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Since 1998, the ‘City Centre Masterplan’ regeneration project has been transforming key public spaces in the city of Sheffield. The area along Howard Street and around Barkers Pool forms part of a spectacular walk, known as the ‘Gold Route’.

Urbis supplied 20 Thylia luminaires to light up Sheaf Square, 55 to re-light Norfolk Street and 30 to light the area around Barkers Pool. All the Thylias are fitted with 150W or 70W CDM-T lamps, which produce a soft white glow at night.

The Thylias are mainly mounted post-top, or on twin armed brackets depending on the optimal lighting solution. But when you reach Barkers Pool you will see the Thylias mounted on tri-headed columns to make the most of each column position. Urbis also supplied the sleek, black tapered columns for the scheme, which range in height from 6m to 10m.

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Loading and unloading equipment specialists, Thorworld Industries Ltd has published its new 2008/9 product range catalogue, packed full of materials handling solutions for specifiers, buyers and users of loading bay equipment, accessories and safety aids.

Included in the 44-page full-colour catalogue are details of its enhanced selection of mobile yard ramps – ideal for the fast and efficient loading and unloading of vehicle trailers and containers by fork truck, particularly where there is no raised loading dock.

The updated ramps range now includes Standard, Deluxe and Super Deluxe (light, medium and heavy duty) models, with selected versions in 7, 10, 12 and 15 tonne capacities and available in lengths from 11 to 12.2 metres.

A ramp rental facility is also provided through Thorworld's RentARamp operation, with a sale or return option, and the catalogue includes some of the important points to consider when selecting a ramp.

For loading and unloading cages or pallets from trucks, where there is no loading dock or perhaps insufficient space for a yard ramp, is the mobile Truckloada, available in three capacities, and the Dockloada scissor lift platform which can be installed inside or outside a building.

Also featured in this latest catalogue are products to bridge and seal the gap between the truck and loading dock, including dock plates & boards, dock levellers, seals and shelters.

There are details of a wide range of Thorworld accessories and safety aids including safety mirrors, wheel risers, loading bay ladders, vehicle wheel chocks, traffic lights, trailer safety locks, locking key boxes, vehicle wheel locks, safety signs, dock lights, dock safety guards, duck bumpers, trailer landing leg and below-ground bumper supports, and bumper selections.

As well as multipurpose and wheelchair access ramps, there are restraint and protection products including sleeping policemen and speed stoppers, vehicle restraints, safety bollards, wheel guides and alignment curbs, flexi safety barriers, racking protector brackets, column protectors, paper roll protectors, protector pads and stabiliser plates.

Thorworld is firmly established as a leading, one-stop, single source supplier to the loading bay and materials handling sectors, and is recognised as both a leader and innovator in the provision of quality engineered equipment.

BSI registered with ISO 9002 accreditation since 1992, as well as CE mark certification, it was one of the first companies in the industry to achieve the ISO 9001:2002 international quality management standard.

It has numerous prestige customers in distribution, logistics, transport, retail, food and drink manufacturing and the service industries.

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Mitsubishi Electric has continued its advance into the heating market with an innovative new product that offers any building with air conditioning the potential for free hot water up to 70°C.

The PWFY City Multi water heater uses advanced heat pump technology to transfer excess heat from a VRF system to offer buildings a constant supply of hot water. The new unit comes in two versions which deliver water temperatures of either 70°C or 45°C and builds on the groundwork of Mitsubishi Electric’s successful PQFY system launched two years ago.

“This is the first of its type in the air conditioning industry and is another example of how we can capitalise on the heat recovery potential of VRF systems to provide incredible energy efficiency within a building’s services,” commented Product Marketing Manager, Philip Ord.

Modern building regulations call for ultra-energy efficient, air tight premises and this, coupled with legislation on air quality and the temperatures that staff can be allowed to work within mean that air conditioning is a fact of life in almost all of our commercial buildings.

“With advances in VRF technology we can now offer incredibly efficient heat pump systems that can balance the delicate requirements of staff comfort with the need to offset the heat produced by the myriad of computer and other electrical equipment that are now an essential part of business,” added Ord.

However, even with the most modern equipment available today, there is a limit to the amount of heat recovery that can be used in this way.

The UK has a temperate climate that is ideal for heat recovery but even with the very best design, it is simply not possible to completely balance a system in an optimum way all of the time.

