievements and efforts in sustainability within our industry. We realise we are on a journey, and we still have a lot of progress to make, but we feel confident that with the continued support from our customers and partners, we can achieve much more. Although the transition towards sustainability in agriculture is difficult, we are pleased to be playing our part through these initiatives and programmes to help deliver positive results.”

https://cefetra.co.uk

“It has organic status and benefits from a low carbon footprint. The mine at Woodsmith near Whitby is under construction and when it is completed, will be one of the largest mines in Europe with the capability of producing 13 million tonnes per annum!” stated Andrew Mackay.

Over the years, global demand for responsibly sourced soya has grown considerably. In 2008, Cefetra developed its own standard: the Certified Responsible Soya (CRS) along with partners in South America. This pioneering scheme is now widely recognised across the industry for its

Blended Products: Pioneering energy efficiency & sustainability

In this issue of Sustainability Today, we are delighted to recognise Blended Products as our Speciality Gases & Chemicals Company of the Month

This innovative North Lincolnshire-based company has been delivering tailored solutions to a wide range of sectors, including refrigeration, food and beverage, water treatment, and heating, for over 21 years.

Blended Products prides itself on its extensive product offering, which includes high-performance heat transfer fluids, bulk ISBT-grade CO2, CO2 cylinders, anhydrous ammonia, sulphur dioxide, and nitrogen — all available in both bulk and packaged formats (except nitrogen). In addition to these, the company is the only UK provider offering ammonia recovery in bulk tankers, a unique service that underscores its dedication to sustainability and efficiency.

Caroline Hunter, Head of Commercial, highlights the company’s continued growth, “We’ve experienced rapid expansion over the past 5 years, which has allowed us to increase our team and further develop our offering. This includes Blended’s ADCO2 initiative, which is a reliable source of high-quality, ISBT-grade CO2 essential for operations in food production, beverage carbonation, and agricultural growth.”

ADCO2: Delivering Sustainability and Reliability

Blended understand that high-quality CO2 is vital for operational success. ADCO2 provides ISBT-grade CO2 with a steadfast commitment to sustainability,

reliability, and operational efficiency. By sourcing biogenic CO2 through renewable processes, ADCO2 ensures alignment with net-zero goals while maintaining adherence to global regulatory standards.

ADCO2’s features and advantages include:

t Sourced sustainably and contributes to ethical operations.

t Consistent and reliable deliveries to minimise downtime and supply chain risks.

t Tailored solutions for any order size, from small batches to bulk, delivered with reduced environmental impact.

t UK-sourced for a reduced carbon footprint.

t In-house tank management for seamless operations.

t Bulk deliveries in multimodal tankers and ISO tanks up to 25 tonnes.

It’s fair to say that Blended’s ADCO2 initiative reflects its commitment to advancing sustainability while delivering customer-centric solutions that drive operational excellence.

Customer-Centric Solutions and Sustainability Leadership

Blended Products has long been recognised for its bespoke approach to customer service, offering tailored solutions that meet specific industrial needs. The company’s agile approach allows it to respond quickly to client requirements, a significant advantage over larger competitors.

Blended Products offers customised heat transfer fluids through its Blended Fluids range and provides full support for CO2 storage tanks and logistics optimisation.

The company’s ongoing ADCO2 initiative is set to deliver vegan-approved ISBT-grade CO2, sourced from anaerobic digestion, from June

2025. This aligns with its broader commitment to supporting carbon reduction and environmentally friendly practices.

Looking Ahead to 2025 and Beyond

As it celebrates 21 years of excellence, Blended Products is looking to the future with a strong focus on innovation and sustainability. Plans for 2025 include:

t Hosting the Annual Anaerobic Digestion Seminar, with the theme ‘Revenue Creation’.

t Expanding into new markets and fostering partnerships with industry leaders.

t Showcasing its solutions at key industry events, including the World Biogas Association Expo, Installer Show, and Foodex.

t Striving to enhance its Ecovadis sustainability rating, aiming to move from bronze to silver.

Blended Products is undoubtedly a company to watch as it continues to lead the way in energy efficiency and sustainability.

To learn more about Delta-T and Blended’s innovative solutions, visit:

T 01652 680555 enquiries@blendedproducts.com www.blendedproducts.com

Recycling Expo 2024: Driving innovation for a sustainable future

Recycling Expo 2024, held at ExCeL London from 15-16 October, reaffirmed its status as the premier event for advancing the circular economy. This pivotal gathering united thousands of industry professionals, innovators, and sustainability leaders from across the country, fostering investment in the future of recycling, remanufacturing, and environmental innovation.

The expo showcased over 100 exhibitors, presenting cutting-edge technologies and innovative solutions to address the mounting challenges in waste management, recycling, and resource recovery. Keynote presentations by industry leaders and expert-led seminars sparked engaging discussions on crucial topics, including challenges for the next government, waste management innovations, and circular economy regulations.

Event Highlights:

t Keynote Sessions – Industry leaders from Biffa, Veolia, Clearpoint Recycling, and West London Waste Authority shared innovative strategies and actionable

solutions to revolutionise waste management and advance sustainability.

t Product Demonstrations

– Visitors experienced hands-on demonstrations of cutting-edge technologies, from AI-driven sorting systems to innovative glass recycling methods.

t Innovator Spotlight

– A platform for emerging companies and start-ups to showcase pioneering solutions, including advanced recycling methods and next-generation materials, driving industry progress.

"The Recycling Expo 2024 was a resounding success, providing invaluable networking opportunities and connecting professionals across the waste and recycling sectors to share knowledge and forge partnerships," said Eddy Lawrance, Director of Recycling Expo. "Plans are already underway for Recycling Expo 2025, promising even greater opportunities for innovation,

collaboration and progress in our journey toward sustainability. Taking place on 7-8 October at ExCeL London, it's never too early to mark your calendars to ensure you don't miss this landmark event in the industry."

This is our pick of the best exhibitors from this year’s show, listed here in alphabetical order: John Hanlon & Co Ltd. Further details can be found on this page and the next.

For more information or to register your interest in next year's event, visit: https://recyclingexpo.co.uk/whats-onrecycling-expo

Top Exhibitor at The Recycling 2024 Expo

John Hanlon & Co Ltd is the UK’s leading specialist hire equipment and sales company.

Established in 1973, the family-run business, now in its third generation has been at the forefront of the heavy equipment rental market for over fifty years, boasting a current fleet of over 300-wheel loaders, material handlers, shredders and screeners.

The company headquarters are in Bedfordshire, with a new depot in Doncaster for a growing Northern customer base. The team has been busy demonstrating the new Komptech Lacero all over the country this Autumn.

The partnership with Komptech began back in 2016: a renowned manufacturer of recycling equipment such as drum screens, star screens, high-speed and lowspeed shredders, and ballistic separators. The Komptech machinery is precision-designed for green, wood and industrial waste and the Lacero is the latest addition to the leading portfolio.

up to 400m3/h, the Lacero delivers ultimate highspeed performance shredding at the quietest settings.

Komptech are on a mission to establish its leading portfolio of machinery throughout the UK industrial waste sector. The trailblazing product line includes the indomitable ‘Terminator’ and ‘Equalizor’: slowspeed and medium-speed shredders respectively. This is complemented by further heavy-weight separators: ‘The Ballistor’ Ballistic and ‘The Metalfex’ Eddy current. With options for both mobile and stationery, Komptech is the brand to watch.

The Lacero High-Speed Grinder was in action at five locations across the country, demonstrating its prowess in green waste, compost over size, wood waste and log shredding. Nicknamed the ‘Beast’onlookers were impressed by the down-swinging rotor with the 16 heavy duty teeth, 800hp+ CAT C18 engine that seamlessly shreds over 100 tons of wood and green waste per hour. With a throughput

John Hanlon & Co Ltd was one of our Top Exhibitors at The Recycling 2024 Expo held at the flagship ExCeL, from 15-16 October. The groundbreaking annual event is dedicated to driving green recycling and waste best practice, connecting thousands of leading exhibitors with key buyers and specifiers.

John Hanlon & Co showcased the leading Komptech machinery to the land clearance, waste wood and green waste sectors. Designed for flawless performance, the Komptech brand is synonymous with innovation and sustainability.

We spoke to Lee Hanlon, Area Sales Manager at John Hanlon & Co, to find out more, “We’re excited about the new Komptech Lacero: it delivers

THINKING ABOUT PLUG IN HYBRID ELECTRIC – SHREDDING – SCREENING –

SEPARATING

• Use the integrated generator or connect the machine directly to grid

• Highly efficient, up to 40% fuel saving

John Hanlon & Company Ltd.

Highlands, Gravenhurst Road, Campton SG17 5NZ Bedfordshire

[t] +44 (0)1462 813301

[e] info@johnhanlon.com

optimised, fast-moving shredding across many sectors. We’ve had a positive reception from the industry so far, with many impressed with its highspeed performance.

“We offer short and long-term rentals for a wide range of brands including Volvo, CAT, Liebherr and of course, Komptech. Our 300-strong rental fleet includes wheel loaders, material handlers, shredders and screeners.”

Watch the Komptech Lancero in action here: www.linkedin.com/company/johnhanlonandcoltd info@johnhanlon.com www.johnhanlon.com

The Multistar L3 Star screen at its best – with a 0-8mm fine and a 3 way split

The Crambo e-mobile Market leading green waste and wood shredder with high throughput

The Cribus A new dimension in drum screening – High throughput with high quality end product

The Hurrikan S High performance windsifting

Breath easier at AQE 2024

AQE

2024, or Air Quality and Emissions Expo, made a significant impact from 9-10 October at the NEC in Birmingham. Boasting the largest exhibitor turnout and the most comprehensive conference programme since 2002, AQE 2024 was not just another industry event – it was the place where the future of air quality and emissions monitoring will be shaped.

The show was an unmissable gathering for professionals, researchers, and policymakers deeply invested in the fight against air pollution and climate change.

The detrimental effects of air pollution on public health and the climate have never been more evident – or urgent. From the thick smog that shrouds cities to the invisible yet insidious greenhouse gases warming our planet, the call for action is growing louder. Governments, scientists,

and environmental activists are increasingly turning their focus to air quality measurement and emissions control, making events like AQE more critical than ever.

Technology has advanced rapidly, offering new insights into pollution patterns and ways to mitigate its impact. AQE 2024 served as a knowledge hub where attendees could explore the latest technologies, regulatory updates, standards, and innovative methods designed to combat air pollution and promote sustainability.

With over 200 leading technology and service providers under one roof, AQE 2024 was an unparalleled opportunity to dive deep into the latest advancements in air quality and emissions management. The event attracted a diverse range of attendees, including regulators, local authorities, consultants, instrumentation engineers, laboratory staff, process operators, and engine and powertrain developers, along with clean air campaigners and other stakeholders.

