NEW CNG VEHICLES TO CUT CO2

FRAIKIN SUPPLY AO WITH NEW CNG VEHICLES TO CUT CO2

Fraikin has delivered 10 new CNGpowered tractor units into operation with AO, as the online electricals retailer looks to reduce its carbon footprint and improve sustainability across its commercial vehicle fleet.

Signed to a five-year, full-service contract hire agreement, the new IVECO S-WAY NP 4x2 tractor units are the first in AO’s 129-strong trunking fleet to operate on natural gas. The vehicles operate on compressed biomethane and replace older, diesel-powered trucks. Utilising its industry expertise, Fraikin was able to highlight how the new IVECO units could provide a cost-effective solution with the right environmental credentials.

Supplied in AO’s striking green vinyl livery and with both single double deck trailers, the new vehicles will carry large appliances between the company’s depots in Crewe and North London, clocking up around 125,000 miles per year. Over the last two years, the retailer has increased its warehousing capacity by over 80% to 1.5 million sq ft and rapidly grown its distribution network to over 25 depots across the UK. In total, AO currently operates more than 1,000 commercial vehicles, including 3.5-tonne ultra-light weight home delivery vans supplied on contract hire by Fraikin.

David Ashwell, MD of AO Logistics, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome the new CNG vehicles into our UK trunking fleet and continue our successful partnership with Fraikin. At AO Logistics, we are always looking at ways to improve our operation in terms of both sustainability and fuel efficiency – trialling these new IVECO tractor units is a fantastic step towards reducing our impact on the environment.”

The new S-WAY NP features some of the most mature gas driveline technology available on the market, enabling operators to dramatically reduce carbon emissions by up to 95 per cent when running on biomethane. Peter Eaton, Sales and Business Development Manager at CNG Fuels, commented: “CNG Fuels are thrilled to be working with AO and Fraikin on this project and to be welcoming these 10 CNG vehicles through our Bio-CNG Station network. These vehicles will be running on 100% Renewable & Sustainable Biomethane and will be helping to reduce HGV emissions by over 90% currently. By the end of 2022 our aim is to deliver Biomethane that will achieve a Net Zero emissions target for all of our customers.”

The new truck design features improved aerodynamics to help reduce drag and improve fuel efficiency. With large, 1,052-litre fuel tanks, the S-WAY NPs will be more than capable of handling their intended operational trunking routes, offering a range of up to 380 miles on a full tank.

Mark Guilfoyle, Business Development Manager at Fraikin, says: “Having already supplied 63 tractor units into the fleet since the companies began working together in 2017, Fraikin has built up a solid understanding of AO’s business and are acutely aware of what is required from the vehicles it operates, as well as its wider environmental aims.”

As a business, AO is also a leader in the recycling of used white goods, with its own state-of-the-art recycling facility in Telford – a commitment to lowering its environmental impact Fraikin has helped to mirror with the move away from fossil fuels.

If the new trucks prove to be a success, the company will look to replace more dieselpowered assets, with Fraikin once again ready to offer guidance and advice on the best available options.

www.fraikin.co.uk www.ao.com/sustainability

'As a business, AO is also a leader in the recycling of used white goods, with its own state-of-the-art recycling facility in Telford – a commitment to lowering its environmental impact Fraikin has helped to mirror with the move away from fossil fuels.'

FUNCTIONAL SPACES – KITCHENS FOR LIVING RESEARCH

Key early findings released to support installers

With the needs of homeowners evolving over the past two years and continuing to do so, Häfele UK has carried out in-depth research into the impact of kitchens on consumer wellbeing as part of its Functional Spaces: Kitchens for Living campaign.

These initial findings of our research are just the start of how we’ll be supporting the installers in understanding, as well as meeting, the changing needs of the consumer. In the coming weeks, we will be releasing a whitepaper to share our findings in further detail.

To be the first to receive a copy of the whitepaper, visit hafele.co.uk/register

HOW KITCHEN DESIGN AFFECTS OUR WELLBEING'

With the needs of homeowners evolving over the past two years and continuing to do so, Häfele UK has carried out in-depth research into the impact of kitchens on consumer wellbeing as part of its Functional Spaces: Kitchens for Living campaign. Here Natalie Davenport, Head of Marketing at Häfele UK, reveals some of the findings and what it means for installers.

