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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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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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State of the art fan coil units manufactured by Ability Projects Ltd, are playing a significant role in air conditioning services at the recently opened research and teaching facility of Oxford University Department of Earth Sciences.

The innovative facility, built in under two years at a cost of £38 million can accommodate around 300 students, researchers, academics and administrative staff. Based around highly services laboratories, lecture and conference rooms and library etc, the flagship centre is designed to emphasise and promote a greater understanding of the Earth’s geological processes.

A combination of Ability 4-pipe EVO260 ceiling chassis and EVOVERT vertical fan coil units with capacities of 3.64 to 7.6kW (cooling) and 2.32 to 4.75kW (heating) are distributed throughout the complex. The wall mounted vertical cased units are installed in the IT rooms to supplement the downflow cooling provided by the ceiling units. Ability EC-DC Evolution fan coils offer reductions in electrical input of 75% and above compared to similar capacity AC driven equivalents plus infinite speed control and minimal heat generation. The adoption of energy efficient cooling and heating technologies provides up to 35% of the site’s requirements.

According to the company’s agents, Air Systems Ltd, Ability EC fan coil units were specified by the consultants due of their low running costs and also because Ability were able to modify fan inlet and discharge plenums to suit the diffuser/plenum requirements dictated by the high cooling loads and air volumes inherent in the project.

All fan coil units are fitted with DC speed controllers for manual speed control plus 240v/24v transformers for 24v control package power supply.

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Leading architectural ironmongery provider Laidlaw Solutions has combined quality and affordability in its new Washroom Solutions range. Fittings manufactured in satin or polished stainless steel and polyester powder-coated steel have been designed to suit most commercial environments and complement the company's brand leading doorset, door furniture, handrail, access control and signage systems. Products include hand driers, towel and soap dispensers, toilet roll holders, baby change units and a comprehensive selection of items for disabled users. A core range of economy fittings such as mirrors, bathroom cabinets and grab rails completes the package.

For environments ranging from hospitals to schools and restaurants, Laidlaw washroom fittings will suit most applications, design styles and budgets. The scope to include such accessories as part of the doorset ironmongery package provides greater assurance of design compatibility and guaranteed performance. To comply with the requirements of Approved Document M, the range includes drop down rails, grab rails and shower seats.

The various Orbis ranges of architectural ironmongery provide a comprehensive choice of door fittings. Products include pull and lever handles, door closers and holders, push and kick plates, mortice, cylinder and cam locks, hinges, hooks, floor springs and emergency exit hardware. To add the finishing touches to any project a comprehensive range of signage includes a bespoke design service.

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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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The NHBC'S newly published ventilation requirements apply to all home starts from 1st January 2011. Klober examines the implications….

The issue of how best to control condensation in roof spaces has been debated ever since vapour permeable underlays (VPUs) were introduced. Recent cold winters, however, have put the performance of some VPUs in the spotlight following an increasing number of calls concerning roof condensation to the NHBC.

The risk of condensation in new homes is at its greatest during the drying out period. Until now, 'unventilated' roofs have been considered acceptable for VPUs supported by BBA or similar certification. However, by stating that supporting ridge or high level ventilation equivalent to a continuous opening of 5mm must now be provided, the NHBC has decided that such certification can no longer be considered adequate.

It is important to highlight, however, that this is only relevant when seeking the NHBC warranty, and applies only to VPUs and not to air-open underlays. Unlike VPUs, however, there are currently only two proprietary air-open membranes available, the best performing being Klober Permo Air.

Klober's portfolio of products uniquely covers all 3 ventilation options.

• An air-open membrane with no ventilation (Klober's product is Permo Air)
• Vapour open membrane with high level ventilation (Klober products are Permo Forte/Light/Ecovent with Roll Fix Ridge, or Vent Tiles)
• Vapour closed membrane with eaves and ridge ventilation (Klober products are Sepa Forte/Light with components)

A comprehensive range of air barriers, vapour control layers, tapes, sealants and sealing collars also provides scope for airtight construction for the most complex roofing specifications as we move towards zero carbon house building.

Klober MD David Arendell added “Ventilation best practice is of course no less relevant to refurbishments, particularly in situations such as public sector housing upgrades. Airtightness may not yet be a requirement and ceilings are less likely to be well sealed in cold roof design. However, it should be considered in order to limit condensation risk within the roof void. In terms of ventilation of the roof space it is ironic that by seeking to reduce long-term maintenance costs, the widespread use of ventilated dry ridges and hips by housing associations has reduced the likelihood of problems with VPUs.”

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Space Airconditioning plc, the Guildford based Daikin Distributor, holds registration under the environmental standard ISO14001:2004, in the unique category of “Distributors of air conditioning equipment and manufacture of ancillary components”.

Despite the challenging business conditions of the past two years, Space Air has remained committed to taking all reasonable steps to reduce the environmental impact of its commercial activities. The ISO 14001 Standard forms an important part of Space Air’s objectives and so the Directors were delighted when the annual external audit approved certificate renewal with a highly complimentary report on the management of the system and environmental targets achieved to date, the auditor concluding with “This is one of the best environmental systems I have audited”.

