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Complex project includes conversion of existing graphics files to Windows OS.

19 August 2008 – ABB has won a major contract from E.ON UK to replace the existing VAX based operator stations at its 1,420 MW Connah’s Quay Combined Cycle Gas Turbine Power Station at Deeside, North Wales with new MS Windows based power generation portal consoles. The contract includes the installation and commissioning of the full system include ancillary services, staff training and a system for converting graphics from the existing installation to the Windows operating interface.

The existing installation consists of four generating systems plus common services. Each generating unit has four operator screens and there are two server plus two client consoles on the system. Common services has two servers and one client console.

The existing SODG graphics used on the existing OIS-40 series consoles will be converted to PGP (power generation portal) graphics.

The upgrade project will replace existing OIS-40 series consoles with state-of-the-art technology suitable for meeting the power station’s needs for the foreseeable future.

Key considerations in the new system have been achieving backward compatibility for existing graphics and retaining the existing ‘look and feel’ of this part of the system. The existing graphics and databases were created in ABB Composer software. The new installation will convert the graphics to run on the new systems’ Windows operating system. The present control system has more than one thousand graphics screens on each unit plus a further hundred and fifty on common services.

The contract includes the supply and installation of a wide range of necessary network interfaces, switches and peripherals as well as cabling, desk and alarms. In addition, ABB will provide installation & commissioning, inspection & testing, training and spares.

The work began in May 2008 and is due for completion in early 2009.

ABB recently completed the replacement of the power station’s steam turbine supervisory system.

E.ON is one of the UK’s leading power and gas companies – generating and distributing electricity, and retailing power and gas – and is part of the E.ON group, the world’s largest investor-owned power and gas company.

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Mitsubishi Electric has launched three new air conditioning interfaces to cement its position as the manufacturer with the most compatible and comprehensive control product-line up currently available.

“Everyone is aware of the need to save energy and the simplest way is through better control of your heating, cooling and ventilation systems,” explained Sebastien Desmottes, Product Marketing Liaison Manager at Mitsubishi Electric.

“This will not only help reduce emissions by minimising energy use but can also significantly reduce energy bills,” added Desmottes. “With these new interfaces we have increased performance and lowered prices to offer greater control options to more applications.”

The new MOD-IP/50 and the MOD-IP/100 interfaces are the latest additions to the range of MODBUS-compatible systems. The new interfaces allow connections for up to 100 indoor units and are smaller and cheaper than the previous models. They also provide additional internal register points allowing more functionality to be controlled and monitored from the one interface, making BEMS (Building Energy Management Systems) interfacing much more cost-effective for small through to larger and more complex applications.

The new BAC-HD/150 is another enhancement to the company’s BACnet-compatible line-up which allows monitoring of up to 150 indoor units. The new interface allows direct connection between BEMS and the Mitsubishi Network (M-NET), providing not only the most powerful but also the most simple to install interface between BACnet and air conditioning systems currently available.

With the addition of these new products Mitsubishi Electric maintains its unique position in the air conditioning marketplace with the majority of BEMS interfaces developed specifically for interfacing to the company’s equipment. Many of the BEMS interfaces offered by other manufacturers are available only as third party products which can cause problems if there are complex issues on site which need resolving.

Other BEMS interfaces available from Mitsubishi Electric link to LonWorks and Trend systems to ensure that the company’s air conditioning units can easily integrate and become part of any energy management system. Mitsubishi Electric has a wide range of controls available ‘off-the-shelf’ and where needed, individual control systems can be specifically designed to suit.

When an air conditioning system is not properly controlled, it will not run as efficiently as it should. For every degree that the system deviates from the required temperature, energy costs can rise by up to 5%.

“Good controls will benefit any application whether large or small,” explained Desmottes. “Air conditioning systems have to react quickly to a variety of factors, whether that is different room sizes, usage and staff levels, changes in the climate, different electronic equipment and lighting… the list goes on.

Whatever the application, maximising control of your air conditioning system will result in a constant, comfortable environment for the occupants, which is both energy and cost efficient for the end client,” ended Desmottes.

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Britain’s leading steel window manufacturer has received the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade.

Crittall Windows has received the award in recognition of its export achievements in the notoriously difficult American market where the Essex-based company has seen the value of its sales increase significantly over recent years.

Crittall is now the second largest supplier of steel windows in the United States having re-built its entire distribution network there in just six years.

“We feel proud and honoured to be recognised by the Queen’s Award for our work and success in the US market,” said Crittall Windows Managing Director John Pyatt. “America can be seen as one of the hardest markets to compete in and this accolade is the culmination of Crittall’s long history showing how a professionally-managed private company with an excellent product, a strong brand and an enthusiastic workforce can take on the Americans at their own game.”