We can all agree that the past two years have brought huge change, especially in how we use our homes and critically, how our homes impact on us. To help our customers fully understand the impact of these changes, but also, how the design, layout and usability of a kitchen can affect our quality of life, we have recently completed a research project with 2,009 homeowners to find out more. While it won’t surprise you that nearly all homeowners (91 per cent) use their kitchens for cooking, our findings show that millions of homeowners are using the space for other purposes. An estimated 4.55 million homeowners (26 per cent) use their kitchens for socialising and entertaining, 2.8 million (16 per cent) use the room to relax in, and 1.9 million people (11 per cent) use it as a playroom or homework area

'One in five people revealed they don’t like their current kitchen. More than 85% said their kitchen impacts their emotional and mental health.'

for children. The data shows 1.75 million homeowners (10 per cent) use the kitchen as a makeshift office when working from home and 700,000 homeowners (4 per cent) even exercise in their kitchens.

This need for versatility now translates into buying behaviour, with 15 per cent saying they wanted to be able to change the function of the room, for example by closing off areas to hide mess or change the use of the space, when choosing a new kitchen. Also,13 per cent said they wanted to be able to change the mood of their kitchen, for example using lighting to create different atmospheres when cooking, working, entertaining or relaxing. → 'Our findings show that millions of homeowners are using the space for other purposes. An estimated 4.55 million homeowners (26%) use their kitchens for socialising and entertaining, 2.8 million (16%) use the room to relax in, and 1.9 million people (11%) use it as a playroom or homework area for children.'

But while kitchens could be designed to have a positive impact, this currently isn’t a reality for many. As part of the research, one in five people revealed they don’t like their current kitchen. More than 85 per cent said their kitchen impacts their emotional and mental health, while two thirds said if their biggest issue was fixed in the kitchen, it would improve their quality of life.

In terms of these issues, badly designed storage, limited space and poor layout are the top three kitchen bugbears in the UK. When it comes to storage, 32 per cent of homeowners said they didn’t have enough; 17 per cent said their storage is located too high for them to reach, a further 17 per cent said that they find it difficult to access items in corner cupboards, while 13 per cent said they can’t store small appliances conveniently.

Meanwhile, 27 per cent of people said their kitchens are too small, with more than one in five saying their small kitchen leads to cluttered worktops. And when it comes to layout, one in seven say their kitchen is poorly designed, with one in 20 citing worktops that are too high and badly positioned cupboards as their main gripes.

Some respondents also admitted to having downgraded their storage solutions when having their most recent kitchen designed; for example, one in ten downgraded the internal wirework storage installed into their cupboards. But having realised the subsequent impact on their use and enjoyment of the kitchen, more than one in five (21 per cent) said that next time they were purchasing a kitchen, they would shop around to get the best functionality for their budget. 'We also explored the features in homeowners’ kitchens that they find the most useful. Pantries and larders also made the top ten, along with hidden bins and recycling, all showing the importance of the practical, as well as the aesthetic.'

Through our Functional Spaces: Kitchens for Living campaign, the kbb industry can get unique insight, helping them to support customers in creating functional kitchens that maximise the usability, flexibility and value of the space, while balancing personal style and design trends to improve their day-to-day lives.

To help translate the research into actionable advice, we’ve also partnered with architect and designer Laura Jane Clark from BBC’s Your Home Made Perfect who is turning the statistics into practical ideas.

Working with Laura, we’re encouraging those involved with the design and installation of kitchens to think about how to create physical and visual connections for the customer in the space, as well as carve out specific areas for designated purposes.

Approaches such as broken-plan design can be an effective way to achieve this for example, but there are lots of design and installation tricks to maximise the usability of the kitchen, depending on the needs of the household. For example, using sliding doors to create a hidden home office that you can shut away at the end of the day.

To help the kbb industry focus on the elements that are key to the consumer, we also explored the features in homeowners’ kitchens that they find the most useful. While simple functional items like cutlery drawer inserts topped the table, pan drawers and corner storage were close runners up, followed by charging points for devices, spotlights for practical work and preparation and lighting built into cabinets. Pantries and larders also made the top ten, along with hidden bins and recycling, all showing the importance of the practical, as well as the aesthetic.

SUPPORTING INSTALLERS

These initial findings of our Functional Spaces: Kitchens for Living research are just the start of how we’ll be supporting our customers in understanding, as well as meeting, the changing needs of the consumer. In the coming weeks, we will be releasing a white paper to share our findings in further detail. For a copy, visit the link below.

We’ll also continue to develop our value added services such as our Lighting Design Service and Sliding Door Specification Service, plus our product range with solutions that help installers and designers meet these changing needs.

Building on solutions such as our award-winning Free range of hinges that help maximise cabinetry space, or vast wirework range to make more of awkward corners – and at whatever the customer’s price point – we’ll make it easier for installers to create kitchens that give much more to the consumer and happy customers who’ll recommend their installers for making their dreams a reality, rather than a nightmare.

www.hafele.co.uk/register