DEUTZ unveils telematics system for the remote monitoring of engines

DEUTZ has unveiled a new telematics system for the remote monitoring of engines and fleet management. The system uses satellite tracking technology to send engine and machine data to a central server that can then be accessed by DEUTZ customers.

Data on the current condition of the engine and the equipment it powers, such as coolant, oil and fuel levels, can be constantly and reliably monitored. This data can be read and evaluated on an Internet-enabled computer from anywhere in the world. In addition, warning messages are sent to the user's PC whenever the fuel, oil and coolant levels reach minimum levels.

By using the system, downtimes in equipment and engines can be reduced. Because the condition of the engine is permanently known, maintenance schedules can be planned and adjusted to suit usage requirements.

The controller that records the information via a GPS (Global Positioning System) is attached to the engine. It records data such as speed, operating hours, and oil and fuel levels and transmits it at regular intervals by GPRS (Global Packet Radio Service) to a central server.

Anyone with the appropriate access permissions can communicate from anywhere in the world via the server to gain access to the engine's settings. All that is required is an Internet-capable PC.

DEUTZ Telematics works bi-directionally, so that it can provide remote access to defined functions as well as analysing and monitoring the engine. By constantly monitoring the capacity, utilisation and availability of their engines and equipment, customers can identify excess capacities and improve the efficiency of their vehicle fleets.

Another important function, 'geofencing' theft protection, is included in the system. Users are able to select the operating range of their equipment. If this limit is exceeded, a warning signal is emitted or a text message is sent to the owner.

DEUTZ Telematics is easy to install and can be adapted to meet customers' specific needs. It is also compatible with non-DEUTZ engines. Various models are available, allowing users to select the most appropriate for their requirements.

DEUTZ UK Service General Manager, Mike Nugent, said: "DEUTZ Telematics is yet another first from the world's largest independent manufacturer of diesel and gas engines. We believe that it offers customers the very latest and best solution for the fast and efficient online monitoring of their engines and equipment."

With an overall engine range extending from 9kW to 500kW, and models suitable for wide variety of markets and applications, including the construction, quarrying, mining, materials handling, agricultural, groundcare, industrial and airport ground handling equipment sectors, DEUTZ produce around 286,000 units annually.

DEUTZ engines are widely used in excavators, wheeled loaders, access platforms, compactors, cranes, crushers, screeners, compressors, lift trucks, tractors, ride-on mowers, chippers, shredders, gensets and other off-highway mobile plant.

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Bonal Technologies achieves excellent customer satisfaction rating

Bonal International, Inc. has announced the results of a recent blind Customer Satisfaction survey performed by an independent consulting firm on its three product lines – Meta-Lax, Pulse Puddle Arc Welding and Black Magic from customers acquiring equipment over a 16-month period.

The overall satisfaction rating in the three areas surveyed reached excellent satisfaction rating percentages. The overall rating for the equipment was 98% and sales and service was 98%. The satisfaction rating reached an outstanding level of 93% for overall results of using Meta-Lax technology.

One customer commented on their overall results, “We are seeing higher quality repairs with a faster, cheaper process that allows us to avoid moving large parts to the furnace.” Another customer summed up their experience this way, “I think they do an excellent job and cannot think of any way that our experience could have been better.”

Companies involved in the survey represented a wide range of demographics, from small machine shops to large organizations, from 10 different countries and a variety of different industries including fabricating, machining, aerospace, mining, mold making, gunsmithing, high performance racing and specialty metals producing.

Commenting on these outstanding results A. George Hebel, III, chairman of Bonal Technologies said, “We are extremely pleased with these results and we will strive to do even better by providing unprecedented quality in all we do.”

Bonal’s patented technology and its three product lines: Meta-Lax® Stress Relief, Pulse Puddle Arc Welding® (PPAW®) and Black Magic® for distortion control, are sold in the US and in more than 49 countries.

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Construction businesses need to ramp up security on plant machinery

As the recession continues to bite, thieves are targeting low value construction items. By the close of 2008, Tracker assisted the police in recovering assets to the value of over £400million, resulting in over 1,800 arrests. 54 percent of plant recoveries were valued at £10,000 or less. With this in mind Tracker urges businesses to ramp up security on plant machinery.

Tracker’s highest value recoveries include a Caterpillar 320 Excavator worth £70,000, a JCB 3CX backhoe loader and a Manitou MT 1740 telehandler, both weighing in at £50,000 each.

Bill Raynal, Managing Director for Tracker, comments, “In 2008, Tracker recovered nearly £2.5million worth of plant equipment, but businesses would be mistaken to think that they only need to look after their highest value items. Despite being a relatively low cost item, the Ifor Williams trailer was top of the list for thieves, while we also saw an increase in quad bike thefts. Our figures show that criminals aren’t picky with everything from woodchippers to catering trailers being recovered in 2008.”

Tracker stolen vehicle recovery systems work like an electronic homing device. A covert transmitter is hidden in one of several places around the asset. There is no visible aerial, so the thief won’t even know it’s there. The tracking device works even if the asset is hidden in a container or underground, offering plant owners the ultimate in peace of mind should the worst happen.

“It is clear that the current economic climate is pushing criminals to take anything they can get their hands on,” concludes Bill Raynal. “Hard times mean that businesses can’t afford to make it easy for plant thieves, so we urge them to do everything they can to protect their assets.”

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Masternaut Asset Track satellite surveillance system prevents theft of plant and construction equipment

XMasternaut Three X has launched a tracking service for valuable plant and construction equipment using satellite surveillance. Called Masternaut Asset Track, a covert tracking device installed in the equipment transmits the precise location of the asset and communicates this via the Internet. This eye in the sky system prevents theft and, therefore, minimises disruption to businesses that rely on constant availability of their assets to perform their jobs.

Asset Track provides many benefits that result from gaining real-time visibility of the plant or equipment. Using a web browser on a PC or hand held device, Asset Track users can see exactly where their equipment is situated and whether or not it is in use. The moment it moves out of a pre-defined area, the system raises the alarm and notifies the customer via email or text message. This will ensure that stolen equipment can be recovered quickly.

For plant hire companies, the system provides a record of usage for Pay-As-You-Use services. Customers are given accurate invoices, backed up by the system’s monitoring capability. In addition, because the ‘hirer’ is responsible for assets on loan to them they now also have peace of mind from knowing that the equipment is fitted with a real-time tracking device and in the event of it being stolen it can be traced and retrieved.

Asset Track has been engineered for easy installation, robustness and longevity. The simple two wire connection and integrated long-life back-up battery provide a fit-it-and-forget-it solution to tamperproof equipment tracking. Furthermore, because Asset Track is based on proven Masternaut Three X technology, users will also benefit from lower insurance premiums and excesses.

"Masternaut Asset Track provides a simple and extremely effective method of location and recovery of stolen equipment. It is a foolproof system that gives instant warning of theft. It helps a customer retrieve their equipment and prevents them falling foul of opportunistic as well as organised criminals. In addition, customers can use the system to help prepare accurate itemised invoices for pay for use equipment hire. Asset Track provides a reliable way to accurately measure usage of the plant or equipment and thereby prevents disputes arising," said Martin Port, MD, Masternaut Three X.

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Caterpillar builds Caterpillar 3500 series engines manufacturing facility in China

In recent years, Caterpillar and its independent dealers have made significant investments to expand the range of products and components produced in China, increase and improve customer support services, and expand and enhance dealer coverage in every province. Today, Caterpillar has more than 7,400 employees across China.

Caterpillar Inc. has now announced that it will build a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Tianjin, China, to increase its worldwide capacity for large-engine production. Once operational in 2013, the engine facility will become Caterpillar's third global source for the company's industry leading 3500 series engines. The facility in Tianjin will focus on producing engines for customers in China and the Asia-Pacific region. 

For more than 20 years, Caterpillar 3500 series engines have delivered reliable power for Caterpillar machinery used in demanding applications worldwide. In addition, 3500 series engines have continuously satisfied difficult requirements for global customers in a wide range of industrial applications, including the oil and gas, marine and electric power industries.

Caterpillar China executives and leaders joined officials from Tianjin at a signing ceremony to announce the $300 million (USD) project, which represents Caterpillar's largest new engine facility investment to date in China. 

"For years, Caterpillar customers across China have been using machinery and gen-sets powered by 3500 engines to help drive sustainable economic progress and development," said Jiming Zhu, Caterpillar vice president with responsibility for China. "With the opening of this new engine facility in Tianjin, Caterpillar will be better positioned to compete and support its growing base of customers in China and across Asia," Zhu added.

Caterpillar's Large Engine Center in Lafayette, Indiana, will continue to produce the 3500 series engines as well as other large engines now made at Lafayette. The Lafayette facility will focus on supporting 3500 series customers outside of the Asia-Pacific region. As such, the company does not expect the opening of the new facility in Tianjin to have an impact on current employment in Lafayette.

"This is a long-term strategic decision to increase capacity for 3500 engines that will position Caterpillar to better meet customer demand for these engines in all regions of the world," said Gary Stroup, Caterpillar vice president with responsibility for the Large Power Systems Division. 

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Nanolia's nano coating enables any machine to operate more efficiently, while reducing fuel costs and emissions

Nanolia has introduced a product that enables virtually any machine to operate more efficiently, while reducing fuel costs by around 11% and emissions by around 60%. Based on the latest German nanotechnology the product which is simply added to engine or gearbox oil is a low cost way to reduce the cost of operating machinery – from the smallest motors and generators to the largest marine diesel engines and including pumps, gearboxes and winches.