Perhaps the most impressive achievement was energy efficiency improvements recorded for the Daikin VRVQ air conditioning system installed earlier this year to replace the existing older VRV system.

Detailed metered records indicating minutes run and kW/hrs consumed by the new VRVQ system were compared with corresponding periods in previous years for the original system and showed a remarkable average 28.6% reduction in monthly kW/hr consumption!

A Space Air spokesman commented, “In addition to various other measures we have undertaken to reduce our environmental impact, the external auditor was particularly impressed by the very significant energy savings achieved by the VRVQ system. Although we need to look at a full year of recordings to get a fair comparison, the results so far are extremely encouraging, not only in terms of meeting our own objectives but also in reinforcing the efficiency benefits of VRVQ for the many customers considering replacing existing R22 or R407C VRV systems.

VRVQ has specifically been designed to enable older VRV systems to be replaced without the need to renew the existing pipework and in some cases, retain the existing fan coil units. VRVQ can therefore be installed relatively quickly, at considerably reduced cost and site disruption. The additional benefit is substantially lower running costs. We are already reaping the rewards and our customers can do the same.”

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In one of its most significant product launches in recent years, Eaton is introducing Memshield 3, a new generation of final distribution boards and associated circuit protection devices for commercial, industrial and public buildings. Memshield 3 forms a vital element in Eaton’s PowerChain Management® solutions which offer an integrated approach to the efficient distribution and control of electrical energy in buildings, from the main supply intake to the point of use.

Memshield 3 breaks new ground in the range of functions it can perform. It retains all the features that have made Memshield 2 the preferred choice of electrical contractors for more than 15 years but introduces innovative features that will enable specifiers and installers to offer an even wider range of power distribution solutions in modern buildings. In particular 125A Type B boards are now offered with a 250A option in the larger sizes while 250A boards can be used instead of MCCB panelboards for some applications.

Memshield 3 distribution boards are offered in Type A (single-phase) and Type B (three-phase) versions with up to 24 outgoing TPN ways. Single-pole and triple-pole miniature circuit-breakers, available in ratings up to 63A, have a 10/15kA short-circuit rating (10kA to IEC 60898 and 15kA to IEC 60947-2). Previously these devices were offered as two separate ranges with 10kA and 15kA short-circuit ratings. Memshield 3 RCBOs are offered in a choice of trip sensitivities, from 10mA to 100mA and have a 10kA short-circuit rating to IEC 61009.

Type A distribution boards are now offered with a higher-rated, 125A switch-disconnector incomer in five sizes from 4-way to 16-way. They embody a number of special safety features including unique full-form blanking modules for unused ways (which also provide secure shrouding of unused busbar stabs) and fully shrouded neutral busbars. The main busbar assembly can be removed for easier installation. An optional coupling kit allows two Type A boards to be linked together vertically to increase the number of ways.

Type B boards come in two ratings – 125A and 250A with up to 24 outgoing TPN ways.

Memshield 3 also breaks new ground with its new 250A Type B ”High Load” distribution boards. Two of the outgoing TPN ways are designed to accommodate larger – 80A, 100A or 125A – miniature circuit-breakers. This means that the boards can handle larger individual loads or even feed additional distribution boards; a 250A Memshield 3 board can sometimes be used in place of the more expensive MCCB panelboard to feed downstream boards.

Visually Memshield 3 has a more modern styling than its predecessor with rounded edges. The boards are slightly larger to provide ample wiring space, even when using RCBOs to meet the latest requirements of the 17th Edition of the IEE Wiring Regulations.

Among installer-friendly features that are retained from the Memshield 2 design is the welded end plate construction which prevents distortion of the enclosure when mounting on an uneven surface, even when the gland plates are removed. Doors are removable, making it easier to fix the boards, and hanging the doors is easier because one hinge pin is longer than the other so that the two hinges do not have to be aligned together.

Another time-saving feature offered with Memshield 3 distribution boards is the availability of a ‘Cable trunking interface kit’ for use when boards are mounted on cable trunking. Contractors often make their own interface plates to protect the cables from damage caused by the sharp cut edges in cable trunking. Eaton’s plastic interface can also be used as a template when cutting and drilling the trunking.

Separate transient voltage surge suppression (SPD) units, developed to meet the requirements of the new lightning protection standard BS EN 62305, are included in the Memshield 3 range. These provide Type 1/Type 2 protection as part of a coordinated solution.

Eaton’s innovative Smart metered split-load distribution boards, introduced earlier this year, are also offered in the new Memshield 3 styling, along with separate meter packs and Type A boards with integral metering. These all help meet the energy conservation requirements of the UK Building Regulations Part L2 by providing separate measurement of grouped lighting and power loads. The Smart boards use a unique smart summing meter in conjunction with a high-integrity busbar with embedded voltage transducers. This provides separate measurement of the two grouped loads, plus total load.

“We held contractor clinics around the country while developing Memshield 3. These revealed a number of features of the existing design that were even more important to our customers than we realised” says Mike Lawrence, Eaton’s Product Line Manager for Commercial Assemblies. “We believe that in Memshield 3 we have a worthy successor to Memshield 2 that sets new standards in final distribution board design.”

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