HellermannTyton launches new cable identification solution

HellermannTyton has launched another addition to its identification portfolio with a bespoke solution for the telecoms industry. The P-flag label provides an innovative flag-style marking system for labelling various cable sizes. Whether the application is in data centres, wire harness assemblies or hard-to-reach areas, P-flag labels are an ideal option for organising and permanently marking individual wires and cables as well as large bundles. Made from Polypropylene, the wrap-around self-adhesive labels, are ideal for telecoms but are also suitable for other applications where identification is needed in harsh environments due to their resistance to fuel, chemicals, low temperatures, abrasions and humidity. Mary Arrowsmith, Product Manager for HellermannTyton, comments, “We were delighted when a number of our telecoms customers asked us to design and produce a solution for permanently marking wire and cable. Dedicated to going above and beyond the role of a manufacturer, we take pride in being able to develop bespoke solutions for our customers, no matter the request.” Available in various sizes, the P-flag labels can also be customised from a wide range of colours to enable colour coding or customer preference. Leaving no exposed adhesive, the P-flag labels avoid the annoyance of adhering to adjacent labels, a notched score line allows for error-free, quick single-finger folding, and a self-locking tail permanently bonds the label to wire and cable. After installation, information can be read from both sides of the label, making it easy to identify specific cables quickly. Printable from any compatible HellermannTyton thermal transfer printer, the P-flag labels can be created with barcodes, graphics, and multiple lines of text without losing direct visibility of the printed data. Click here for more latest news.

JIB's chief executive to support Building Safety Regulator and ICC

Jay Parmar, Chief Executive of the Joint Industry Board (JIB), has been appointed as a member of the Industry Competence Committee (ICC). The ICC has been set up by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and is designed to monitor and help to improve industry competence. The establishment of the ICC is part of the work of government and industry to raise the bar in terms of standards and competence following the disaster at Grenfell and the Building Safety Act coming into force. The ICC will advise industry and the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) on industry competence and where appropriate provide guidance to the public. The committee will act as an industry leader in promoting and facilitating an improvement of competence across the built environment, by providing direction and influence, and its members are made up of various stakeholders who can help the ICC achieve this objective. As a member, Jay will play an active and key role in providing leadership to the built environment industries on competence, help to facilitate improvements in competence standards and practice, as well as supporting BSR’s strategies to deliver culture change. Jay brings over 25 years’ experience from key positions across regulated industries in the gas, water, automotive and finance and was appoint as CEO for the JIB in 2019. He is also Chair of the CSCS Alliance – the collective voice of the 38 industry skill and competence card schemes that display the CSCS logo – and has a wealth of experience and knowledge to draw upon to assist the BSR in addressing new and emerging competence and cultural issues within built environment. Commenting on his appointment to the ICC, Jay says, “It’s an honour and a privilege to be selected as a member of the ICC. My experience with the JIB, role as Chair of the CSCS Alliance, and roles with associated organisations has made me acutely aware of the key issues that run through our industry. I look forward to supporting the committee and making a proactive and positive impact in enhancing safety, competence and enhance standards across the built environment.”

