Toolstation renews sponsorship of football leagues

Toolstation has confirmed the renewal of its Western Football League sponsorship for the 2023/2024 season, providing funds to maintain and preserve grassroots football for local communities throughout south west England. The Western League sponsorship will be entering its 18th successive year in June since first launching in 2005. Toolstation’s eighteen-year commitment has helped support the maintenance of all member clubs in the Western Football League through increased prize money and reduced membership fees. Toolstation has also confirmed the renewal of its Northern Counties East Football League sponsorship for the 2023/2024 season, providing funds to maintain and preserve grassroots football for local communities throughout Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. The sponsorship will be entering its 10th successive year in June since first launching in 2013. Toolstation’s commitment to both leagues has helped ensure the upkeep of all matchdays throughout every season. All member clubs are supplied with essential equipment, and matchday officials are also provided for every fixture. The funding also provides prize money for the Northern Counties East Football League Cup Winners and Fair Play awards, which can be used to maintain and improve club facilities ahead of the new season. Grassroots football offers a vast array of benefits for local communities across the UK. As well as producing a safe space for local players to hone their skills and advance their careers, it can also provide new employment and personal development opportunities, improve people’s physical and mental health, and help build a diverse community group. Many of Toolstation’s customers are involved in grassroots football, whether it be through supporting or actively playing for their local team. Through the sponsorship, Toolstation aims to provide more than just tools to the local community by helping maintain the upkeep of the Western Football League throughout a challenging period of rising costs. Across its 550 stores nationwide, Toolstation will be showcasing its support for the Western Football League by promoting local store fixtures to its customers once the 23/24 season kicks off in late July. Greg Richardson, Head of Marketing at Toolstation, comments, “We are thrilled to have renewed our sponsorship of both the Western Football League and the Northern Counties East Football League for another season. At Toolstation we pride ourselves on working together with the communities and customers we serve across the UK, and it has been fantastic to see our sponsorship help with the development of all the teams, players and supporters involved in both leagues. Here’s to another season of football drama and entertainment.” John Pool, Toolstation Western League Chairman, comments, ''The partnership between Toolstation and the Western Football League has been incredibly important for non-league football across the south west for nearly 20 years. The board and I are delighted that this partnership will continue for the 23/24 season, thus allowing us to continue with new projects planned in support of our member clubs. “With the cost of living such an important issue to everyone at the moment, Toolstation’s support gives our clubs the confidence to help sustain the football community at our level.” Matt Jones, General Manager at Toolstation Northern Counties East Football League, comments, “We are delighted that Toolstation have chosen to continue their longstanding sponsorship of our League for the 23/24 season. Our clubs, which currently span six different County FA areas, remain vital communal hubs that provide opportunities for the whole local community to get involved in the game we love. Toolstation’s sponsorship helps all our teams to continue their outstanding work across our region.”

New Colchester branch opens for BEW Electrical Distributors

BEW is expanding its network with the opening of its 22nd branch in Old Heath, Colchester, Essex. Regional Sales Manager, Martin Newnham says, “We wanted to open a third Essex branch due to growing demand from contractors wanting a full service from their local electrical distributor. This location is ideally situated to meet their needs in north Essex and Suffolk.” Branch Manager, Glen Pettitt says, “I am so pleased with how these premises have been transformed over the past few months. There’s a built-in 24-hour secure collection facility as well as a smart new trade counter to welcome customers in for a chat over a coffee and discuss their latest project from 6:30 am each weekday.” Glen continues, “We’re staffed with local, knowledgeable people who have expertise in Solar and EV Charging. The newly expanded mezzanine floor holds stock of all the essential every-day items that electrical contractors want at a moment’s notice. And if that’s not enough, we also offer free local on-site delivery.” Glen, who has over 15 years’ experience within the electrical industry, joined BEW in September 2022. He has been actively involved in the set-up of the branch and plans monthly special offers, supplier training and trade events as well as annual calibration days. Situated on the Whitehall Industrial Estate, the 7,900ft² building has been completely fitted out with a new trade counter. The company also added a mezzanine floor to increase capacity of fast-moving top brand suppliers such as Electrak, Hager, Prysmian, Marshall Tufflex and Robus to name but a few. Glen and his team, which includes Assistant Branch Manager, Dan Mapes, are available Monday to Thursday from 6:30 am until 5:30 pm and Friday 6:30 am until 5:00 pm. There is ample parking and it is directly opposite Bannatyne’s Health Club, with Travis Perkins nearby.