The company dates back to 1849 and in 2004 Crittall Windows underwent a management buyout led by Mr Pyatt. At this point, its distribution market in the States disappeared and the company had to begin again from scratch with its US operation. Then, three-years later, Crittall Windows moved to new state-of-the-art premises in Witham, Essex from its factory in Braintree. Despite the upheaval, and now the recession, the company has gone from strength to strength.

On both sides of the Atlantic its products are being specified in high quality public and private sector buildings. These include the US ‘Ivy League’ universities of Princeton and Yale, the prestigious 300 Central Park West apartment block in New York, the University of Sussex, Grade 2-listed Lichfield Court flats in Richmond-upon-Thames, and the restored Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. The firm is especially strong in the heritage market in both countries.

In order to win a Queen’s Award, companies also have to demonstrate high quality business practices in employee relations, environmental policy, health and safety matters, and its relationship with the local community. In all these matters Crittall Windows has scored very highly. Its workforce of around 200 is drawn from its local area and one in ten employees have been with the firm for more than 40 years.

“This is in effect an award for excellence in how we have gone about our business.” says Managing Director John Pyatt.

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Zurich, Switzerland, July 17, 2008 – The Board of Directors of ABB Ltd. announced today that Joseph M. Hogan has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the ABB Group. Hogan is currently CEO of GE Healthcare, the global leader in medical diagnostic technology and biosciences, and is a member of the GE Senior Executive Council. He will join ABB on September 1, 2008.

Michel DemarǸ, ABB’s Chief Financial Officer, who has held the CEO position on an ad-interim basis since February 13, 2008, will continue to serve as ABB’s CFO.

“Following our extensive search over the past months, the Board of Directors is very pleased with Joseph’s decision to take on this exciting role. His proven international track record as a highly successful leader at one of the world’s most respected technology companies will be a great contribution to the Company as we continue to focus the organization on excellence in everything we do,” said Hubertus von Gruenberg, ABB’s Chairman.

“The Board and I would also like to thank Michel DemarǸ for his many contributions to ABB in this transitional period. We are very pleased with the direction of the Company under DemarǸ’s guidance,” von Gruenberg said.

“I am honored to become ABB’s CEO,” Hogan said. “I am deeply committed to ABB’s drive to increase energy efficiency and industrial productivity for its customers. I look forward to leading the Company to the next stage of its development and success together with the team at ABB.”

Hogan has a long and distinguished career at GE, spanning 23 years and a wide range of challenging positions. He led GE Medical Systems and then GE Healthcare from November 2000, during which time he grew the business by $11 billion. Prior to this, he served as President and CEO of GE Fanuc Automation North America, Inc., a global supplier of industrial controls systems and a joint venture between GE and FANUC of Japan. Previously, he held a number of key positions in sales, marketing and product development at GE Plastics. Hogan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Geneva College and an MBA from Robert Morris University, both in the U.S.

Joseph Hogan is 51 and holds U.S. citizenship.

Von Gruenberg and Hogan will host a telephone conference for journalists, analysts and investors at 10:00 CET. Callers should dial +41 91 610 56 00. They are requested to dial in ten minutes before the conference starts.

The audio playback of the call will start one hour after the end of the call and be available for one week. Playback numbers: +1 866 416 2558 (U.S./Canada) or +41 91 612 4330 (Europe and the rest of the world). The code is 15395, followed by the # key.

ABB is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs more than 110,000 people.

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Already acknowledged as the leading brand of plastic plumbing and heating systems in the UK marketplace with its established Polyplumb and Polyfit systems, Polypipe has launched its latest range of plumbing fittings – Polysure – in response to the market’s requirement for highly permanent and tamper-proof fix products.

Polysure is an exciting new range of radial press fit fittings – the first on the UK market available in UK imperial sizes. Polysure fittings can be used with either or both grey Polyplumb and white Polyfit polybutylene pipes, in residential and light commercial applications. Polypipe Product Manager Darren Cockayne says the arrival of Polysure adds a significant new offering to the Polypipe range: “Plumbers and heating installers are increasingly comfortable with the benefits of plastic piping systems. There is no longer nervousness about plastics in plumbing and heating installations, especially where elevated temperatures and pressures are involved.

“Plastics give a clear advantage over traditional materials when it comes to flexibility. The ability to bend and curve pipes in and around buildings and their structure means quicker, easier installation. Coupled with highly engineered push fit fittings, plastic systems give the installer a level of security that gives real peace of mind. And Polysure will simply add to that warm feeling, but even more so because of the additional benefits it offers specifiers and installers alike.”

