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Humidity control specialist, Condair, is celebrating its 75-year anniversary. Having been founded in 1948 as Defensor AG in Switzerland by chemist, Dr Bernard Joos, the company is marking the occasion across its many offices around the world.

Tony Fleming, Managing Director of Condair limited, commented, “75 years is a wonderful milestone to achieve as an organisation. Condair’s longevity is testament to its ability to innovate and proudly develop market leading technology and deliver it with expert knowledge and service support. The company has always been at the forefront of the humidification sector and continues to lead the field in engineering excellence.”

The first product offered back in 1948 was an air spray disinfection system, which “defended” against cattle infections, hence the company name at the time of Defensor. It was soon realised that the humidification properties of the atomiser were greatly beneficial in several manufacturing sectors, particularly cheese ripening rooms. Through the fifties and sixties, Defensor continued to develop humidification technologies in fierce competition with the other main player in the market, Plascon. Spray and evaporative humidifiers were advanced by the two companies, along with the invention of the electrode boiler steam humidifier and the pioneering use of resistive element heaters to boil water and humidify the air.

In 1975, a Swiss importing business, Walter Meier, looking to diversify its portfolio acquired Defensor and entered the humidification market. Then in 1981 it also acquired Plascon, bringing together the two leading humidification companies. The 80s also saw expansion into North America with the acquisition of Nortec, a significant distributor for both Defensor and Plascon, along with the rebranding of Plascon to Condair.

The organisation continued to develop throughout the 80s and 90s, until in 1995 the world’s largest humidification company was formed with the fusion of the Defensor and Condair companies under the new name of Axair. Further acquisitions in the sector resulted in a total of 12 humidifier companies being owned by the Walter Meier Group by 2012. The decision was then taken by the principal shareholder, Silvan Meier, to consolidate operations under the motto of “one brand, one company” and bring together all its interests in the humidity control sector under the banner of Condair.

Tony Fleming, continues, “Today Condair operates sales and service organisations in 23 countries, has distribution partners in a further 50 regions, and manufacturing facilities in Asia, Europe and North America. The company has been the driving force in the sector, having invented systems such as the electrode boiler steam humidifier, which is probably the most widely used type of industrial humidifier in the world.

“The company continues to innovate with new smart features such as IoT connected devices, ensuring the end customer gets the very best support directly from the manufacturer. Also with innovative new products, like centrally managed, whole-house residential humidifiers, controlled by a phone app, which are again pushing the boundaries for the industry.

“Condair also champions the positive purpose of the sector. The company’s claim “Humidity for a better life” communicates both the health benefits of maintaining an optimum indoor humidity, alongside the more traditional manufacturing benefits. We deliver solutions that protect people’s health and we’re committed as a global organisation to increasing awareness of this, and to fulfil our duty to make the built environment healthier. We are very proud of our company’s values and heritage, and we are all delighted to wish ourselves a very happy 75th anniversary. ” Tony concludes.

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Story

Steel windows and doors manufacturer Crittall Windows is offering architects a unique chance to win a rare original lithograph poster that celebrates the work of the famous Swiss architect La Corbusier, one of the pioneers of modern architecture and design.

Valued at £1000, “ Tapisseries en L’eglise de Chateau Fellentin Creuse “ is a rich and beautiful traditional stone lithograph exhibition poster printed in 1963 by Atelier Mourlot .

“We wanted an idea that engaged the architectural community after what has seen a pretty traumatic couple of years for the profession “, commented Russell Ager, Crittall Managing Director.

” The Crittall aesthetic was favoured by the originators of the Bauhaus Movement to which Le Corbusier’s name is indelibly linked, so offering as a prize an original lithographic poster celebrating the iconic designer seemed to fit the bill “

“We are all very proud of our unique Crittall heritage, its links to some of the 20th Century’s notable architects and designers, and how that continues to be reflected in the products we offer to meet 21st Century demands”.

The free, simple-to-enter competition, which closes on 20th June 2023, is open to all UK registered architects.

