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To coincide with the launch of its latest TV advert, Beko plc, one of the UK’s leading appliance manufacturers, has updated its UK website (www.beko.co.uk) to give consumers an even better experience, featuring easier navigation and an integrated look and feel with the brand’s on-going marketing initiatives.

The new look for the website has been designed with both new and existing customers in mind, to ensure that they can quickly navigate to the product information or page they are seeking. The cleaner layout features clear visual clues such as product imagery to guide consumers through the site.

In addition to product specifications and information for existing customers, the website will host the brand’s latest news as well as videos of current ad campaigns and advice to help consumers choose their perfect appliance.

Teresa Arbuckle, Marketing Director of Beko plc, comments: “We have invested heavily in marketing the Beko brand this year through spending on print and broadcast advertising, our sponsorship of the FA Cup and long-running Facebook initiative, Beko Mums United. The new-look Beko website acts as an information hub – not just a directory of products but a resource for new and existing customers to find products, choose an appliance or see the latest installment of our popular baby Billy TV campaign.”

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As the UK’s leading developer of electrical software, AMTECH offers a complete electrical design solution for electrical engineers and consultants working on major projects.

The complete range includes ProDesign for fast, accurate electrical system design and calculation, SingleCable for quick single cable calculations and Protect LV or HV for protection studies and device selection. Designer Suite packages also incorporate PowerNet HV for the calculation of short circuit currents in low and high voltage distribution systems.

These market leading design software packages are available in a range of levels so that users can select the functionality that best suits their needs – all designed to accommodate the changes being introduced in Amendment 1 to the 17th Edition Wiring Regulations (BS 7671).

With high performance functionality and full integration between ProDesign, Protect and FastTest Test & Inspection software, AMTECH software helps users work smarter with major time savings and productivity improvements.

The top 20 electrical consulting companies choose AMTECH… Why not join them today?

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Interior designers will be able to share their creative vision with clients in an instant with a new, free iPad app from Dulux Trade paints. The Dulux Trade Colour Concept app allows professional designers and architects to bring their ideas to life by quickly and effortlessly creating concept boards.

Via the application, designers can choose from an array of shades in the Dulux Trade Colour Palette, explore coordinating colours and draw inspiration from a gallery of images to bring together their concept on screen. What's more, designers can upload and incorporate their own images into a mood board and match them up with existing Dulux Trade paint colours.

Ideas can also be combined, edited and reworked with ease on the free form interactive canvas which designers are able to annotate to add useful project tips and information. The creative concept boards can then instantly be shared with clients, colleagues and other designers online or via email.

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Setting new standards in customer support, Wavin has launched an online newsletter and web-based advice service that is totally free and developed specifically to support professional plumbing and heating installers.

Plumbed-in brings together all Wavin’s market-leading brands like Hep2O, OSMA, Hepworth and Thermoboard onto one platform that shows how they provide an integrated solution to all domestic plumbing heating and drainage.

The Plumbed-in email not only gives news, tips and know-how but also provides updates on the latest products and ideas. Online, professionals can register on the website www.plumbed-in.com to receive news, tips and technical features with expert advice on everything from underfloor heating to push-fit plumbing.

Whether by email or website, subscribers to Plumbed-in will be the first to hear the latest offers and promotions from the UK’s leading supplier of water management, plumbing, heating and drainage systems for the Building, Construction and Utilities markets.

The website offers detailed advice from Wavin’s technical team, which offers all the help needed for any aspect of domestic installations, together with an email enquiry service to deal with any practical query. Not only are there specialist heating engineer and plumbing zones but the site offers downloads to help with every element of everyday work. These include product and technical literature, video guides and demonstrations, press articles and features.

The move is Wavin’s recognition that customers are becoming far more familiar with digital formats and that these offer significant benefits, being faster to update and more accessible to customers as well as being sustainable as they require no paper, ink or logistics.

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New TROX FLEXTRO flexible plenum boxes, available for circular or square ceiling air diffusers, provide valuable practical advantages due to their innovative design. They provide a high degree of architectural flexibility, meaning that they can be fitted with a wide variety of ceiling diffusers. They can also be integrated into any kind of ceiling system, guaranteeing fast, problem-free installation into grid, plaster or profiled ceilings.