SolarEdge unveils new power optimisers at Intersolar 2023

At this year’s Intersolar exhibition taking place in Munich between 14-16 June, SolarEdge Technologies (Hall B4, Stand 110) will unveil two new power optimisers, further expanding its portfolio for both the residential, and the commercial and industrial (C&I) segments. For the C&I segment, the company is introducing the 2:1 S1400 Power Optimiser for high-input, bifacial and high-power 700W modules, including G12 modules. Based on patented technology and engineered to support the growing use of these modules, the S1400’s new architecture delivers increased power density from a smaller unit while ensuring optimum thermal performance. The increased output current allows the PV system to be designed with fewer, yet more powerful strings, resulting in a typical -30% reduction in DC BoS costs. Boasting a small and lightweight design, the S1400 provides greater design flexibility in challenging spaces and ease of installation. In the residential segment, the company is introducing the S500A Power Optimiser for short strings. This new product allows for a cost-efficient design of smaller rooftop systems with higher power modules. Following a growing demand for higher power modules across the markets in Europe, the S500A can be used on systems with as few as six modules using the SolarEdge Home Short String Three Phase Inverter and the SolarEdge Home Single Phase Wave/Hub Inverter, or 10 modules using any SolarEdge residential three phase inverter. Both new power optimisers include SolarEdge’s multi-layered suite of safety features. These include AFCI capabilities supported in most SolarEdge inverters and SolarEdge Sense Connect, an industry-first technology that detects thermal abnormalities at the connector level and stops power flow before a potential electric arc can occur. The SafeDCTM feature allows the PV systems’ DC voltage to be automatically reduced to touch-safe levels (1V DC per module), in grid failures or when the inverter is shut down. The Rapid Shutdown feature enables installers to activate SafeDCTM at the flip of a switch, discharging the conductors to safe voltage levels within just 30 seconds.

Carver Group announces the acquisition of Powrmatic 

The Carver Group is pleased to announce its acquisition of commercial and industrial HVAC specialist Powrmatic for an undisclosed sum. “The acquisition of Powrmatic complements and further strengthens Carver's presence within the HVAC sector, with the group well positioned to take advantage of future growth opportunities in both home and wider export markets,” comments Aidan Killeen, CEO of Carver Group. This new acquisition adds a fourth production plant to the group’s manufacturing capacity and with the integration of Powrmatic the Group will employ over four hundred people across Europe and Canada. Marilyn Skony Stamm, President of Stamm International Corporation, says, “Powrmatic is a strong strategic fit with Carver Group, a bringing together of a talented, experienced, and entrepreneurial group of employees who share similar core values of customer service, teamwork, integrity, and respect. My objective of finding the right acquirer for Powrmatic and all its employees has been met. This is a wonderful opportunity for both Carver and for Powrmatic.” The deal represents an exciting step in the Carver Group’s ambitious plans to continue to grow and invest in businesses in the HVAC sector in Europe and North America. Darren Hodson, Partner at PKF provided the corporate finance advice, financial and tax due diligence and the corporate legal team at Penningtons Manches Cooper, led by corporate partner Adam McGiveron, advised throughout the process. Aidan adds says, “There are considerable business synergies in the portfolio of products manufactured by Powrmatic and we believe this acquisition will afford our customers a greater product offer and solution. “The Powrmatic ethos and values are an excellent fit for the Carver Group, being privately owned with a long legacy of success and dedication to customer satisfaction and quality.”