Leeds City Council opens solar powered all-electric park and ride site

Leeds City Council has opened the UK’s first solar powered park and ride in Stourton, serviced by electric buses that link to Leeds city centre. Stourton is its third park and ride site, and the first that is powered by solar modules coupled with a battery storage system, with carbon emissions being reduced by approximately 471,000KGCO2e in 2022. The project comprises a 1.2MWp SolarEdge solar system, smart EV charging infrastructure and a 950kWh battery that allows solar to power the site outside of daylight hours. The system is expected to generate 852,000kWh of electricity a year. The PV panels are located on carport canopies that also provide shelter above parking spaces. Solar energy generated by the system also powers the depot’s lighting, CCTV and heating in the waiting room. The project is a key part of Leeds City Council’s strategy to hit carbon zero by 2030 and reduce congestion and pollution in the city centre. The project was partially funded by the Department for Transport and a grant awarded by the European Regional Development Fund. With the battery storage in place, around 12% of the energy produced by the site will be exported to the grid, with the remainder stored and used to help power the facility outside of daylight hours. By load shifting using the battery, grid import to the site is expected to be zero for most of the time. Solar installer, Evo Energy, chose a SolarEdge DC-optimised system to compliment the curved solar arrays, where string inverters would have struggled to overcome energy loss due to module-level mismatch, and meet the council's energy generation targets and module level remote monitoring requirements. Each pair of solar modules is connected to a SolarEdge Power Optimiser that enables each module to operate at its maximum efficiency, thus minimising the effect of any shading, uneven panel degradation or heavy soiling. Traditional strings would restrict the module performance to the output of the lowest-performing module on the string. This means that energy production will be higher in future years too, as solar modules age at different rates, exaggerating the string effect. To create a polished appearance for the site and for the efficiency of electrical distribution, nine SE82.8K and a SE17k SolarEdge inverters are located in the terminus building. With integrated SolarEdge SafeDC technology, the inverters are designed to reduce the system to a touch-safe 1V to allow routine maintenance or in the unlikely event of an emergency. The system also includes the Solaredge Firefighter Gateway, which will shut down the whole system when either the fire alarm is activated or a E stop button is pressed. Click here for more latest news.

Hamworthy launches CIBSE-accredited CPD and white paper

Hamworthy Heating has announced the arrival of two new resources – ‘An Introduction to Heat Pumps’ CIBSE approved CPD and ‘The Hamworthy Roadmap to Decarbonisation’ white paper. Ideal for specifiers and installers wishing to understand more about heat pumps and the latest industry developments, ‘An Introduction to Heat Pumps’ is the latest CIBSE-accredited CPD course. Covering the main heat pump operating principles such as energy, refrigeration, technology and efficiency, the latest CPD offering highlights the different types of commercial heat pump equipment available and explores the influencing factors which need to be considered before heat pump selection. Also focusing on heat pump design principles, it looks at the main points to consider when it comes to designing a heat pump system, before concluding with an overview of market drivers and government incentives. To further support the transition to low carbon heating and hot water, the new white paper features an in-depth examination of decarbonisation. Looking at the current landscape, it discusses the challenges of implementing a roadmap to decarbonisation and how heat pumps, such as the Tyneham monobloc air source heat pump, play a pivotal role in this transition. The Tyneham heat pump is one of the lightest commercial heat pumps on the market. It includes seven models in the range with six nominal outputs of between 14 - 70kW, and can be cascaded to achieve higher outputs in larger installations. Hamworthy Heating is a long-term member of the CIBSE Patrons Programme and offers a range of wide range of CPD seminars and product training courses, delivered by HVAC professional members of the Groupe Atlantic team. Click here for more latest news.

Toolstation launches Everyday Great Value Campaign

Toolstation has launched its Everyday Great Value Campaign on the app, in-store and online to help showcase the value it offers its customers on the products they need the most to conquer the job every day. The campaign was established to help customers save money on trade-quality products during a challenging period of rising costs and inflationary pressures. Toolstation is highlighting a selection of over 700 products that offer great value on the market, to ensure customers are able to purchase everyday products to get the job done in one, at a great price. The products range from plumbing fittings, electrical accessories, painting and decorating, construction products and much more, making sure no customer is left behind. The products will be continuingly reviewed to ensure they always offer great value. With thousands of new apprentices joining the workforce this year and the number likely to increase after A-Level results, it has created a must-have list with all the products a new apprentice, expert DIYer or tradesperson would need with its latest campaign. These products are in-stock and ready to go from over 550 stores nationwide, and can be ordered online or on the app, collected in-store in less than five minutes. Dave Taylor, Head of Category at Toolstation, comments, “Now, more than ever, we know how important it is for our customers to save money on products they use frequently. That’s why we’re continually reviewing our prices to offer great value within our range. We aim to support our customers to conquer the job and save money on trade-quality products on everyday essentials.” Product name Price Duck Cloth Duct Tape Silver 50mm x 50m £7.99 O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream 96g £7.99 Big Wipes Antiviral Scrub & Clean Wipes 80 Wipes £10.98 or two for £20 Cable Tie Black 300mm x 4.8 £3.24 Minotaur One Piece Claw Hammer 16oz £9.99 Stanley Retractable Knife £6.58 Stanley Tylon Tape Measure 8m £9.99 Minotaur Trade Spirit Level 600mm £13.48 Minotaur Pliers Set £13.78 Irwin Jack First Fix 880 Plus Universal Handsaw 500mm (20") £6.89 Milwaukee Tri-Lobe Screwdriver Set £43.98 Minotaur Adjustable Wide Jaw Wrench 10" OJC 50mm £14.48 Stanley Essential Toolbox Metal Latch 26" £33.99 Super Grip Gloves Large £1.98  