From an installers point of view, the new Polysure fittings offer a number of installation benefits as Darren Cockayne explains: “Polysure provides an enhanced joint to pipes via a visual pipe socket depth indicator and a double ‘O’ ring seal,” he highlights. “The chamfered Polyplumb or Polyfit pipe is inserted into the Polysure fitting and pushed in until pipe can be seen through the hole in the stainless steel pressing sleeve. When this has been done, the joint is ready for pressing.”

The dedicated pressing tool – either a manual or battery operated version – ensures that joints are secure and a location washer for pressing ensures the jaws of the pressing tool are correctly positioned for pressing onto the pipes.

“Polysure offers safe, heat-free jointing with no more jointing consumables to buy such as flux and solder, adding to the cost savings that using Polysure can offer,” says Darren Cockayne. “Polypipe plastic plumbing products have traditionally been future-proofed – designed to meet future requirements and utilise new technology to ensure no corrosion, fewer joints and reduced risk of leakage. This continues through the design of Polysure and as Polypipe’s plastic plumbing systems are made from clean, lightweight, non-hazardous products, they still importantly require no hot works at all.”

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Architects and designers from across the UK gave a big thumbs up to Bona’s newest waterborne, low VOC lacquer which was launched at Ecobuild. New Bona Mega Extra Matt delivers a sustainable solution for specifiers looking to achieve a totally matt look to a wooden floor. Part of the established Bona Mega family of finishes, these products hold a unique position on the market due to their innovative crosslinking formula which reacts with oxygen and gives the benefits of a two component product.

Since its launch in 1995, 28 million litres of Bona Mega have been sold and 136 million M² of wooden floors have been finished with this still innovative product! Suitable for homes and commercial spaces with normal wear, Mega offers good resistance to wear, scuff marks and scratches, as well as very good chemical resistance.

Since no traditional hardener is needed, Bona Mega is a sustainable choice in all its sheen versions. The Mega formula contains vegetable oils – a renewable resource – and the production method has actually saved 8 million kilos of carbon dioxide emission to the atmosphere! Bona Mega also carries the ECI certification recognizing its very low emission properties. New Mega Extra Matt was presented at Ecobuild alongside Bona’s new Traffic Anti Slip coating, Bona Naturale which retains the natural texture of the wooden surface, Bona Novia for domestic and lighter commercial use and Bona’s traditional and Hard Wax Oils.

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The Daikin Altherma High Temperature (HT) heat pump has received two prestigious Rushlight 2009 Awards, which were presented at a gala dinner, held on 28 January, following The Rushlight Clean Technologies Show at London’s Royal National Hall. Daikin won the Ground and Air Source Power Award and also the Rushlight Natural Energy Award, in appreciation of “the most significant overall contribution to renewable energy technology during 2009.”

The Rushlight Awards, organised by Eventure Media, support the development of clean technology and improving environmental standards by organisations throughout the UK and Ireland, which have furthered environmental consideration, technology and innovation. Separate award categories cover renewable energy, clean fuels, power generation, green products and services, water, waste and pollution management — highlighting technologies and innovations that are shaping the future of the energy, transport, environmental and industrial sectors.

The Rushlight Natural Energy Award is awarded to the most significant overall achievement in the exploitation and adoption of natural energy sources. Winners of 5 other Rushlight Award categories – for Solar, Ground and Air Source Power, Wind Power, Marine Energy and Hydropower – were short-listed for this, the highest accolade.

In winning the Ground and Air Source category, the Daikin Altherma HT system was recognised as the most important single contribution to renewable energy technology in 2009. Altherma HT is a low carbon, low energy system, capable of supplying a home’s total heating and hot water requirements, even during outside temperatures as low as -200C. For every 1kW of electrical input, Altherma HT delivers between 3 and 5kW of usable heat, compared to the typical 0.93kW generated by a condensing boiler.

The Daikin system represents a direct alternative to boiler replacement and can fully support existing radiator systems, providing a highly energy efficient and versatile high temperature solution guaranteeing flow temperatures of up to 800C without the need for a non-renewable back up heating system. High flow temperatures are achieved as a result of the system’s specially designed cascading heat pump configuration. Altherma HT consists of an outdoor heat pump (first stage) and indoor hydrobox unit (second stage heat pump), in which upgraded free heat from the outside air is transferred to the heating and hot water system. The hot water cylinder is installed next to or mounted neatly on top of the indoor unit.

In order to provide even greater capacity for year round water heating and storage, Altherma HT can be combined with the Daikin Solar Thermal System, which includes solar panel/s, a solar pumping station and a thermal storage tank.