Mental load a major barrier to adoption of EVs by women

New research from Autotrader and Hive has revealed that mental load and safety concerns around public charging alone are discouraging British women from purchasing an electric vehicle (EV). UK women currently account for less than half (7% vs 16% of men) of the EV owners despite making up almost half of the licensed drivers on the road (48%). Women respondents cited ‘mental load’ as a reason for the lagged EV adoption, as they worry any extra household burden will fall onto women. “I feel like, more often than not, it would be the woman of the household that takes on the burden of the mental load for the family, and this is just another thing to worry about that I know will fall to me” respondent, Kirsten Snelling, 34 from Falconwood shares. When asked about hesitancies regarding EV ownership, over half (54%) of UK women said they are concerned about installing a charge point at home, 57% worried about the distance they would be able to travel, 60% were concerned about public charging and two thirds (65%) were concerned about charging times, showcasing how the mental load of switching from petrol to electric vehicles is a barrier for EV adoption among women. In general, caring responsibilities, covering everything from managing the family calendar to anticipating needs of others, fall to women. In 2022 The Centre for Progressive Policy shared that 'nearly half of working-age women are providing an average of 45 hours of unpaid care every week, while 25% of men provide 17 hours.' Women were also more inclined to consider what could go wrong with almost half (49%) of women saying they worry their EV may not be charged in an emergency, compared to just 39% of men. It is not just in terms of household burden that this concern manifests - another participant questioned how it will change their overall relationship with jumping in the car: “Will it take all the spontaneity and freedom out of driving? I’ll have to plan every journey a lot more.” Kim Royds, EV Director for British Gas says, “The benefit of using an at-home EV charger means you can charge overnight so you never have to worry about running out of charge when you need it.” Personal safety also a factor when it comes to public charging While charging coverage and reliability are shared concerns for all drivers, when looking at specific worries women have about public charging on their own, there is one area in particular that stands out - safety. Only 43% of women agreed that they would feel safe using public chargers, for men this figure was 53%. Looking at these concerns through both a gender and age lens, it is women over 55 who are the least likely, with just 33% agreeing, to feel safe. This is 14% below women in both the younger age categories where 47% agreed. Kim adds, “It’s clear charging concerns are pervasive for all drivers when considering EV ownership, but this research has uncovered concrete areas where women experience these barriers. “At-home chargers can help solve public charging safety and availability concerns, which we now know are acute worries among women. Hive is also available to help educate the public on the cost-savings and simplicity of at-home charging installation, which is why we’ve made installation simple with our three-step process to help break down any complexities or misconceptions. In the coming weeks, we’re also looking forward to launching our latest EV charger, which will help users save money.” Hive’s three step installation process: Quick Questionnaire: telling Hive a bit about your home and EV. Virtual Home Check: discussing your installation requirements on a video call with one of Hive's expert engineers. Installation: Hive have you up and charging in the Hive app within three to five hours. It aims to install within approximately four weeks of your order. Erin Baker, Editorial Director at Autotrader, says, “There’s an opportunity to introduce huge swathes of the population to the joys of electric driving and ownership, and a huge opportunity, in doing so, to fundamentally change the way we talk about, market and sell cars to women”.

Next generation service agreement levels for electrical systems

With efficiency, safety and sustainability in mind, ABB has upgraded its electrification service agreement to feature advanced services configured by the needs of industry segments and paired with digital solutions to drive productivity savings, improve safety and compliance. The new Power Care agreement is tailored for individual service requirements to fit the needs and conditions of electrical assets. Based on a matrix of service packages, customers can choose various options including a diagnosis and condition assessment, emergency and troubleshooting, maintenance, safety and security, and skills development. With the help of Power Care, operations are optimised through remote and digital solutions including Connect Partner Hub portal - a self-support workspace where users can monitor an asset‘s life-cycle status and criticality associated with equipment, as well as services and training. Through the hub, customers will also be able to manage service contracts and experience an easy interaction with the field operations team. Service Assist - a mobile app designed to make life easier for field operators - is yet another digital tool added to Power Care to increase productivity and efficiency. The app provides easily available information faster and more efficiently with the additional support of ABB-e, ABB’s virtual assistant, which finds augmented reality immersive guides, books appointments for either on-site or remote services, and pulls together ABB and non-ABB documentation in a single digital location. Ryan Cook, Global Product Manager from ABB Electrification Service, adds, “Working in partnership is very important as we want the service to be seen as an extension of our customer teams. We know from the feedback already received that Power Care gives that personal and bespoke support that makes servicing and maintenance much easier for our customers to manage. It’s an example of how we are always looking at ways to develop tools, using the latest technology, that will optimise the availability, reliability and profitability of essential electrical assets and deliver quick and cost effective solutions to improve business continuity."

