Category Archives: Manufacturing
See how to use Saint-Gobain PAM’s Ensign range pre-assembled stack assemblies in Revit with this new tutorial
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Saint-Gobain PAM aims to ease the burden on developers, specifiers and contractors in the early stages of construction by providing two levels of BIM library and supporting elements in Revit for our Ensign Range. These files will make it easier for early stage specification in BIM and will speed up the whole planning process; this in turn will create measurable cost and time savings for our customers.
Watch the tutorial to see how to use the pre-assembled stack assemblies in Revit.
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CONDAIR LAUNCH RAPID RESPONSE SERVICE
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Condair has long offered planned preventative maintenance (PPM) contracts to ensure optimal operation of its clients’ humidifiers across the UK and Ireland, for any make and model. It also provides breakdown response for customers both with and without an existing PPM contract. However, the company is now providing an 8-hour call-out service, with engineers on call round-the-clock, to support clients with critical applications.
Tony Tullett, Service Director at Condair, commented, “It is great that we are able to add this rapid response service to our product offering. It enables us to provide additional reassurance to our clients who operate sites like data centres or pharmaceutical production facilities, and who cannot be without humidity control for extended periods. All of our PPM customers have access to our expert telephone support line, but with this additional feature activated, customers also get 24/7 telephone support and rapid response call-out options. Depending on the urgency of the issue, customers can choose to receive an engineer on site within 8, 24 or 48 hours.”
Condair has 18 service engineers strategically located across the UK and Ireland. Alongside system design and sales, the company offers installation, commissioning, service and spares supply.
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. You can find out more by visiting the company’s website at www.condair.co.uk.
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Service Growth At Condair
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Humidity control specialist, Condair, has appointed Ryan Mooney, as a humidifier service engineer based out of London. Strengthening its engineering presence in the capital allows Condair to provide an even more efficient response time to its many customers in the region.
Ryan has many years’ experience in the building services and environmental control sectors having worked at companies including Aqua Compliance Services and Certifact.
Tony Tullett, Service Director at Condair, comments, “We are very happy to welcome Ryan to the Condair service team and are proud to be expanding our nationwide network of engineers to 18. Condair boasts the largest specialist humidifier service department in the UK by far and we are perfectly placed to deliver the manufacturer’s engineering expertise on-site, no matter where in the UK that humidifier is located.”
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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Warren Cycles For Charity
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No sooner than he joins the business than Saniflo’s new Kinedo Business Development Manager, Warren Knowles, is persuaded to participate in the PHG Revolution 150 Charity Bike Ride. No easy feat, the two-day, 150-mile course runs from Harrogate to Darlington through the Yorkshire Dales and back again through the North Yorkshire Moors.
Supporting two environmental charities, Surfers Against Sewage and Woodland Trust, the ride raises money and also awareness of how every single person can help the war on plastic pollution and the carbon crisis both at home and at work. Like many charities, both suffered losses during the pandemic and this event was designed to help them recover.
So, on Friday 1st October, Warren donned his best bike shoes and Saniflo-sponsored shirt to tackle the course;
“To say it was a bit of a killer ride over the two days is an understatement. We had atrocious weather conditions for the duration of challenge. We covered 80 miles with 4,600m of climbs on day one and a further 75 miles on day 2 with a mere 3,000m of climbs.”
Happily, Warren finished the challenge with a big smile on his face.
“Not only was Saniflo the shirt sponsor, but also donated to the worthy cause, so there was no way I was going to get away without finishing! I actually really enjoyed the challenge and was delighted to help put these crucial charities back on the map.”
There is still time to donate. With gift aid, the total stands at just £500 shy of an incredible £50k.
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Bradite helps WW1 silhouettes campaign
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‘Standing with Giants’ is a non-profit organisation that creates life size WWI soldier silhouettes that can be sited temporarily in open spaces.
The silhouettes, each six feet tall depicting a British Tommy with his rifle slung over his shoulder, are made from a plastic/aluminium composite material derived from recycled signage from building sites.
Bradite are proud to have donated their One Can primer/finish paint to the project, helping protect the many hundreds of figures now being made at Standing with Giants’ Oxfordshire workshop. The project also makes two-foot diameter poppy wreaths which have been painted in One Can.
“I was contacted last Autumn by the project which was already using One Can supplied through the Abingdon branch of builders merchants, Brewers,”
explained Bradite’s National Sales Manager James Burton. “We were asked if we could help and are happy to provide our product for the next phase of the project over the coming year, and of course, it was our privilege to help the community remember our fallen heroes.”
The silhouettes, 101 in total, first appeared at a nature reserve on a hillside overlooking the M40 motorway, before being invited by the Duke of Marlborough to site a couple of hundred together with poppy wreaths on a hillside on the grounds of Blenheim Palace.
These twin events created so much public interest that an incredible £66,000 was raised from visitors for the Poppy Appeal during a time when the Royal British Legion’s fundraising had been badly hit by the COVID pandemic.