It can even be used to good advantage to save the cost and extend the life of company vehicle fleets. One application, the company says, is good for 100,000 Kms - even if the oil is changed many times in that period. And after 100,000 Kms, it can be simply reapplied to further the vehicle's life.

The product - which is not classed as a fuel or oil additive - is a nano coating that actually prevents engine metal wear so that gears, pistons and bearings became almost maintenance free with extended service life.

Environmentally Positive

These “smart coatings” are easy to apply and have a major positive impact for factory and plant owners, logistic and fleet operators, helping drive sustainability, efficiency and cleaner air.
* Longer lasting engines / vehicle gears, pistons and bearings
* Fuel Efficiency: around 11% savings on fuel
* Cleaner air / emissions reductions (on average 50-60%)

How does it work?

Theoretically, lubricants work by creating a protective film that avoids direct contact of the metallic surfaces. However, lubricants are not able to protect the metal surfaces under all conditions and permanently. This new nano coating technology works rather differently. It actually modifies the surface texture of frictional metal parts and creates a new, very smooth metal silicate coating. This metal silicate coating reduces friction and increases efficiency, especially in older engines and gearboxes. Due to optimisation of compression pressure in engines, oil- and fuel consumption, emissions and CO2 exhaust gases are reduced.

The synthesized metal silicate compound only has to be added to the original lubricant and is carried to the affected areas of the engine or gear box. In the abrasion area, the metal silicates react due to high temperature and/or high partial pressure and conjoin with the metal surfaces, filling the smallest corrugations, pores or micro cracks in the metal surface, forming an extremely smooth and solid metal silicate layer.

The treated metal silicate surfaces have a much lower friction coefficient and allow for a better and faster build-up of a lubricating film. The effect on wind turbines, for example, is well documented and significant in terms not only of extended gearbox life but also increased power generation.

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EnPak Mechanic Series reduces fuel usage and engine wear

Life in the landfill is hard on equipment. The constant pushing of garbage and dirt puts a heavy strain on the hydraulics and drive train of large bulldozers. Compactors take a constant beating to prepare the trash to be covered. It’s a dirty, harsh work environment that’s tough on equipment. And it’s a job that cannot afford any downtime: if the trash isn’t covered by the end of the work day - a legal requirement - no one goes home until it is.

The same can be said about a heavy equipment service mechanic like Carlos Pineda. Pineda, the resident mechanic contracted by Peterson Tractor Company (CAT) of San Leandro, CA, spends every day servicing and repairing these machines at Waste Management’s landfill in nearby Fremont. The tools he uses – air compressors, generators, and a hydraulic crane – are typically run off of a truck’s PTO, which puts wear and tear on its diesel engine and drive train. The PTO requires the truck to constantly idle, a factor that puts a significantly higher number of hours on the truck’s engine compared to just driving it to and from the worksite.

Recognizing the need for a better solution to power equipment on a mechanic’s trucks, Miller Electric Mfg. Co. has introduced EnPak™ Mechanic Series, a completely self-contained air compressor, hydraulic pump and generator that runs off its own 27 HP diesel engine. This eliminates the need for a PTO on a mechanic’s truck and allows these tools to work without running the truck’s engine. Pineda reports that EnPak has made his truck more fuel efficient, reduced his truck’s engine hours and improved the operating environment around his truck.

“A downed machine leads to the garbage not getting pushed, compacted, or covered,” says Pineda. “In the operation of a landfill, those are three very important factors. The garbage cannot stay exposed over night. If the shift ends and the garbage isn’t covered, then Waste Management runs into overtime costs. When machines are down, it costs them money.”

For a heavy equipment mechanic like Pineda, his workshop is completely mobile. The typical mechanic’s truck includes an air compressor, a hydraulic crane, a generator and a welder, plus all the other tools required to do the job: impact wrenches, grinders, lights, a computer for diagnostics, etc. Each truck travels to and from the jobsite daily and then idles all day as the mechanic powers this equipment off the truck’s PTO. With the introduction of EnPak, Pineda has completely changed the way he uses his truck.

“What I like the most about EnPak is that my truck doesn’t run now as I work. There’s no wear-and-tear on my truck. I don’t put a bunch of hours on it just by idling and burning fuel for no reason, polluting the air. EnPak puts out a minimum amount of exhaust, a minimum amount of noise and it powers all of my components as if the truck was running.”

The primary tool of any heavy equipment mechanic is an air compressor used to run impact wrenches and the carbon arc gouging capabilities of his welder. Pineda claims that EnPak gives him more consistent air compressor performance than the old compressor he ran off the truck’s PTO.

“I like the fact that the air compressor gives me on-demand air,” says Pineda. “I can run my big heavy guns and not have to wait for the air to build back. With the old system, I could undo one or two fasteners at a time and then have to wait for the compressor to build air back up. If there are 30 bolts and I have to wait a minute to take each bolt off, that’s a half-hour wasted. EnPak produces such a volume of air that I can run my gun without stopping. It’s very productive.”

EnPak’s rotary screw air compressor is rated at 40 CFM at 100 PSI and is constantly able to produce up to 175 PSI without stopping. This has allowed Pineda to work more efficiently than with the old system. He also reports that he can effectively use EnPak’s air compressor and hydraulic pump simultaneously without any lag in power. The variable displacement hydraulic pump (Eaton) is rated at 3,000 PSI at 8.5 GPM with a maximum flow of 20 GPM.

“EnPak lets me use both air and hydraulics at the same time without slowing down,” says Pineda. “Sometimes I need to use my crane to support a piece when I’ll be using my impact gun to remove fasteners, and that all comes into play when you are disassembling a large machine.”

Another key tool for any mechanic is a generator. On many mechanic’s trucks, this is taken care of by a welding generator or a stand-alone generator. EnPak eliminates the need for either of these by producing 6,000 watts of power that can run welders and other power tools. It also offers 2,400 watts of pure sine wave EnVerter™ power (available at all engine speeds) to power items such as work lights, battery chargers and laptops used to check service codes and monitor the operating conditions of a machine.

“I use the generator mostly for running big hydraulic rams or when I need a lot of PSI to run a track press,” says Pineda. “It runs the pumps without stopping or slowing down. I use it for my drop lights, my drills. I’ve also used it to run a welder.”

Another key benefit of EnPak is a substantially-improved operator environment. Mechanics work almost entirely off the back of their truck. The loud noise of a running truck combined with the noise of running tools and the truck’s exhaust creates a nasty mix of distractions for the mechanic. Tests have shown that EnPak reduces jobsite sound levels by as much as 10 dB, and a vertical exhaust forces fumes up and away from the work environment (in addition to eliminating the truck’s exhaust).

“If you’re working around high decibels, it puts a stress level on you that should be avoided,” says Jack Ravazza, general service manager, Peterson Tractor. “I think reduced noise can have a big effect on the performance of a technician. The better environment, the more productivity he is going to have.”

“With the older setup,” says Pineda, “If you had to lie down anywhere near the equipment, you would have the muffler pointed at your face and it would be gassing you the whole time you had to work. So then you’d park your truck in a different direction away from the equipment you were working on, which is inconvenient. Now, with EnPak, the exhaust is diverted up and I don’t even smell it.”

EnPak’s integrated control design also makes life easier on Pineda by providing all of the controls he needs right at the back of the truck. “The EnPak remote panel lets me start all the functions from the back of the truck without having to go and climb into my cab, turn the PTO on, then climb back out and start working. I can just go right to the back panel, start the component and I’m ready to work.”

The remote panel also monitors, operates and provides diagnostics for engine and air compressor functions such as fuel usage and engine RPM. And Pineda didn’t have to learn any new controls as the integrated design allows him to use the crane remote he is already familiar with. “I didn’t have to learn anything new,” he says. “Within five minutes I was running EnPak and all my tools like nothing had changed.”

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Miller Construction secure £37 million Airbus Contracts

Miller Construction has been selected by Airbus, the world’s leading aircraft manufacturer, to deliver two projects totalling £37 million, at Airbus Aerospace Park in Filton, Bristol.

The contracts include a £10 million project comprising the refurbishment and alteration of Pegasus House, together with the partial demolition and refurbishment of Old Filton House and construction of a 25,000 msq office building, totalling £27 million.

Chris Webster, Chief Executive, Miller Construction, said: “We are delighted to have secured these contracts on behalf of Airbus.

“We have been working closely with Airbus and their consultants over the past six months and are looking forward to progressing together to deliver the new office building and fully refurbished Pegasus House. We have a proven track record in the delivery of award winning accommodation and we are confident these projects will both meet and exceed Airbus’ requirements and expectations. These contract wins are in line with our strategy to develop our presence in one of our key developing markets, Science and Technology, providing us with the opportunity to widen our expertise and grow our reputation as a cross-market leader.

“By continuing to focus on our strategy throughout 2012, we are confident we will continue to deliver positive results for the business. As the world’s leading aircraft manufacturer with a global workforce of more than 55,000, Airbus relies on industrial co-operation and partnerships and we are thrilled to be their partner of choice for these hugely significant UK projects.”

Pegasus House, an existing five storey, 1936, Grade 2 listed art-deco office building will undergo a complete refurbishment and alteration, and Old Filton House, a Grade 2 listed mid-eighteenth century, three storey country house, will be partially demolished and refurbished, in order to return the building to its former glory. The works also include substantial structural alterations, new M&E installation and an upgrade of the current thermal installation. Construction works commenced in May and will be due for completion in the Summer of 2013.

