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Formed in 1979 Taplanes Showing Solutions were once a subsidiary of Kelan Engineering and are now the oldest British manufacturer of shower cubicles, minipods and ensuite pods. Using their own patented manufacturing techniques and materials, Taplanes are the only British company that can genuinely prove that they can meet a minimum 30 year life expectancy if not in excess of 50 years.

Taplanes have produced specialized equipment for private, military and government contracts for various applications which have involved highly specialized chemicals, plastics, electronics and robotic knowledge.

Most of these contracts were completed under “Letters of Confidentiality” and “Secrecy” documentation.

Taplanes manufacture all their products using a specially formulated polypropylene material with a minimum thickness of 10/12mm. This sustainable material allows Taplanes to take their products back at the end of its life cycle, regrind it, re-thermoform it and then re-use it.

Each bespoke construction does not use any substitute material for strength, under-carriage support or component fixing, nor does the system carry any exposed sealant, grout or tiling which can be a costly, an on-going maintenance issue, and can also attract bacteria. The Taplanes material is tested and approved by an NHS test Laboratory as bacteria free and also totally inert.

Their patented horizontal joint system is designed to prevent any capillary action allowing for the whole ensuite system to be taken in and out of the allotted room as many times as needed without invalidating the guarantee.

During their 31 years of manufacture Taplanes can refer to clients selling buildings, taking the ensuite or showers out, and reusing them in other buildings which saves considerable sums of money.

The Taplanes unique design is a cost saving environmentally friendly solution, perfect for today's economic climate.
www.taplanes.co.uk

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Here’s the best news ever for specifiers and contractors in the general purpose floodlighting business. It’s the new Thorn Areaflood range, a complete matching series of discharge and compact fluorescent luminaires from 42W to 600W. The aluminium floodlight is based on the Champion sports projector, with an inclined front glass and integrated visor giving precise light control.

There are two sizes, with asymmetric or ‘street’ reflectors. Peak beam angles are up to 60 degrees, with a total cut off at 90 degrees.

Areaflood is sealed to IP66 and can be supplied with integral photocell, adaptive controls, hot-restrike gear and emergency lighting. A hinged front glass, removable gear tray and aiming marker ensure simple installation and maintenance.

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The new 150mm diameter version of a highly innovative range of push-fit cast iron above ground drainage systems has been Kitemark approved by the British Standards Institute (BSI) to the BS EN 877:1999 standard for cast iron pipes and fittings.

The approval of the Ensign EEZI-FIT 150mm range from iron technology solutions provider, Saint-Gobain PAM UK, to this standard guarantees the product is suitable for sanitary gravity soil applications for 0.5 bar performance.

Launched earlier this year to complement the existing 100mm range of push-fit socketed fittings and couplings, the 150mm range ensures that Ensign EEZI-FIT is suitable for virtually all soil stacks found in the UK.

Ensign EEZI-FIT and Ensign from Saint-Gobain PAM UK remain the only cast iron above ground drainage systems which are Kitemark approved to BS EN 877:1999, while a recent study conducted at the Building Research Establishment (BRE) found that Ensign EEZI-FIT is also significantly quicker to install than systems jointed by fusion welding.

Mike Rawlings, Marketing Manager – Soil & Drain at Saint-Gobain PAM UK, commented: “This latest Kitemark approval confirms the status of Ensign EEZI-FIT as a high-specification system guaranteed to perform to highly exacting standards. Given its proven ease of installation, as well as the benefits of cast iron in terms of strength, longevity, recyclability, fire resistance, and acoustic qualities, it is no surprise that Ensign EEZI-FIT is becoming more and more widely specified in both new and retro-fit projects across the UK.”

For more information on the benefits of Ensign EEZI-FIT and the added value it can offer, visit the comparison website www.eezi-compare.com. Further details on the company's full product range can be found at www.saint-gobain-pam.co.uk/soil-press.

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Fendor, one of the UK's leading specialist glazing designers and manufacturers has bucked the economic trend to record a healthy 18 % increase in growth during 2010.