“That means there is further potential for heat recovery and this is where the thinking behind our new PWFY water heating units came from,” explained Ord. “What we have tried to do is look at where there are other needs for a heating load within a building and see where the excess energy from heat recovery can be used. Hot water is therefore an obvious target and we have designed a product that can even work with off-the-shelf water cylinders to provide customers with added functionality, ease and convenience.”

Figures from Defra’s Market Transformation Programme (2006) show that the provision of heating and hot water accounts for over 50% of energy consumption in non-domestic buildings. Initial modelling from the Defra study of gas and oil-fired water heating boilers and warm air and radiant systems resulted in annual carbon emissions of 10.8 MtC.

The model also shows that there is a link between gas boiler efficiency and age ranging from 50% efficiency for a pre-1979 gas boiler to 81% for boilers from 2007 onward. Providing hot water through the heat recovery process of heat pumps can offer average COPs of 4+ or efficiency levels of 400% in comparison.

“It is difficult to find accurate figures of the size of the commercial boiler market but even if the general inefficiencies of the national grid are taken into account, it is obvious that something delivering a performance of 400%+ is going to give you a better carbon reduction performance and a much more efficient delivery system than something working at 81%,” explained Ord.

Linking a heat pump water heater to an outdoor thermostat means it can be made to work either once the ambient outdoor temperature rises above 15°C or during the night, using off-peak electricity and the partial load efficiencies of a modern VRF system. At 15°C and above, most buildings will start to require some level of cooling, so heat can be recovered and this energy can be diverted to provide hot water.

Below that temperature, any system will have more of heating requirement and any heat recovery in the system will need to be utilised to ensure that the air conditioning system is operating as efficiently as possible.

In spring and autumn, there will always be some days where heat recovery is not used for hot water and others where the cooling demand means that it can be used, but if all VRF air conditioning systems were optimised in this way, we could completely replace the need for carbon-based water heating systems. Just think what that could do for the energy efficiency levels of the country – and the energy bills of hard pressed businesses!

In winter, when it is unlikely to get much above 15°C during the day, then systems will not divert any of the heat recovery to heat water and will use the water heated during the night when there is little requirement from the air conditioning system. This will still give a very efficient average COP of 3 or higher.

The flagship PWFY HWS-BU model offers a completely new design that delivers 70°C in heating. The single model works with a YHM-R2 City Multi air conditioning system and has dimensions of 300 (W) x 450 (D) x 800 (H) to also offer plant room saving capabilities. The unit has two plate heat exchangers to offer a max/min water flow rate of 0.6 – 2.15 m3/h. COPs will average 4 or higher although this will be dependent on the loading of heating / cooling / hot water.

The heat pump boiler uses the vapour compression cycle of the air conditioning system to raise the water temperature, instead of simply discharging any excess heat from the refrigerant to the air as in a conventional split type air conditioner.

“This effectively provides free hot water and is far more fuel efficient than other systems of water heating, helping to reduce running costs,” added Ord. “It is also around four times better than the most efficient type of conventional gas boiler on a kW / kW basis, leading to a substantial reduction in CO2 emissions.”

The PWFY-AU has been launched as an addition to the current PQFY and offers 45°C in heating and 5°C in cooling. There are 2 models in the range a 12.5kW and a 25kW offering average COPs of 3.5 – 4.3. The AU models have a single plate heat exchanger with the same dimensions as the BU unit.

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To help electrical contractors carry out tests safely and conveniently, Megger is now offering a choice of fused test leads for instruments in its contractor range. Users can choose between leads with a 10A fuse, or GS38-compliant leads with a 500mA fuse.

Fused test leads significantly reduce the hazards associated with short circuits via the instrument test leads which may occur during testing. They must, however, always be used in conjunction with appropriate working practices as using test leads where the fuse has ruptured allows instruments to indicate that circuits are dead when they are actually live.

In many applications, GS38 leads with a 500mA fuse are preferred but, since fuses of this rating have an appreciable resistance, they are unsuitable for use during loop testing on live systems and a 500mA fuse may rupture when carrying out high current tripping loop tests. In addition, a lead with a replaceable 500mA fuse can introduce variability into the test result. This is usually insignificant, but may be a problem when accurate earth loop impedance values are needed.