New selection of IP69 slope top boxes from Lasnek     

Lasnek has announced its latest selection of IP69 slope top boxes for installing terminals, pushbuttons, or switchgear. Available in three different configurations, the latest product offering of slope top boxes from Lasnek includes push button boxes with supplied 22.5mm holes, terminal boxes with a blank front cover, and control station boxes with suitable apertures for easy fitting of an isolator and switches. Manufactured from 1.5mm 304 brushed stainless steel, the latest additions to the range feature a 15-degree slope, to help prevent the build-up of material deposits. Suitable for use in highly corrosive environments and those that are subject to strict hygiene control, such as the food and drink industry, the latest range is available in 16 different sizes ranging from 100(H) x 100(W) to 285(H) x 285(W). Complete with DIN rail for quick and simple mounting, all units within the range are 100mm deep, making them suitable for a wide range of electrical components requiring ingress protection to IP69. The latest Lasnek slope top terminal boxes come complete with a blank front panel and can be used as supplied or modified by the customer for specific entry requirements. For customers requiring boxes to be supplied with pre-positioned 22.5mm holes for fitting push buttons, switches, or indicators, the Lasnek Sloped Top Push Button Box is available with a front panel with one to 16 entries. In addition, two further sloped top boxes are available from Lasnek: size one (225mmH x 130mmW x100mmD), which features all the benefits of a terminal box but with a 1 x 22.5mm hole and apertures to suit either a AB or Eton Isolator, and size two (225mmH x185mmW x100mmD), which includes the additional capacity of an extra 22.5mm entry, making them ideal for localised control stations.

‘Clean air’ switchgear paves the way for a greener future

UK Power Networks has announced how it will be reducing its use of SF6 - one of the most potent greenhouse gases contributing to global warming. Sulphur hexafluoride (commonly known as SF6) is widely used across the electrical industry as the main method of insulation in high voltage electrical equipment and has approximately 22,800 times the global warming potential (GWP) of carbon dioxide. UK Power Networks is currently installing its first ‘clean air’ Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) operating at 132,000V, which is free of SF6 and composed of dehumidified oxygen and nitrogen, and has zero global warming potential. UK Power Networks has worked with Siemens Energy to manufacture the company’s first environmentally-friendly ‘clean air’ GIS at 132,000V. The ‘clean air’ equipment is being installed as part of a substation upgrade in Lewes, East Sussex. This project forms part of UK Power Networks’ ambition to reduce use of SF6 for new switchgear across all voltage ranges where alternatives are available on the market and supports UK targets for net zero carbon emissions, while maintaining reliable power supplies. Barry Hatton, Director of Asset Management at UK Power Networks, says, “Switchgear plays a vital role in the safe and secure distribution of electricity to homes and businesses. Over time, we want to make more use of environmentally-friendly technology to support a net zero carbon future. “This investment will pave the way for minimising the volume of SF6 on our network and using   alternatives which maintain reliability and performance. We want to continue embracing innovative, sustainable and smart approaches to help enable the low carbon transition and minimise our own carbon footprint.” Mark Simblett, Managing Director Transmission Products at Siemens Energy, says, “We are delighted to have been commissioned to deliver this exciting new project for UK Power Networks and to have the opportunity to utilise our SF6-free 145kV switchgear technology. “From the outset we have worked closely with UK Power Networks to offer detailed information about the new technology, highlighting the main advantages and long-term benefits it will bring to their business and of course the environment. Our clean air insulated technology is not only good for the planet but the absence of F-gas will also benefit UK Power Networks through a reduction in training requirements, management of F-gas reporting and the recycling costs that are associated with its use.” [embed]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMckX5LPHtM[/embed]