Works on the office building are due to commence in August 2012 and will see the delivery of a new four storey, naturally ventilated office building incorporating four atria and a roof level plant room. Once complete in autumn 2013, the building will provide office accommodation for 2,500 staff with changing facilities for up to 600 cyclists, an energy centre, and 900 car parking spaces. In addition to the building, a new access route to the campus off the main A38, which requires the construction of a new controlled junction, will be delivered.

The completed building will be highly thermally efficient, with low air permeability, forming an integral part of the client’s requirements for an office building, creating a comfortable environment with efficient energy consumption.

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New Allison Transmission V8 application

Visitors to Lastbil 2012 will be the first to see Allison Transmission’s latest application in a Scania mining truck. The powerful Scania R560 8x4, 50 tons gross vehicle weight, has been equipped with an Alllison 4000 Series fully automatic transmission to ensure unrivalled performance under the toughest operating conditions.

At the Allison stand, visitors will also examine 3000 and 4000 Series display units and learn from experts about how Allison products can help to improve vehicle productivity and performance. While there, guests may request a driving-ticket to test drive several Allison equipped medium and heavy vehicles located in the external area - Hall C and D.

Allison has a long tradition as the leading supplier of durable, innovative and efficient fully automatic transmissions for commercial vehicles. From the smallest 1000 Series up to the 4000 Series, Allison transmissions are suitable for a wide range of vehicles, from light multipurpose to heavy and specialty trucks with engines rated to 800 hp and 2644 Nm.

The 4000 Series is available in six and seven speed configurations, with close and wide gear ratios. This range of products is popular in rigid construction and articulated dump trucks, as well as in oilfield and crane applications.

The 5000, 8000 and 9000 Series are the largest transmissions offered by Allison. These are suitable for stationary and mobile off-highway applications with engines up to 2250HP and a torque of 8270 Nm.

Allison transmission’s torque converter and powershift design provide superior performance over difficult terrain, higher productivity and ease of operation. The torque converter is a highly advanced starting device which multiplies engines torque, while also helping to reduce maintence cost by eliminating costly clutch repairs common with manual and automated manual transmissions.

Advanced electronic controls feature the latest fuel saving technoligies such like Load Based Shift Scheduling and Vehicle Acceleration Control, to maximize fuel economy and efficiency automatically by adjusting shifts based on vehicle load, route topography and other parameters.

About Allison Transmission

Allison Transmission is the world’s largest manufacturer of fully-automatic transmissions for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, medium- and heavy-tactical U.S. military vehicles and hybrid-propulsion systems for transit buses. Allison transmissions are used in a variety of applications including on-highway trucks (distribution, refuse, construction, fire and emergency), buses (primarily school and transit), motor homes, off-highway vehicles and equipment (primarily energy and mining) and military vehicles (wheeled and tracked). Founded in 1915, the Allison business is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.A. and employs approximately 2,800 people. Allison has manufacturing facilities and customization centers located in China, The Netherlands, Brazil, India and Hungary. With a global presence, serving customers in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, South America, and Africa, Allison also has over 1,500 independent distributor and dealer locations worldwide.

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ARMACELL SECURES CONTRACT EXTENSION WITH BRITISH GAS

Working for Wandle Housing Association, family-owned construction, civil engineering and property services business, Osborne, has completed Clarson House – a £16 million residential development on Camberwell New Road in London SE5.

The development comprises 103 flats and maisonettes in four blocks arranged around a central courtyard. The homes will be a mix of social rented and shared ownership, and include 11 units for disabled residents and three commercial units at street level.

The homes have all been built to the Code for Sustainable Homes level 3. To ensure a positive impact on the local environment there is a children’s playground in the centre of the square, wild grass has been seeded on part of the roof space and bird boxes have been installed.

Gary Bellenger, Head of Asset Investment at Wandle, said: “Wandle is proud to be making a signicficant contribution to the regeneration of the the Elephant and Castle area. Clarson House is a landmark new building for London Borough of Southwark residents, which provides good quality affordable homes with local transport and facilities nearby.”

Sara Thakkar, Chief Executive at Wandle, said: “Wandle continues to do what it does best – working with strong partners to build innovative, sustainable and affordable homes for Londoners. Our financial strength and our continued ability to provide mixed tenure homes enables us to invest in shaping Southwark as a truly vibrant community where people want to live and work.”

Stephen Scard, head of Osborne’s homes team, said: “This development was designed to offer residents a range of options – right down to 57 possible layouts and 43 types of kitchen – so that each home is different and new residents could quickly make each one their own. It was an extra challenge to ensure that each apartment and maisonette was built to the right specification and same standards but the end result is a very high quality development that should be a great success for Wandle Housing Association.”

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Miller Construction commence works on 8th school in Leicester BSF Programme

Miller Construction has commenced works on Children’s Hospital School, Willow Bank, the eighth school to benefit from the Leicester Building Schools for the Future (BSF) Programme.

With funding of £2 million, the school will undergo a full refurbishment and benefit from new ICT systems. Works are expected to be completed in February 2013.

Chris Webster, Chief Executive, Miller Construction, said: “We are delighted to have commenced works on Children’s Hospital School and kick-started phase three of the Leicester BSF Programme. We established a successful partnership with Leicester City Council during the delivery of the first phase and through our continued work on the second phase.

“We are currently on site with three schools in the second phase, Rushey Mead Secondary School, Crown Hills Community College and City of Leicester College, and look forward to delivering phase three. We are confident that by continuing close collaboration with Leicester City Council, the learning environments delivered will more than meet 21st Century education demands.”

Children’s Hospital School marks the first school in the third phase of the programme, which will see the delivery of a further three new schools: St Paul’s Catholic School, a mixture of both new build and major refurbishment works; and Hamilton School and Netherhall School, two separate schools on one site, which will involve a new co-location of a Special Education Needs school with a secondary school.

Councillor Vi Dempster, Assistant City Mayor, said: “I am delighted that work has started on site at Children's Hospital School. The BSF programme is becoming more and more exciting as each new school enters into the construction phase of their project. This can only be good news, not only for the current and future students at these schools but also for the city as a whole, as the programme brings new employment opportunities."

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National awards recognises partnership putting customers at the heart of decision making

Kier Stoke and Stoke-on-Trent City Council have won a national Tenant Participation Advisory Service (TPAS) Award. The partnership was announced the winner of the Excellence in Working Together category for its project ‘Reigniting the Customer Experience’ at the central region finals earlier in the year and has now gone on to win the category nationally.

The award recognises Kier Stoke and Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s work to ensure their responsive repairs service was both time efficient and cost effective, while meeting the needs of the local community.

The winning project began in May 2010 with Kier Stoke working in partnership with Stoke-on-Trent City Council to launch a ‘systems thinking’ review of its service provision. A team made up of representatives from the two organisations and residents monitored customer calls, visited the contact centre and followed the responsive repair logging process from the initial call through to completion.

In order to implement the recommendations made by the team, a new dedicated call centre was launched - initially as a trial including a small number of residents in August 2010 - and then rolled out across the city in January 2011. The centre has reduced call waiting times for residents from five minutes to an average of just one minute, and it now takes an average of only three minutes for the initial call to be logged.

The changes introduced improved performance dramatically; the average repair on a social housing property is now undertaken in four days (97 hours) and, on average, customers now rate the service as 9.9 when asked for a score out of 10.

Kier regional managing director, David Mawson, said: “We are delighted to have received national recognition for the hard work, commitment and enthusiasm that have been evident from both Kier Stoke and Stoke-on-Trent City Council through this project, which ensures we deliver an unsurpassed service. To receive a TPAS Award is a superb accolade and demonstrates the commitment from both organisations to true partnership working.”

Cabinet member for housing, neighbourhoods and community safety, Cllr Janine Bridges, said: “To receive national recognition for the good practices being undertaken by Stoke-on-Trent City Council, our tenants, and our partners Kier is a wonderful achievement for all concerned. We want to make Stoke-on-Trent a great place to live, as outlined in our Mandate for Change, and by ensuring our customer responses are more efficient and client driven we are making great strides to achieving that goal.”

Michelle Reid, chief executive of TPAS, warmly congratulated the project on its success: "Reigniting the Customer Experience was a project that showed genuine collaborative work between tenants, landlord and the contractor. It helped all involved learn to challenge old system shortcomings to tailor a new approach with excellent results.”

The TPAS Awards are open to social housing providers, tenants and contractors to give recognition to excellent work and, vitally, to share best practice among the sector so more people benefit.

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Celtic Rock Services Extends Drilling Fleet with McDrill Mc80B from Skelair International

Devon-based Celtic Rock Services has added a McDrill Mc80B with rotary head to its fleet after hiring the machine from Skelair International for a mini-piling project on the A399 at Shutscombe Wood near Brayford in North Devon. Skelair, who offers ground engineering and drilling equipment solutions, gave Celtic Rock the option to purchase the rental Mc80B after the company put the rig through its paces and found it to be a reliable, robust and well performing machine that fully meets the needs of today’s projects.

Having previously supplied Celtic Rock with other machines in its portfolio, including Klemm and Marini, Skelair International provided the McDrill Mc80B to specifically meet mini-piling requirements. The addition of the McDrill Mc80B brings the total number of machines operated by Celtic Rock to eight, creating a flexible and mobile fleet that will allow the company to respond to projects more efficiently.