Test leads with 10A fuses, while not covered by GS38, avoid these problems while still providing adequate protection against short-circuit faults. By providing contractors with this option, Megger allows them to enjoy enhanced safety, even when carrying out tests where leads with 500mA fuses are unsuitable.

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Easilift Loading Systems, one of the UK's leading loading bay equipment suppliers has had its commitment to health and safety recognised by having its SAFEcontractor accreditation renewed for the third time.

The latest renewal, which covers the company's activities as mechanical engineers and for the service and repair of dock levellers, has now been extended to include its role as lift engineers.

The SAFEcontractor programme recognises extremely high standards of health and safety practices. Accreditation allows contractors to demonstrate to prospective clients that they operate effective health and safety policies. About 120 of Britain's largest businesses are committed to engaging only those suppliers who are accredited under the scheme.

Easilift was originally awarded the SAFEcontractor accolade on its first attempt in 2004, becoming one of the first loading bay equipment suppliers to achieve it. Following an in-depth assessment of all its procedures, accreditation has now been renewed until April 2009.

To achieve renewal, the company had to undergo an extensive vetting process. This was to ensure that all its health and safety documentation compared favourably against the SAFEcontractor Charter Standards, which set out specified standards to be achieved, and that it had a good track record for safe practice.

Dave Whyatt, Sales Director of Easilift Loading Systems, said: “Achieving the accreditation for the third time in a row demonstrates our total commitment to health and safety at every stage of our activities. Receiving it again is down to all the hard work put in by our team.”

He added that Easilift takes health and safety extremely seriously when developing and manufacturing loading bay equipment, “which has led to a safety record that is second to none.”

SAFEcontractor is operated by leading safety, health and environmental risk management specialists, National Britannia, a Connaught plc company. Companies that meet the high standards set are included on a database, which is accessible via the website: www.safecontractor.com.

Darran Hughes, National Britannia's operations director for SAFEcontractor, said: “In the light of tougher penalties for serious safety infringements, and higher expectations from stakeholders, businesses want to protect themselves against the health and safety risks involved when they engage contractors.

“Third party accreditation is an increasingly popular way of managing the risks, and SAFEcontractor is recognised as a scheme which demands some of the highest safety standards in the market. By continuing to achieve accreditation, Easilift has demonstrated a consistent commitment to meeting these standards.”

Easilift provides everything necessary for the safe, efficient and profitable operation of loading bays. This including dock levellers, dock shelters, dock pods, dock seals, dock pods, doors, high speed doors, vehicle restraints and lifting platforms.

It also offers a complete range of accessories and safety aids, from dock plates, dock bumpers and wheel guides, to traffic lights and integrated control systems.

This is complemented by a full installation and after-sales service, which includes the provision of preventative maintenance programmes designed to avoid costly and disruptive loading bay down-time.

With an extensive customer list that is a roll call of some of the biggest names in UK manufacturing, retailing, logistics, distribution and the service sector, the company has grown to become one of the top three loading bay equipment suppliers in the UK with a turnover in excess of £16 million.

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A Thorworld modular platform system was chosen by Interserve Retail & Interiors as the most convenient method of loading vehicles from a building with no loading bay.

Interserve is a joinery manufacturer and interior fit out specialist which produces and installs high quality bespoke work for the shop, office and leisure sectors. With an annual turnover of £22 million, it is a preferred contractor to John Lewis, Debenhams, Sports World International and Thomas Cook.

Amongst prestigious work recently completed was a £1.8 million contract for up-market London store Fortnum and Mason, which included the fitting out of a £600,000 wine bar. A contract to fit out the Law Courts in the former Scottish Parliament building in Edinburgh will begin soon.

The Christchurch, Dorset company recently moved to new 40,000 sq ft offices and workshops as it needed extra space to cope with an increase in business.

Because the building has no loading bay, Interserve looked for a safe and cost-effective method of loading vehicles with finished products, such as bars, counters, reception desks and display cases.

It considered using forklifts, or a vehicle tail lift when available, but this was ruled out as being too complicated and time consuming. Building a permanent concrete ramp was thought to be too inflexible.

The solution came in the form of a Thorworld mobile platform system that delivers a high degree of simplicity and flexibility.

The system comprises of a specially made 3,000kg capacity mobile yard ramp measuring 7m long x 2.4m overall width x 2.25m usable width, with Durbar treadplate flooring.