Cloud-based Monitoring Noise, vibration and air quality solutions

The exhibition at AQE 2024 showcased cutting-edge technologies that push the boundaries of what’s possible in environmental monitoring. Low-cost sensors and mobile technologies are revolutionising how we track air quality in real-time, offering new ways to gather data and make informed decisions. The use of cellular networks to create expansive, interconnected monitoring systems is a gamechanger, allowing for the rapid deployment of sensors across cities and regions.

Visitors had the chance to engage directly with the minds behind these innovations, offering a unique opportunity to discuss challenges and solutions face-to-face. This interaction is invaluable for professionals seeking to stay ahead of the curve in an industry that evolves at breakneck speed.

AQE Expo returns next year to Birmingham’s NEC from 17-18 September 2025. This is our pick of the best exhibitors from this year’s show, listed here in alphabetical order: EEMC Monitors. Further details can be found on this page.

www.ess-expo.co.uk/five-shows/aqe

4 High quality, with exceptional value for money

4 Robust, rugged and easyto-install IP rated hardware

4 Intuitive web-based platforms for instant realtime measurement data, smart alerts & remote configuration

4 Customised automated reporting as CSV/Excel or PDF

4 Sustainable off-grid, mains and battery power solutions

4 Reliable wired and wireless connectivity

4 UK based Sales Support & Calibration Services

A heritage of engineering excellence

Blaker, established in 1886 by Alexander Blaker, has a proud history as one of the longest-standing businesses in the Horsham District of West Sussex. Originally based in Islington, the company earned recognition in automobile engineering, including the creation of the award-winning Hallé Spring Wheel, which received a gold medal at the 1905 Liège Universal Exhibition. As the company grew it relocated several times, eventually settling at its current premises in Billingshurst, near Horsham, West Sussex, where it built a thriving business specialising in axle and chassis repairs, heavy plant and equipment repairs, and mobile welding services. Over the decades, the business evolved to meet changing market demands, culminating in the formation of the Blaker Group. One of its key divisions, BlakerTech, now leads in designing and manufacturing specialist metal recycling equipment, continuing a legacy of innovation and engineering excellence.

BlakerTech delivers comprehensive metal recycling solutions tailored to client needs. Beyond manufacturing, services include site audits, design with 3D modelling, proposal development, precision manufacturing, thorough testing, and seamless installation with training.

BlakerTech has produced innovative products like the MagThro eddy current system and SandFlo™ fluidised bed separator, that are used to efficiently separate non-ferrous metals from mixed materials, solving key industry challenges.

The MagThro™ is an advanced eddy current separator, built at BlakerTech’s manufacturing facility in the South East of England. It is known for its exceptional power

and performance while delivering precise and efficient separation, ensuring consistent results with minimal effort and downtime. One of its standout features is the positioning of its rotors close to the materials for optimal performance, enabling efficient separation of non-ferrous materials. It has been extensively tried and tested in demanding environments, proving its reliability and robustness under challenging conditions. What’s more, MagThro also stands out for its ease of use, making it a practical choice for recycling plants aiming to maximise recovery rates whilst minimising waste.

A second product worth noting is the SandFlo fluidised bed separator, designed for highperformance material separation. SandFlo is ideal for the recovery of aluminium, zinc, copper and brass fractions from mixed non-ferrous metals in processing plants. Because it produces zero byproducts, SandFlo is a clean solution that requires no disposal of residual materials, and produces cleaner outputs ready for resale. Furthermore, its dry separation process is particularly advantageous in environments where water may be limited.

Sustainability is a core focus for BlakerTech, that take pride in partnering with local and national UK suppliers to promote responsible sourcing. As the global push for sustainability and circular economies grows, BlakerTech's reliable, robust, and user-friendly systems have become essential for clients striving to meet government-mandated net-zero targets and environmental goals.

The system is simple and reliable, with no complicated technology to fail, and capabilities of sorting non-ferrous materials by their density screened up to 50mm. SandFlo™ works best when paired with the MagThro , as together, they further refine the outstream, maximising recovery rates. In conclusion, together, these systems save the expense of manual sorting, offering an efficient and costeffective solution for all metal recovery operations.

Following the SandFlo™, BlakerTech has announced that it’s in the final development stages of the Linear SandFlo , which is for more demanding environments and has an operational capacity four times greater than its current model. The Linear SandFlo™ builds on the proven robustness and reliability of the existing SandFlo , ensuring both models remain effective solutions tailored to different operational needs.

“Our technologies are designed to maximise the extraction of valuable materials while minimising waste. By improving the efficiency of recycling processes, we help reduce the need for raw material extraction and support a more sustainable industrial ecosystem. Additionally, our solutions significantly reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill, providing an environmentally friendly alternative that aligns with global sustainability goals,” stated Robin Plater, Commercial Manager at BlakerTech.

Looking ahead, BlakerTech plans to continue investing in research and development to further refine its technologies and expand its product portfolio. By collaborating closely with system manufacturers and recycling plants, it aims to strengthen its position as a leading provider of reliable and innovative recycling solutions.

T 01403 783634 robin@blakertech.com www.blakertech.com

Recycling & Waste Management

Shortlist announced

RECOUP

are delighted to announce the shortlisted entries for the 2024 RECOUP Awards.

Congratulations to the shortlisted entries, and thank you to all the companies who entered. We were delighted to receive so many submissions for all three categories, showcasing the amazing work being done throughout the plastics value chain.

Best Plastic Product Development for Recyclability or Re-Use:

t Berry Global – Abel & Cole Club

Zero Refillable Milk

t Berry Global – Omni® Xtra+ PE Film

t Capri-Sun GmbH – Mono-material beverage pouch

t Greiner Packaging UK & Ireland –K3® r100

Best Innovation in Equipment or Technology:

t Cauli Ltd – CauliKiosk - AI-powered

reverse vending for reusable plastics

t Ellipsis Earth – AI waste platform

t Polytag and Ocado Retail –Rewards for Recycling

t TOMRA Recycling: GAINnext - an enabler of food-grade sorting

Recycled Plastic Product of the Year:

t Aldi UK – All Ambient Soft Drinks, Waters, Dilutes

t Brookfield Drinks – NEO WTR

t Morph Bricks Ltd – Morph

t PT. Free The Sea (On behalf of Nestlé) – Nescafé Dolce Gusto Neo

Sponsored by REMONDIS, the RECOUP Awards Recognise and celebrate excellence in plastics resource efficiency and recycling and organisations leading a more circular plastics value chain, the winners were unveiled on 25 September, during the RECOUP Awards Ceremony & Networking Dinner. Promising a unique opportunity for attendees to establish connections, applaud industry accomplishments, and pave the way for collaborative efforts.

For more information about RECOUP, the work they do and how to become a member, please email: enquiry@ recoup.org or visit: www.recoup.org or call 01733 390021.

Navigating EU Plastic Packaging Regulations

AtTosca, we specialise in helping businesses navigate the complexities of EU packaging regulations through innovative, sustainable packaging solutions. Our expertise in innovative reusable plastic packaging and pooling systems can help businesses ensure they not only meet regulatory requirements but also thrive in a sustainability-focused market.

Tosca offers tailored packaging strategies that align with the operational needs and sustainability goals of businesses, whether they need reusable crates, pallets, or bulk containers. Tosca’s detailed lifecycle analysis helps companies understand the environmental impact of their packaging choices, identifying areas for improvement and recommending strategies to reduce waste, increase recyclability, and promote reuse.

Tosca is committed to being a long-term partner in sustainability, providing continuous support to help businesses adapt to evolving regulations and market demands. Our goal is to ensure that they remain compliant and competitive in a rapidly changing landscape.

The EU's new plastic packaging regulations represent a significant step toward sustainability, requiring businesses to rethink their packaging

strategies and adopt more sustainable practices. While compliance with the PPWR and EPR laws presents challenges, it also offers numerous strategic benefits, including enhanced market access, improved brand reputation, and increased competitiveness.

By proactively adopting reusable packaging solutions and aligning with the principles of a circular economy, businesses can not only comply with the regulations but also unlock new opportunities for growth and innovation. Tosca is here to support companies on this journey, providing the expertise and solutions needed to succeed in a rapidly changing regulatory environment – building a more sustainable future for their business and the planet.

Download Tosca’s Whitepaper on EU Plastic Packaging Regulations here: https://info.toscaltd.com/eu-packagingrelated-regulations

Recycling & Waste Management

Biffa acquires L&S Waste Management

Biffa, the UK leader in sustainable waste management, has completed the acquisition of a leading construction and demolition (C&D) waste operator in Hampshire. L&S Waste Management was established in 1997 and serves major urban areas along the South Coast, including Southampton, Portsmouth, Fareham and Chichester.

L&S’ core waste management business includes two material recycling facilities in Southampton and Portsmouth, with a combined annual capacity of 225,000 tonnes, a transfer station in Fareham and a fleet of 91 collection vehicles. The deal reinforces Biffa’s strategy to grow low carbon recycling solutions for its local authority and industrial customers across the UK, as well as increasing the amount of recycled products available to the construction industry.

Biffa also operates C&D processing facilities in Scotland,

Newcastle, Birmingham and Cardiff, and is the UK’s leading supplier of waste skips. A well-established brand along the South Coast, L&S will continue to trade as L&S Waste Management.

Biodegradable plastics

Symphony Environmental Technologies Plc, specialist in the biodegradation of plastics, has welcomed a report from Tokyo University confirming the biodegradation of biodegradable plastics in harsh deep-sea environments.

The report says, “Biodegradable plastics are receiving increasing attention. Conventional plastic, used for the parts, packaging, and containers of various products, is known to end up in the sea only to never decompose. There, it causes adverse effects on the environment. This has sparked the rising importance of transitioning to biodegradable plastics that can be broken down by microorganisms.”

Recently, strong calls for a transition to biodegradable plastics are on the rise. Biodegradable plastics can be completely broken down by microbial activity into CO2 and water. They could greatly reduce the burden on the environment.

an absence of sunlight, water temperatures between 2 to 4 degrees Celsius, and very few nutrients, it is a harsh environment for biological activity.

The team placed samples of several types of biodegradable plastics at five different deepsea locations with varying depths and environments. "The samples were retrieved between 3 to 14 months later. Upon examination, except polylactic acid (PLA) plastic, which decomposes only in hightemperature and high-humidity environments, the plastic samples had all undergone changes."

This discovery marks the first time these microorganisms' ability to break down plastic has been confirmed. Also, they are known to exist in seabed sediments worldwide. Accordingly, the team concluded that biodegradable plastics would be decomposed in deep-sea environments around the world – even at marine plastic waste's final destination – the deep seabed.