The McDrill Mc80B is a powerful yet compact machine, making it ideal for sites where maneuverability with performance is key. Alwyn Thomas, Managing Director, Celtic Rock Services, and comments: “We were already in the market for a new machine as we needed greater flexibility with responding to changing client demands. We have always found Skelair to be knowledgeable when it comes to which machines will best fit our requirements and the McDrill was no exception.

“It is a powerful and sturdy machine and as the first time we have invested in McDrill, was an excellent bonus to be able to hire it for a specific job – before committing to purchase.”

In addition to the sale of market-leading drilling machines, Skelair offers a comprehensive rental service, which can lead to the option to purchase. This customer-centric approach gives customers flexibility according to business need as well as the benefit of trialing a new machine.

John Mayo, Managing Director, Skelair International, concludes: “It is still tough out there for our customers, with many wanting to invest in new equipment but unable to justify the capital expenditure. By giving them the best of everything – with the option to hire, purchase a new rig or choose an ex-rental – we can pretty much always find a solution to meet their needs. However, as we look towards the rest of the year and beyond, we definitely see the rental side as being the largest area for growth.”

Skelair represents a number of other market-leading drilling manufacturers for the UK and Ireland, including EMCI, Klemm, TEI, Obermann, Marini and Wassara.

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Verlinde PTY maintain steady business in a stagnant economy

Verlinde cranes & hoists (PTY) Ltd is flying the flag from its base in Johannesburg, bucking the trend and announcing a steady stream of projects won for the first half of 2012 across a range of industrial and mining applications. The company defies the odds and continues to do well in a South African economy that has fallen short of expected growth forecasts.

South Africa’s mining industry, which accounts for around one third of the country’s GDP, has fallen upon hard times in recent years, thanks to a noticeable decline in demand for the country’s natural mineral resources, but lifting equipment company Verlinde cranes & hoists (PTY) Ltd have sustained a healthy flow of business through the first half of 2012. Mining in South Africa has been the driving force behind the history and development of Africa’s most advanced and richest economy and although diamond and gold production levels are now much lower than they once were, South Africa remains a cornucopia of mineral riches with a future full of prospects.

Growth of the South African economy in 2012 has fallen well short of initial forecasts, hindered largely by Europe’s falling demand for gold, diamond and iron ore, lowering the value of these commodities by a combined 20% over the last year. But as the world’s largest producer of chrome, manganese and platinum, along with large production levels of gold and diamond, the need for sophisticated crane and lifting services remains ever present.

Verlinde Cranes PTY is firmly holding its own in a slow and highly competitive market. “Business for the first half of 2012 has been steady and progressive” said Martin Tavener, Sales Director of Verlinde Cranes PTY. “Our presence in South Africa for over 50 years as helped us establish a solid foundation on which the business can move forward, even if only slowly in these difficult economic times.”

However, the number of cranes of the skyline of some South African cities should not be taken as an indication of a major upswing in the sector, with most crane manufacturers and suppliers expressing caution about the prospects for recovery in the building sector, while warning that growth opportunities are extremely uncertain.

Business development manager for Verlinde, Simon Rothechild, said: “Verlinde remains committed to the emerging markets in Africa, and our recent expansion in South Africa is testament to the steady and prosperous growth of the economy. Verlinde recognised many years ago that African nations had a big future on the world stage, and via our distributor network we are proud to be giving them a lift in achieving their ambitions and future success.”

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Shelagh McNerney responsible for overseeing Oldham College’s redevelopment and refurbishment programme

Oldham College has appointed Shelagh McNerney to the post of director of programmes and regeneration responsible for overseeing the College’s redevelopment and refurbishment programme. Shelagh’s role will be to create a vision for the College ensure its redevelopment has a lasting positive social and economic impact in Oldham.

Shelagh is a town planner with over 25 years experience across the regeneration, development and construction industry in both the public and private sector and has led large public sector partnerships across the north west. She has worked in large and small master planning and architecture companies and worked for hundreds of clients across the country from large and small developers, local authorities, community groups and government agencies in Liverpool, North Wales and across the local authority and development industry.

Shelagh is a board director on the national Considerate Constructor Scheme and will bring the very best practice to the benefits of the College in its curriculum as well as through its capital programme.

Shelagh, who started her new role this May says, "I am honoured and excited to be leading a programme of change in Oldham College which will see very practical improvements to the environment for staff and students with very limited funds. I am committed to aligning all capital spend to the College's education vision and ensuring every penny is spent wisely and efficiently. I feel this role brings all my professional experience together as building work, master planning and community benefit are my favourite subjects."

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OLDHAM COLLEGE APPOINTS CONSTRUCTION PARTNER FOR REDEVELOPMENT

Oldham College has appointed Laing O’Rourke as its construction partner to take forward its redevelopment plans which include repair and refurbishment of the current 1960’s built campus across the town and elements of new-build.

Laing O’Rourke’s appointed design team, led by Aedas, will create a masterplan on behalf of the College to address provision across the campus in Oldham for short, medium and long term works.

The design and build contract was procured through the North West Construction Hub following a six week mini competition, which in addition to the benefits of efficiency, cost, quality and early contractor involvement also provides a number of economic benefits for the College and for Oldham.

Laing O’Rourke’s bid was selected because of its commitment to work with the College to provide new apprenticeships, the alignment of the curriculum with industry, work with the local supply chain and support of community related activities. The company also provided some innovative approaches to the College’s capital expenditure programme thus making the best use of the multi-million funds available for the redevelopment.

Shelagh McNerney, Oldham College’s director of capital programmes and regeneration at Oldham College, says, “The College needs repairs and improvement and with challenging economic and investment conditions, it is essential that we are efficient with every penny as well as visionary about what we can achieve to make the learning environment more inspiring for Oldham’s young people.”

Alun Francis, principal and chief executive of Oldham College, says, “This is a very important point in the redevelopment of the College. Having secured funding for the first phase, we now have a partner on side that shares our vision of what we can achieve within the town. This is not just about bricks and mortar. Oldham needs an ambitious College committed to supporting economic growth, jobs and skills in the broadest sense. We are constantly improving and widening the curriculum to meet the needs of learners and employers, and we need to create an environment for students and staff that supports this.

“Equally important is that we want the capital programme itself to bring jobs and business locally, and our partner will help us achieve this.”

The team from Laing O’Rourke will be based on site at Oldham College for the duration of the project.

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The Environmental Evolution of a Manufacturing Firm

For a Connecticut firm that manufactures close tolerance precision parts, environmental responsibility has evolved in the last 20 years from something imposed by regulators to a way of life embraced by the company and celebrated as a key differentiator. Now the company has positioned itself as a vendor that can meet or exceed all U.S. and European environmental standards, placing it at a distinct competitive advantage.

Parts degreasing operation is the catalyst for environmental change
Connecticut Spring and Stamping is a Farmington, CT-based company that manufactures springs, metal stampings, fourslide/multislide/vertislide, and assemblies from both wire and sheet metal. After winding, bending, stamping, and grinding operations, many of the products must be cleaned and degreased before a final finish is applied.
By the mid-1990s, the parts degreasing operations had become a financial and environmental burden. The 1960s-era vapor degreasers necessitated purchase of huge quantities of expensive virgin tetrachloroethylene (perc), new regulations tightened permissible air emissions and made waste perc disposal much more costly, and concerns about the health implications of worker’s exposure to perc meant reducing emissions or installing a venting system.

Facing tightening air emission regulations, CSS made a serious effort to find alternatives, eventually deciding to purchase two state-of-the-art Pero Model 2501A batch vacuum degreasers with an in-line still to recover valuable perc from the unit’s waste. The new units’ improved design halved virgin perc purchases and cut perc vapor emissions by 70 percent. The fully-contained unit discharges no water, producing only a very small chemical residue that is processed in accordance with hazardous waste disposal regulations.

The new turnkey system allowed CSS to change its hazardous waste generator status from large quantity generator to small quantity generator, which came with very welcome reductions in overhead and regulatory requirements. Reduced tetrachloroethylene purchases netted savings of nearly $40,000 a year, and hazardous waste disposal costs were reduced by $7,500. In addition, CSS virtually eliminated air emissions from the prior system. Finally, dramatically reduced odors removed the need for personal protective equipment or an exhaust system.

The results of the new system far exceeded their expectations, and are seen by Chuck Thomas, CSS’s VP of Operations and Environmental officer, as the single most significant factor that shifted the company’s thinking and set it on its current path of going above and beyond requirements to doing what is best from an environmental point of view.

“We knew our old equipment needed to be replaced, and we had a variety of lower cost options, but we decided to go for this top of the line system for the sake of our employees, the environment, and to set us up for improved manufacturing processes to keep up with the times,” said Thomas. “The results opened up our eyes to the extended benefits of environmental compliance.”

In a final testament to the importance of the achievement, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection wrote a Pollution Prevention Study about the system in 1998, making CSS a veritable poster child for investing in environmental excellence.

CSS extends success

After its success with its foray into cutting edge environmental equipment, CSS has moved to a situation where it goes over and above every existing Connecticut requirement, actively looking for an environmentally preferable alternative for every chemical or substance used in the plant. It has been cited in numerous customer audits as well ahead of other similar vendors in environmental compliance.

“We do not ship anything that is not environmentally compliant, nor do we allow any chemical in the plant that is dangerous to employees or hazardous,” said Thomas. “We do not even allow samples into the plant without first doing a MSDS review.” Thomas explains that every hazardous substance brought into the plant increases the possibility of a spill, or emissions to the air or land, or exposure to workers. He gives the example of acetone, which is not allowed in the plant.