At the top end of the ramp Thorworld fitted a work platform measuring 3.6m x 2.4m x 1.3m. It was tailor-made to the client's specifications with the addition of a second dock leveller so that two vehicles of differing heights can be loaded at the same time.

The drawbridge type dock levellers each measure 1.5m x 1.5m and have a 3,000kg capacity.

Pallet trucks or wheeled trolleys take shrink-wrapped joinery items up the ramp to the platform and into delivery lorries. Although the ramp is bolted to the ground, the bolts can be easily removed and it can be towed to a new location by fork lift if required.

Interserve intends to build a canopy over the new loading platform system so as to protect staff and product from bad weather.

The £2 million investment in the building also included the purchase of several new items of SCM production machinery; a Record 100 AL CNC router, a Sigma Plus beam saw, and an M3 multi-rip saw.

The environmentally friendly building, which features a biomass boiler for space heating, as well as the provision of solar hot water, was a finalist in the Sustainable Building Awards organised by the Dorset Chamber of Commerce and a local newspaper.

Thorworld mobile yard ramps are ruggedly built, with a steel superstructure and solid beam construction, and are ideal for the fast loading and unloading of vehicle trailers and containers by fork truck – particularly where there is no raised loading dock.

Available as Standard, Deluxe and Super Deluxe (light, medium and heavy duty) models, with 7,000 kg, 10,000 kg, 12,000 kg or 15,000 kg capacities, they can be purchased outright or hired through the company's specialist RentARamp operation with a sale or return option.

Hydraulically operated down to 890mm, the ramps have a serrated open grid deck for positive traction in all weather conditions and fully meet all European safety standards and directives.

Bespoke models can also be supplied to meet individual customer requirements and a comprehensive service and maintenance back-up facility is available to help ensure that the ramps are always kept in top condition.

Thorworld provides a one-stop, single source for a wide range of high quality loading & unloading equipment and loading bay accessories & safety aids, such as: dock shelters & seals, dock levellers, dock plates & boards, dock & vehicle bumpers, wheel chocks, modular loading docks and mobile yard ramps, as well as the Truckloada mobile yardlift and the Dockloada scissor lift platform.

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The natural appeal of stone is the inspiration for the Aeon Collection’s newest designer radiator. Marbella reflects the increasing popularity of stone in contemporary homes using this erstwhile cool material for room heating.

Specially selected pieces of tactile, polished or matt natural stone are interspersed with horizontal belts of mirror polished or brushed matt stainless steel to create a sculptural design of contrasting materials. A choice of three stones – polished black granite, polished beige marble and matt beige travertine – offers a tone to suit a variety of decoration schemes. A bespoke service, sourcing and matching stone to client specification is also available from Aeon.

Each stone section of the Marbella measures 60 x 40 cm and radiators can be made from two, three or four sections, depending on room requirements. Outputs range between 1678 watts and 3349 watts. Models with a fixed towel bar in co-ordinating stainless steel finish are available for bathroom or kitchen use.

Prices start from £980 (+VAT) for a two-section (850 x 600 mm) Marbella radiator in limestone and brushed matt stainless steel without towel bar. Mirror polished Marbella radiators are available from stock whilst brushed matt models can be delivered within 4-6 weeks.

Radiators in the Aeon Collection are made from the highest-grade solid stainless steel. All designs in the hand-finished range carry a 20-year guarantee.

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Easilift Loading Systems has supplied cutting-edge loading bay equipment to three major new purpose-built Tesco distribution centres at Livingston, Lichfield and Goole, in contracts valued in excess of £9 million.

For the one million sq ft Livingston distribution centre, including the RSU centre, Easilift supplied bespoke exterior modular dock leveller pods for 162 of the 179 loading bays, with the free-standing pods installed on the outside of the bays; avoiding the loss of internal floor area and providing a confined, insulated, hygienic, weatherproof area – with resulting energy saving potential and health & safety benefits due to the elimination of any cross traffic.

Each pod is fitted with swing lip type 'PowerRamp' dock levellers and insulated electrically-operated sectional overhead 'PowerDoors'. Collapsible type 'PowerShelters' are fitted to 108 of the bays, with inflatable versions to accommodate double-deck trailers for the remainder.

A further 17 scissor lift dock pods, designed to integrate with Tesco fixed bed double-deck trailers, are equipped with scissor lifts. They are capable of carrying 36 roll cages and an operator safely between the two fixed vehicle beds and the loading dock.

