Fergus launches new plans to help trade businesses

Fergus has announced the launch of two new, simpler plans designed to help all trade businesses, from start-ups to sole traders, all the way through to growing businesses with multiple subbies on the tools. The introduction of the new 'Fergus Essentials' and 'Fergus Pro' options for the job management software that gives hours of free time otherwise lost to admin back to the trade, offers simple, cost effective and tailored features, ensuring that, no matter the size or stage of the business, Fergus is there to support them on their journey. Fergus Essentials, available from just £19 per user per month, is the ideal solution for sole traders or teams with one to five members, providing a simplified and cost-effective option. This easy-to-use plan ensures that nothing falls through the cracks for plumbers, electricians, builders and other trades professionals, freeing up valuable time typically spent on administrative tasks such as invoicing and quoting, allowing them to focus on what they love – family, friends, or even just the work out on site. “For those just starting out or running small businesses, Fergus Essentials is the perfect, cost-effective choice. It offers the essential tools necessary to efficiently manage their company and make their lives better,” says James Chillman, UK Country Manager at Fergus. “With Essentials, you can access a range of features including job tracking, quoting and estimating, invoicing, calendar, timesheets, job cards and more - all accessible on desktop or mobile. You don’t need to be digitally savvy to use it – just download the app to get started and begin to get the hours back you would have otherwise spent chasing paper.” To ensure that every user gets the most out of Fergus Essentials, the company provides comprehensive support. Helpful onboarding and how-to-use videos, live chat and email support are available to assist with any queries or concerns. Fergus also invites users to participate in their 'Tools Down' sessions, where they can interact directly with experts to get their questions answered and learn how to maximise the potential of the software. For those seeking a tool to drive growth and boost their bottom line, Fergus Pro is the perfect choice. This plan allows users access to a comprehensive range of features, allowing them to manage and streamline every aspect of their trades business. “Fergus Pro is designed to cater to the specific needs of larger companies, providing a full suite of powerful job management services,” adds James. “With features like advanced project management, team collaboration tools, real-time reporting and enhanced customisation options, Fergus Pro becomes an indispensable asset in driving business success.” The changes don’t stop there either, as the Fergus team look to make life even easier for tradespeople. More features have been added to Fergus, including the ability to issue gas certificates from your mobile, and integrated CIS tax compliance too. No matter what your challenges out on site, Fergus has got your admin covered. Click here for more latest news.

Carhartt releases new work-to-home joggers

Carhartt has added two new additions to its line-up: the men’s Relaxed Fit Midweight Tapered Graphic Sweatpants (105899) and the women’s Relaxed Fit Fleece Jogger (105510). Designed to seamlessly transition from on-site to at-home, these sweatpants and joggers redefine comfort, style and durability anytime, anywhere. Made from a soft midweight cotton blend fabric, the relaxed fit of the men’s Midweight Tapered Graphic Sweatpants (105899) provides that extra bit of breathing room through the seat and thigh, ensuring unrestricted movement and a fit that adapts to your lifestyle. With the Carhartt signature graphic logo printed on the left leg, the tapered leg design makes them equally suitable for lounging and stepping out for casual outings. The adjustable waistband, complete with a hidden drawcord, allows you to customise the fit, while the stretchable, elastane-reinforced rib knit cuffs ensure a secure fit that stays in place. The women’s Relaxed Fit Fleece Jogger (105510) is also designed with comfort in mind, featuring a relaxed fit with tapered leg that allows for free movement with style. Engineered from a robust cotton-polyester blend, the cosy Clarksburg Fleece fabric is tough and strong but soft and warm, while an adjustable waistband with a discreet hidden drawcord ensures a personalised fit. Both the men’s sweatpants and women’s joggers come with two front pockets with zipper closures along with a zippered back pocket on the wearer's right side, meaning there is ample space to keep all essentials safe and easily accessible. Leave discomfort at the door and step into Autumn in style.