In addition, the innovative ‘collapsible’ design means that the FLEXTRO plenum box can be transported and stored ‘flat’ – making them just one third of the height of a standard steel construction plenum box. This capability, combined with a light-weight construction (50% of the weight of a standard plenum box) has significant logistical advantages. Transport and storage volume is reduced by 60%, offering easy handling at reduced cost.

FLEXTRO also incorporates a number of features for superior air handling control and performance, including an acoustically optimised damper blade for flow rate balancing, and a connecting spigot with a double lip seal and interlock in 15° increments from 0 to 90°. These features contribute to improved air distribution, across the whole of the face of the plenum, with lower noise, for high levels of comfort in the occupied zone.

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The new XARTO range of swirl diffusers from TROX features a choice of beautiful and elegant face plate designs to meet the widest range of interior design requirements. The XARTO range also offers performance advantages, with improved mixing and lower sound power levels at high volume flow rates.

New XARTO swirl diffusers are available with a choice of ten diffuser face plate configuration variations, manufactured in galvanised steel. These provide interior design consultants with a large selection of aesthetic options, so that every creative or architectural concept can be realised.

The design of the plenum box has also been given careful consideration, to ensure the units combine aesthetic appeal with superior air handling performance. The air distribution element benefits from high quality ABS polymer construction and includes an acoustically optimised damper for flow rate balancing, and a spigot featuring a double lip seal. Improved mixing, low pressure drop and low noise enable the units to achieve excellent comfort levels in the occupied zone, even with comparatively high volume flow rates

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Clamps with elliptical apertures that can accommodate cables up to 39 mm diameter and flat earth tapes up to 50 mm wide make Megger’s new DET14C and DET24C earth resistance clamp testers quick and easy to use, even with large conductors and in applications where access to conductors is restricted. In addition, these instruments are the first of their type to have a CATIV 600 V safety rating in line with EN61010, with 8 kV of transient isolation, and operator safety is further enhanced by a hazardous current warning that is operative on all test ranges.

• Elliptical clamp shape improves access
• Low maintenance flat jaw interface
• Measures ground resistance from 0.05 Ω to 1500 Ω
• Measures true RMS ground leakage current
• CAT IV 600 V safety rating

Easy to clean jaw surfaces

To help ensure long-term accuracy and reliability, the instruments use clamps that have smooth mating jaw faces. These are easy to clean and they eliminate the easily bent interlocking teeth found on most other earth resistance clamp testers.

Designed to allow accurate measurement of earth resistance in multiple loop systems without the inconvenience of having to break earth connections, the new instruments can measure ground resistance over the range 50 mΩ to 1500 Ω, and true RMS ground leakage current from 0.2 mA to 35 A. As an aid to use in hard-to-reach locations, they incorporate a convenient pre-hold function that automatically initiates a test when clamped round an electrode and then holds the reading for easy review when the test is complete.

Two models

DET14C and DET24C earth resistance clamp testers are powered by standard AA batteries that are readily and inexpensively available almost everywhere. Battery life is exceptional – with a 25 Ω load, for example, up to 24 hours of continuous testing can easily be obtained from a single set of batteries.

Both models offer auto ranging, high and low alarms, automatic self-calibration and internal memory that allows results to be recorded and reviewed. Results stored in memory are automatically date and time stamped. In addition, a display backlight, along with hold key that produces an audible tone when pressed, make it easy to use the instruments even in areas where lighting is poor or access is restricted.

DET24C offers results download

The DET24C adds an optically isolated USB interface that allows it to be connected to a PC, and it can calculate the maximum, minimum and average values of periodic measurements. The DET24C is compatible with Megger’s powerful data capture and analysis software packages PowerDB and PowerDB Lite, which provide a consistent platform for handling, archiving and reporting on data from power test instruments of all types.

Megger’s DET14C and DET24C earth resistance clamp testers are supplied complete with carrying case, calibration loop, batteries and a comprehensive user guide. Additionally supplied with the DET24C models are a USB interface and copy of the PowerDB Lite software package.

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Products from the Dulux Trade Ecosure range of high performing sustainable paints have been used in the refurbishment of Natural Retreat's lavish eco friendly holiday accommodation in Richmond, North Yorkshire. Dulux Trade Ecosure Matt and Ecosure Quick Drying Eggshell were chosen to revamp 20 eco residences, as part of the hotel company's continuing dedication to implementing responsible practices within its accommodation.

