A handy little tool from Makita

Makita has added a handheld blower to its expanding LXT cordless collection. The 18V DAS180 LXT Brushless Blower is the latest product from Makita that is also capable of inflating and deflating, simply by changing the nozzle tip. The new 18V DAS180 LXT Blower is powered by a brushless motor with variable speed control. Suitable for a wide range of applications, from cleaning off workbenches, machinery, cleaning and blocked filters, through to inflating inner tubes and play pools, this handy tool makes a useful companion to any kit bag. The body is designed with an ergonomic rubberised grip and weighs only 1.7kg, making this tool easy to operate with one hand. Despite its compact size, the unit offers a maximum sealed suction of 10.3kPa. Its four-stage air volume settings deliver a blowing force of up to 2.8N with a maximum 200m/second air velocity and air volume of 1.1m3/min. Other features include a one-touch, tool-less nozzle attachment to quickly adjust the tool for each application. The variable speed trigger comfortably controls the blowing force and can be locked in the ‘on’ position for extended use. A tether feature offers a safe hanging point to secure the tool in overhead applications. With the launch, Makita has also added a number of compatible nozzle accessories to offer a wealth of uses for blowing, inflation and deflation applications. This includes a flexible nozzle set with a ø6.0x800 hose which is ideal for blowing out debris in narrow spaces where the machine cannot fit. Kevin Brannigan, Marketing Manager at Makita UK says, “This useful tool will make a super work companion, where users can quickly switch between tasks simply by changing the nozzle. Powered by our lithium-ion battery technology, the new DAS180 is compatible with almost 300 products within our ever-expanding 18V and 36V LXT platform.”

Drayton strengthens product team

Drayton has made a series of appointments, helping to bolster its team for future product offers that meet the needs of the smart home and renewables markets. Marta Isach Vesperinas joins the team as Senior Product Owner, with a focus on the fast-growing heat pump market. Key for the UK, which is currently seeing an increase in heat pump installations thanks to government funding, Marta has over 15 years’ experience in advertising, marketing and communications, with an extensive background in the smart heating sector. Marta previously worked for Ovon.io as EMEA Business Development Lead and Marketing manager, where she worked on end-to-end IoT solutions, incorporating hardware and software development. Meanwhile, Catarina Martins has been appointed as Wiser Marketing Leader. In this role, Catarina will be responsible for launching new Wiser offers, driving channel marketing, and leading innovation in Drayton’s go-to-market strategy. Catarina joins the team from her previous role at Google as EMEA Marketing Manager, where she was responsible for coordinating the successful launch of Google’s hardware and software products across EMEA. Jeremy Palmer, General Manager at Drayton, says, “We are thrilled to welcome both Marta and Catarina to the Drayton team here in the UK, where they will play a pivotal role in developing our future product offerings as smart technology and renewables continue to grow in demand and popularity. With both Marta and Catarina's proven track records of success in similar roles, we're confident that they will help us achieve our goals and drive even greater success for the business.”

i3 Solutions Group secures two patents for Adaptable Redundant Power

i3 Solutions Group has been issued two patents by the USPTO (US Patent and Trademark Office) for its Adaptable Redundant Power (ARP) topology control solution for mission-critical electrical power systems. ARP is a hardware and software control system that overcomes the inflexibility of common data centre electrical designs, solving the service level agreement (SLA) disparity problem whereby power supply chain systems are fixed but IT load demands, and criticality are variable. At the same time, ARP addresses constraints associated with traditional static power topologies which can restrict access to available data centre power, often leaving costly stranded capacity unused and increasing end user costs. This is an acute challenge for the wholesale colocation industry, which does an admirable job securing and deploying grid power capacity, but is often unable to fully or optimally utilise it - causing energy waste and higher costs. Benefits of ARP Ed Ansett, Founder and Chairman of i3 Solutions Group, says, “Every business has low to high levels of application criticality and interdependency. Through developments such as Kubernetes, IT can be orchestrated to reflect this. However, when it comes to electricity, the power chain is fixed, wasteful and difficult to change. ARP is a way to flex the power SLA to match the IT workload SLA without the considerable expense of rewiring the entire topology design.” By enabling power service levels to be aligned with that of the IT load, ARP provides a range of benefits to both data centre operators and their IT customers. ARP enables applications and the hardware they sit on to be provisioned with varying levels of electrical power resilience. Today, it is obvious that not all IT workloads are equal - e.g. a Dev Ops project for a marketing campaign versus live financial transactions workloads in retail or merchant bank, or a network rack compared with a super compute cluster. However, the way power is delivered using a fixed topology does not differentiate in terms of criticality, treating all workload destinations equally. ARP is different because it can automatically provide power resilience across the topology that is dynamically matched to the criticality of the IT load. ARP solves inherent redundant power challenges too Traditionally power chain designs for data centres are based on a chosen level of capacity, resilience and redundancy of N, N+1, N+2 and less commonly 2N, 2N+1 and 2(N+1). But once the topology is decided and deployed it is fixed. It is then expensive, time consuming and extremely difficult to change. ARP addresses this. ARP can also provide Inherent Redundant Power (IRP). Where some electrical designs leave ‘power pockets’ (assigned power that is unused) - IRP accesses previously trapped or stranded power and prevents it going to waste by utilising it to provide additional levels of redundancy. Power-as-a-Service offers from colocation data centres one step closer ARP offers colocation data centres the opportunity to create new business models based on their power infrastructure. One of the advantages, e.g. is that ARP enables a staggered approach to infrastructure roll out which responds to end-user load and not design criteria. By treating power as a service right from the construction phase, ARP addresses many flexibility issues which have surfaced for modern data centre operators. While data centres will continue to be designed as physical buildings which are broken down into halls, ARP modules are flexible enough to provide power across multiple halls. ARP therefore enables developers to move away from traditional and capitally intense methods of infrastructure deployment - up-front design, source, pay for and roll-out the full site requirement for genset, switchgear, UPS, PDU and ancillary equipment, and then wait for the demand to arrive.