The entry form and full terms and conditions and can be found here :

https://www.crittall-windows.co.uk/win-a-rare-le-corbusier-original-lithograph-poster-competition/

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Story

As homes become more and more airtight in order to make them energy efficient, ensuring good ventilation and indoor air quality is vital for our health. Condensation is a big issue; everyday activities like bathing, cooking, washing and drying our clothes all introduce moisture to the air. This humidity provides a breeding ground for black mould – one of the most dangerous things to our health, causing asthma and breathing difficulties. The only way to treat mould efficiently is to control moisture levels in the air, if you don’t want it to grow, stop watering it.

Richard Williams, General Manager of Vortice Ltd explains the dangers and explores some of the solutions in this first podcast on the subject with Mick de Leiburne of BusinessNet Explorer.

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Story

For over 70 years, PAM Building has been committed to sustainability and to the manufacturing of high-quality products. Therefore, our cast iron is made with 99% recycled content and is 100% recyclable. Our promise to make a difference is showcased in the sourcing of our materials. In 2021, PAM Building recycled the equivalent of 21,000 cars, which are sourced from qualified dealers within 100km of our factories. Being circular for PAM Building means: – Giving our waste a second life – Respecting natural resources and people – Being 100% recyclable. Choosing PAM Building means making a responsible and sustainable choice. Nothing is wasted, all is recycled.

For more information visit: https://www.pambuilding.co.uk/environmental

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Story

The former headquarters of British iconic retailer Woolworths located at 242 Marylebone Road in London, is a striking building constructed of red bricks with a facade of Portland Stone to the front elevation. It is currently being transformed into homes, offices and retail premises, including an events auditorium, rooftop bar, coffee shop, cyclist zone and health and wellbeing amenities. While the restoration is underway, the contractor has installed site welfare facilities, including several WC blocks, for the construction workforce.

Initially, the WCs relied on gravity drainage to discharge the waste to a soil and vent pipe some 40m away. However, blockages occurred and there were concerns that the situation would worsen as the full complement of workers arrived on site. An enquiry for a solution was lodged with the Saniflo technical team who swiftly visited the site to scope out the requirement and recommended a Zehnder Kompaktboy Duplex lifting station. The unit was able to installed below the WC blocks, in the basement, allowing for optimum gravity fall and pumping the waste back to the main sewer. The powerful, 3-phase pump, which can be integrated into the building management system if required, has two vortex pumps as a fail-safe precaution. This feature provides continuity of operation, which is critical to the building works.

Tim Pestell, Managing Director of Saniflo is delighted to be involved in another project in the Capital, which is preserving iconic and historical buildings for future generations. He says: “As a company we enjoy being involved with change of use projects such as these. Since the installation of the pump, the drainage issues have been solved and the refurbishment is going forward without the worry of failing WCs. Saniflo is often involved in ensuring important projects go ahead by providing pumps, lifting stations and macerators for site welfare facilities and for any number of building and renovation projects. There really is a Saniflo product for every job. Our technical team is always on hand to provide advice and it’s always advisable to speak to the team at the outset of project to avoid potential problems.”

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Story

To provide construction professionals with an ingress protected option to discreet underfloor services, Howe Green has launched its new landscape WATERSAFE IP66 Floor Access Covers, suitable for a wide range of internal and external applications, including swimming pools, wet rooms, parks, hospitals, docksides or rail projects.

The new WATERSAFE IP66 floor access covers provide discreet, safe and easy access to underfloor services in applications where dust or water ingress must be eliminated. The standard range is available in galvanised and stainless steel and can be manufactured in bespoke sizes and shapes to meet each project’s unique floor access requirements.

Due to the WATERSAFE floor access covers having an IP66 rating, the covers are completely protected against dust ingress as well as water ingress including powerful jets and heavy seas. For maximum compatibility aluminium covers can also be supplied for applications in sea salt environments. Additionally, there is a 15mm speed pipe connector to remove any water droplets, further adding to the water safe and efficiency element of the floor access covers.