Announcing the figures, managing director Chris Duffy said,”Since 2007 Fendor has invested heavily in both R&D and Marketing spend and this increased during 2010. We have aggressively targeted new market sectors specifically Healthcare this being highlighted by the introduction of several new patent applications for that sector. European Design rights have been granted for the CleanVent® system and for the first time International PCT applicationsare in place.

“The results of this strategic initiative resulted in 18% growth in 2010 output over 2009 during a period of particularly difficult market conditions in the U.K.”

“Since the 2006 MBO we have seen consistent annual growth in our balance sheet and 2010 ended with a particularly strong cash position”.

Chris concluded, “Future developments will see a continued emphasis on R&D, with particular emphasis on healthcare and the U.K. custodial sector as well as exploration of International markets.”

“The outlook for Fendor is very positive with increasing growth in sales across fire glazing, specialist healthcare, security and secondary glazing sectors.”

Importantly,Fendor is taking on more staff at its Gateshead factory – and sees this continuing for the foreseeable future.

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Construction giant Molson Group is reporting brisk business in the improving mini excavator market after acquiring the South West dealership for Kubota Construction Equipment in 2010.

The Avonmouth-based firm estimates it has supplied a new Kubota machine almost every day since taking over their franchise, which covers Bristol, Gloucestershire, Dorset, Wiltshire and Somerset.

This success has now resulted in Molson's additional appointment as the official Kubota Construction Equipment dealer for the South Wales area, with effect from 1st May 2011. The 19-strong Kubota mini excavators range is the widest of its kind on the market and extends from the lightweight 980kg K008-3, right up to the eight tonne KX080-3. It includes a mixture of zero and tight tail swing machines and has recently been boosted with the addition of three brand new Dash-4 models, the U48-4, the U55-4 and the KX057-4, all of which have been upgraded with more digging power and space-age LED control displays.

All in all, last year was a good time for Molson to join the Kubota team and Jonathan Wilson, the company's managing director, said that their association is shaping up extremely well.

He said: “We are delighted that we are further expanding our association with Kubota and will now be selling their mini excavators throughout the South West and South Wales. “Kubotas are great products and they are also very nice people to work with. So far it has gone extremely well, we have sold products from across the entire range, which is allowing us to increase our share of the mini excavator market in this area.

“Naturally it helps that Kubota has such a good reputation and its machines are state-of-the-art, but it is a major plus to be able to offer a three year warranty with all of their models. We pride ourselves on our after-care at Molson and we have never been able to offer such a long warranty before.”

Molson, which was founded in 1996, is one of the largest independent dealers in new and used construction equipment in the UK. It supplies clients serving a wide range of industries and Jonathan said that 2010 saw a marked increase in activity, with figures indicating that the demand for all sizes of excavators is growing.

This is thanks to a combination of companies finally replacing their machines after having postponed the process for a year and others investing in new equipment, sensing the prospect of a continuing economic recovery.

Molson's appointment also results in boundary changes for Kubota Construction Equipment Division in the South West, with existing dealer Lister Wilder, who had previously covered the area, now concentrating on the M4 corridor.

In South Wales Molson takes over the Kubota Construction Equipment territory previously handled by Cambrian Plant Sales.

Kubota (UK) Ltd “ Construction Equipment sales & marketing manager, Richard Harrison, said: “Molson are vey well established in their region and signing this partnership was a win-win situation for both parties. Molson's customers will benefit from being able to buy from the widest and best-selling range of mini excavators on the market, while we will be able to expand our penetration in their area of the country.

“So far the results have been a significant success and, with a number of major construction projects now taking place in the South West, as well as some in South Wales, we couldn't have made these changes at a better time.”

All of Kubota's minis, save the lightweight U10-3 and the K008-3 machines, are fitted with the company's unique key-based 'ANTI-THEFT' system, which has gained the certification of Thatcham, the Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre.