CU Phosco's LED upgrade solution supports Suffolk County Council

Suffolk County Council has set out ambitions for becoming a carbon-neutral organisation by 2030. To support its initiatives, the council launched a streetlight upgrade project in partnership with Bouygues Energies & Services. The project has aimed to replace 43,400 street lighting lanterns across Suffolk's roads and residential areas with LED upgrades. Its key objectives were to reduce energy consumption and carbon footprint, minimise light pollution, and bring down ongoing maintenance costs, all within an ambitious timeframe. CU Phosco worked with Designs for Lighting to provide the initial lighting design, then manufactured and supplied Bouygues E&S with 1500 units per working week to ensure the project was completed within the tight timeframe, helping the council achieve the maximum energy savings quickly. Over 12 months, Bouygues E&S replaced over 40,000 Suffolk streetlights with CU Phosco's E950 and P863 LED lanterns for roads and residential areas. The E950 is a high-quality, low-cost solution to replace existing sodium discharge and compact fluorescent luminaires on minor roads. It is dark skies friendly, so offers excellent optical cut-off, drastically reducing light pollution. Likewise, P863 excels in optical performance, thermal management, compatibility and serviceability, resulting in an uncompromised outcome of efficiency and versatility that is future-proofed for an optimised investment. The project was a great success. Bouygues E&S completed the main installation in just 12 months and accomplished several key objectives, including reducing the council's energy consumption and carbon footprint, decreasing light pollution, and lowering ongoing maintenance costs. Both the E950 and P863 LED lanterns met the latest British Standard 5605 for roads and conservation areas and provided compliant lighting levels. Notably, the project achieved 76% energy savings, resulting in £1.7 million in annual electricity cost savings for the council to date. In addition, the LED technology used in the upgrade is expected to increase the lifecycle of the equipment, providing further cost savings in the long run. The upgrade also guarantees better facial recognition and improved light cut-offs resulting in less light intrusion into residential properties.

Luceco supplies purrfect lighting to the Cats Protection centre

Since 1927, Cats Protection has been the UK's cat charity helping over 1.5 million cats to find new homes through a national network of over 200 volunteer-run branches and 34 centres. Luceco has recently supplied energy efficient lighting to the Cats Protection Glasgow Adoption Centre. Acting as a subcontractor to principal contractor, Scotwood Interiors, Electrical Solutions Scotland completed the lighting installation using modular LuxPanels, surface mounted Sierra bulkheads, linear IP65 rated climate fittings and recessed carbon and Platinum Mini downlighters with IP65 diffusers. The installation included recessed ceiling, day and night PIR motion sensors, and presence / absence dimming detection to assist with the energy efficiency of the building and for the comfort of the occupants. The recessed mounted switching DALI PIRs also offered scene setting, which is simply programmed with a handheld remote control. The addition of lighting controls to an installation ensures considerable energy costs savings, as well as a straightforward method of reducing an organisation’s carbon footprint. Platinum Mini offers the technical benefits and aesthetics of the larger Platinum luminaire range, in the form of a compact and high-performance downlighter with an efficacy up to 133Llm/cW with a matt reflector. With a diameter of just 165mm, the die-cast aluminium body is designed to provide optimal thermal control, and ceiling cut out of 152mm. Recessed mounting is made easy with a unique swing tab design for quick installation. Additional options include emergency, self-test, and DALI variants, as well as a 3000K option, providing a warmer, more comforting lit environment, sometimes preferred in certain public areas and domestic settings. Product accessories include a range of circular, square, and frosted drop glass bezels in brushed steel, polished chrome or white or with a diffuser. At the Cats Protection Glasgow Adoption Centre, an IP65 rated twist on white bezel with clear diffuser was specified. Luceco Project Manager, Grahame Scott, says, “Chris Bryant from Electrical Solutions Scotland, a long term partner of Luceco, asked us to come up with a cost effective design to meet the requirements of the specification, which resulted in a lighting scheme that has achieved these results leaving all involved 'feline purrfectly' satisfied with the outcome.” Click here more latest news.

Drayton appoints new product owner

Drayton has welcomed Merlin Milner as Product Owner for water-based heating systems, who will support the leading controls manufacturer in expanding its offering of smart home solutions, including its Wiser and Digistat ranges. Merlin joins Schneider Electric as part of the UK-based Drayton team, following four years as the Head of Strategic Product Development at Aspen Pumps. He has also previously spearheaded many successful product ranges at CP Electronics, Helvar, Cooper and Legrand. This forms part of a longstanding career in product development, spanning over 25 years. He will also bring his extensive knowledge, gained developing both residential and commercial controls, to Drayton. With his primary focus to create and expand existing product lines in the UK, which will feed into the wider Schneider Electric portfolio, Merlin looks forward to working with Drayton customers to provide efficient and forward-facing products that will benefit households across the country. Merlin says, “I am excited to be joining Schneider Electric as part of the Drayton team and I particularly look forward to getting to know our customers and understanding their requirements as the way we manage our homes continues to adapt in light of intuitive technology. “With demands for smart controls soaring, I am confident that my years of experience will culminate to further establish key Drayton products such as Wiser and Digistat, while expanding the company’s offering wider.” Click here for more latest news.

