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Sikkens has now completed the introduction of its new “plus” range of coatings products. The “plus” range has been formulated to ensure that all of Sikkens trusted finishes remain available from 2010 – when new EU VOC reduction legislation comes into force.

The introduction complements Sikkens existing lower VOC options, the water-borne “BL” range and the high solids “Nova” range.

One of the main challenges with reformulating products is that the application characteristics are often altered quite dramatically. Trade users and specifiers who have confidently used a particular product for many years are likely to be disappointed if that product changes significantly. The “plus” range has been produced to mirror the application properties of the current range, and although there are minor changes to the drying times and appearance of the in-can product of some of the products, these will not significantly change any of the general painting procedures contractors are used to.

Formulation changes have been made to the resin binder and the solvent content of the products – there is no change to the finished colour of the “plus” product compared to the current range, and the 8 traditional shades (Light Oak, Pine, Dark Oak, Teak, Mahogany, Walnut, Rosewood and Ebony) are still available as off the shelf colours in the key products. In addition ’ plus’ products are available in the new translucent colour collections – Cetol Design Classic and Cetol Design Style – inspirational ranges comprising colours that can be used for exterior and interior surfaces in all solvent-borne and water-borne Cetol woodstains.

The full range now incorporates: Cetol HLS plus exterior satin basecoat, Cetol TSI Satin plus interior clear varnish, Cetol THB plus highly translucent semi-gloss finish, Cetol Filter 7 plus maximum durability woodstain, Rubbol AZ plus high gloss finish, Rubbol Satura plus abrasion resistant satin finish and Rubbol Primer plus.

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Marshall-Tufflex is an undisputed leader in its field when it comes to cable management and containment systems. It’s no surprise, therefore, that this market-leading expertise had been put to good use in developing the manufacturer’s range of bed head service units.

The MT Conquest Series is now an established, and well-respected, range of service units that can be designed to perfectly match the requirements of individual projects, be they new-build or refurbishment schemes for hospitals, medical or laboratory environments, clean rooms etc

The horizontal and vertical units are designed to accommodate gas, vacuum, nurse call, power, entertainment or lighting. MT Conquest will accept all popular nurse call systems, data and gas valve outlets.

MT Conquest has been used to great effect in many medical environments. For example, seven MT Conquest modular bed head units were installed within treatment rooms during a major new-build project at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

This project entailed the installation of Marshall-Tufflex’s Series 220 three compartment system (65mm x 310mm) and the Series 240 (65mm x 360mm).

All were individual ‘bespoke’ designs to suit different room layouts. The finished units carried provision for a range of accessory fittings such as twin-gang switched socket outlets, data and telephone outlets, switched fused spurs, stop buttons, nurse call and gas outlet valves and pipes. One single unit for a workshop was 8m long and had the added requirement of built in task lighting.

As well as Conquest trunking, the scheme also incorporated another Marshall-Tufflex product, namely Supertube, an LSOH ‘pliable’ high impact conduit. Apart from its LSOH and EMC protection attributes, its major benefit is that it is supplied on coils and is much quicker to install than standard conduits. More than 10 kilometres of MT Supertube was specified and installed.

MT Conquest Series bed head service units have also proved an invaluable addition for Mercy Ships, a global charity that operates hospital ships in developing countries.

Marshall-Tufflex was, therefore, extremely pleased to help the charity when one of its ships docked at Tyneside for a re-fit.

In all medical areas of the ship, MT Conquest Series 260 Medical Service Units (65 x 398mm) were installed. A specially tailored solution of 27 horizontal units were supplied in lengths from 2.5m to 6m, all with a riser to the ceiling at one end to accommodate incoming supply.

Faceplates for gas valves, twin and single gang switched sockets, outlets for data and telephone, and light switches, were provided within each module.

Again, the MT Conquest solution was specified alongside other products from Marshall-Tufflex – this time its robust cable management system Sterling XL 303 in aluminium was installed throughout all non-medical areas of the ship.

The new Queen’s Hospital in Romford is another good example of Marshall-Tufflex providing more than just bed head services. Amongst some of the electrical solutions specified and installed by South London electrical engineers, T Clarke, were three different Marshall-Tufflex cable management systems:

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Replacing the windows on 76 flats and bungalows without disturbing the elderly residents was the task facing the contractors working on Isleden House in Islington, London and with the help of Crittall Windows the challenging job was completed successfully, on time and to the required specification.

Isleden House comprises 76 units made up of 12 bungalows and 64 flats of varying sizes. The City of London is landlord to this sheltered housing & residential estate which is located in Prebend Street in Islington, set around a quiet private courtyard. Originally built in 1948, this was the first replacement programme undertaken at the site. The 26 week programme to replace the windows was done in conjunction with the refurbishment and rejuvenation of other elements of the properties, and was undertaken by Apollo Property Services, one of the City of London’s approved contractors. Mark Hughes was the site manager, and as he explained, overseeing the replacement of all of the existing windows afforded careful thought.