On a couple of occasions, CSS has turned away business when the customer insists upon using a particular hazardous chemical, rather than a suggested substitute. Overall, the company believes it has gained more business than it has lost by being so attuned to environmental and hazardous waste concerns. Thomas adds that CSS is always looking for newer and better options for chemical substitutions, but is careful to make sure that new options are thoroughly vetted before being accepted for use.

According to Thomas, CSS used to require sewer permits to allow discharge of processed water into the sewer system, but now all processed water is evaporated into clean steam. Also, sludge is no longer placed in the sewer system but is removed by an environmental disposal firm.

In addition to the attention paid to hazardous waste substitutions, and the reduction in wastewater disposal and air emissions, Thomas conducts weekly and monthly audits for storm water runoff, spill prevention control, drum area inspection, and spill preparedness. Reuse and recycling of corrugated packaging materials is also an integral part of the facility’s operations.

As a certified trainer, Thomas trains 40 people internally for annual hazardous waste materials certification, including such topics as hazardous communications, solvent safety, hazardous waste management, spill response, and DOT security.

“We are continually looking to the next advance in environmental compliance, which is becoming increasingly important to many Fortune 500 companies,” said Thomas. “In addition to U.S. rules, we comply with European Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS), as well as REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemical substances) standards as part of our cost of doing business.”

References

Parts Degreasing, Connecticut Spring and Stamping Corporation, A Pollution Prevention Case study, State of Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, December 1998.

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Mitsubishi urges building professionals to join online debate over lower energy use in buildings

everyone involved in designing, creating and maintaining our built environment is urged by Mitsubishi Electric to join an online debate on how the nation can lower energy use in buildings.

The company has set up both Twitter and LinkedIn® accounts for its Green Gateway campaign in order to promote sustainable thinking within the built environment.

"This is a straightforward way to generate a lively on-going debate that involves as many people as possible," explains Martin Fahey, Sustainable Solutions Manager for the Hatfield-based company. "That is what Green Gateway is all about and social media offers people an ideal way to do the right thing and get involved so we can all work together towards making a difference."

Buildings account for 44 per cent of all UK greenhouse gas emissions which is more than either industry or transport, so as a sector, the building industry can play a major role in helping reduce emissions.

Visitors to the Green Gateway LinkedIn group will be able to view the latest thoughts of group members from across the UK building industry and contribute to the on-going discussion. The new Twitter account (@green_gateway) will offer followers a chance to receive up-to-the-minute news and views from those within and outside the industry, including key opinion leaders.

"We are now building new low carbon buildings but around 75 per cent of our existing buildings will still be in use in 2050," adds Fahey. "To a large extent we have already built our future and the challenge now is to find ways of reducing the emissions from these buildings."

Fuel security, rising fossil fuel prices, increasingly tough legislation and the need to combat climate change are all driving the demand for greater efficiency and the inclusion of renewable energy.

"No one person or company has all the answers but as an industry, we do have the
technology and the expertise to really make a difference if we can find ways of getting our heads together," ends Fahey.

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WCL QUARRIES ACHIEVES OHSAS 18001 CERIFICATION

WCL Quarries, the largest independent quarrying, recycling and waste management operator in the Midlands has achieved OHSAS 18001 registration from The British Assessment Bureau, this is the businesses third such certification, having achieved ISO 9001 and ISO14001 in the last 4 years.

Achieving the OHSAS 18001 occupational health and safety management system standard required WCL Quarries to assess the risk and implement an effective occupational health and safety management system across its three Midlands based quarrying, waste and recycling sites, promoting a safe and healthy working environment.

Simon Winner, WCL Quarries’ Managing Director commented; “At WCL Quarries the health and safety of our team is of paramount importance to us, a well run, successful site is a safe site and we’ve worked extremely hard to achieve not only the OHSAS 18001, but also the ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. However, just because we’ve achieved these certifications it doesn’t mean the hard work ends. To continue to be a responsible business we need to commit to continuous improvement and continue to earn the certification year on year.”

The achievement of gaining OHSAS 18001 registration compliments WCL Quarries’ current ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications, meaning the company has robust and fully British Assessment Bureau monitored and assessed solutions in place for the following:

• Quality Management (ISO 9001)
• Environmental Policy (ISO 14001)
• Occupational Health & Safety (OHSAS 18001)

Simon Winner continues, “I am extremely proud of the team for achieving three, very hard to achieve and even harder to keep British Assessment Bureau certifications. I think it creates a positive statement about our business and its people.”

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Precast Rocket Walls® outweigh any other type of freestanding unit, storing a greater amount within the same floor space

Precast Rocket Walls® are unique to Eleco Precast ™ and they meet BS8110. They can be delivered fPrecast Rocket Walls® are a high quality, freestanding, precast concrete unit and are available in 3 different heights, 2.4, 3 or 4 metres. They outweigh any other type of freestanding unit. This is because they have been specifically designed to be able to store a greater amount of material within the same floor space. Another advantage of the Rocket wall® units is that they can be rapidly installed to form storage bunkers and bays. With the unique inverted “Y” shaped profile, it means that there is no ‘toe’ for the loading shovels to hit and therefore prevents the lodging of stored material.

Rocket walls are designed to be sited on an existing concrete floor slab or foundation and bolted down, using fixing bolts. This prevents movement and, as a result, improves site safety and maximum efficiency. Precast Rocket Walls® are designed with external fixing points for easily unbolted and re-sited with relative ease if need be, offering even more flexibility in their use. It is this uniqueness that makes them suitable for a variety of uses including,

• MRF Bays
• Aggregate Storage
• Crop / Soil storage
• Internal and external dividing walls
• Loading one side or both

They can also take materials of up to 16KN/M3 in density and therefore are ideal to be used for the construction sector, for storing recycling products and/or used as a grain and crop storage solution.

Precast Rocket Walls® are unique to Eleco Precast ™ and they meet BS8110. They can be delivered from our two locations to cater to the whole of the UK. Bell & Webster is located in Lincolnshire, for more information visit www.bellandwebster.com or for Milbury Systems which, is located in Gloucestershire, then please go to www.milbury.com.

A number of projects have used Rocket wall® units for example:

Milbury Systems supplied 300+ units for M & D Kemp’s project which involved processing East Yorkshire County Council’s green waste.
M & D Kemp were happy with our precast Rocket walls so much that they re-ordered since their last project for East Yorkshire County Councils green Waste and here are the reasons why:

Availability: Milbury Systems were able to supply an initial order for 300 + units from stock on a rolling contract to kick start phase 1 of the project.
Economical: M & D Kemp used their own transport to collect Rocket Units from Milbury’s factory. They were able to load 24No. 2.40m high units per load, illustrating an economical transport cost.
Ease of use: M & D Kemp’s workmen were amazed how easy Milbury Rocket walls were to handle and install.

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Serving The National Markets For Construction - Caspers Construction Company, LLC

Caspers Construction Company, LLC is a privately held company located in Las Vegas, NV, that will provide a diverse design build, pre-construction service with over 114 years of construction experience to our clients on a national level. Chairman Mark A. Caspers, former CEO of all Building Groups for Tutor Perini Corporation, is joined by former TPC executives, Sr. Executive Vice President Patrick Hubbs, Vice President of Operations Joseph A. Miller, and Scott Ryan, General Counsel for TPC Building Groups.

With a comprehensive strategy on providing construction services, we will be establishing local offices in the downtown Chicago area as well as Miami, Florida by the end of the 1st quarter 2013. Our goal is to provide a new and aggressive construction solution to our clients that includes on budget and on schedule results with a superior quality product as the foundation of our portfolio.

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As conveyor chain manufacturer adapts to meet the demands of the growing UK biomass and recycling industries - Sales up 70 per cent

Sales up 70 per cent as conveyor chain manufacturer adapts to meet the demands of the growing UK biomass and recycling industries.

UK-based conveyor chain manufacturer and supplier FB Chain Ltd has reported that in the financial year ending April 2012, UK sales of its range of conveyor chains grew by over 70 per cent.

Much of the growth has come from sales to companies operating in the UK biomass and recycling industries.

“We have always had strong sales within the wood and paper and pulp processing industries, but biomass and recycling are relatively new markets for us,” said Peter Church, Managing Director of FB Chain UK.

With Government-backed subsidies driving growth in the recycling sector - 42 new biomass plants are scheduled to open in the UK in 2012 – FB Chain expects to sustain its success in this market and is developing its product range accordingly.

“Because chain conveyors in the biomass and recycling industries are subject to more shock and irregular loads than in any other bulk material handling industry, we are providing much larger quantities of welded pin and bush conveyor chains,” says Peter Church.

FB Chain are producing conveyor chains with welded pins and bushes that have tensile strengths some 30 per cent higher than the ISO Standard conveyor chains commonly specified in the sector.

These induction hardened chains – which feature secure welded construction - offer higher durability against overloading and minimise chain failure and subsequent costly conveyor downtime.

Peter Church added: “The biomass and recycling industries are quickly becoming major sectors in the UK and it is essential that we continue to develop our product offering to meet the needs of these markets. I believe that sales of conveyor chains, sprockets and attachments specially adapted to the specific requirements of biomass and recycling operations, will represent a growing part of FB Chain’s conveyor chain business in the years ahead.”

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Professional Builder And Professional Remodeler Magazines In Decking/Outdoor Living Named Best New Product By Fiberon®

Professional Builder and Professional Remodeler magazines named Fiberon's Horizon matching fascia and riser boards as one of the best new decking/outdoor living products for 2012.