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The innovative DiscDrive technology at the heart of sara's new Sprint 3000 R roller door delivers practically wear-free operation, plus low noise and vibration, for extended operating life. Designed for frequent operation inside or out, the Sprint 3000 R is a low maintenance door that offers maximum reliability in high traffic areas; its robust construction easily coping with the toughest everyday production demands.

The patented DiscDrive technology integrated into the Sprint 3000 R comprises sturdy profiles, which are wound separately on up to three winding modules. This design reduces noise, vibration and – most importantly – wear, by preventing harmful metal-to-metal contact. Moreover, with the profiles protected from damage, they suffer no distortion, even after frequent, long term use, enabling the Sprint 3000 R to deliver practically wear-free, continuous operation, with long service intervals and low maintenance costs.

Also contributing to the Sprint’s low maintenance operation is a simplified overall design, which, in addition to using fewer parts for improved reliability, also provides a unique response to impact damage. Using a completely new technology, the individual profiles in the Sprint door are linked without hinges; instead, each section is individually mounted on rubberised carrying belts, creating an elastic flexibility. The benefit of this design is evident in the case of impact; the pressure from the impact is dispersed and not transmitted to the overall door structure. As a result, any damage is always kept within limits, and, even in the worst case scenarios, individual sections are quick and easy to replace.

With its curtain of robust metal profiles, with optional vision panels, the Sprint 3000 R provides greater security, not only in high-cycle and high traffic areas, but also in other applications such as machinery protection and laser protection. In all of these applications the Sprint’s tough construction and reduced vulnerability to crash damage are paramount.

As well as reducing whole life costs for users – through long life and low maintenance – the Sprint 3000 R also optimises production throughput with its fast opening speeds of up to 2m/s. These are delivered by the Sprint’s MCC vector control intelligent door system, which also ensures smooth operation at high speed, and gives users the facility to program operation of the door to meet individual user needs.

Effective safeguarding of users during all aspects of door operation is provided by sara’s patented non-contact safety beam with pre-running photocell. The photocell automatically detects any obstructions during door closing, and reverses the door automatically, before its bottom edge can make contact with equipment, vehicles or personnel.

In addition to the standard non-contact safety beam and the door line photocell, the Sprint 3000 R door offers a comprehensive range of safety options to enable customisation to specific application requirements. These include: an electrically monitored contact safety edge (which replaces the 'non-contact' safety beam); drop down protection via tension springs; and emergency self-opening in the event of power failure (partial depending on door size) by Bowden lever brake release. As you would expect there are many activation devices to choose from, including radio, mushroom button, induction loops and a wide range of radar/presence detectors for example.

About sara LBS

sara Loading Bay Specialists Limited is a major force in five key market sectors within the UK: high speed doors, loading bay equipment, industrial doors, aluminium ramps and drawbridge levellers. sara is a total package supplier, combining excellence in product supply with the highest levels of pre and post sales design input and technical support. Our solutions are an important benefit to the end user, specifier, and main contractor. So is our service, with the installation, maintenance and service of sara equipment carried out at our six depots operating throughout the U.K.. These are strategically located in Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and Hemel Hempstead.

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The Clearline Solar Collector range from Viridian Solar (Certificate 0001) and TopSola TSM-160M Solar Photovoltaic Modules from MAP Environmental (Certificate 0002) are the first to be issued with UK Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) Certificates. These are the result of a certification process set out in the MCS.

The BBA is accredited by UKAS to certify microgeneration products against the requirements of the MCS. However, this is not the same as our Agrément Certificates, which address all relevant aspects of the performance of a product. The MCS is much more limited, focusing primarily on the energy-providing capabilities of a product, although proposed amendments to the scheme may take things a little further.

Viridian Solar already had a full Agrément Certificate showing how it meets regulatory and other non-statutory requirements of roof components. Stuart Elmes, Chief Executive of Viridian Solar, said: ‘We welcome the BBA becoming approved assessors for the MCS scheme. They were a good choice for Viridian because of our earlier work together to create the first Agrément Certificate for a solar panel.’
MAP Environmental (also seeking full Agrément Certification) said: ‘We at MAP Environmental are excited about the confidence that the BBA Agrément Certificate on our photovoltaic systems will give and will also increase consumer confidence in the photovoltaic market’.

We at the BBA believe that more specifiers and purchasers will be looking for the same additional reassurance of product performance provided by Agrément Certificates for in- and on-roof microgeneration products that they look for from other roofing products, and we look forward to announcements in that regard shortly. Our approach will be to address further key issues of interest to the consumer, designer, specifier or architect such as regulatory compliance and assessment of structural stability, durability, output performance, weatherproofing and practicability of installation’.

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