“The local council planning department at Islington Council requested like for like replacement from the single glazed original Crittall steel profiles to contemporary double glazed equivalent that would meet all the requirements in terms of thermal insulation and aesthetic appearance,” he comments. “As a solution, the City of London specified the Homelight Crittall window profiles range. Logistically, we had to ensure that the replacement programme did not disrupt the residents and we were able to devise a programme with Crittall installers to ensure that none of them were decanted.”

Working at a rate of two properties a day, the original windows were removed and the new ones installed bringing the entire development up to date with current Building Regulation and environmental criteria. The Homelight profiles provide light and airy windows with very slim sightlines that allow larger areas of glass to be installed, thus maximising the ingress of daylight. Being steel, strength and security is assured, bringing peace of mind to all the residents on the estate and providing a new lease of life for every bungalow and flat on the site.

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The new energy-saving, AA-rated M Series models from Mitsubishi Electric offer a combination of cutting-edge inverter technologies with highly efficient heat exchangers to deliver remarkable energy efficiency at the quietest operation possible.

Mitsubishi Electric heat pump systems have always been among the quietest on the market and with its super-quiet ‘Silent Mode’ of operation at just 19dB, the MSZ-GE Series is now the quietest heat pump available.

The inverter-driven heat pump air conditioning units in the MSZ-GE range deliver exceptionally efficient heating or cooling. With a choice of 4 new indoor units that can be used in a single split system or as part of an MXZ Multi system, the line-up offers complete flexibility for smaller multi-room applications.

The heat exchanger capacities of both the indoor and outdoor units have been increased to enhance overall heat exchange efficiency levels, yet the new ‘Silent mode’ setting added to the fan speed settings ensures a super-quiet operation below 20dB for the smaller models making it ideal for bedrooms.

Added to this is a new, compact wall-mounted unit design of just 798mm which fits neatly above a standard 800mm-wide door.

The MSZ-GE indoor units are engineered so that multiple indoor units can also be connected to a single MXZ Multi outdoor unit, reducing outdoor installation space considerably. This includes the Power Multi MXZ-8A140VA outdoor model which can run up to eight indoor units simultaneously.

The detailed technical specification is available from Mitsubishi Electric but includes:

? Heating Capacity: 1.3 – 7.3 kW
? Cooling Capacity: 1.1 – 5.5 kW
? COP: 4.57 (MSZ-GE25VA)
? Indoor Noise : 19dB – 49dB

For further information call 01707 282880, or email: air.conditioning@meuk.mee.com.

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Newly launched into the UK marketplace, the 2008 Chelsom collection takes occasional furniture to the next level. Inspired by worldwide trends, the collection is original and unique, designed to keep the Chelsom name at the forefront of innovative and affordable furniture for both commercial and residential applications.

The mood is predominately contemporary, in line with the consumer’s desire and hunger for newer and more imaginative designs that will compliment their upholstery.

The range incorporates over twenty collections including the sculptured look of TOWER which offers a talking point as well as being a highly functional piece of modern furniture. For those who like a more traditional approach EXCEL presents a classic shape with the use of modern materials bringing the look into the current time zone.

As its name describes, COOL is presented in bright white lacquer, a finish that was re-introduced recently at the influential Milan furniture exhibition, and offers an alternative to the dark wenge finishes that were predominant in 2007.

The new wooden occasional furniture models are quite progressive, with the gently curved shape of PENTHOUSE, the structured design of LAYER, to the more industrially inspired BLOCK. All these tables use the beauty of fine veneered wood with the complementary use of metal where appropriate.

The exclusive Orsenigo Contemporary range has also been extended as part of the new collection.

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Eddie O’Connor, founder and CEO of Mainstream Renewable Power, was presented with the first ever Leadership award at the annual Ernst & Young Global Renewable Energy Awards in London’s Science Museum last night. EU Energy Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs was also nominated for the award.

Now in their sixth year, the awards are dubbed the “Green Oscars” and recognise the projects, companies and individuals who have made a significant contribution to the global renewable energy sector. Dr. O’Connor received the award in recognition of his” vision, leadership and personal commitment to advancing the renewable energy sector”.

Former CEO of Airtricity, Dr. O’Connor founded Mainstream Renewable Power in February of last year and during this time has created a significant pipeline of onshore and offshore wind farm projects in Europe, North America, South America and South Africa. Mainstream was shortlisted for the “Entrepreneurial Developer of the Year” award at last night’s ceremony.

Dr. O’Connor is widely known for his personal commitment to bringing forward the concept of the European Offshore Supergrid – a vision of electricity interconnectivity which has the power and scale to transform the outlook for European energy security. Large-scale grid interconnection has been adopted as EU energy policy, and a number of EU member States are looking closely at the concept as part of their efforts to meet the challenge of the 2020 and 2050 carbon reduction targets.

Commenting at the awards ceremony, Dr. O’Connor said “I am both humbled and honoured to be recognised by my peers in this way. The world is going through a once-off transition to sustainability and we need more people with the vision and the commitment to look beyond the here and now. We’ve built this world of ours on fossil fuels and now we have to un-build it and completely revolutionise not only the way we generate our electricity but the way we deliver it to consumers. The European Offshore Supergrid has the potential to achieve energy independence for Europe as well as reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050. I am personally and wholeheartedly committed to realising this potential”.