Marc Angell, Biffa’s Managing Director, Construction & Demolition, said, “We’re delighted to welcome the L&S team and customers to the Biffa Group. Biffa is the largest collector of waste and recycling in the UK and the addition of L&S’ capability in the C&D sector will further strengthen our services in this important market.

“They are very well established in the region, with a focus on quality. Their sites, brand and scale give them a competitive advantage along the South Coast. We look forward to working together to leverage Biffa’s unique position at the heart of the circular economy, enabling more customers to meet their carbon reduction commitments.”

Contact T 01329 840000 info@lswaste.co.uk

Trash to trailblazer

Global

textile manufacturer and designer of commercial, hospitality and residential fabrics, Camira has redefined its original closed loop recycled polyester, X2 for 2024.

But will switching to biodegradable plastic work? The final destination of marine plastic waste is the deep sea. With

www.symphonyenvironmental.com

New recycling bin system from Robert Scott

Cleaning manufacturer and distributor Robert Scott has launched an innovative new modular recycling bin system to help businesses simplify waste management, enhance recycling efficiency, and comply with new legislative requirements.

The new 80 litre capacity Procycle Recycling Bin, featuring lid and back panel, is a versatile, cost-effective, and customisable system designed to support businesses in complying with evolving waste management requirements – including new and upcoming legislation across Wales and England.

Recent legislation in Wales mandates all businesses, charities, and public sector organisations to sort their waste for recycling so it is kept separate throughout processing. Similarly, in England the Government has recently announced comprehensive reforms to boost recycling rates and protect the environment. These include a standardised approach to recycling across the country, requiring most businesses to implement new recycling practices by March 2025.

The Procycle Recycling Bin 80L enables easy adaptation to various recycling requirements by making it simpler

for organisations to manage and separate their waste effectively and sustainably.

The modular system includes connectors so users can build bespoke multi-recycling stations tailored to their specific needs, with colour coded back panels for seven different waste streams. These waste streams include glass bottles & jars; food tins & drinks cans; mixed card; food waste; plastic packaging; general waste; and mixed recycling.

The Procycle Recycling Bin 80L is available now. For more information or to arrange a demo, please call 01457 819400, email: info@robert-scott.co.uk or visit: www.robert-scott.co.uk

To mark its 50th year in business and enduring commitment to tackling the global textile waste problem, Camira has significantly increased the percentage of textile-to-textile waste in its popular recycled polyester fabric, X2. Originally launched in 2012, X2 now contains 25% textile-to-textile recycled polyester, along with 75% post-consumer recycled polyester from plastic bottles.

Less than 1% of textiles worldwide are recycled into new products, and every seven minutes a stack of clothing, the height of Mount Everest, is sent to landfill. Using discarded textiles from the apparel industry, as well as yarn and fabric from its own waste streams, Camira has pioneered the latest X2 to make an even bigger impact, reducing its carbon footprint and illustrating the infinite opportunities of textile waste as a valuable resource.

Comprising 33 dynamic colourways with 14 new shades, X2 is designed for hybrid spaces including commercial, hospitality and residential interiors. Suitable for seating, panels, curtains and drapery, X2 provides stretch, flammability and abrasion performance.

The fabric's new colour palette embraces warm berry tones, cool blues, mauves, and turquoises, as well as subtle earthy shades, providing a colour scheme for every interior. The black base yarn in X2, composed of textile-to-textile waste, creates a textured grey mélange effect, reminiscent of a high-end wool, adding surface appeal and dimension.

To find out more, visit the Camira website: www.camirafabrics.com/en-uk/contract/fabrics/x2

Envirogard: Setting hire standards

Envirogard has been a leading supplier of specialist safety equipment for the last thirtyfive years, hiring equipment to contractors in sectors including: telecommunications, roofing, shotblasting, painting, geotechnical engineering, HVAC, chemical plants, logistics operations, electrical engineers & facilities management services.

The hire equipment is available from four depots strategically located across the country: Manchester, Barnsley, Tamworth & Ashford, with delivery options available in most areas of mainland UK.

The company is a member of the Contractors Plant Association and a Corporate Member of the Environmental Industries Commission. Envirogard is proud to offer a range of hire equipment that supports contractors to carry out environmental clean-up and pollution mitigation projects, protect employee health and safety, and deliver sustainability best practice.

The hire range covers the following five principal product groups:

t Decontamination Units and Safety Showers

t Dust & Odour Suppression Water Misting Canons

t Specialist Vacuum Cleaning Equipment

t Air Ventilation & Extraction Equipment

t Airscrubbers and HEPA Grade Dust Filtration Units

Decontamination Shower Units & Safety Showers are a first line of defence, keeping site staff safe and preventing spread of contaminants. Envirogard’s hire range includes units designed for sites without power or water, which can be supplied to site ready for use within 10 minutes.

Trailer decontamination units are routinely used to protect workers around contaminated sites, can be towed easily by vans or medium-sized cars, and can be positioned without need for a crane.

Trailer sizes range from the Micro Single Shower Trailer (for 4 people – small enough to fit in a car park space) through to the Maxi Quad XL (for 16 people). All trailers offer hot showers and built-in HEPA grade air filtration for containment of airborne dust; optionally trailers can be supplied with a boot wash station and waste-water filtration

unit. The demarcated zones in the trailers progress workers from dirty to shower to clean areas, preventing spread of contaminants from the work environment.

Dust Suppression Water Misting Canons are intended to suppress fugitive dust emissions, preventing particles from becoming and remaining airborne, and are an important measure in protecting workers from dust-related health risks. Envirogard hires both small portable mist cannons and large towable units for dust and odour suppression.

The Multimister (see left) is a towable unit with integral water tank and engine – useful for sites lacking water or power. It throws mist 25+ metres from a 4 metre mast and also features a rear spraybar for damping trackways.

An alternative static unit – ideal for sites with limited water availability – is the Dustfighter AIO. This discharges a fine mist of water droplets 15+ metres and will run for around 8 hours before the tank needs refilling. It’s powered by 110v – simply plug into a site transformer or small generator.

Envirogard is a division of Specialist Hires Ltd. For more information on the whole product range and to start your hire journey today, see the contact details below: T 0161 320 8587 www.envirogard.co.uk

Decontamination Unit

Can heat battery boilers

Thermal energy storage (TES), also known as heat batteries, is an

With home heating responsible for nearly a fifth of emissions in the UK alone, scaling up domestic TES is critical to achieving net zero. Johan du Plessis, CEO at tepeo, argues that smart heat batteries are vital to accelerate the transition to low-carbon heat while keeping the grid in balance

Electric storage heating technology, like night storage heaters, isn’t a new concept. Yet, despite having been around since the early 1960s, it is yet to become mainstream. According to the latest census, only nine per cent of households in England and Wales had electriconly heating.

A primary limitation of night storage heaters is that they aren’t installed with wet heating systems (radiators or underfloor heating), which is currently used in approximately 23 million UK homes. Switching to this type of storage heating would entail replacing all wet radiators with night storage heaters – which would have a huge carbon footprint, not to mention the cost and disruption for homeowners.

From storage heaters to heat batteries

Research and development have, more recently, focused on optimising storage materials and product design while integrating smart capabilities. The outcome of this effort has been the modern

heat battery boiler.

Heat batteries and night storage heaters are based on similar principles. The main difference is that heat batteries are specifically designed to integrate into existing wet heating systems. With this technology, households can eliminate their gas boilers – and the associated greenhouse gas emissions – without replacing radiators. As mains gas is the only heating source for over two thirds of UK households, switching to heat batteries can be transformational.

However, not all heat batteries are created equal. While some are predominantly aimed at water heating, others are specifically designed for space heating.

Different materials, different applications

Some heat batteries use phase-change materials to store thermal energy. These materials have minimal heat loss, and are typically used in hot water production to replace traditional domestic water cylinders. Due to their lower energy density, they are typically unsuitable for space heating.

By contrast, magnetite materials display two-tothree times the energy density of phase-change materials. These heat batteries can reach temperatures as high as 800 degrees while being fully insulated and enclosed for complete user safety. Reducing size and footprint is essential to making TES suitable for homes where space comes at a premium.

How can heat batteries complement heat pumps?

Heat pumps have established themselves as the go-to low-carbon heating technology, thanks to government subsidies. Widespread adoption of these heating systems remains critical to achieving net

zero. However, there are limitations to how many heat pumps can be installed.

Firstly, not all UK homes can be fitted with heat pumps. Around 20% of the housing stock, including millions of traditional terraced houses, present challenges to heat pump installation, due to insufficient outdoor space, and this percentage may be even higher. A 2024 study from the University of Warwick found that, although around half of UK homes were ‘eligible’ for heat pump installation subsidies, only 11% of homes were likely to be ‘heat pump-ready’. Costs to upgrade pipework and radiators, lengthy installations and planning permissions are other barriers to adoption.

Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning

boilers help cool the planet? essential low-carbon weapon in the fight against climate change

Secondly, the International Energy Agency (IEA) warns that “without improving efficiency in parallel” heat pumps can nearly triple their peak demand during winter. Therefore, retrofitting combined with “careful grid planning and demand-side management”, will be critical to mitigating this surge in demand.

Highly flexible technologies like heat batteries can complement heat pumps in two ways. They can be deployed in houses unsuitable for heat pumps, making decarbonised heating accessible to all, and they can ease pressure on the grid by shifting energy demand away from peak times.

Being smart about heat storage

Similar to the batteries in smartphones and EVs, modern heat batteries use smart algorithms to optimise energy use. Demand prediction algorithms analyse historic patterns and weather forecasts to determine accurate heat requirements. In addition, charging algorithms optimise energy use based on the household’s electricity tariff and grid carbon intensity, ensuring that the battery only recharges during off-peak times when electricity is the cheapest and the cleanest. These algorithms can even adapt to the most advanced dynamic tariffs, reflecting half-hourly wholesale electricity costs.

Heat batteries can help balance the grid by completely decoupling energy consumption from heat demand – recharging only when demand is at its lowest, and releasing heat only when this is

actually needed. In addition, they constantly monitor grid frequency and can stop charging in response to frequency drops.

Faster installation, faster decarbonisation

Many UK households only decide to replace their boiler when it breaks down, meaning speed of installation is a critical factor when selecting a new boiler. Heat batteries can be installed in 1-2 days, minimising the time that a family spends without heating or hot water.

Installers can learn to fit a heat battery in less than a day. They don’t need the gas safety or refrigerant training that would be required for gas boilers or heat pumps, respectively. Speed and ease of installation are key to accelerating the uptake of low-carbon heat technologies.

The future of heat batteries

As dynamic energy tariffs evolve, heat batteries will be able to meet the higher heat demand of larger houses without increasing their carbon footprint – and, potentially, even reducing it. This evolution will involve charging flexibly throughout the day, rather than in the single overnight period typically seen in existing smart tariffs.