“People’s reaction has been astonishing. We have had people crying, they found it so moving,” says the project founder, Dan Barton.
It was clear that the idea had caught the public’s imagination and future installations are now being planned. 2000 soldier silhouettes and 1500 poppy wreaths are being created and thoroughly weatherproofed thanks to Bradite One Can, an all-purpose, quick-drying, stain resistant paint.
It is hoped that these mobile tributes will also find their way to the Falkland Islands for the 30th anniversary of the military action.
For more information about Standing with Giants visit: www.standingwithgiants.co.uk
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CONDAIR IN TUNE WITH STEINWAY
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Steinway & Sons, synonymous with building the world’s best and finest pianos for over 160 years, recently refurbished its impressive London showroom in Marylebone. The company required its contractor to create the optimum environmental conditions to prevent the wood used to craft these precision instruments from warping. Condair’s resistive steam (RS) humidifiers were specified and then installed in three rooms in the building, including the basement where the workshop is situated. All the units are feeding steam into air handling units to maintain the vital humidity levels required.
Steinway’s UK managing director, Craig Terry, explains: “Incredibly rare and expensive wood is used in some of our models – but actually any type of wood is susceptible to changes in environmental conditions. Dryness is the enemy of pianos so humidity is really important. We need 40% to 50% humidity all the time to protect the wood, whether they’re in the showroom or the workshop. Condair’s units are ideal for the job.
“And because we rely so heavily on the reliability of the humidifiers, we also contracted with Condair to service the humidifiers at regular intervals. Would I recommend Condair? Oh yes, they’ve supplied great service.”
If these precision musical instruments, which are worth many thousands of pounds each, are exposed to dry air it can change the instrument’s dimensions very slightly. This would be detrimental to their performance and result in them requiring much more frequent tuning, eventually leading to permanent deterioration over time. Thankfully, Condair’s RS humidifiers provide the perfect protection.
The Condair RS humidifiers installed at Steinway are capable of creating up to 16kg/h of humidity but the range has models offering maximum outputs from 5 to 160kg/h. The humidifier delivers accurate control without the expense of plastic disposable boiling cylinders, simplifying maintenance and keeping downtime to a minimum. Scale that forms on the heating elements breaks off under normal operation and falls into the externally located scale collector tank. Scale removal is a simple process of draining the tank with the push of a button, allowing the unit to cool then disconnecting the tank and emptying it.
An advanced touchscreen control panel makes operation simple, while providing detailed diagnostic reporting. In addition, a USB connection allows performance data to be downloaded into Excel and the humidifier’s software to be easily updated.
Dave Marshall-George, UK Sales Director at Condair, added: “Humidity control for Steinway is of particular importance during winter in the UK. As soon as the weather turns cold, indoor humidity may drop below the required 40%RH. However, air conditioning systems will also dry the air, so the humidification system will have been in regular use. Basically, whenever there’s a requirement to precisely control the environmental conditions around the pianos, the humidifiers will automatically do exactly what’s needed of them.
“We really value our relationship with Steinway and appreciate their faith in both the capability of the Condair RS humidifiers and our service engineers, who keep them running in tip top condition.”
The Condair Group is the world’s leading specialist in humidification, dehumidification and evaporative cooling, with technologies for commercial, industrial and heritage applications. The company 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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Profab Access introduces industry first for fire integrity and installation
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The only product of its kind currently available, the expertly engineered PRECISION adjustable frame completely transforms the installation process for construction professionals and streamlines the specification process for architects and specifiers.
This is achieved through the product’s unique construction, which enables the frame to be fully self-adjusting to the specific dimensions of each structural opening, ensuring the installation is fit for purpose providing the highest standards in accuracy and removing the requirement for plastic packers for a safer, faster and simpler installation process.
Factory applied intumescent strips to the outer frame also eliminates the need for intumescent mastic application as a secondary operation on site when installing the frame.
The PRECISION frame dramatically reduces fitting times and eliminates the risk of using non-compliant components throughout installation, which may not have been tested in conjunction with the riser door itself.
The patent pending PRECISION adjustable frame is now supplied as standard with Profab Access’ high quality steel INTEGRA 4000 Series Fire Rated Riser Doors.
Profab Access was the first UK manufacturer to have its concealed Riser Doors bi-directionally fire tested and certified by an accredited third party. The PRECISION adjustable frame has also been bi-directionally fire tested as an entire doorset with the INTEGRA 4000 Series Riser Door for up to 120 minutes, receiving the CERTIFIRE accreditation for installation in unlined shaft walls and solid wall construction.
This provides architects, specifiers and contractors with a completely certified solution, as both the frame and the riser door have been bi-directionally tested as a single doorset and are supplied with comprehensive documentation to evidence their performance credentials and adherence to all relevant regulations, including BS EN 1634-1:2014 +A1:2018.
Marcus Parnham, Commercial Director at Profab Access, said: “As one of the industry’s leading manufacturers, we have a responsibility to push the boundaries of this product category and ensure every access solution we supply delivers the highest standards in performance and compliance.