DSV to start trials of Volta Zero in the UK

Volta Trucks has announced that an evaluation is underway, as part of the brand’s Driving Experience Programme, with global transport and logistics company, DSV. The all-electric Volta Zero will be the first zero tailpipe emission truck on the DSV fleet. The truck will be operating from DSV’s southern hub in Purfleet and will be completing last-mile groupage deliveries in London and the Southeast. DSV will be operating the truck on routes between the hours of 06.00hrs and 19.00hrs, with overnight charging back at their main depot.  The Volta Zero Driving Experience Programme offers fleet operators the opportunity to be loaned a truck for an extended period, allowing them to understand how the production specification all-electric medium-duty truck will integrate into their operations. It is now live in the UK, France, Germany, Netherlands and Sweden, with more markets to follow over the coming months. Chris Heddle, UK Sales Manager at Volta Trucks, comments, “We are delighted to see the Volta Zero operational on the roads of the UK, as part of our Driving Experience Programme, and to see DSV utilising the vehicle for real world day-to-day deliveries. At Volta Trucks, we are focused on driving towards more sustainable, safer and healthier cities and have a laser focus on accelerating the electrification of the commercial transport sector.” John Hawksworth, Senior Director for road operation in the Domestic & Distribution at DSV, adds, “We have researched the possibility of facilitating electric vehicles without impacting service levels for some time and Volta Trucks has provided us with the perfect solution. We are delighted to be part of such a significant innovation in the industry and look forward to evaluating the benefits in the coming months.”

Addressing the T5 and T8 fluorescent tube ban 2023

Under the new directive, previous exemptions for T5 and T8 fluorescent lamps, compact fluorescent lamps and special purpose lamps have now been revoked. This means that the production of fluorescent tubes will have to stop entirely, with the exception of HPD lamps and special purpose lamps, which may be produced for another three to five years. However, the sale and use of stock products will still be allowed. Effectively, this means that T5 and T8 lamps will be harder to come by and no doubt increase in price. And while it will still be possible to buy remaining stock, this is bound to run out sooner rather than later, meaning this is not a long-term solution for businesses. With as much as 40% of companies still using T8 fluorescent lamps, this is an opportunity for business owners to look towards more energy efficient alternatives. LEDs are widely regarded as the most favourable alternative, being an environmentally friendly, energy efficient lighting source that is highly durable and reliable. On average, LEDs are estimated to last around 50,000 hours, approximately 50 times longer than incandescent bulbs. Businesses that have yet to start their transition to LED lighting should doubtlessly consider making the switch now to both save on energy and costs. LED alternatives provide energy efficient and cost-effective T5 and T8 tubes that require significantly less energy compared to fluorescent lamps, resulting in savings of up to 80% in energy costs. Additionally, they don’t use any toxic substances, making them more eco-friendly than other light sources. After its halogen light ban in September 2021, and in view of the upcoming fluorescent light bulb ban, the UK government estimated that a shift to LED bulbs would cut 1.26 million tonnes of CO2 per year, making this a worthy investment for businesses from an ESG viewpoint. The initial cost of LED lighting may seem discouraging at first glance. However, its significantly longer lifespan and improved energy efficiency results in significant cost savings in the long run, with these paying for themselves in just a few years. To ascertain the potential impact of making a switch to LEDs, businesses can enlist the help of electrical engineering experts who can correctly advise on how to implement it in the most cost-effective way. adi Electrical can provide full lighting surveys, which will not only demonstrate the lux levels that will be achieved, but also the energy savings and compliance to any applicable regulations, such as emergency lighting routes.

Choosing the right socket tester just got easier!