I was hesitant at first, as most boiler professionals who are used to working with gas are but once I put tepeo’s ZEB® in and it worked the same as a boiler is supposed to I couldn’t believe it – it was amazing.

I thought to myself, for somebody who can’t have an air source heat pump or doesn’t want the upheaval associated with one, this is a perfect option. It is exactly like a gas boiler, it heats the radiators the same, pipework you can pretty much keep the same and so I thought… perfect. It’s another choice for our customers.

The training for the installation process is very straightforward. If you’ve been working in the trade and involved with heating for a while and already know your stuff, this is second-knowledge.

It roughly takes a good day and a half to install the ZEB, which is a standard install of a new boiler, so the process is the same. We have to ensure the system is clean as obviously if you’re removing an old boiler you need to brick up the hole and then plaster and make good then remove all the old pipework.

Another fundamental advancement will be integrating space and water heating into one product – similar to how combi boilers work. While space-heating batteries already enable indirect water heating via a water cylinder, these devices will, in future, be accessible to homes without water cylinders.

By continuing to optimise product design and smart capabilities, heat batteries will be critical to the UK’s transition to net zero. This technology can bring low-carbon heating to homes while helping ease pressure on the grid.

Installer insight – case study

Heating engineer, Martyn Jones, is the director of Bewdly-based M4RT, a company committed to choosing the right product and delivering tailored heating solutions to keep customers warm and reduce both their energy bills and carbon foot print. Martyn shares his firsthand experience of installing heat batteries.

Good for customers. Good for us

The tepeoPRO App is brilliant, I wish more gas boiler manufacturers had a similar App which tells you exactly what the boiler is doing and exactly what you need to know as a heating engineer. I love the App, I think it is great.

The best thing is that the ZEB is delivered onsite by the tepeo team – they bring it in and position it exactly where it needs to be and if not we can always move it to where we want it using the jacking wheels. The best thing about it is, it has been well thought about and the process is very straightforward.

Our customers say that the ZEB is very little hassle – our Trustpilot reviews for ZEB instals are incredible.

For more information, visit: www.tepeo.com or for installers: www.tepeo.pro

Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning

In Conversation with Christophe

British solar heat and power scale-up, Naked Energy, has secured £17m of strategic and financial investment to supercharge the global roll-out of its cutting-edge solutions for the decarbonisation

of

heat

The Series B funding round was led by E.ON Infrastructure Solutions and supported by co-investment from Barclays, through its Sustainable Impact Capital.

It means that Naked Energy, which has sold its unique high energy density solar technology to more than 20 countries, can now accelerate its growth even further.

We spoke to the company’s CEO and co-founder, Christophe Williams, on what this means for the decarbonisation of heat, the barriers that remain in the journey to net zero, and the ‘cold elephant in the room’.

“Heat is the cold elephant in the room,” Christophe said. “For too long it’s been overlooked. Because it’s tough – it’s boilers, furnaces and it’s distributed throughout society – so it’s been left in the long grass.

“Heat accounts for half of all energy consumed on the planet and is responsible for almost 40% of emissions, but there’s not enough focus on decarbonising that heat,” Christophe argues.

“It’s such a narrow view that heat pumps are the only technology that will decarbonise heat. It is a fantastic solution and is getting better, but it’s not

a renewable technology and adds a load to the grid.

“Where the energy going to a heat pump is 100% renewable, that’s great, but how will we produce all the energy that is needed for powering everything? We have the oldest grid in the world, and to upgrade that to deal with electrification will be a multi-decadal challenge. The new government wanting clean power by the end of this decade is going to be an enormous challenge.”

The Naked Energy solution

Naked Energy Ltd designs, develops and manufactures innovative hybrid PVT solar technology products.

Its Virtu range redefines solar energy. It’s a hybrid solar collector that combines solar photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal technology, to generate both electricity and heat from a single solar collector.

Unlike solar PV, which generates only electricity, Virtu performs at optimal efficiency by also capturing the sun’s heat energy up to 75°C. The high-performance solar collectors generate heat up to 120°C, suitable for hot water or for pre-heat and process heat in many industrial environments. It is ideal for settings such as hotels, leisure centres, universities, multidwelling properties and applications covering the lower range of industrial process heat.

Naked Energy’s products generate more energy per square metre than any other solar technology – proven to be up to four times more impactful at offsetting CO2 emissions than conventional solar PV panels – making them ideal for high-energy consumers, especially those without the space for traditional solar panels.

The products dramatically reduce energy bills and carbon emissions and work seamlessly with other onsite solutions, enabling affordable clean energy transition.

A target for solar thermal

Despite the huge potential for solar thermal, there are currently no targets for it in the UK.

“Europe is putting out a mandate through the Green Deal and solar thermal is recognised and supported. There are currently 10 million systems already on rooftops in Europe and because every solar system has storage, there’s also 185 GWh built in, all helping to balance the grid.

“But here there is no national target or policy support for solar thermal. Why not? We’re just so far behind.”

Naked Energy is one of the main sponsors of the Solar Heat Europe roadmap which is actively promoting the use of solar thermal technology for heating and cooling. The publication ‘Energising Europe with Solar Heat – A Solar Thermal Roadmap’ has been signed by more than 100 entities and sponsors.

Naked Energy asserts that the UK should have a solar heat target and has set this at 11GW of solar thermal to be installed by 2030. This equates to 0.16kwth per person and matches the EU target. Countries like Germany, Denmark and Austria have already met or significantly exceeded this, while France, Sweden, Ireland and the UK are languishing far behind.

The UK currently stands at just 0.02kwth and would need to see 26% growth in solar thermal every year from now until 2030, across both residential and commercial.

While presenting these figures at last October’s Solar and Storage Show, the company said the challenge ‘isn’t insurmountable’.

Solving the heat decarbonisation challenge

We asked Christophe what he thinks is needed, in addition to a solar thermal target, to support the energy transition and achieve the UK’s net zero targets; his wish list for the government, so to speak.

Christophe Williams, CEO, Naked Energy

Christophe Williams, CEO Naked Energy

These are his top three asks:

t Greater focus on heat decarbonisation rather than the electrification of everything t Capital support and incentives for local manufacturing and supply t Capital rebates for big companies

“The new GB Energy wants clean power by 2030, but it’s not just about power. On the supply side we need to support local manufacturing and incentivise local supply. Businesses need access to capital to be able set up and scale factories, doing it through equity is very challenging.

“On the demand side, the commercial and industrial sector is overlooked. In Germany, for example, they have capital grants and if they install large solar heat systems, they can get a 25% rebate on the capital cost. UK governments have historically been against tariff-based systems, but a pot of capital rebates would be a great accelerant.”

Christophe also advocates for the reintroduction of the Renewable Heat Incentive for commerce and industry and the introduction of an advantage for local suppliers, similar to the Inflation Reduction Act in the US.

“Giving a 10% bonus on products designed or made in the UK would provide a huge boost for renewable energy,” he said.

The Naked Energy journey

After 13 years of research, development and patenting, Naked Energy is now poised to really scale up and bring solar thermal technologies to more businesses across the world.

The company has come a long way since Christophe decided to switch careers by taking a punt on an idea he had, financed by his credit card.

With an award-winning career in creative advertising under his belt, Christophe then decided to change course and follow in his grandfather’s footsteps.

Peter Blenheim Williams was a clean energy pioneer of his time, well known for his work on the ‘oscillating duck’ – a wave power technology in the 70s and 80s.

fuels will run out and an alternative would be needed.

His father is an aeronautical/mechanical engineer who also has a track record in innovation.

Christophe always had an itch to do something in the climate space and had designed environmentally-focused advertising campaigns as part of his earlier career, including on behalf of the government at the time.

It was when he had a conversation with someone working on solar thermal that the seeds for the new business were sown.

“He really opened my eyes to solar thermal and I became enamoured with it because it’s so clean and pure,” Christophe said.

“I joined with two engineers and came up with the hybrid tube, which is a globally unique product. I proposed starting the company and going for the patent.

“We put all the IP in there and did all the designs and patents, all on my credit card. We got our first recognition from Shell at an engineering competition, winning a £40K cash prize. Then we secured half a million euros in angel funding.

“At the time that felt like all the money in the world – we’ve now raised £27m.”

The company has manufacturing bases in the UK and Europe, and is scheduled to start manufacturing in Dallas, Texas, later this year in partnership with its US distribution partner, ELM Solar.

While the technology is focused on commercial/industrial because it is suited to high hot water usage, residential solutions on a district heating basis are not ruled out for the future.

Going for growth

With the latest investment, Naked Energy is perfectly placed to capitalise on the huge economic opportunity presented by heat decarbonisation and the growing appetite for a totally renewable solution.

The International Energy Agency projects in its latest renewables report that the share of heat from renewable energy will increase by more than 40% worldwide between 2023 to 2028.

Naked Energy plans to accelerate the international distribution of its award-winning technology with the adoption of innovative new business models.

The relationship between E.ON and Naked Energy will also facilitate the provision of Naked Energy’s technology through a Heat-As-A-Service model to a global client base. The two companies are already working on a pipeline of projects across multiple territories.

“Our latest investment shows that the urgency of heat decarbonisation has been recognised and funding to accelerate the energy transition in this way is crucial because it’s not getting enough.

“E.ON has recognised heat decarbonisation as its number one priority.”

So the future certainly looks bright for Naked Energy. All the foundations have been laid and it feels like real growth is coming.

“The crazy thing is it does feel like we’re just getting started now,” Christophe added.

“We are fanatical about heat decarbonisation and the core tech we use – solar thermal and hybrid solar thermal – produces more energy per square metre than any other technology. It’s time to put the metal to the floor, the time to act is now.”

Commercial@nakedenergy.com

This article by Linda Ram originally appeared in the September 2024 issue of Renewable Energy Installer & Specifier magazine.

As a child, Christophe remembers his grandfather telling him he was doing his work because fossil

Solar Energy & Power

PV testers for safety and performance boosts

At the Intersolar Europe trade show, Fluke presented its offer for the photovoltaics industry. The manufacturer’s testers and analysers provide failsafe and comfortable solutions to ensure safe function, longevity and high productivity of PV systems.

Highlights include the PVA-1500 I-V Curve Tracer, the only available product in the market that can consistently and accurately measure I-V curves for 1,500-V high-efficiency solar panels without overheating. With this recent product launch, Fluke has expanded its portfolio to enable solar professionals to service PV systems from micro-grid to utility-scale installations.

At the same time, the tester’s superior scan rates allow them to cut testing time to a minimum.