SELECT secures Luceco Group as inaugural sponsorship partner

SELECT is celebrating a major coup after securing Luceco Group as the first-ever headline sponsor for its annual President’s Cup golf day. This year’s event at Dunblane New Golf Club will now be supported by the SELECT associate member, which has been supplying quality products worldwide for more than 70 years, has sales in excess of £230 million and has 2,500 employees. The deal is a huge milestone for SELECT, which says it illustrates the growing bond between members and manufacturers through its successful associate membership scheme. Iain Mason, Director of Membership and Communications at SELECT, says, “We are delighted to have Luceco Group on board as our inaugural sponsor for the President’s Cup, an event which is keenly anticipated by golfers throughout the electrotechnical industry in Scotland. “For a company of such stature to become so closely involved in SELECT’s activities is a great achievement and recognises the collaborative and co-operative approach that our organisation has striven to foster in the industry in recent years. “This year’s President’s Cup will be bigger than ever, with an extended field. We hope everyone involved has a great day out at the and that lasting relationships are formed which will be not only mutually beneficial but of advantage to the sector as a whole.” The event on 31 July will bring together golfers from across Scotland to compete for the coveted silver trophy and socialise with industry colleagues. The all-day event will feature an east vs west tournament, prizes for the longest drive, a putting contest and advice for golfers of all abilities from an on-site golf pro. John Williams, Trade and Specification Director at Luceco Group, says, “We are thrilled  to be the inaugural sponsor of the SELECT President's Cup, which is a terrific opportunity for members to come together and enjoy some healthy competitive rivalry against other branches from across Scotland. “Since becoming a founding associate member in 2022, Luceco has been a strong supporter of SELECT, sponsoring last year’s President’s Lunch in Glasgow and exhibiting at the association’s current Toolbox Talk roadshows, both of which given us the opportunity to meet major electrical contractors and key decision-makers from across the industry. “We are now looking forward to meeting even more SELECT members from across Scotland at the President’s Cup and we wish all the competitors well in their quest for golfing glory.”

Heat pumps get thumbs up from British owners

People who have had heat pumps installed in older houses are just as likely to be satisfied with their heating than those in newer properties, the first major survey of heat pump users finds today. Nesta commissioned Eunomia to conduct a large-scale survey of over 2,500 domestic heat pump owners and over 1,000 domestic gas boiler owners in England, Scotland and Wales, in December 2022. Nesta’s analysis of the survey finds that among people who have had a heat pump installed while living in their current home, 81% are as satisfied or more satisfied with heat pumps compared to their previous heating system. The figure is similar - 83% - when looking at heat pump owners in Victorian or older properties. The similarity across property type and age suggests that heat pumps are likely to be effective across the range of residential property types in Britain. The survey reveals that while some people take the opportunity to insulate their homes at the same time they get a heat pump installed, this is not universal. Just over half (55%) of users who had a heat pump installed also undertook building fabric upgrades, such as loft insulation, wall insulation and double or triple glazing. Nesta’s analysis of the survey also finds: Satisfaction with heat pumps is high and, overall, satisfaction levels between heat pump and gas boiler users are very similar. Heat pump owners are particularly likely to prefer their heat pump if they previously used electric heating, oil or LPG boilers - with over 80% as or more satisfied with their heat pumps - but even among those moving from gas boilers, 75% are as or more satisfied with their heat pump. Heat pump users are more likely to be satisfied with running costs than those using gas boilers, with two thirds (67%) of heat pump owners and 59% of gas boiler owners saying they were satisfied. While heat pump users reported high satisfaction levels overall, they reported lower satisfaction with ease of use and control compared to gas boiler users, with 74% ‘fairly’ or ‘very’ satisfied, compared to 88% of gas boiler users. Satisfaction is highest among people who chose to install a heat pump in their own homes, although the majority of those moving into a new build or existing property with a heat pump also say they are as or more satisfied with their heat pump. The survey suggests that heat pump ‘inheritors’ - who move into homes with heat pumps already installed - would benefit from more information on how to use their systems, as many had very little awareness of heat pumps before moving into their properties. Madeleine Gabriel, Director of Sustainable Future at Nesta, says, “It’s time to put to rest outdated ideas that older homes don’t support heat pumps. The rollout of heat pumps across all property types in Britain is proving that the age of your house doesn’t have to be a big factor when deciding whether to get a greener heating system. “Heating homes with fossil fuels like gas contribute as much as 15% of the UK's carbon emissions and so the switch to heat pumps is crucial for getting to net zero. This is the first time we’ve been able to get a fuller picture of the experiences of people keeping their homes warm with heat pumps, and the high levels of satisfaction are encouraging. “With heat pumps getting the thumbs up from those that use them, the government should redouble its efforts to meet the timetable it has set out for phasing out fossil fuel heating. It should be easier and cheaper for people to opt to replace gas boilers with renewable heating when a boiler reaches the end of its life.”