The lifts incorporate a number of high-tech features in order to improve safety and maximise efficiency. For example, the re-levelling feature continually repositions the platform within 3mm of the preset dock height throughout the loading and unloading process, ensuring that cages can be safely rolled between the platform and the warehouse floor at all times.

Each of the pods, which have been designed to accommodate the normal reversing action of a trailer without the need for a mechanical wheel stop, are equipped with sectional overhead 'PowerDoors' to the front and rear, plus inflatable dock shelters.

Similar Easilift pod systems, with swing lip type 'PowerRamp' dock levellers and 'PowerDoors', have been supplied for 100 of the 108 bays at Tesco's new 850,000 sq ft Fradley Park, Lichfield, regional distribution centre.

Collapsible 'PowerShelters' are fitted to standard height dock leveller bays, with inflatable type versions fitted to the high dock leveller bays. A further eight pods were equipped with 36 cage scissor lifts, plus insulated sectional overhead 'PowerDoors' and shelters.

The 700,000 sq ft Goole national distribution centre was almost identical to Lichfield, with Easilift pod systems comprising swing lip type 'PowerRamp' dock levellers and 'PowerDoors' supplied for 100 of the 108 bays.

Collapsible 'PowerShelters' are fitted to standard height dock leveller bays, with inflatable type versions fitted to the high dock leveller bays. And, once again, a further eight pods were equipped with 36 cage scissor lifts, plus insulated sectional overhead 'PowerDoors' and shelters.

All of the loading bays at the three distribution centres feature Easilift integrated control panels, traffic lights and dock lights, with insulated sectional overhead doors provided for vehicle maintenance units and trailer wheel guides for goods in bays.

Easilift Sales Director, Dave Whyatt, said: “We have worked closely with Tesco for a number of years to develop our modular dock pod system to fully meet their stringent requirements.

“That a company of Tesco's status continues to equip its new distribution centres and stores with Easilift loading bay equipment is a ringing endorsement of the quality and reliability of our products and the high levels of service we deliver to all our customers.”

Easilift is part of the Loading Systems International group, one of Europe's foremost manufacturers of loading bay equipment, and in addition to its UK operation it has other sales companies in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

The company provides everything necessary for the safe, efficient and profitable operation of loading bays. This includes dock levellers, dock shelters, dock seals, dock pods, doors, high speed doors, vehicle restraints and lifting platforms. We also offer a complete range of accessories and safety aids, from dock plates, dock bumpers and wheel guides, to traffic lights and integrated control systems.

Easilift was also one of the first loading bay equipment suppliers to achieve the prestigious SAFEcontractor Health and Safety Accreditation. SAFEcontractor is a scheme that independently assesses the health and safety competency of contractors in a variety of fields and, as such, confirms to prospective clients that effective policies and systems are in place.

It has an extensive customer list that is a roll call of some of the biggest names in UK manufacturing, retailing, logistics, distribution and the service sector. And, reflecting the extremely high levels of customer satisfaction achieved, more than 60 per cent of new orders come from existing customers.

Easilift's continued successful development is due in no small part to the positive commitment of its staff, plus its extensive facilities which include an in-house design team, together with experienced engineers available to advise on the most efficient and productive installation, whether as a new project or refurbishment.

This is complemented by a full installation and after-sales service, which includes the provision of preventive maintenance programmes designed to avoid costly and disruptive loading bay down-time.

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Sirrus by Gummers has launched its brand new Product Source and Price Guide – a must have brochure for anyone specifying commercial showers and water controls.

Filled with full colour product photography the new Sirrus brochure is a great research point for specifiers seeking premium water controls that have been specifically designed to withstand the rigours of commercial application.

From the very first page, this new brochure makes specification for all commercial washrooms easier than ever, providing both industry information and technical data including flow rates.

Each market sector has its own section at the front of the brochure to confidently navigate you to the right product for your project. In addition, throughout the brochure, each Sirrus product is categorised to show its suitability for specification within a broad range of commercial applications. A brand new section on “Inclusive Design” highlights washroom products that can be used by everyone, but are particularly suitable for those with limited dexterity.

In addition to offering the largest range of TMV3 approved thermostatic blending valves and shower valves, Sirrus also offers a range of HTM64 compliant products. From shower panels and timed flow controls to a wide range of thermostatic showers supplied with and without kits, commercial specifiers will be spoilt for choice.

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