Fiberon®, a leading manufacturer of PVC and composite decking, railing and fencing products, launched several new product lines in February 2012, including the Horizon matching fascia and riser boards, recognized by the building publications, in its continued efforts to provide additional decking and railing choices to its customers.

In its annual 101 Best New Products report, Professional Builder and Professional Remodeler identified "breakthrough" products for residential construction, and this year, Fiberon's product won in the Decking/Outdoor Living category.

"Fiberon continually strives to develop and offer the best composite decking products to our customers," said Doug Mancosh, CEO of Fiberon. "It's an honor to be recognized by the building industry for our efforts and new product offerings."

Fiberon's Horizon matching fascia and riser boards and the other Best New Products will be published in the magazines' August issues.

About Fiberon:
Fiberon is a leading manufacturer of PVC and composite decking, railing and fencing products used in homes and light commercial construction across North, Central and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Through extensive product development and leading-edge manufacturing capabilities, Fiberon created the benchmark for innovative, alternative outdoor living products. Fiberon is proud to be a sponsoring member of the North American Deck and Railing Association (NADRA), whose mission is to provide a unified source for professional development and a voice for code development for the decking and railing industry in North America. Fiberon was founded in 1997 and is privately owned with operations in North Carolina and Idaho.

About Qorvis Communications, LLC:
Qorvis Communications is one of the nation's largest independent, integrated communications firms. Formed in August 2000, Qorvis provides its clients with expertise in the areas of public and media relations, advertising, public affairs, investor relations and financial services communications, grassroots campaigns, Internet-based campaigns, social media strategies, and research and opinion surveys.

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Allianz Rewards Effective HAV Management

Allianz, which provides general insurance to a number of industries has acknowledged that an auditable, accurate and tamper proof HAV management solution not only better protects employees but also protects the reputations and balance sheets of organisations.

Allianz Insurance recognises the Reactec HAVmeter solution as an example of best practice in terms of HAVS management. In turn Allianz customers are being given a special discount on the HAVS management solution and are advised to contact their broker.

Construction companies are being advised of the potential rewards and benefits of having the right health and safety precautions in place to protect their staff, for example against Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS). Companies that demonstrate preventative measures in vibration safety can receive support in reducing company exposure to HAVS claims and potentially insurance premiums.

Reactec, which is responsible for the HAVmeter solution streamlines accurate monitoring and management of operator exposure to vibrations from hand held power tools. The Vibration specialists are now one of insurance giant Allianz’s preferred suppliers regarding appropriate health and safety measures in the workplace.

Craig McLaughlin, Casualty Risk Control Manager, at Allianz said: “Managing and not just monitoring vibration is important and if not done accurately can have serious consequences. Companies need to be aware that by not having the right procedure in place, they are running the risk of losing money and damaging their reputation if a situation was to arise. Industries who use power tools should be managing HAVS risk effectively. “

“Risk management is an integral part of running a business. If businesses do not give employees the right tools to use in terms of health and safety, the employer could be legally liable, which can lead to employees taking legal proceedings against their employer.. “

Jim O’Hagan, Managing Director at Reactec said: “We are delighted to be one of Allianz’s preferred suppliers which is a real stamp of approval for the HAVmeter solution. It shows that companies can have auditable systems for HAVS safety management procedures.”

“Many companies within the industry are unaware of the issues they could be subjected to by not taking the right precautions in terms of staff health and safety. Having this type of association with Allianz has given added credibility to the HAVmeter and can only raise further awareness for the need to improve HAV management.”

The HAVmeter solution is the UK’s leading system for monitoring and managing vibration exposure and, in addition to being offered by major tool hire firms, it’s used by many of the country’s biggest construction, engineering, public sector and manufacturing companies including Balfour Beatty, Bam Nuttall Tarmac, Aston Martin, and the Environment Agency.

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Adding 116 New Units to Tight Rental Market, MC Clark-Wayland Completes Construction on The Place at Canyon Ridge in Tucson, AZ

Scottsdale-based MC Companies celebrated the grand opening of their new community The Place At Canyon Ridge. The Place at Canyon Ridge adds 116 units to the Tucson market and is the first project to be completed by the company's newly formed construction division, MC Clark-Wayland. (MCCW)

The Place at Canyon Ridge
Canyon Ridge's location in close proximity to the University of Arizona, Pima Community College, local shopping and the I 10 freeway make it a convenient choice for many. The large, modern apartments have upgraded finishes that include stainless steel appliances, front load washers and dryers, kitchens with center islands, upgraded countertops and larger pantries. Residents have a choice of one and two bedroom apartment homes, with balconies or private patios. The Place at Canyon Ridge includes a spacious clubhouse, fitness center and community pool and spa. MC Residential will manage the community.

Why Tucson?
Tucson resident and MC principal Ross McCallister is well versed in the Tucson economy and its rental needs. "Tucson's demand for quality, affordable apartment community homes has exceeded the current inventory for some time." Noting that less than 2,000 units have been added in the past ten years, Ross continued, "We believe the Tucson economy is strong and there is a high demand for quality rental product. The Place at Canyon Ridge is the first of three projects we are building in Tucson to help meet that demand." The company will open The Place at Creekside Phase One (208 units) and Phase Two (144 units) later this year.

About MC Clark-Wayland
In January of 2012, MC Companies entered into a joint venture with Clark-Wayland Construction, and formed MC Clark-Wayland. (MCCW) Combined, MC Clark-Wayland has more than 75 years construction experience and has built over 25,000 units in Arizona.

About MC Companies:
MC Companies is a real estate investment, development, construction, and Management Company specializing in the multifamily properties and commercial markets. MC Companies seeks opportunities where they can add value through capital improvement, revenue enhancements and expense reduction through utilization of proven operational efficiencies and management processes. MC Companies has completed over $300 million in multi-family and commercial value-added transactions since 1985 including more than 10,000 apartment units in Arizona, Nevada, Oklahoma and Texas.

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Franke Washroom Systems attracts active specifiers with Barbour Product Search

Franke Washroom Systems, leading manufacturer of quality stainless steel sanitaryware, explains how the Barbour Product Search Premier Profile and themed newsletter have helped the company to reach active specifiers across the whole purchasing chain.

Franke Washroom Systems has over 225 years’ experience manufacturing stainless steel and composite resin sanitaryware, washroom accessories, taps and water control equipment for any commercial sector. The company has been using Barbour Product Search to promote its products for the last two years.

A Premier Profile enables manufacturers to market their company and products as well as showcase a full range of brochures, technical data, company news and case studies to the audience. Barbour Product Search’s audience comprises of active specifiers including architects, surveyors, contractors, designers, engineers and private and public sector construction specialists.

Victoria Himsworth, Product Manager at Franke Washroom Systems says: “We turned to Barbour Product Search to promote our products to open up additional routes to the building and facilities management, M&E and plumbing sectors, as well as improve our visibility to subcontractors."

“The Premier Profile is great for us as we can list our products with images and links to our website. Also, the product and company news and case study sections really allow us to show our full range of products and capabilities.”

The Barbour Product Search newsletters offer the opportunity to further reach a large audience of key decision makers throughout the built environment. Franke Washroom Systems chose to feature in the themed newsletter.

Victoria continues: “The themed newsletters sent from Barbour Product Search are ideal as we can choose the ones most applicable to our industry. We have been included in the Education newsletter, where interested customers could then link straight through to the relevant section on our profile for more information.”

“The Barbour Product Search team is only too happy to provide us with advice whenever requested, and the support of our dedicated editorial account manager has been pivotal in making our profile successful.”

“I would absolutely recommend Barbour Product Search to other manufacturers who want to reach active specifiers across the entire purchasing chain.”

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Opportunities for the UK Construction Sector in South Africa

According to a report released by the UK Trade & Investment, British construction firms are being encouraged to take advantage of the multi billion pound infrastructure opportunities in South Africa.

The report, titled ‘Building South Africa: Opportunities for the UK Construction Sector’, highlights infrastructure opportunities in both the public and private sectors stemming from the Government’s £33billion infrastructure plans and events like the 2010 World Cup.

UK Trade & Investment Chief Executive Officer Andrew Cahn said: “South Africa is a fast growth economy with infrastructure plans to match. With investment opportunities in both private and public sectors, coupled with a severe skills shortage now is the time for UK companies to take advantage of the construction boom.”

“The Government’s infrastructure spending plan is set to accelerate the annual growth of the economy between 4.5 per cent and 6.0 per cent. Its ambitious plans for mass transport, water projects, prisons, hospital and prison upgrades provide plenty of opportunities for UK companies.

“This investment and events like the 2010 Football World Cup are acting as a catalyst for growth in the private construction sector. Opportunities include hotel and residential development as well as urban regeneration projects. By establishing a business in South Africa, UK companies can gain a foothold into sub-Saharan Africa.”

This latest report follows on from recent research by UK Trade & Investment which revealed South Africa to be one of tomorrow’s most exciting investment destinations. In recent research South Africa was ranked as number eight in the top ten list of ‘new wave’ markets. The Tomorrow’s Markets report gives new insights into where companies will go next in emerging markets and why. The results are based on the opinions of global business leaders headquartered all over the world and gives credible insights into their future business plans.

Several UK companies are already actively involved in major infrastructure projects for South Africa, including Bombardier Transportation UK Ltd which is providing the new train fleet for the Gautrain project, and Mott MacDonald which is involved in Transnet’s rail and port expansion programme.