The smallest industrial two-axis hall effect joystick

Live Electronics has introduced what the company believes is the smallest two-axis hall effect joystick. Measuring just 17.5mm high above panel x 18mm in diameter, the new TS2 joystick is an IP67, analogue self-centring device, which is designed for use with remotely operated equipment, robotics and automation systems, drones and CCTV controllers.    The TS2 joystick is based on proven hall effect technology, providing accurate, easy to control 12bit resolution in both the X and Y axis. The joystick offers excellent tactile feedback and has been engineered for a minimum of 2.5 million actuations. It can be supplied with either two open or two gated limiters, a choice of circular convex or concave, castle or flat single-axis (Y) style caps, and fits a standard 12.6mm panel cut-out with the option of a control grip mount.    The new joystick is rated for a supply voltage of 5V and is available with pre-wired JST 28AWG cable or potted terminations. Operating temperature is between -40 to +85°C, while the TS2 complies with EN61000 electromagnetic compatibility and SAE J1455 vibration and shock testing standards.    The TS2 is manufactured in California by Ruffy Controls and is part of the company’s extensive range of industrial miniature and fingertip joysticks and switches. Live Electronics is the company’s specialised industrial distributor in the UK.  

ThermoSphere wins prestigious innovation award

ThermoSphere has won at the Flooring Innovation Awards 2023 with its innovative, industry-first cable, ThermoSphere Ultimate. The cable was recognised by the judges for de-risking and simplifying the installation process, receiving the award for Best Installation Product. The prestigious Flooring Innovation Awards, launched by The Stocklists magazine in 2018, is overseen by a panel of industry leaders from all areas of the flooring industry. It searches for new and exciting products within UK flooring and offers awards across ten categories. Its mission is to raise awareness with buyers and to highlight what is genuinely new within the sector. Bridgette Kelly, the organiser of National Flooring Awards and a member of the judging panel, says, “ThermoSphere Ultimate is an excellent example of innovation in the flooring industry where creative thinking and smart technology have come together to address real installation issues." ThermoSphere Ultimate is the first electric underfloor heating cable to use both twistedtwin construction and in-line joint technology. This makes it stronger and more durable than standard underfloor heating cables. It also removes the bulky hot-to-cold joints seen in other cables, which is one of the primary points of failure resulting from cable installation. This is because most electric underfloor heating cables have a 12mm joint, where the heating cable meets the cold cable, this is normally created during a secondary manufacturing process. It has in-line joints that are created during the primary manufacturing process. This results in a cable that has a uniform 4mm thickness, can be installed without tools and requires a simple-thumb press into the membrane mat. Alistair Bell, Founder and Managing Director at ThermoSphere, comments on the award win, “We listen to our customers, look at the challenges they face and take an innovative approach to product design. Our new membrane heating cable removes the need for tools during installation and also removes one of the main causes of repairs or snagging. That’s a massive value-add in general, but in the current economic climate anything that saves time and reduces risk for the installer is very attractive. “We launched ThermoSphere Ultimate in April 2023, and because we’re so confident in the product, we’re offering a reliability guarantee. If the cable fails in first 12 months due to a manufacturing fault, ThermoSphere will not only replace the system, but we’ll also replace the floor too.”