Another showcase, the SMFT-1000 multifunction PV tester is designed for performance analysis and I-V curve tracing of photovoltaics systems operating at up to 1,000V DC.

In addition, Fluke also presented the FEV350 analyser, a handheld all-in-one tool with comprehensive test functions for AC electric vehicle charging stations (EVSE).

More information: www.fluke.com/en-gb/ products/electrical-testing/best-solar-energyindustry-tools

Pop-up solar car park and EV charging hub

3ti®, the UK's leading designer, installer, funder and operator of solar car parks (SCPs), has completed the installation of a ‘Papilio3’ pop-up solar car park and electric vehicle (EV) charging hub at the Council Depot Centre in Merrow, Guildford. Opened on 4 June, the latest installation will support the council’s transition to electrified fleets.

Papilio3 was the perfect solution to fulfil the urgent need for EV charging infrastructure for Surrey County Council (SCC), which required an installation suitable for a compact area at the site. Papilio3 is uniquely designed around a recycled shipping container, giving it the ability to be easily transported and lifted into place. The project not only underscored the speed, adaptability and versatility of Papilio3 for installation in space-restricted areas but also demonstrated the 3ti team’s exceptional skill in overcoming uneven terrain at the site.

To date, Papilio3 has been installed in a range of settings across the leisure, public, private, commercial and industrial sectors to quickly meet the need for destination

and workplace charging at locations including the iconic Silverstone racetrack, Five Rivers Health & Wellbeing Centre in Wiltshire, Surrey Research Park and Raigmore Hospital in the Scottish Highlands.

SCC will use Papilio3 to charge its growing electric vehicle fleet, which contributes to its sustainability strategy. Each Papilio3 has an installed capacity of 19.3kWp and can produce up to 18MWh of electricity in year one, equivalent to 64,343 EV miles, saving 3.6 tCO2e.

For more information on 3ti’s SCPs and Papilio3, please visit: www.3ti.co.uk

Rise of energy bills is pushing people to move to solar power

Despite the energy price cap being lowered, almost half (49%) of UK homeowners are considering investing in solar panels for their home –with 9 in 10 considering the switch to help them to further reduce energy bills.

Yet, while energy costs were the main motivator, according to a survey of 2,000 UK homeowners, by roof system manufacturer Marley, almost half of respondents (46%) said they were considering investing as a way to reduce their household carbon emissions.

However, the biggest variances were seen across different generations, with 43% of those aged 65 and over thinking of installing solar panels, compared with two thirds of Gen Zs and millennials.

There also seems to be a disconnect when it comes to being more environmentally conscious, with 60% of

Gen Zs considering solar panels as a way to be more sustainable, in comparison to only 38% of those aged 65 and over.

When questioned on the main barriers preventing more homeowners from installing renewable technology, the cost of the panels was identified as the biggest barrier (61%), followed by a lack of understanding of how they work (28%), while 27% of respondents said they did not like the look of the panels.

Interestingly, when questioned on whether they were aware of the UK government's plans to make homes more energy efficient, the majority (54%) responded ‘no’ or ‘don’t know’.

For further information on Marley’s complete roof systems, visit: www.marley.co.uk or call 01283 722588.

Solar installation business powers ahead during 2024

North East commercial solar and battery storage installer AR Power is to invest in a larger site and grow its workforce as it embarks on an ambitious growth drive.

The Washington-based company, which manages a complete turnkey solution from design to installation, has invested heavily in staff and resources in the last 12 months with turnover hitting £5.5m for the year ending April 2024.

With the workforce reaching 33 and set to grow, the company – established in 2011 by husband-andwife team Mark and Maria Dunville – is aiming to hit revenues of £10m in the next 12 months. In three years, it is hoped that turnover will exceed £30m.

AR Power, the largest and longest established

independent solar and battery storage installer in North East England, was last year named ‘Contractor of the Year’ at the National Solar and Storage Live Awards, held in Birmingham.

Maria Dunville, finance director and co-owner, explained, “This last year has been a busy period as we focussed on planning for future growth, investing in more staff, training, and securing further accreditations, including ISO 9001:2015.

“We have done a lot of the hard work by investing in skills & equipment, all while managing the business, ensuring we continued to deliver high impact energy solutions to businesses and organisations across the north and even further afield.”

The company expanded its fleet of vehicles to 11, with four new ones acquired during the last year. The owners are now actively seeking larger premises – ideally a unit of 20-30,000ft2.

www.arpower.co.uk

APF 2024: The UK’s largest Forestry, Woodland, Arboriculture, Fencing, Trees and Timber show

300 exhibitors and 25,000 visitors attended APF 2025 from 19-21 September at Ragley Estate, Alcester, Warwickshire B49 5PT. The event showcased every aspect of managing forests, woodland, trees and timber. It featured over two and a half miles and £80 million of working equipment, much of it designed for use on estates, farms, small woodlands and individual trees.

The show is unique in that much of the machinery can be seen working under realistic conditions. You could get advice on woodland creation, management and the latest grant schemes. Nurseries

can assist with species choice, sizes and site suitability. Almost every manufacturer and dealer of woodland and arboricultural machinery were exhibiting.

All aspects of timber utilisation were on display from chippers producing woodchips from waste timber to the biomass boilers to utilise the chips, firewood processing machines, charcoal kilns and portable sawmills to convert one log into utilisable posts and planks. A lot of the machinery is designed as attachments to be used with existing farm machinery such as tractors, excavators or telehandlers.

There was a huge traditional woodland crafts area with over 25 craftspeople demonstrating some rare and unusual craft skills including rake making, coracles, wheelwrighting, oak swill baskets, cleft oak, green oak construction, charcoal burning, hazel hurdles, Devon stave baskets, hazel whisket baskets, clog making, pole lathe turning and willow weaving among

others. It was a great chance to talk to these craftsmen and learn about a new skill and see the uses that green wood and small dimension timber and coppice can be put to. If you want to know what a Sussex Pimp is, this is the place to be!

There were demonstrations of horse logging and the opportunity to have-a-go and try your hand at handling these powerful animals.

A key feature of APF 2024 was the Fencing Village. All of the UK’s top suppliers and manufacturers of materials and equipment were there, demonstrating the latest tools, equipment, machinery and materials including the latest metal clip fencing recently approved for grant schemes.

APF 2026 returns in two years’ time to Alcester’s Ragley Estate from 24-26 September 2026. This is our pick of the best exhibitors from this year’s show, listed here in alphabetical order: Arborisk, ATVTrac, Avant Tecno, Classics & Cruisers, Elsoms Trees, GB Lubricants, Hycon Ltd, Hydraulic Platform Services Ltd, IS Machinery Hire, Lantra & Laronkarn Ltd. Further details can be found on this page and the next six.

www.apfexhibition.co.uk

ATVTrac, the renowned agricultural asset tracker with a proven track record in recoveries, is now available to the Arborist industry, providing a discreet yet effective solution to security tracking on all manner of equipment.

Launched over a decade ago, following the parent company’s experience and proven track record in motorcycle security, ATVTrac offers a dedicated security product, enabling owners of all types of machinery to have a live link to their machines 24/7 regardless of location.

Bringing updated security functions including GPS, GPRS and Radio Frequency, ATVTrac added new functions, including lone worker security (for machinery such as all-terrain vehicles), battery voltage

alerts and service reminders too, offering more than just a security focused product.

Thanks to the unit’s very small physical size, ATVTrac can be installed on virtually all types of machinery, from ATVs to Land Rovers, to wood chippers, taking a simple 12v feed combined with its own internal battery for smaller machinery applications too.

With location information available via a dedicated app and website 24/7, owners are able to keep a live track of all machinery with the added bonus of support from Securitas too, should a machine be stolen and need securing quickly.

For more information on ATVTrac, visit: www.atvtrac.co.uk

Laronkarn Ltd: A legacy of expertise in vertebrate repellents

Since 1978, Laronkarn has been at the forefront of vertebrate repellent solutions, combining decades of experience with a commitment to science-backed, effective products. As a proud family-run business, our roots are deeply tied to providing honest, transparent and customer-focused service. Over the years, we have built a reputation for delivering innovative solutions that protect forestry, agriculture and landscapes across the UK.

We are the sole UK importer of TRICO®, a proven deer repellent that effectively prevents browsing, fraying and debarking through its taste and smell. With long-lasting, rain-resistant protection for up to six months, TRICO® offers reliable and practical solutions

for land management professionals.

We also manufacture and supply Curb®, a versatile and effective repellent widely used by agricultural professionals. Curb® provides an essential line of defence for protecting crops and landscapes from a variety of vertebrate species, helping to ensure the success of valuable investments.

At Laronkarn, our heritage drives our passion for preserving the countryside. With over 45 years of experience and a deeply personal approach to customer care, we remain committed to helping clients achieve success and long-term land protection.

T 01684 899306 fiona.homes@laronkarn.co.uk

Get the right insurance cover at a reasonable price with Arborisk!

For over a decade, Arborisk has specialised in providing insurance solutions for tree surgery, forestry, landscape gardening, and arboriculture. We make insurance hassle-free with no forms to complete and straightforward, tailored coverage.

Award-Winning Service – Winner of the UK Broker Awards 2020 Commercial Broker of the Year, Arborisk offers market-leading products and holds Chartered Insurance Broker status.

Specialist Expertise – Our knowledgeable staff understand your industry and provides bespoke insurance solutions.

Customer Satisfaction – Don’t just take our word for it. Here’s what some of our customers say on Trustpilot: “Very helpful staff, comprehensive and competitively priced policy.” – Nick “Very smooth to get insured, no hassle, thanks best around.” – Stephen Harris “Fair price and easy to set up.” – Rob

● Hired-in plant

● Legal expenses

● Professional indemnity

● Motor insurance (covering single vehicles to fleets, with flexible driving restrictions and modified vehicle cover available)

Please speak to us for a no-obligation, free quote. Visit our stand to learn how Arborisk can protect your business with comprehensive and hassle-free insurance solutions! Our team is ready to discuss your needs and secure the best insurance cover for your business.

T 0330 912 4600 enquiries@arborisk.co.uk www.arborisk.co.uk

APF 2024 Review – Top Exhibitors

Avant: Revolutionising the forestry industry

Since its founding in 1991, Finnish company

Avant Tecno has been a pioneer in the field of compact loaders, becoming a vital asset to forestry professionals worldwide. Known for their versatility, reliability, and power, Avant loaders are essential tools for a variety of forestry tasks, offering high performance even in the most challenging environments.

The perfect match for forestry operations

Avant loaders stand out in the forestry sector due to their combination of powerful hydraulics, compact design, and a wide range of specialised attachments. These features make them the ideal choice for Amber harvesting, brush clearing, stump grinding, and other forestry tasks, offering unmatched manoeuvrability and performance in tight and uneven terrains.