Natural Retreats provide high quality, self catering holiday homes in ten idyllic locations across the UK and Ireland. Known for its superior standards, the contemporary residences indulge guests in the finest luxury without compromising on environmental principles.

The Richmond site, set in the stunning surroundings of the Yorkshire Dales, is brimming with eco initiatives, including green build technology and a wildlife management plan. What's more, it has been awarded the Green Tourism Gold Award for its sustainable credentials and design. So when it came to redecorating it's 20 holiday homes, it was only natural that environmental awareness was at the heart of the specification process.

Rob Fradley, Head of Construction and Maintenance at Natural Retreats, explained: “In all aspects of our accommodation we aim to be as sustainable as possible. For example, we use low energy appliances and lighting, and buy energy from 100 per cent renewable sources. Therefore, it was only appropriate that we specified a paint which had the lowest environmental impact.”

To help ensure its properties maintain their renowned eco credentials, Natural Retreats approached Dulux Select Decorator, MRQD Contracting, to recommend products that would deliver both on sustainability and performance.

Mark Rigby, Proprietor of MRQD Contracting, said: “When it comes to places to stay, Natural Retreats is one of the leaders of its kind. So to meet the company's high standards, we specified coatings from the Dulux Trade Ecosure range. Not only does the range have outstanding sustainable credentials, the products deliver a high quality, long lasting finish, making them ideal for a popular location, which receives a large number of visitors.”

Dulux Trade Ecosure Matt was specified for all interior walls and ceilings in the retreats. Developed in conjunction with independent sustainability experts, Forum for the Future, Ecosure Matt has been specifically formulated to have 35 per cent less embodied carbon than standard Dulux Trade Vinyl Matt products. In addition, the paint contains virtually zero VOCs and its packaging comprises at least 25 per cent recycled content.

To provide a natural finish, Dulux Trade Ecosure Quick Drying Eggshell was applied to all of the woodwork. Created to provide a tough, durable finish, Dulux Trade Ecosure Quick Drying Eggshell offers good opacity and adhesion. In addition, it has 10 per cent less embodied carbon and 20 per cent less VOC content than standard eggshell products.

Rob Fradley comments: “The benefits of the Ecosure coatings are impressive. Not only have they contributed to reducing our environmental impact, they have dramatically enhanced the design of the rooms and helped create a peaceful, relaxing atmosphere for our guests to enjoy.”

Following the success of the North Yorkshire site, Dulux Trade Ecosure paints will now be used on all other Natural Retreat locations across the country. Rob Fradley concludes: “As a company, we are committed to caring for our surroundings and strive to continually improve our ecological performance. The Dulux Trade Ecosure range of paints has exceeded our expectations and proved the perfect product. The coatings demonstrate that you don't have to compromise on luxury and quality in order to be environmentally friendly.”

For more information on Natural Retreats, please visit www.naturalretreats.com or call 0844 384 3166.

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New TROX AIRNAMIC swirl diffusers have an extremely quiet air discharge and superior mixing capability, enabling them to fulfil even the highest volume flow rates without compromising comfort standards.

AIRNAMIC swirl diffusers are the result of extensive development work carried out by TROX into the use of new materials. The air diffusers are engineered in high-quality ABS polymer and feature innovative three-dimensionally profiled air control blades, and an acoustically optimised damper. Thermal mixing is superior to other available diffusers, giving even distribution. The pressure drop is also lower. The result is a diffuser which can handle more air, at lower velocity, and reduced temperature differences, to provide excellent levels of comfort in the occupied zone.

AIRNAMIC swirl diffusers provide outstanding performance as an alternative to units currently on the market. And, as more air can be delivered without exceeding the required noise criteria, the diffusers also provide a perfect solution for applications requiring high volume flow rates.

In addition, AIRNAMIC swirl diffusers are suitable for all kinds of ceiling systems, have superior aesthetic impact, and can be painted (or have printed foils applied to the face) to suit the widest range of interior design concepts.

A range of sizes are available to suit the air volume, and all units are flame retardant, meeting the requirements of UL9400.

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