“Our new patent pending PRECISION adjustable frame represents a real step change for the industry, supporting professionals in fulfilling their duty of care by going above and beyond current legislation in delivering the highest standards of due diligence and achieving constant compliance for the entire doorset, including the materials used throughout the installation process. The frame is the result of our unwavering commitment to innovation and providing the built environment with the very highest standards in access solutions.”
The PRECISION adjustable frame is constructed with an all-in-one smoke, intumescent and acoustic FS1000 seal, eliminating the need for additional intumescent mastic when installing the frame into a flexible or solid wall construction. This cost efficient and sustainable material contains no halogen compounds and will not emit toxic gas when heated, ensuring the safety of building occupants in the event of a fire.
As an official Made in Britain member, Profab Access’ comprehensive portfolio of Riser Doors and Access Solutions are manufactured at its headquarters in Atherstone by its experienced team of design and engineering experts.
For further information on Profab Access and its range of riser doors, access panels, and steel doors, call +44(0)1827 718222 or visit www.profabaccess.com.
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Crittall Leeds the way
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Original Crittall windows have been replaced and upgraded on the main street frontage of one of Leeds’ most historic quarters.
Briggate is a pedestrianised principal shopping street in the city centre containing many historic buildings including, tucked away from view in Lamberts Yard, the only remaining Elizabethan timber framed property in the City dating back to circa 1600.
The walkway leading to that heritage enclave passes through No. 162 Briggate, a 1950’s
vintage commercial and residential block where Think Architecture has installed replacement Crittall steel windows.
“No.162 had original Crittalls and, as with all the buildings around Lamberts Yard, things were in various appalling states,” said Simon Smithson, director of Pudsey, West Yorkshire-based, Think Architecture.
The original single glazed windows in the three-storey no.162 were replaced with double glazed lookalike Homelight windows. The building now houses new apartments and a ground-floor commercial premises.
“I have to say,” added Mr Smithson, “ that the Crittall windows are a wonderful system. Several years ago we did a job and used what was described as a ‘Crittall-like’ system. Well, that was very disappointing whereas the Crittall system is a great system, so well made.” www.crittall-windows.co.uk
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BNE delivers bite-sized learning opportunity for Specifiers and Buyers
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BusinessNet Explorer is an evolving bite-sized learning platform – delivering product news and information for product Specifiers and Buyers in the Construction & Building Services industry and associated Manufacturing and Energy sectors – in engaging Audio, Visual and Audio/Visual formats – via its Virtual Exhibition and Podcast Channels.
Specifiers and Buyers can learn about new products, product range updates, branding updates, exhibition appearances, explore case studies and application stories, find out about new CPD’s and Webinars – and listen to the BNE Product News ‘Brand Leader’ interview series of podcasts – to hear manufacturer thought leaders discuss state-of-the-art product innovations – designed to meet and often exceed the latest industry product specification requirements.
A spokesperson for BusinessNet Explorer revealed how the BNE platform can also support Continuing Professional Development for specifiers and buyers ”BNE is a hub of bite-sized / micro-learning product news and information content that allows Manufacturers to reach ‘on the move’ multi-workspace based specifiers and buyers via its Virtual Exhibition and Podcast Channels in engaging ‘easy to digest’’ educational chunks, that in many cases, such as the ‘Brand Leader’ interviews that are also available in Audio podcast format on Google Podcasts, Apple / iTunes and Spotify and the case studies/application stories that can also be found in our Audio/Visual podcast library, could go toward meeting any targets that may be set for annual ‘Reflective CPD / Passive Learning and ‘Self-Directed / Unstructured Learning’ CPD points. Each podcast has a transcript to support learning and CPD”
Dave Marshall-George, Sales Director at Humidification specialist manufacturer Condair, interviewed recently by Mick de Leiburne for a BNE ‘Brand Leader’ podcast explains, “Podcasts are a great way for engineers to listen and learn whilst in their car or on their way to work. We wanted to engage with this bite-sized learning channel to deliver useful information on a topic we are seeing more and more interest in from consultants and AHU companies. Our short podcast on evaporative cooling is very easy listening and perfect for a 10-minute coffee break escape.”
Click to hear the Condair Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/businessnetexplorer/construction-building-services-bne-product-news-condair-brand-leader-interview
To catch up with the latest industry product news and information in ‘easy to digest’ bite-sized learning formats – wherever and whenever you are available – just visit www.BusinessNetExplorer.com
How Saint-Gobain PAM’s Pre-Assembled Ensign range can help your next building project
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If you’re looking for more evidence of how Saint-Gobain PAM’s Pre-Assembled Ensign range can help your next building project, take a minute to listen to Lee Rouvray, Contracts Director of Fitzpatrick Mechanical Services who explains and shows how it made life simpler for his team on the site of the Peninsula Hotel in London.
Do not hesitate to contact our technical sales team for further information on 01952 262529 or visit our website www.pamdrainage.co.uk.