Lithe Audio launches iO1 – an all-in-one wireless speaker

Lithe Audio has launched its new iO1 all-in-one wireless speaker that can be used indoors and outdoors in six different mounting configurations. With a powerful amplifier and connectivity all built in, this active surface-mount speaker is easy to install and just requires power from a standard or outdoor electrical outlet or existing lighting circuit to deliver premium audio quality. This versatile weather-resistant IP66-rated unit offers the option of wireless or data cable connection, with an optical input and two Ethernet ports. It features dual full-range woofers, titanium tweeters, and 100W RMS power (Two x 50W) class D amplifiers, delivering full high-resolution audio at 192kHz, 24bits. Embedded with Airplay 2, Chromecast and Spotify Connect, it couldn’t be easier to create quality distributed audio. It’s also compatible with any other Airplay 2 or Chromecast speaker for multi-room or multi-area set-ups. The iO1 also features the latest Bluetooth technology and offers voice control with Google Home and Alexa. Designed for areas that require high-end audio quality but can’t accommodate a traditional ceiling speaker, the iO1 can easily be installed in six different orientations — on-wall, in-corner, on-corner, ground spike, countertop and pendent. The built-in high efficiency amplifier and high quality components are covered by an attractive aluminium grille in a choice of white or black finish. “We’re excited to be launching this speaker as there’s nothing like it currently on the market,” says Amit Ravat, MD and Co-Founder of Lithe Audio. “It’s an active, all-in-one solution that’s configured for all the wireless protocols, easy to use and install in a choice of six configurations – and of course it’s weatherproof. It couldn’t be simpler – or more sophisticated! “We’re particularly excited about the versatility of the speaker for different markets – from consumers who love the latest smart home and home entertainment tech, to the hospitality and catering, retail and outdoor audio markets,” concludes Amit. Click here for more latest news.

Siemens to acquire Heliox

Siemens AG has signed an agreement to acquire Heliox, a Netherlands-based technology company in fast charging solutions, serving e-Bus and e-Truck fleets and passenger vehicles. The acquisition will complement Siemens’ existing eMobility charging portfolio, adding products and solutions for DC fast charging focused on eBus and eTruck fleets. Heliox’s portfolio will also extend Siemens’ market reach, primarily in Europe and North America, while improving capabilities in power electronics. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approval. “This is an important milestone that adds value to our fast-growing eMobility charging business. In addition to expanding our offering, we see digitalisation and software potential with regard to energy and depot management and services,” says Matthias Rebellius, member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG and CEO of Smart Infrastructure. Siemens eMobility is part of Siemens Smart Infrastructure. It offers IoT-enabled hardware, software and services for AC and DC charging from 11kW - 300kW for a broad range of applications. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Heliox employs around 330 people. Siemens acquires the company from private equity firm, Waterland, and an entity owned by a group of employees and individual shareholders. Click here more latest news.

Q-Nect lever connectors and connection boxes from Unicrimp

Unicrimp, part of the Scolmore Group of companies, has expanded its comprehensive range of cable accessories, and this year, introduces a new category of products to its portfolio. Marketed under the new Q-NECT brand, the range comprises lever connectors and connection boxes. The range brings together a selection of products that work in conjunction with each other to provide installers with strong, quick and reliable solutions that will offer them versatility when carrying out their everyday tasks. A total of 10 products make up the full Q-NECT range, which comprises: 2, 3 and 5 way lever connectors - Suitable for solid, stranded and flexible cable types. They use screwless spring clamp technology, which means there is no need for any tools. IP66 weatherproof junction box - Designed to make installations more efficient. It can house four of the 3 Port Lever Connectors using the 360° detachable cradle and with a curved lid, it provides additional space for wires. IP connection boxes – The range comprises a 4 Pole 2 Way 24A IP68 Inline Connection Box; 4 Pole 3 Way 24A IP68 (M16+M20) Connection Box; and 3 Pole 2 Way 16A IP66 Connection Box. 5 pole, 3 way IP68 ‘T’ and 2 way inline connectors – Boasting high quality and robust materials to ensure connectors can withstand the harshest environment. Click here for more latest news.