It is fair to say that when it comes to a first line of defence in electrical safety, socket testers are a great way of keeping anyone working with electricity safe. Consequently, there are a huge variety of socket testers on the market and it can be difficult to choose which one is best suited to the application you are working on. All socket testers will check basic connections have been made correctly, however three new Martindale Electric socket testers give professionals more features and less headaches when it comes to choosing the right unit for the job in hand. Martindale Electric’s BZ701, for example, not only detects the basic 28 socket wiring fault conditions and checks the mains voltage level, it also safely detects line-neutral reversal (cross polarity) at the incoming supply. The polarity swap test detects fault conditions on PME/ TN-C-S systems (the most common type of supply) that cannot be identified by normal socket testers. It is easily activated by using the touch pad on the BZ701. Correct polarity is indicated by three flashing green LEDs. A fault condition is clearly indicated by three red LEDs and a warning buzzer. The recently launched EZ165 and EZ365 also detect the 28 basic fault conditions and check the mains voltage level too. Both models also show how safe the earth wiring is by carrying out a non-trip earth loop test and indicating its value in six discrete ranges. A low earth resistance is essential for safety disconnection devices to work properly and prevent electrocution when faults occur. In addition to all the features of the basic EZ165 model, the EZ365 not only checks for L-NE polarity swap at the incoming supply as featured on the BZ701, but also can be used to trip test 30mA RCDs by using the touchpad. Martindale Electric’s socket testers make it easy for electricians to choose the right level of features they need for their work and offer a crucial first line of defence when it comes to electrical safety. These three sophisticated testers are in addition to the Martindale famous check plug and 'buzz-it' ranges. Click here for more details on Martindale Electric’s range of socket testers.

KNIPEX launches its Tool Case for Photovoltaics

Specialist installations often require specific tools and the new KNIPEX Tool Case for Photovoltaics (97 91 04 V01) is packed with the essential cutting-edge tools designed to make solar PV installations easier. The robust tool case includes a variety of useful tools packaged in foam inserts, which provides protection and convenience for solar PV installers. Included in the case is the KNIPEX Crimping Die (97 49 66), tailored exclusively for MC4 (Multi-Contact) solar cable connectors. With a capacity of 2.5-6.0mm², this crimping die guarantees rock-solid connections. The tool case also contains a locator (97 49 66 1) and a set of mounting tools for solar cable connectors (97 49 66 2), as well as cable strippers and cutters.   The KNIPEX Precision Insulation Stripper (12 12 11) is equipped with specially adapted blades for smaller stripping capacities of 1.5 / 2.5 / 4.0 / 6.0mm². The set also features the KNIPEX Crimp System Pliers (97 43 200 A). With their exchangeable crimping dies and factory-calibrated crimping pressure, you can achieve consistent and professional-grade connections every single time. KNIPEX understands the importance of clean and accurate cable cutting. The tool case includes cable shears (95 16 165), capable of cutting copper cables up to Ø15mm. The tool case’s foam inserts, tailored specifically for the tools, crimping dies, and locators, ensures that everything stays neatly in place. That means there will be no more scrambling for misplaced tools or worrying about damage during transportation. The shock-resistant plastic case is also built to withstand the toughest conditions, keeping your tools safe and secure on every job site. With its compact dimensions of 345 x 80 x 280mm, it is easy to carry, ensuring you can take your toolkit anywhere your solar PV installations take you. Click here for more latest news.

Monitor Audio to be headline sponsor of the CEDIA Smart Home Awards

For the fourth year in a row, Monitor Audio Group, has been announced as the headline sponsor for the EMEA CEDIA Smart Home Awards. At this year’s award ceremony, which is taking place at The Brewery in London, on Friday 6 October, the company will be presenting the awards to the Best Integrated Home and Global category winners. Monitor Audio has also just released its fourth generation of architectural speakers, including 19 new models over three, carefully configured performance tiers. The range extends its commitment to the custom install market, with a range of forward-thinking speaker solutions that are engineered to support the demands of the installer: flexibility, usability, intuitive functionality, easy installation, superior build quality, and outstanding sound performance. "We are pleased to once again be the headline sponsor of the CEDIA Smart Home Awards, and look forward to recognising the winners in the Integrated Home and Global categories,” comments Michael Johnson, Monitor Audio, Global Marketing Director. “It’s an important year for us as we launch our new and innovative architectural range, Creator Series. With clever solution orientated models and new useful technologies built-in – like our patented ‘Quik-link’ and ‘Tri-grip II’ technologies across the series – Monitor Audio continues to lead in this field, once again bringing innovative, reliable speaker solutions and product excellence to support the needs and requirements of our integration partners. It’s therefore a perfect partnership for us to align with the CEDIA Smart Home Awards, as this programme recognises excellence amongst its members.” The CEDIA Smart Home Awards reward the top projects, products, and individuals in the home technology industry. The black-tie event will begin with a drinks reception in the King George III room, followed by a three-course gala dinner before the exciting announcement of this year’s award winners. Guests can then party the night away at an after dinner drinks reception. Find out more about the CEDIA Smart Home Awards and purchase your ticket to the event here: www.cedia.net/awards/awards-emea. Click here more latest news.