Dr. O’Connor was named world energy policy leader by Scientific American magazine in 2003 and was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Science from University College Dublin in June 2008. He holds a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering and a Masters in Industrial Engineering and has a doctorate in Business Administration from the International Management Centres, Europe. He is Secretary of the European Wind Energy Association.

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Masonry reinforcement for collar-jointed walls is the latest new product to be added to the Ancon range. Ancon AMR-CJ is used to tie the two leaves of thin masonry together, so it acts as a single unit.

The product consists of flat ties welded to flattened longitudinal wires. Manufactured in stainless and galvanised steel, AMR-CJ is supplied in a standard width of 175mm to suit a wall width of 215mm comprising of either standard bricks or 100mm blocks.

Ancon offers a free masonry panel design service. A standard design sheet is available to download from www.ancon.co.uk, which allows engineers to summarise the individual wall panels requiring Ancon’s attention.

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The Welcome shade collection from Chelsom has been so successful over the past year that the company will be showcasing a six page portfolio of recent installations within the next Chelsom catalogue, Edition 21, to be launched in May.

Created to provide striking visual impact together with diffused light for ambience, the range is also highly competitively priced when compared to alternative luminaires of similar size and light output.

Many interior designers specify standard product from the catalogue, however a growing number are creating their own unique designs inspired by the basic range. Designs can be modified by size, colour, choice of fabric, additional fringing or the combination of the shade within a second luminaire.

Over the past twelve months Welcome shades have been specified for use in used in hotel foyers and receptions, stairwells, restaurants, and casinos. Projects include the Principal George Hotel in Edinburgh (RPW and Cunningham McLean Partnership), the Hilton Grosvenor Edinburgh (Cunningham McLean Partnership), the Hilton Waldorf (Aukett Fitzroy Robinson) and the Paramount Lygon Arms in the Cotswolds (Max Benthem Design).

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– VW Caddy van prize for oldest one found before 30th June 2009

Wilo, the leading European pump manufacturer, is issuing the final reminder to installers around the UK to search for the oldest working Wilo small circulator in the UKThe deadline for entering the competition is 30th June 2009! So just under a month to take part and win yourself a stunning prize!

Whilst finding one will be interesting in itself, for the installer or contractor who finds the oldest one still working in the UK there’s an extra special reason for being pleased – he or she will drive away in a brand new VW Caddy van!

Wilo ran a similar competition in Germany recently and the oldest found there was 54 years old – still running flawlessly! Wilo ‘s Dan Wild says they don’t expect to find one that old in the UK, but you just never know: “Clearly Wilo UK has not been in existence as long as Wilo has been trading in Germany so to find one that old would be amazing, but we are confident we’ll find one that is pretty elderly and still working, so watch this space!” he says.

Clearly a pump that’s still working several decades after installation is doing so because it was and is a quality product, but because technology has moved on, however well the old pump is operating, replacement by a brand new, high technology, high efficiency Wilo pump will be overdue! Saving energy, reducing emissions and energy costs, using up to 80% less energy to run it, for starters.

Wilo is running the competition in conjunction with a major awareness campaign across the UK, making installers and specifiers aware of the facts behind the on-going growth of Wilo pump sales in the UK. Very definitely the second largest player in the UK marketplace, with pockets of the UK where it is by far the most popular brand – Northern Ireland for example – Wilo is seeing increasing take up of its energy efficient small circulator offering, particularly since the launch of the Wilo-Stratos ECO pump which offers up to 80% energy saving over standard uncontrolled pumps, that still operate extensively and expensively in millions of homes across the country.

“From research we’ve undertaken, it’s clear that many installers and specifiers had no idea that we invented the first small circulator pump and that we are the leading supplier of small circulators to combi boiler manufacturers across Europe,” says Dan Wild. “We manufacture more than 5 million small circulators a year in Europe and there are more than 3.5 million Wilo pumps operating either in combis, system boilers or independently in conventional heating systems in the UK. The numbers are phenomenal and we recently saw the Wilo-Stratos ECO independently tested as the most energy efficient small circulator you can buy, anywhere – tested by one of Europe’s leading consumer groups. It’s all good news and we need to get the message out and about to those who think there’s only one brand of pump in the UK – there’s a second – and its taking chunks of the marketplace year on year, as we grow, year on year.”

Installers looking to win the VW Caddy van need to search for Wilo small circulator pumps still operating in their customers homes and if they find one that has clearly been doing the business for a good many years, they need to take a photo of the pump in situ and take a note of the serial number which will allow Wilo to check exactly when it was manufactured. They should then send their entries to ruth.barnes@wilo.co.uk at Wilo UK Head Office or call her on 01283 523000 and ask for instructions on how to make their entry.

Wilo’s wide range of high efficiency pumps, incorporates models from small domestic circulator pumps right through to large commercial pumps, for virtually every end use. Full details of the range can be seen at www.wilo.co.uk or by calling Wilo on 01283 523 000 and asking for a catalogue.

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