Compact design

Avant loaders are specifically designed to navigate narrow paths and dense forestry environments. Their small size allows them to reach areas that are otherwise inaccessible to larger machines, making them ideal for operations in forests with dense vegetation or steep slopes. Despite their compact dimensions, these machines offer exceptional stability and traction, ensuring safe and efficient operation on challenging terrain.

Powerful hydraulics

The hydraulic systems on Avant loaders are built to handle heavy-duty tasks. Whether it’s lifting large logs, operating mulchers, or handling brush clearing

attachments, Avant’s powerful hydraulics ensure these tasks are completed with speed and precision. The hydraulic system also enables the loader to operate a variety of attachments, making it a versatile solution for different forestry needs.

Operator comfort

Forestry operations often require long hours in the field, making operator comfort a key consideration. Avant loaders are designed with spacious, ergonomic cabins that provide excellent visibility and easy-to-use controls. Adjustable seating and intuitive interfaces help reduce operator fatigue, allowing workers to stay focused and productive throughout the day.

Specialised attachments for forestry tasks

A major reason for Avant loaders’ popularity in the forestry sector is their wide range of attachments tailored specifically for forestry applications. These attachments allow operators to handle a variety of tasks with ease and efficiency, ensuring that every aspect of forest management is covered.

Avant attachments for forestry

Avant loaders, equipped with a range of specialised attachments, are ideal for a variety of forestry tasks. For Amber harvesting, forestry grapples and timber grabs allow for efficient felling, lifting, and transporting of logs through rugged terrain, while the hydraulic gripping system ensures secure handling even in challenging conditions. When it comes to brush clearing and mulching, Avant loaders with mulchers and rotary cutters can quickly clear dense brush, fallen trees, and overgrown vegetation, making them essential for maintaining access roads, land preparation, and fire prevention. For stump grinding, Avant offers stump grinders that efficiently remove stumps and roots, preparing the land for replanting or development in confined spaces where larger machinery would be impractical. Finally, Avant’s tree shearing and pruning attachments provide precision for maintaining healthy forests, allowing operators to prune branches, thin trees, and manage vegetation in a sustainable way without causing harm to the environment.

Sustainable forestry practices

Sustainability is a core principle at Avant Tecno. The company is committed to reducing the environmental impact of forestry operations by offering equipment that enhances efficiency and reduces fuel consumption. Avant loaders are designed to work quickly and effectively, reducing the need for multiple machines and minimising soil disturbance during operations. By enabling more efficient timber harvesting and land management, Avant helps reduce deforestation and promotes sustainable forestry practices. Avant also provides fully electric models.

Celebrating 25 years in the UK

In 2023, Avant Tecno UK marked its 25th anniversary, a significant milestone that reflects the company’s growth and success in the UK forestry market. Over the past quarter-century, Avant Tecno UK has built a loyal customer base through its commitment to quality and customer service. The company’s focus on aftersales support ensures that clients continue to get the most out of their Avant machines, whether it’s through regular maintenance or expert advice.

Looking toward the future

As technology continues to evolve, Avant remains at the forefront of innovation. The company is dedicated to developing new solutions that meet the everchanging needs of the forestry industry. Whether it’s improving loader performance, developing new attachments, or offering eco-friendly solutions, Avant is committed to helping forestry professionals stay productive and sustainable.

For businesses looking to upgrade their equipment, Avant Tecno UK offers attractive financing options, including a limited-time 0% finance deal on select models. This provides an excellent opportunity for forestry businesses to invest in new technology and enhance their operations.

For more information about Avant loaders and attachments, or to find a dealer near you, visit the Avant Tecno website at: www.avanttecno.com/uk or contact your local dealer via: www.avantdealers. co.uk. Investing in Avant means investing in the future of forestry.

Sustainability helping GB Lubricants to win new customers across the UK

GB Lubricants’ mission to be recognised as a global industry leader for sustainability and minimising environmental impact is securing new customers and retaining existing ones across the UK.

The company based in Gateshead, which has been blending and supplying high-quality oils, lubricants and greases since 1877, has recently retained the highest EcoVadis Platinum sustainability rating for the second year in a row.

Having achieved the highest level of award for the first time in 2023, GB Lubricants is delighted to maintain its place in the elite top 1% of companies that are evaluated from the industry worldwide.

The company was independently audited on our Environment Social Governance (ESG) credentials by EcoVadis, which included assessments of our policies, procedures, actions and reporting on the environment, labour and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement.

Aiming to achieve net carbon-zero manufacturing by 2030, the company’s long-term goal is to be as sustainable as possible in its purchasing of raw materials, manufacture of products and delivery of finished goods.

GB Lubricants has revealed that its sustainability mission is paying dividends, as the company continues to win new business and retain existing customers all over the UK. The company is keen to continue to grow its already stellar reputation as more customers focus on sustainability in their supply chain, minimising environmental impact and ultimately helping to save the planet.

GB Lubricants in the top 1% of companies evaluated from the industry worldwide. Our customers are increasingly interested in and focused on sustainability. They like to know they are doing business with a company that truly cares about sustainability and the environment.”

GB Lubricants’ highly experienced team of technical experts ensures that customers receive professional, knowledgeable and efficient support making sure they are selecting the correct oils, lubricants and greases for their vehicles, machinery and equipment. Operating in a wide variety of industries including plant, commercial vehicle, industrial, construction, agricultural and forestry. It is crucial that the right products are utilised to keep business around the country running smoothly.

By signing up for 20 years, the company has demonstrated its commitment to sustainable electricity and heat to power the business.

“Our sustainability credentials are really important to our customers,” explains Amanda Byrne (pictured), GB Lubricants’ Sales and Marketing Manager. “Achieving this Platinum award puts

Amanda keenly stressed that every employee at GB Lubricants in Gateshead has a critical role to play and contributes to the overall success of the business.

“Because of GB Lubricants' efficient manufacturing and blending process, we have the flexibility to bring new products to the market really quickly to meet and exceed customer expectations,” she said. “This and our industry knowledge and experience are two of our major strengths.”

In addition to the EcoVadis Platinum award, the company maintains ISO-accredited management systems for health & safety, the environment, quality assurance and energy consumption. These ISO standards help contribute to achieving GB Lubricants’ challenging operational and sustainability goals.

A series of projects implemented last year contributed to GB Lubricants achieving the platinum award for the first time. They included minimising waste, investing in a new filling line and becoming the first private company to connect to green electricity and mine water heat provided by an award-winning Gateshead District Energy Scheme.

Before connecting, GB Lubricants had to make major investments in groundworks, large-scale pipework, electrical infrastructure, monitoring systems and additional capital expenditure.

GB Lubricants’ Managing Director, Paul Booth, is delighted that the company’s sustainability credentials are helping to win new business across the UK.

“Sustainability is an integral part of our long-term strategic plan,” he said. “Our aim is to be at the forefront of low carbon, sustainable manufacturing for lubricants worldwide.

“With momentum growing around ESG reporting and Product Carbon Footprint, retaining the EcoVadis Platinum award further cements our position as the supply partner of choice for customers and potential customers who wish to improve the sustainability of their own supply chain.”

Paul’s mission is to ensure a positive, prosperous and sustainable future not only for the company, its workforce and the local community, but also the industry and the planet.

“We have a responsibility to our local community, our environment and to securing a sound future for the business and our diverse customer base,” he said. “Our customers rely on us for oil and lubrication products that ultimately help improve the efficiencies of a wide variety of vehicles, equipment and specialist machines.

“We all have a part to play. Businesses need to be flexible and forward-thinking when discussing aspects of sustainability and future strategy.”

GB Lubricants’ success over its long history has been built on a solid foundation of quality manufacturing processes, continual product innovation and excellent customer service.

The company’s long-term goal is to reduce its carbon footprint and improve the sustainability of all its operations and across its supply chain. This flows from raw material supply, product manufacturing, through to transportation and customer service, all underpinned by the EcoVadis rating.

For more information on GB Lubricants products, please call 0191 490 4312.

Hydraulic Platform Services Ltd

Hydraulic Platform Services Ltd attended the APF show and found the show to be extremely positive from both visitors and exhibitors. We had a great interest in the range of platforms and track machines displayed.

Founder of Hydraulic Platform Services, Richard Wood, who is well known within the access platform industry, has full knowledge

which was founded in 1960.

We will not only introduce the Comet Platform into the market by way of sales, but we will also provide after sales service, LOLAs and repair work, so providing the confidence that the products will be fully supported by CAP registered engineers.

of which products are needed to grow a company’s business therefore the hydraulic operations of a Comet Platform deliver all the essential needs to enable companies to achieve daily tasks.

We are the UK exclusive dealer for Comet Italy which is a long-established family company

A new generation of compact aerial platforms which can be mounted onto a tractor. 12 metre working height with a 4.5 metre outreach.

14 metre van mounted aerial platform with lateral outreach of 8 metre are available for the UK market on 3.5 ton chassis.

If you would like to receive more information, please visit our website or alternatively email or give us a call.

Contact T 0161 399 0504 M 07399 623971 info@hydraulicplatformservices.co.uk www.hydraulicplatformservices.co.uk

At Elsoms Trees, we are committed to providing high-quality, cell-grown trees with a focus on provenance and exceptional standards. Our diverse range includes broadleaves, commercial conifers, montane plants, and wildflowers, all designed to meet the specific needs of sustainable woodland creation, forestry, and agroforestry in the UK.

As a customer-focused business, we offer more than just trees; we provide a partnership. From the first consultation to the successful establishment of your planting projects, our team, with over 150 years of combined experience, ensures you receive expert guidance and support every step of the way.

We uphold strict biosecurity and traceability standards, guaranteeing the health and origin of our products. We also understand the importance of sustainability. We are committed to growing our cell-grown plants in nonpeat soil and offer recyclable paper wrap for delivery – just a few of the ways we work towards a more sustainable future.

Contact us today to discover why Elsoms Trees should be your preferred supplier for all your tree and agroforestry needs.

T 01620 566006 trees@elsomstrees.com www.elsomstrees.com

Top-tier machinery for agricultural fencing contractors: Reliable, agile, and ready to hire

The company was established to better serve and evolve the Fencing Contractor Industry by brothers Ian and Neil Snape, both of who, have a longstanding farming background. Alongside their other family-run company: Ian Snape Agricultural Ltd, IS Machinery

Hire specialises in providing hire of a wide range of Tracked Post Knockers, Wire Fencing, and Trailers to the fencing industry.

Products available for immediate hire include a range of Protech fencing machinery, catering specifically to agricultural fencing contractors. The award-winning Protech range stands out for its

user-friendly operation, exceptional agility, and impressive traction on steep inclines and wet terrain, making it ideal for tackling challenging conditions with ease.