UK Trade & Investment’s presence in South Africa is stronger than ever, with 34 staff based in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban to support these opportunities and expansions.

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Volvo introduces EW230C wheeled excavator with superior stability in heavier lift operations

The EW230C from Volvo Construction Equipment is built around a new, more robust platform, which is designed to ensure the stability needed to manage bigger loads, for heavy lifting applications, such as laying big pipe for drainage projects, or hard digging.

Following the recent launch of the EW210C, a benefit of this platform for a machine in this 20t weight class, is that its design ensures that the rear axle weight, when fitted with the standard counterweight, is below 12t – making it approved for road travel between sites. A heavier counterweight is also available for applications not requiring the machine to be moved on the road.

With the standard counterweight, the EW230C weighs 21.6-24.3t, depending on machine configuration. (23.1-25.6t with the heavier counterweight.) A choice of 5.7m mono or optional articulated two-piece boom is available.

The EW230C is powered by a Volvo D6E EHE3 diesel engine, developing 125 kW/168hp net at 2,000 rpm, delivering power where it is needed. When required for mass excavation work, or in heavy lifting applications, the EW230C has a lift capacity among the best in its class, optimising performance and productivity. The EW230C on display at Intermat 2009 is fitted with Volvo’s automatic lubrication system, which not only ensures correct lubrication, but also reduces lubricant use by 50%.

Additional features include:
* Access to the superstructure via steps provides for easy servicing and routine maintenance checks, to minimise down time.
* New and higher capacity cooling module.
* Load-sensing hydraulic system features two pumps – one for the attachment and travel and a second, closed-loop slew pump.
* Slew ring from the larger EC240C, for increased strength and durability in tough working conditions.
* Larger hydraulic cylinders.
* Digging forces 10-15% greater than on the EW210C.

In common with all Volvo excavators, 95% of the machine is recyclable. As one of Volvo’s core values, Environmental Care is central to Volvo’s thinking when it comes to designing, manufacturing and operating machines.

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Osborne appointed to carry out redevelopment of largest dry dock in Southampton

Osborne has been appointed by Associated British Ports to carry out the redevelopment of an area of land near the 1930s, Dry Dock No. 7 (formerly known as the King George 5th Dry Dock) on West Bay Road in Southampton. The £1.4 million project will convert the area into a cargo handling berth with access to an adjacent berth that is also undergoing redevelopment. Completion is expected by the end of 2008.

Following listed planning consent, the contract comprises demolitions, new roads, fencing, lighting and dock up-grades as well as non-tidal works to the quayside including heavy duty chamber covers and new anchor bollards, plus tidal works to the now flooded Dry Dock 7 consisting of new safety chains, access ladders and infilling of old stairways.

Associated drainage, ducting, high mast lights, weighbridge and office foundation works will also be undertaken. Throughout the project, existing access will be maintained for quay operating leaseholders and future access to the quayside and dock will be improved with a new circulatory access road and link road to an adjacent berth.

There are a number of challenges, not least of which is breaking out existing concrete slabs for new roads and drainage. This is being carried out using a tracked Rocksaw to cut along the sides of the routes, enabling more accurate and simplified breaking out.

As part of the project, as many existing materials as possible are being reused to minimise waste and materials movement. This includes the use of the broken concrete, which will be crushed and reused as a capping material on this development.

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Special Liebherr civil engineering machines help extend Bremerhaven container terminal

In order to create additional berths for the latest generation of container ships, the container terminal at Bremerhaven is currently being extended from 3,200 to 4,872 metres. This large-scale project will involve 37,000 tonnes of steel sheet piling, 10,000 tonnes of reinforcing steel, 60,000 cubic metres of concrete and ten million cubic metres of sand.

A major and complex phase in the project is the construction of the upstream sheet-pile wall under full tidal influence in the River Weser.

The piling work this requires is being carried out by a Liebherr Type LR 1280 hydraulic rope excavator and a Liebherr Type HS 895 HD crawler crane with special attachments. They work from two big lifting platforms, enabling the Liebherr piling equipment and the structural members to be positioned exactly.

The first stage involves the Liebherr LR 1280 crawler crane ramming in a total of 743 double piles, with dimensions of 1,000 to 1,016 and lengths of up to 42.5 metres. The single piles weigh around 25 tonnes, meaning the overall tonnage lifted is 17,500 tonnes.

To absorb horizontal forces, the Liebherr HS 895 HD then rams in 743 raked piles from atop another lifting platform. Each of these 45-metre long piles weighs 7.2 tonnes, resulting in a total of 5,300 tonnes for the HS 895.

A Liebherr HS 883 HD hydraulic rope excavator is also in operation at Bremerhaven, to undertake additional piling work. Other Liebherr hydraulic rope excavators, of Type HS 883 HD and HS 833 HD, will be used on the building site for lifting.

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United Nations defer decision on deadly chrysotile asbestos used mainly in cement products

The Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade has 39 substances on its so-called PIC list, under which an exporting nation must ensure no substances leave its territory without the consent of the recipient country.

The member governments to a United Nations-backed treaty aimed at helping developing countries more effectively manage chemicals and pesticides have postponed a decision until 2008 on whether to add the world's most widely used form of asbestos, identified as causing cancer, to an international watch list.

Member States meeting in Geneva could not reach consensus on adding chrysotile asbestos, which is used mainly in cement products and accounts for about 94 per cent of current global asbestos consumption. All other forms of asbestos are already on the list.

The World Health Organization (WHO), which has identified chrysotile as a human carcinogen, reports that at least 90,000 people die each year of asbestos-related diseases such as lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), said in a statement that the deferral raises concerns for developing nations about how to protect their citizens. UNEP and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) provide the secretariat to the Rotterdam Convention.

“While discussions continue over the next two years, exporters should feel a special responsibility to help importers manage chrysotile safely,” he said.

Alexander Müller, Officer-in-Charge of FAO’s Department of Agriculture, Biosecurity, Nutrition and Consumer Protection, said the inclusion of chrysotile “would not constitute a recommendation to ban its global trade or use. With many more actively traded chemicals likely to be considered for inclusion in the future, it is important now to think through the precedent that we may be setting for the Convention.”

A panel of experts decided in February that chrysotile meets the Convention’s conditions for listing, and this conference accepted that conclusion. A key requirement for listing is that two countries from two different regions must have banned or severely restricted the chemical in question, and in this case, Australia, Chile and the European Commission have done so.

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Excavators are the most stolen category of plant and equipment

Plant and equipment theft in the UK has reached an all-time high according to the 2006 Equipment Theft Report. The National Plant & Equipment Register (TER) reveals that equipment theft was up last year by 20% in number to 4,324 recorded thefts and by 13% in value to £43M, the highest it has ever been.

The report reveals that:

* Last year alone £43M worth of stolen plant and equipment was registered with TER

* Since 2000, more than 20,000 higher value plant and equipment items worth £185M have been reported as stolen to TER

* Excavators are the most stolen category of plant and equipment. Last year, 1169 stolen excavators, representing 27% of reported thefts, were registered as stolen with TER

* Excavator theft rose by 14% and accounted for 45% of the total value of plant and equipment theft in 2005

* Most commonly stolen equipment by manufacturer was Ifor Williams (horseboxes and trailers), with 952 taken. Second most stolen was JCB (excavators, telescopic handlers and backhoe loaders), with 521 taken. Third most common was Kubota (excavators) at 256

* Reported tractor thefts were up 70%; quad bikes by 62%, dumpers by 54%, breakers by 42%, rollers by 41% and fork lift trucks by 38%. Trailer theft is up 24% to 1094, representing 25% of reported theft

* The recovery rate for stolen plant and equipment is less than 5%. 95% of equipment stolen every year is not recovered

* The average value of equipment stolen last year was £9,800. 311 items reported to TER were valued at more than £20,000 each; 18 at more than £50,000. It took an average of 45 days to report thefts to TER

* The most expensive stolen item registered with TER in 2005 was a £98,000 Komatsu Loading Shovel stolen in Shropshire in June 2005 which, as far as TER is aware, has not been recovered

* Evidence directly links equipment theft to the funding of terrorist groups

* Experts fear stolen equipment could be used as a Trojan Horse either to smuggle illicit property, such as weapons or drugs into the UK , or to hide an explosive device

* Stolen excavators are often used in the theft of ATMs from banks or to partially destroy cash-in-transit vehicles; the failed attempt to steal diamonds from the Millennium Dome in 2000 used a JCB digger to break through security gates and into the dome

* Criminals involved in plant theft can be violent and may carry weapons; in one incident reported to TER, two men who tried to recover their stolen telehandler were threatened with a sawn off shotgun; in another, a 9mm pistol and a box of 9mm bullets were found behind the dashboard of a stolen digger recovered by TER

The top five police forces experiencing equipment theft, by number, were Thames Valley Police (269 thefts), Metropolitan Police (232 thefts), Essex Police (210 thefts), Kent Police (196 thefts) and Surrey Police (185 thefts). The police forces with the lowest level of recorded equipment theft were City of London , Northern, Dumfries & Galloway, Cleveland and Tayside

There is huge demand for used plant and equipment in the UK, Ireland, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa and globally; the undercurrent to this global trade is the trade in stolen plant and equipment

“In many ways, parts of the plant and equipment industry are like the Wild West of old,” said Tim Purbrick, manager of TER. “There appears to be little regulation, too much cash in hand, and very low levels of policing, either by law enforcement or the industries involved. This is despite the fact that plant and equipment theft spans the spectrum of criminality - from opportunist through serious organised criminal to terrorist.