They also come with an industry-leading full three year warranty and selected best-selling models also benefit from Datatag CESAR – a construction equipment security registration scheme promoted by the Construction Equipment Association (CEA) and supported by the Construction Plant Hire Association (CPA).

Kubota is the world, European and UK market leader in mini excavators, providing the largest range from a single manufacturer and including the widest selection of increasingly popular zero tail swing models.

Their machines are known and respected for quality, performance, versatility, excellent residual values, overall value-for-money and exceptional dealer support, together with legendary reliability and durability.

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Roseland Peninsula Homes Ltd, the developer behind a new collection of holiday villas in beautiful Trewhiddle near St Austell, South Cornwall, has installed Hamilton Litestat’s Hartland range of electrical wiring accessories into phase one of the exclusive development.

The first stage of Trewhiddle Village, a prestigious complex that will eventually incorporate 65 three- and four-bedroom holiday villas and luxurous leisure facilities, has recently been completed to provide 16 stunning homes which blend natural materials and light with contemporary design. Hamilton’s Hartland range of switch plates and sockets is featured in a satin stainless steel finish with rocker switches surrounded by a slim white insert, offering a modern, smooth yet hardwearing finish and slim-line design which perfectly complements the other elements of the elegant interiors.

The Hartland accessories are used throughout the properties and are particularly at home in the designer kitchens, which feature stainless steel appliances, granite worktops and natural stone floors. There are plans to continue the use of Hartland throughout the other villas as well as the communal leisure facilities – due to launch in summer 2010 – which will also feature Hamilton’s Digital Mercury lighting control system mounted on Hartland stainless steel plates.

“Our Hartland range is one of our most popular because of its unobtrusive, slimline design,” said Rod Hamilton, managing director of Hamilton Litestat. “The finished look is simple and elegant and the satin stainless steel finish specified throughout Trewhiddle Village provides a subtle, contemporary design edge.”

“The in-house management team chose Hamilton’s Hartland product as we required a durable, quality product with evident attention to detail in the design”, added Richard Green, one of the Directors of Roseland Peninsula Homes Ltd. “We always specify all products ourselves during the design process; this way we are able to sustain our exacting standards right down to the smallest detail.”

This wiring accessories order was supplied through the St Austell branch of Denmans Electrical Wholesalers Ltd and installed by ITP Electrical of Newquay.

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Salamander Engineering, part of water treatment specialist Sentinel Performance Solutions Group, has addressed the potential problem being caused by the huge quantity of condensate that is increasingly making its way into drains and soak aways around the country from high efficiency condensing boilers following the changes to Part L of the Building Regulations at their last update.

Salamander’s Dr Paul Day says the sheer volume of acidic waste now being discharged to the drainage system and the interest being shown from a number of sources in the industry in condensate neutraliser products, would suggest that the concern is wider spread than the deafening silence on the subject might suggest: “We know that the condensate generated by the growing numbers of condensing boilers installed across the UK is acidic discharge at around pH 4.0, but considering the age of much – if not most – of the drainage infrastructure in the UK and the huge quantity of condensate being discharged without treatment to the sewers, it seems that ‘what do we need to do about it?” is a question we should ask and one we should consider having a viable response to, in case we discover that it is causing a problem,” says Paul Day. “Indeed a much smaller quantity – but a significant amount still – is discharged to ‘soak aways’ and if the quantity was high enough, it could have an impact on groundwater, which bearing in mind how much of our drinking water is still drawn from wells and bore holes, would seem to warrant a degree of concern on all our behalves.”

There are an estimated 17 million gas boilers in the UK, with around 1.3 million new boilers installed each year. A condensing boiler from an average household will produce approximately 800 litres of acid per year at pH 4.0.

This is probably not a problem for an odd house or two but the amount of acid condensate put down the drain is thought to be growing at a rate of in excess of half a million litres per week as more and more condensing boilers are installed. It’s conservatively thought that in two years time, we could be adding in the region of 50 million litres of acid at pH 4.0 to our drains every week. Even at a relatively low level of acidity, common sense suggests this must be having an effect on the infrastructure or water treatment process at some level, potentially threatening the biological purification processes in septic tanks and local water treatment plant, and possibly causing significant upset to the drainage infrastructure.