Also available are Nugent light weight plant trailers.

M 07894 820399 sni450@aol.com www.ismachineryhire.co.uk

APF 2024 Review – Top Exhibitors

Your single off the shelf source for all your hydraulic requirements

Hycon Limited is a well-established and respected supplier of all Hydraulic Components to many OEM manufacturers and the hydraulics resale industry.

Hycon Limited made a strong impression at the APF Forestry Show 2024, the UK’s premier event for forestry. Showcasing its high-quality hydraulic components, Hycon Limited connected with many existing and new customers across a range of diverse sectors, showcasing its existing product range and initiating exciting new projects.

Hycon Limited supply hydraulic equipment such as Hydraulic Motors, Directional Control Valves, CETOP Valves & Manifolds, Gear Pumps, Gearboxes & Clutches, Accumulators, and much more, all at competitive together with a quick, off the shelf delivery.

Hycon Limited also assist with circuit design and component specification to customer’s requirements for every application.

From BLB to OMT, Poclain, Marchesini, Borelli, Petrone, Maxma, Mecabor, Hydronit, Indemar, FBN, Oleoweb, Yuken, and more, Hycon Limited represent many market-leading brands and stock a complete product range specialising in OEM sales to the forestry industry and enabling a quick off the shelf solution for every application.

T 0118 978 2555 sales@hycon.co.uk www.hycon.co.uk

Developing skills and knowledge in the forestry and arboriculture industry

Casting our minds back to APF and reflecting on such a great event for the forestry and arboriculture industry, it was great to see so many people attend and have good discussions about skills and training needs, as well as how the industry attracts new entrants into the workforce.

Lantra hosted a pilot for a new training course, Professional Tree Inspection Refresher, utilising existing knowledge and information to ensure individuals are up to speed with all the key elements of the Professional Tree Inspection

programme. The course also focuses on the latest examples of good health and safety practice.

Throughout the event, Lantra showcased our wide range of training courses and qualifications that are designed to help professionals develop their careers within the forestry and arboriculture industry. We spoke with many individuals about our training offering, and spoke about the essential qualifications Lantra offers, including tree management, chainsaw maintenance, tree felling, and stump grinder use.

Lantra’s presence at this year’s APF emphasised our continued dedication to ensuring individuals in the industry have the skills and knowledge they need to excel in their roles, through our industry recognised training and qualifications, equipping the industry’s workforce, in an ever-changing environment.

Contact T 02476 696996 careers@lantra.co.uk www.lantra.co.uk

The Business Show 2024: A milestone event

The 50th edition of The Business Show London, held at ExCeL London, was a resounding success, attracting a recordbreaking 27,122 entrepreneurs and small business owners. This dynamic event showcased the pinnacle of business innovation and growth, featuring 750 exhibitors and an impressive 350 insightful sessions.

Key highlights of the 2024 event

The event was a hub of activity, offering ample networking opportunities and showcasing the latest trends and strategies for business growth. The diverse range of sectors represented included Business Services, Technology, Hospitality, Sales & Coaching, Legal & Finance, Design & Arts, and Human Resources, among others. This diversity ensured that attendees had a comprehensive experience, engaging with a wide array of industries and experts.

Attendee and exhibitor feedback

The feedback from both exhibitors and attendees was overwhelmingly positive. Niloofar Ghodsi of Markup Design praised the event, saying, “It was an amazing day at The Business Show. We met some very talented and innovative businesses and had some interesting conversations. It’s really inspiring to see the amount of support available to SMEs from the private sector.”

Bhavna Tandon also shared her positive

experience, “Working with the organisers of The Business Show was an incredible experience from start to finish. Every detail was executed with passion, precision, and a genuine commitment to delivering a memorable experience for all. The event’s atmosphere was electric, and the seamless coordination behind the scenes was clear in how smoothly everything ran.”

Social media impact

The Business Show created a significant buzz on social media, with extensive coverage and engagement. In the 30 day lead-up to the show, social media views reached an impressive 1,305,020, accompanied by numerous comments and reactions. This online engagement mirrored the event’s success in creating meaningful business connections and driving outcomes.

Looking shead to 2025

Following the success of the 50th edition, The Business Show is set to return to ExCeL London on 12-13 November 2025. The upcoming event promises to be just as vibrant, featuring some of the newest and most innovative

Decisive election result a golden opportunity to plant the seeds of small business growth

Responding to the result of the General Election, Policy Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), Tina McKenzie (pictured), said, “Congratulations to the new Prime Minister and Government on their decisive election victory, and congratulations to the newly elected MPs from all parties.

“The clear result of the General Election gives hope that political stability can lead to economic stability and recovery.

“There’s a golden chance in the first 100 days of this new administration to plant the seeds of small business growth, and there are a range of policies FSB hopes the new Government will bring forward.

business rates system.

“The upcoming King’s Speech should include a Small Business Bill to enshrine in legislation much-needed changes to better support small firms and the self-employed.

“Supporting and growing small businesses is good for jobs, good for communities in all parts of the country, and good for the whole economy.

“These include measures to ease the cost of doing business and support investment and expansion. From tackling poor payment practices by big businesses to their smaller suppliers to reforming the not-fit-for-purpose

“We’re looking forward to getting down to business and working in partnership with the new Government ministers and their teams – building on how we’ve engaged constructively with them in Opposition. This will ensure that the small business voice is heard clearly and the right actions can be taken to support existing entrepreneurs and encourage new ones.”

www.fsb.org.uk

businesses, along with keynote speakers who have been instrumental in shaping recent business successes across the UK.

Commitment from exhibitors

The enthusiasm for the next event is already palpable, with 86% of exhibitors from the 2024 show having already secured their spots for 2025. This high rebook rate is a testament to the event’s value and the strong relationships built between exhibitors and organisers.

Getting involved

For those interested in participating in the 2025 edition, The Business Show offers a unique opportunity to connect with a vast and diverse audience, showcase innovative products and services, and gain invaluable insights from industry leaders.

The Business Show continues to be a cornerstone event for startups and SMEs, providing a platform for growth, networking, and innovation. With its proven track record and the anticipation building for the 2025 event, it is clear that The Business Show will remain a pivotal gathering for the business community in the years to come.

To learn more or to secure your spot, you can visit the official website here: www. greatbritishbusinessshow.co.uk

FFplus invites proposals

High-performance computing (HPC), artificial intelligence (AI), and high-performance data analytics (HPDA) hold enormous potential for promoting innovation and competitiveness in SMEs and start-ups across Europe. With a total budget of €30 million, FFplus now invites proposals from companies interested in conducting business experiments and innovation studies to take their products, services, and operations to the next level. This includes a new focus on supporting the development of applications of generative AI.

“By providing financial support, access to state-of-the-art EuroHPC resources, and expert advice on both technical and business development, FFplus aims to provide European SMEs and startups the framework they need to be successful and to create value in the digital economy,” says Dr.-Ing. Bastian Koller, FFplus Project Coordinator and Deputy Director of the High-Performance Computing Center Stuttgart. “In this way, FFplus is an important link in Europe’s strategy for HPC and AI, connecting SMEs and start-ups to powerful computational resources that offer enormous innovation potential.”

In its first open call for proposals, running until September 4, 2024, FFplus will give SMEs access to EuroHPC supercomputing resources, providing world-class tools and expertise in modelling and simulation, data analytics, machine learning, and AI. FFplus is also particularly interested in supporting the development of generative AI software solutions and services in order to strengthen technological development in European SMEs in this new and rapidly emerging area.

www.ffplus-project.eu/en

Engagement and empowerment are vital for cultural maturity in Health & Safety

Many organisations aspire to cultural maturity, but there are no shortcuts to achieving it – nowhere more so than the critical sphere of health and safety. Tony Warren (pictured below), Global Health, Safety & Property Compliance Manager at Charles Taylor, explains how inclusion, engagement and empowerment are a crucial part of the process

Establishing cultural maturity within an organisation is a frequent topic of conversation between top-level management. It’s achieved through a process of evolution and progression to more developed states of learning, insight and understanding that support strategic goals. It effects lasting change, and a legacy of best practice embedded in every aspect of working life.

Cultural maturity manifests in many aspects of operations, but seeing it come to fruition in the critical realm of health and safety is the clearest sign of its arrival: a truly mature organisational culture values the wellbeing and safety of its colleagues.

Health and safety leaders are often frustrated by the obstacles that slow the journey to this destination. We’ve all heard the tired trope about health and safety being an administrative drag on day-to-day business. It’s still a commonly held view in the working environment. In reality, the opposite is true: health and safety not only safeguards people, but also helps to improve efficiency, reputation and profitability. The principles that foster a strong safety culture are the same that promote excellence in all areas of an organisation.

There are plenty of compelling points to make the case for a health and safety culture, but the challenge for senior leadership is achieving buy-in at every level of an organisation. It cannot be achieved by force and health and safety by diktat is counterproductive. The key to unlocking it can be summed up in three words: inclusion, engagement, empowerment.

A comprehensive suite of health and safety guidance is an essential company-wide resource, but documents and videos alone are not enough for cultural maturity to take root. It needs to be supported by consistent communication and collaboration, engaging colleagues in safety discussions and actively seeking input from all levels of the workforce. All health and safety education and training should be viewed through that lens.

It’s an approach which is neatly encapsulated by some well-known words attributed to Confucius, “Tell me and I will forget, show me and I may remember; involve me and I will understand.”

Frontline Managers, Team Leaders and Supervisors are a fulcrum in that process. Interacting with the workforce on a daily basis, they are an instrumental voice at the beating heart of a business, uniquely positioned to influence behaviours, attitudes, and practices.

While policies may be developed at the top, they are implemented and lived out in the day-to-day activities of the organisation. True transformation in health and safety maturity occurs at the operational level. If frontline management are not fully engaged and committed to promoting safety, the broader initiatives set by upper management are likely to falter.

Frontline management are invariably more engaged and responsive when they gain a fuller appreciation of their

own value and agency within a company’s strategic vision. They have an intimate understanding of the specific hazards and risks associated with the tasks their teams perform and are therefore best placed to ensure that effective, robust, just and commercially aware processes are implemented. Regular discussions with upper management and tailored training modules are often an effective way to help frontline management to recognise that fact, appreciate what they have to offer and understand how pivotal they can be. They see their health and safety remit in a new light – not as a set of secondary or compliance-driven responsibilities, but as integral to both their and the company’s success.

Providing access to continuous learning fosters that self-knowledge and promotes an environment of vigilance and improvement. Ongoing education and training are critical to evolving Health and Safety culture, keeping employees updated on the latest safety protocols, legislation changes, and risk management strategies. It’s important to remember that one size won’t fit all, and a mix of formats usually works best: interactive e-learning modules, gamification of training content, real-life scenario simulations, virtual reality experiences that allow for immersive risk identification and response practice, as well as traditional in-person delivery of practical application of safety principles in daily operations.