Available with a load rating of A15–D400 (FACTA A – D rating), the WATERSAFE IP66 floor access covers provide durable underfloor access which can also be manufactured with higher FACTA ratings on request.

The load rating does not affect the water ingress protection, meaning that the underfloor services will not be affected or be at risk of water damage. The covers have a maximum clear opening of 1000 x 1000mm and an outer frame at a maximum of 1200 x 1200mm, with a standard stone or concrete depth of 100mm. Deeper recesses are also available on request. To meet project requirements, the infill depth is bespoke and manufactured to order, with a minimum depth of 70mm.

Chris George, Business Development Manager for Howe Green, said: “To further enhance our commitment to landscape construction professionals across a wide sector of applications, the launch of our new WATERSAFE IP66 Floor Access Covers do just that. We wanted to provide a durable and safe floor access cover that enables professionals easy and safe access to underfloor services, without the worry of dust or water ingress. To ensure that we are meeting each project’s needs, each of our floor access covers are made to order.”

In order for contractors to easily install the product into stone, tile or slab flooring, the floor access covers feature triangular corner plates with standard barrel lifting points, for easy and safe lifting.

For further information on Howe Green’s complete range of floor access solutions, visit www.howegreen.com or call 01920 463230.

 

 

 

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Story

Offloading ductile iron pipes in site conditions requires skill and complete confidence in the safety considerations. PAM UK have developed PAMVAC – a range of Loler certified vacuum handling and installation equipment to offer safe, predictable and efficient handling of PAM ductile iron pipe systems during loading and off-loading. PAMVAC utilises vacuum handling technology that has been extensively tested on a wide range of PAM ductile iron pipe systems in all weather conditions.

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Story

Humidity control specialist, Condair, has released a new podcast about how food manufacturers can enhance their productivity by controlling their production area’s humidity.

In a 10-minute interview with BusinessNet Explorer, Dave Marshall-George, Sales Director at Condair, explains how paying more attention to a manufacturing or storage area’s ambient humidity, can improve manufacturing yield and profits.

Dave explains, “Accurate humidity management in food and beverage production has many benefits. There are a huge range of applications. Humidification is frequently used to reduce evaporative losses, prevent static issues and extend shelf-life of produce. Dehumidification can be employed to more efficiently dry a product, eliminate condensation, reduce cold storage overheads or prevent products sticking to conveyors.

“As a humidity control specialist, we work with food and beverage manufacturers to identify areas of potential improvement across a production line, and then implement systems to maintain the ideal environment to realise those benefits. For example, we work in the meat sector to reduce evaporative losses from carcasses during primary chilling, with cheese manufacturers to reduce weight losses during cheese ripening, with bakers to optimise proving and oven baking, and distilleries and wine makers to prevent evaporation through casks.”

In this podcast Dave provides an overview of the potential for productivity improvements in a variety of applications and offers advice on how manufacturers might takes steps to start improving their processes. “Properly understanding the environmental profile of an area is key.” Dave continues, “This isn’t just an average temperature and humidity level in a room. It can include the micro-climate directly next to the product and being aware of any temperature differences between product and atmosphere. If a product is cooler than the air, this can lead to condensation, and if it’s warmer than the air, to moisture loss through evaporation.

“Using multiple data loggers is a good idea to properly assess the atmospheric profile of an area. However, for any manufacturer interested in exploring how they might improve profits through improved humidity control, I’d recommend having a free site assessment from their local Condair sales engineer. We offer free on-site reviews and are always happy to talk to food and beverage manufacturers about possible improvements they can make.” Dave concludes.

The podcast is available on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Soundcloud and Apple iTunes by searching for “Condair Podcast”, or on the Condair.co.uk website.

The Condair Group is the world’s leading specialist in humidity control and evaporative cooling, with energy efficient, hygienic and innovative technologies for commercial, industrial and heritage applications. Condair is represented in the UK by Condair Limited, which offers system design, manufacture, supply, installation, commissioning, maintenance and spares. You can find out more by visiting the company’s website at www.condair.co.uk.