So what’s the answer to the problem, in the light of a lack of knowledge about the effects this large scale acidic ‘flushaway’ might be having?

This has been addressed by Salamander, part of Sentinel Performance Solutions, with the release of its ‘Condensafe ‘+’ unit.

This unique and innovative in-line unit, designed to be mounted between the boiler condensate outlet and the drain, contains a special medium that will effectively neutralise acidic waste from condensing boilers before allowing the now harmless waste to be discharged to the drains. The neutralising medium can be easily replaced every twelve months when the boiler undergoes its annual service and the spent medium can be safely disposed of in household waste.

The Salamander ‘Condensafe ‘+’ offers a sensible approach to low level acidic discharge management, it’s easy to fit, clean and maintain, fits all domestic condensing boilers, has no adverse effect on the operation of a condensing boiler and complies with all relevant standards.

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An ideal choice for electrical contractors who offer portable appliance testing (PAT testing) alongside other services, the new PAT320 testers from Megger combine convenience and ease of use with rugged construction and very competitive pricing.

• Full PAT functionality

• Tough tester supplied in carry and tast case

• Automatic or manual operation

• Virtual continuous operation

• Quickest to give results in its class

• Dual voltage operation 230 V and 110 V

• Full colour ¼ VGA display makes testing clear and simple

Ready to use straight from the box

Ready to use in automatic mode straight from the box, the new testers feature full colour displays that show test data and results clearly and unambiguously, and pushbuttons identified with icons to initiate test sequences. A handy pass/fail mode with user-defined limits is also available, which makes routine testing particularly fast and straightforward.

FREE life-time technical support

To help them get the best from their instruments, users of the new PAT320 testers have access to Megger’s technical support line, where the company’s experts will be happy to provide advice and to answer questions on all aspects of PAT testing.

Increased productivity

For convenience and as an aid to productivity, the testers incorporate a replaceable internal back-up battery that allows them to retain their operating status for periods of up to five minutes when they are switched off. This is a big time saver, since it eliminates the need for the tester to reboot every time testing is briefly interrupted.

Full set of earth bond tests and plug-in RDC testing

Megger PAT320 testers allow bond testing to be carried out at 250 mA, 10 A and 25 A, and are continuously rated for all currents. This means that testing will never be held up because the tester has overheated, shut itself down, or switched to a reduced current operating mode. In addition to the default automatic mode, the testers support manual testing, and they can be used with both 110 V and 230 V assets. They also offer facilities for testing plug-in RCDs.

Megger’s new PAT320 portable appliance testers are supplied complete with a calibration certificate, a printed quick-start guide, a full user guide on CD, a continuity/earth bond lead and probe, a 13 A extension lead adaptor and a carrying case.

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FastTest Enterprise from AMTECH Power Software is a powerful new system that gives managers complete control over large teams of electrical engineers working simultaneously on Test & Inspection projects. It provides managers with a detailed overview and enables them to make optimum use of skilled operatives.

Capable of synchronising input from a large number of engineers at any one time, working on PCs and/or mobile devices from local or remote locations, FastTest Enterprise stores all information within a dynamic data management system. Live access to this central database ensures that all client data is kept fully up to date.

FastTest Enterprise allows engineers to create a full range of both 16th and 17th Edition certificates, work on live projects and add electronic signatures. Access to information is controlled on a customisable, password controlled hierarchy basis with three designated levels; Qualified Manager, Test Engineer and Administration. Certificates can be locked to prevent overwriting by other engineers and a full section by section audit trail is created for each project.

FastTest Enterprise features an automated reminder system to ensure that re-tests and instrument calibrations are never overlooked. The software also includes a number of additional benefits such as the use of SingleCable circuit calculation application, gas certification certificates and powerful import & export facilities.

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