Energised by a greater understanding of their critical role in cultural maturity, Managers, Team Leaders and Supervisors are empowered to take ownership of health and safety within their teams and departments. Having bought into the concept of safety culture, they cultivate that culture and ensure that colleagues are equipped with the knowledge, resources, and mindset to work safely. They become visible, proactive, and genuinely

engaged in health and safety, driving the message that safety is an indivisible part of the workplace and ensuring it becomes second nature to every team member.

When frontline leaders and managers understand the value of their knowledge and input, they encourage colleagues to think the same way about their own role. With open communication channels and an environment that acknowledges safe behaviours and encourages the sharing of information in supporting continual improvement, colleagues are comfortable reporting hazards and near-misses without fear of retribution. Teams see safety and risk data reporting as a tool for collective development rather than a lever to enforce rules, fostering trust.

A feeling of inclusion and personal agency in the process is a critical dynamic. When employees actively participate, they feel valued and take ownership of safety outcomes. By contributing to risk assessments, safety meetings, and decision-making, employees bring diverse perspectives and innovative solutions to the table, strengthening the effectiveness of health and safety practices. This participatory approach within a collaborative environment nurtures a sense of shared responsibility and reinforces the principle that safety is everyone's business.

Inclusion and participation also empower colleagues to feel more accountable for their own safety and the safety of others, which is a hallmark of a mature safety culture. As a result, corporate safety policies are translated into practical, on-the-ground actions.

For senior management, the ultimate objective is an organisation in which health and safety leadership is present at every level. When that goal is achieved, cultural maturity has truly arrived.

www.charlestaylor.com/en

Feel safe with us: Leading turnkey food hygiene solutions

In this issue of Business & Industry Today, we are recommending Christeyns Food Hygiene as part of our End of Year 2024 Review.

Warrington-based Christeyns Food Hygiene is a leading chemicals supplier, as part of its specialised engineering and hygiene solutions package to the food and beverage industry. Christeyns Food Hygiene is part of Christeyns UK: covering three primary areas of hygiene: food hygiene, laundry and professional hygiene. Christeyns NV is the parent company and was established in 1946 in Gent, Belgium as a familyrun business. The company has grown in size and reputation, offering a holistic approach to hygiene solutions, offering a leading chemical product range and exceptional customer service.

These expertly designed solutions include: central and decentral cleaning and disinfection systems to dosing systems, ultrasonic cleaning installations and access control equipment. The additional specialities such as dry lubrication and fogging systems, foam generators and washers for moulds, complete the range.

Leader in sustainability

It’s been a busy twelve months for the UK food hygiene division, culminating in the EcoVadis Gold Award. EcoVadis is the world’s largest and most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings, creating a global network of more than 130,000+ rated companies. It evaluates sustainability performance across various criteria. The Gold Medal achievement for Christeyns Food Hygiene underlines the firm’s dedication to environmental stewardship, labour practices, ethical conduct, and sustainable procurement and places Christeyns in the top 5% worldwide of companies recognised with this prestigious award.

Focused pathogen control

Christeyns takes a dedicated pro-active approach to pathogen control and during 2024, launched the In-Site EMP + food safety management regime which brings tighter real-time pathogen control. This is particularly important for Listeria monocytogenes, allowing food safety professionals to actually achieve a level of control over this increasingly prevalent pathogen – which has traditionally been managed retrospectively. Moreover, the engineering webshop was successfully launched, giving valued customers 24/7 access to equipment for optimised food

hygiene control over contact surfaces, utilising Christeyns products.

Strategic insight

“The primary driver this year has been our desire to continually improve our products, services and meet and exceed our customer’s expectations. We have experienced unexpected challenges, in particular with the volatile price of raw materials, however as a lean and flexible organisation we have been well placed to quickly and effectively adapt with the support of our owner, Alain Bostoen, situated in our European head-quarters in Gent, Belgium.

safety management aims of the industry and we firmly believe that supporting the entire industry through our continued involvement in stakeholder groups such as SOFHT, Campden BRI, BFBi, SDT and ICDA helps to achieve safer food and better business throughout the supply chain.

“Further development of our product range and services has brought us to the attention, and service, of many of the key players in the food, dairy and beverage industries in the UK and Ireland with more and more high-street brands relying on our expertise for their hygiene needs.

“With our continued growth, we have continued to invest in our Warrington production facility to ensure that we utilise state of the art equipment and safety systems in our journey to uppertier COMAH. This investment has also extended to our fieldsupport team, a vital element of servicing our customers as well as supporting the wider industry through our extensive involvement in stake-holder groups.

“We differentiate ourselves by offering comprehensive support for optimising cleaning costs, both in CIP and open plant cleaning. The acquisitions of Gannon Hygiene in Ireland and H&M Disinfection Systems in the UK, have strengthened our presence and capabilities, enhancing our service to our customer base and supporting our growth ambitions.

“These successes have led to another fantastic year for us measured through customer retention and acquisition,” explains Chris Bayliss, UK Sales Director.

The gift of customer feedback

Customer feedback is critical to continued growth and success with collection methods varying from formal surveys, informal discussions and participation in key industry stakeholder events. This gives Christeyns the opportunity to gain insights from a wide range of personnel from both the customer base, as well as anticipating further developments in the food, dairy and beverage industries enabling effective horizon scanning.

“We continually listen to, and adapt to, our customers’ requirements to ensure that our relationship consistently adds value to their business and allows them to feel safe with us, our products and services.”

Looking to 2025 and beyond

“Our focus remains on supporting the food

“The continued development of the In-Site EMP+ regime will continue to bring enhanced pathogen control to more of the FMCG sector increasing consumer safety standards.

“Our commitment to sustainability isn’t only limited to our own production facilities. Many of our in-development projects are focusing on reducing cleaning resources (time, water, energy or personnel, without compromising standards. Many of these developments will challenge accepted dogma in achieving factory cleaning standards and will attack the phrase “we’ve always done it this way” to bring enhanced cleaning in a more sustainable way.”

T 01925 234696

UK-foodinfo@christeyns.com www.christeyns.com

No-Dig Live 2024 Review – Top Exhibitors

Advancing trenchless technology together

No-Dig Live, the world’s largest and most highly regarded trenchless technology event, is the must attend event in the installation or refurbishment of underground utilities including underground infrastructure and pipelining.

No-Dig Live is the only event in the UK where manufacturers and suppliers can display and demonstrate products in a working environment to an audience which is truly focused on trenchless technology.

This flagship event combines a world-class exhibition & unrivalled conference programme & is internationally recognised for bringing together innovators and thought leaders from across the trenchless sector. In doing so, it provides a perfect platform for exhibitors to showcase products and services to senior representatives from across the UK and global utilities markets.

Commenting on the launch of No-Dig Live 2024, Westrade’s Managing Director, Paul Harwood said, “No-Dig Live has always been dedicated to promoting innovation, sharing knowledge and fostering collaborations and this year’s event at this amazing newly refurbed venue was no exception. With senior decision makers from across the utilities sector enjoying a diverse range of activities, including technical sessions, live demonstrations, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, this really was the must attend event for anyone wanting to build their brand and grow their business in the UK, European and international trenchless markets.”

No-Dig Live 2024 was even more spectacular as the event returned to recently refurbished NAEC in Stoneleigh, Warwickshire from 1-3 October 2024. The NAEC enabled the event to continue to grow and offers some of the most sought-after exhibition space anywhere in the UK. With over 250 acres of outside space for larger equipment

Raising expectations for easier underground inspections

Minicam has been at the forefront of global pipeline inspection equipment with industry-leading push camera and crawler system manufacturing since 1992.

Precision-designed for the tightest and most sensitive spaces, including water utilities, sewage pipes, nuclear power, and more, Minicam offers game-changing solutions. The company’s UK headquarters are in Little Hulton, near Salford in Manchester. This site encompasses a service centre, main assembly operations, and bespoke van-fit capability. A second Dartford site provides services and repairs for southern customers.

The leading manufacturer was at No-Dig 2024! in a dual capacity as an exhibitor and guest speaker. Visitors to the busy stand were able to see many products on show like

the Minicam crawlers, compatible with the Proteus Systems and Lite Systems. These crawlers are designed for pinpoint inspection of pipes/drain runs over 60m for diameters of 100mm+. The impressive range can inspect pipe diameters from relined 100mm pipe up to 2,200mm, with the mobile crawler system offering support in hard-to-reach places.

European Sales Manager, Silvana Alfieri, EI, was also part of an esteemed panel launching and presenting the UKSTT New to Trenchless Industry Network on day one. This was the perfect opportunity for newcomers to the Network to ascertain knowledge about the technologies available. Silvana was also on hand to represent Minicam as a partner of the Pipe Bot Patrol Project, bringing considerable expertise from the monitoring, inspection and rehabilitation aspects of the industry.

www.minicam.co.uk

and live demos as well as three state-of-the-art exhibition halls covering just over 10,000m2 there really was something for everyone!

No-Dig Live 2024, as always, included the much loved and brilliantly well attended UKSTT Gala Dinner and Annual Awards. This glamourous event, which combined fantastic entertainment and high-level networking opportunities, and showcased the very best innovation and excellence from across the UK trenchless sector was held on 2 October 2024. On arrival, guests enjoyed a champagne reception before sitting down to enjoy a lavish 3 course meal, spectacular live entertainment and much more!

No-Dig Live will return in two years’ time. This is our second pick of the best exhibitors from this year’s show, listed here in alphabetical order: Minicam & Picote Solutions. Further details can be found on this page and the next.

https://nodiglive.co.uk

Picote Solutions

Picote Solutions is not only a worldleading innovator of trenchless machines, tools and systems, but we also offer a global support network for contractors, technicians, engineers and utility owners. We provide access to e-learning, face-to-face handson training, and on-site technical support. We believe in supporting the trenchless industry to help it thrive!

Over the years, Picote has provided hundreds of customised and certified trainings, from Training Centers in USA, UK and Finland. Our team members are industry experts with many combined years of practical experience. We are truly passionate about advancing the Trenchless Industry through innovation, education, communication and support.

Certified training sessions are available for the Picote Brush Coating™ Systems, either with the Original Mini and Maxi Pumps, or with the latest innovation, the Xpress Coating System. Miller trainings are very popular and help teams understand the full scope and potential of their investment as well as helpful techniques and maintenance skills.

We also provide CIPP training with our Connection Collar System, enabling

strong, sealed connections at T- and Y- junctions which otherwise might have multiple patch attempts or would have to be replaced. Picote Flexi-Sliplining training is also now available.

Contact us at: www.PicoteGroup.com to book.