“With the UK construction market gearing up towards the 2012 Olympics, there are significant opportunities for all parties involved to raise their game. This is not rocket science. It should be a partnership of the willing.”

A full copy of TER’s annual Equipment Theft Report, which highlights the nature and extent of equipment theft as well as recommending ways in which it can be reduced, and more stolen equipment recovered, is available from TER.

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Historic Peterborough Restaurant Scheme Secured by ISG

ISG has been awarded a project to create a new Carluccio’s restaurant and a speculative retail unit by developer Hammerson. The scheme will link the property firm’s Queensgate Shopping Centre in Peterborough with the adjacent Grade II listed Miss Pears Building.

ISG is already on site at Queensgate Shopping Centre delivering a scheme to create a new two storey Primark store for Hammerson. This latest project will see the contractor complete refurbishment, extension and new-build elements over a tight, 15-week programme, while tackling the challenges of a listed building and severely restricted site access.

The Miss Pears Building is a former 1860s alms house, which was extended in 1902 following a donation by the eponymous Miss Pears. Until recently, the area of the building that will become the Carluccio’s restaurant was a tea room and ISG will carry out a complete strip out, including demolition of some interior walls and creation of new door openings. An extension to the side of the existing building will complete the new restaurant space and ISG will hand over the scheme as a shell ready for fit out by Carluccio’s in early September.

The new-build retail unit will be located on the corner of the alms house and the shopping centre, connecting the two buildings. The original façade of the alms house will be retained as the rear internal wall of the unit, complete with leaded windows, and the side wall will be formed by the adjoining shopping centre. ISG will erect a steel frame with a reconstituted stone façade and curved glass frontage to create the retail unit and install a stainless steel coated roof. The unit will also be handed over as a shell ready for fit out by the new tenant.

ISG’s Phillip Allerton, managing director – East, commented: “This is an innovative project that will maximise the impact of the architectural features of the Miss Pears Building, while providing contemporary accommodation for Carluccio’s and the new retail tenant. It is an excellent example of how ingenious design can maximise the footprint and value of a client’s property assets and we are confident that our project management experience and proactive approach to overcoming logistical challenges will contribute to an outstanding construction solution.”

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Interactive information application (App) for European Plant & Machinery Sales by Moffat Consulting & Technology

Leading used equipment and machinery suppliers - European Plant and Machinery Sales - is the latest company to have a new interactive iPhone / iPad Application (App) developed for them by Moffat Consulting & Technology, the technology arm of Resale Weekly.

European Plant and Machinery Sales wanted to help improve the overall satisfaction and efficiency of potential buyers and sellers in the global marketplace. By partnering with Moffat Consulting & Technology to help solve this business challenge, they designed and created an application (App) for the business that could be viewed on smart phones and tablets by prospective buyers and sellers.

The new EPM App, as it has become known, enables the user to browse equipment by category (for example Excavators or Wheeled Loaders) to produce a subset listing of machinery that is displayed in a digital ‘stock book’, outlining available products classified by: model, year, hours, location, with the addition of the price and include a recent photograph.

A ‘Services’ section was also built into the EPM App which the user can use to message the workshop, the export office at European Plant and Machinery Sales, or make a serious enquiry about a particular piece of machinery which then may result in a sale. The EPM App is now available as a FREE download from the iTunes Store.

Grant McGregor, Partner at European Plant and Machinery Sales explains how this application has enhanced the business: “Our business operates on a truly global basis and as a result we need to find ways of reaching that global marketplace. By creating the new EPM App we have made it significantly easier for our buyers and seller to review our stock list anywhere in the world at any time of day. We have already seen a significant increase in the interest in our stock and products and are confident this new application will increase plant interest and sales.”

Daniel Moffat, MD at Moffat Consulting & Technology explains the challenges of this project and the successful outcome: “Moffat Consulting & Technology is fast establishing a name as one of the premiere builders of this type of iPhone / iPad application for the construction machinery and equipment sector. We understand how to package and present machinery and construction equipment for sale, having almost 50 years experience classifying and promoting it for sale through Resale Weekly. The EPM App for European Plant and Machinery Sales has already started to change the way the business sells and seeks buyers but we are already refining the software with a number of new functions that will be launched in version 2.0 in a matter of months.”

European Plant and Machinery Sales specialises in the sales of all types of construction equipment, primarily Caterpillar, Komatsu, Hitachi, JCB, Volvo, New Holland and Doosan, as well as other leading makes.

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Growth trend: 300 members and 1000 interoperable products for EnOcean Alliance

With 50 percent growth in membership within one year, the EnOcean Alliance is currently undergoing the strongest growth period since its founding in 2008. Today, the independent non-profit organisation now has a membership base of 300 companies worldwide, developing innovative automation solutions for sustainable building projects. New EnOcean Alliance members include Somfy, Telefunken Smart Building, Deuta Controls, Weinzierl, Dooya, Viessmann, Waldmann, NEC, Omron, Vimar and NTT. The Alliance's core technology consists of the EnOcean batteryless wireless technology, which is based on the international standard ISO/IEC 14543-3-10. The technology has been integrated into 1000 interoperable products. In this context, smart home solutions are emerging as a new trend.

Utilising energy harvesting techniques, EnOcean's wireless technology requires neither cables nor batteries. The modules generate the energy required for transmitting a wireless signal from movement, light or temperature differences. The EnOcean Alliance represents an association of companies that implement products or system solutions using this energy harvesting wireless technology. The independent organisation aims to make buildings more energy-efficient, flexible and cost-effective with intelligent automation solutions.

The market has great potential. “In 2011, wireless sensors accounted for just over 15% of the 21 million building automation sensors shipped in the EMEA and the Americas markets combined. The number of wireless sensors is forecast to increase to over 25% of total building automation sensors in EMEA and the Americas by 2015,” states William Rhodes, Senior Market Analyst at IMS Research (recently acquired by IHS (NYSE:IHS)).

International success

With the ISO/IEC 14543-3-10 certification, EnOcean wireless technology has been ratified as an international standard. This forms a key basis for the continued development of the already very successful and quickly growing EnOcean Alliance ecosystem: the interoperability of products. Using this standard as a foundation, the EnOcean Alliance develops specifications for respective applications (EnOcean Equipment Profiles – EEPs), establishing a fully interoperable and open wireless technology that allows products to communicate with each other regardless of the manufacturer.

"The success of the EnOcean Alliance shows that we are still a long way from exhausting the application opportunities for energy harvesting wireless technology in buildings and other application fields. More and more companies worldwide are recognising the potential of this maintenance-free technology for the development of intelligent and energy-efficient solutions. The international standard and exchange opportunities within the Alliance offer the ideal platform in this regard," says Graham Martin, Chairman of the EnOcean Alliance. "In addition to the core markets in Europe and North America, we are also strongly committed to Japan and China – a region from which 25 new members joined the EnOcean Alliance within six months."

Batteryless in a smart home

Smart home systems represent a new application field for EnOcean-based solutions. The newest developments from EnOcean Alliance members include:

On-call building automation

BSC Computer GmbH offers software and hardware solutions for building automation, energy management and ambient assisted living (AAL). The control software BSC-BoSe and a sensor network, based on batteryless wireless technology, now make it possible to operate building technology using the voice control function of smartphones and tablets, allowing users to control shutters, light, heating and air-conditioning, as well as applications for ambient assisted living virtually on an on-call basis. In addition, the system also supports smart grid applications, offering encrypted communication via M2M solutions and the required hardware.

Intelligent furniture

With IQ Chair and IQ Mat, IQfy has developed two products for easier everyday living. The IQ Chair features integrated wireless technology that uses a batteryless motion sensor to control lighting, heating and ventilation based on presence. This automation function can save up to 40 percent of electricity and energy costs in offices – without any negative effects on employees' work routines. With IQ Mat, the thinking mattress, IQfy has further developed this principle. A motion sensor integrated into the mattress registers the presence of someone in the bed, and automatically controls lighting, heating or electrical devices. For example, night lighting may be triggered if the physical load on the mattress is removed during night hours. Both developments received the "Innovation Prize for Architecture and Technology" at the 2012 Light+Building, since "they make an important contribution to sustainability in architecture".

On the "MilkyWay"

Idea SpA (Gruppo Giordano) brings the smart home in a box: The MilkyWay starter kits ClimeBUDDY and eNRGmate contain all plug & play components for the automated control and monitoring of heating and air-conditioning, including visualisation, also via smartphones and tablets. Thanks to EnOcean wireless technology, all sensors and actuators can be flexibly mounted inside the house. In addition, the MilkyWay system is also ready for integration into future smart grid applications.

About EnOcean Alliance

Leading companies worldwide from the building sector collected to form the EnOcean Alliance and establish innovative automation solutions for sustainable building projects – and so to make buildings more energy-efficient, more flexible and lower in cost. The core technology of the Alliance is energy harvesting wireless technology for flexibly positioned and service-free sensor solutions. The EnOcean Alliance aims to internationalise the energy harvesting wireless technology, and is dedicated to creating interoperability between the products of OEM partners. Basis for this is the international standard ISO/IEC 14543-3-10, which is optimised for wireless solutions with ultra-low power consumption and energy harvesting. 300 companies currently belong to the EnOcean Alliance. The headquarters of the non-profit organisation is located in San Ramon, California.

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