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Glasgow’s latest redevelopment project, located on Langside Road, is built upon the former site of the city’s Victoria Infirmary and consists of a large housing development that includes 413 flats, offices and retail space.

The 3.75 hectare site, which is situated next to Queen’s Park on the south side of the city, forms an important part of the Battlefield area’s character, with the buildings’ exterior reflecting and complementing the surrounding heritage by using the city’s traditional blonde coloured sandstone.

As part of the construction process, Bilco UK was commissioned to supply six ESW-50REM Smoke Vents, in addition to seven E-50TB Roof Access Hatches, to provide the highest standards of safety and efficiency, whilst being sympathetic to the project’s overall design.

Installed onto the roof areas of four blocks of flats by Scottish contractors, Procladd Small Works Ltd, Bilco UK’s ESW-50REM Smoke Vents were specified to provide essential ventilation in the event of a building fire. Featuring a linear actuator operating mechanism that opens the cover to 140 degrees within 60 seconds, the smoke vents ensure compliance with Building Regulations Approved Document B, BS9999 and EN12101-2.

The built-in wind deflector also provides protection against smoke being blown back into the vent in the event of a fire., whilst the newly-designed closed-cell EPDM sponge gasket helps meet Building Regulation air leakage targets by providing a better seal of the cover to the curb. With the addition of a fixed vertical ladder, the smoke vents can also be used by maintenance engineers for roof access.

Billy Baillie, Managing Director at Procladd Small Works  Ltd, said: “We have a longstanding relationship of over 20 years with Bilco UK, and will continue to do so over the forthcoming years, due to their impressive product quality and outstanding service. Bilco UK’s Roof Access Hatches and Smoke Vents were incredibly easy to install, and knowing they’re engineered to meet the highest industry standards, it provided both ourselves and the client with the confidence that the installation would set the standard for performance and longevity.”

Constructed with corrosion-resistant materials, Bilco UK’s E-50TB Roof Access Hatches were also installed to provide engineers with safe, regular and convenient access to the roof to conduct essential maintenance. Engineered with compression spring operators to provide easy one-hand operation, the roof access hatch meets the requirements of Manual Handling Regulations, whilst the automatic hold-open arm locks the cover in the open position to ensure safe egress. The overlapping cover design, fully welded corners and insulated cover also ensure weathertightness and energy efficiency to deliver the highest standards of resilience.

Mark Baird, Sales Operations Manager at Bilco UK, said: “Drawing on our longstanding relationship with Procladd  Small Works Ltd, it was fantastic to work together on this project, which has been designed to positively impact the city’s culture. The products installed were manufactured with fire safety and efficiency in mind, delivering assurance of the durability and suitability of the installation for years to come.”

For further information on Bilco UK’s complete range of roof access solutions, visit www.bilcouk.co.uk or call 01284 701696.

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Humidity control specialist, Condair, has appointed Darren Bryant as its new Area Sales Manager for the south east of England. Having worked at Condair for 12 years, Darren moves from his previous role of Service Sales Manager.

Darren comments, “I am very happy to have taken on the area sales manager position, across both humidifiers and dehumidifiers, and am now responsible for much of the south east of England, from Kent to Suffolk, including East London. I’m looking forward to getting to know our customers in these regions, and helping them improve their productivity and working environments through enhanced humidity control. It will also be great to be back in front of clients, providing CPD training, either in-house or online.”

David Marshall-George, UK Sales Director at Condair, comments, “It’s great to have Darren join our UK sales team. He is very experienced in all aspects of humidification, and brings with him superb application knowledge from his service-related sales work at Condair.”

Condair Ltd has comprehensive sales coverage across the country with seven sales managers covering all of the UK and Ireland.

The Condair Group is the world’s leading specialist in humidity control and evaporative cooling, with energy efficient, hygienic and innovative technologies for commercial, industrial and heritage applications. Condair is represented in the UK by Condair Ltd, which offers system design, manufacture, supply, installation, commissioning, maintenance and spares. You can find out more by visiting the company’s website at www.condair.co.uk.

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