Toolstation colleague braves the shave for Macmillan Cancer Support

Toolstation colleague Fiona Staples will be participating in Macmillan Cancer Support’s Brave the Shave campaign to help raise money for people whose lives have been affected by cancer. Fiona, who currently works in the Contact Centre at Toolstation’s Head Office in Bridgwater, will be shaving her head in front of fellow colleagues on 4 May. Fiona has set a fundraising goal of £1,000, with £195 raised so far. Spending £1,000 on Macmillan’s phone service could lead to the charity’s welfare rights advisers on the Support Line helping people affected by cancer to claim £25,716 in benefits that they are entitled to. Alternatively, the £1,000 total could pay for a Macmillan nurse for one week, helping people living with cancer and their families receive essential medical, practical, and emotional support. Fiona comments: “I am always looking for ways to give back to the community and raise money for a good cause. When Toolstation’s charity partner Macmillan visited our office and illustrated the amazing care and services they offer, I immediately knew I had to support their work and ensure their services are available to the people who need them most.” George Michell, Partnership Manager at Macmillan Cancer Support, says, “We are immensely grateful to Fiona for committing to brave the shave to raise vital funds for Macmillan. As a charity that relies almost entirely on donations, it is the generous support of the public and valued partners like Toolstation that enables us to continue doing whatever it takes to give people living with cancer the support they need, when they need it most.” Fiona’s fundraising will form another contribution to the Brave the Shave campaign, which has raised over £22 million for Macmillan since launching in 2015. Those who would like to support Fiona can donate via her Brave the Shave page.

New smart EV charger and free app aim to keep drivers to clean motoring

Electric vehicle (EV) drivers can automatically charge their cars when it is cheapest or greenest with the launch of a new home EV charger and free smart charging app. This power pairing allows for ultimate charging flexibility to enable valuable savings on energy bills and reduce carbon emissions. The ivie EV Charger and the ivie Charge app deliver smart home charging features, such as the opportunity to set your own charging schedule, with the bonus of useful public charging functionality at over 9,000 public charge points nationally, to be rolled out to ivie EV Charger users ahead of general release. These new products are a crucial element of ivie’s ongoing commitment to reducing the environmental impacts from inefficient and wasteful energy use, offering support to help the UK meet its net zero target by 2050. The ivie Charge app’s standout home charging feature, for those looking to make a real impact in reducing emissions, is being able to identify the times to charge an EV when the UK’s energy supply is greenest. For users on single rate tariffs, the ivie EV Charger and ivie Charge app work together to automatically charge at the greenest times, easing pressure on the grid by using the maximum amount of renewable energy. If the user has a dual-rate tariff which already encourages energy use at greener times via a cheaper off-peak period, the app allows these users to make considerable savings as they recharge, by taking full advantage of off-peak energy prices and prioritising charging at these cheapest times. The 7kW ivie EV Charger and app also gives users the ability to set a personalised charging schedule, specifying a time that they would like the car to be fully charged by. All of this can be effortlessly controlled remotely via the ivie Charge app. If plans change, a handy boost function gives the ability to turn on instant charging to kickstart charging and override any scheduled settings. The government announced in 2021 that 300,000 charge points would be in place by 2030, however, the UK is currently well behind that rate of installation. As of January 2023, there were 36,752 public EV charging devices available in the UK. Of these, just 712 are rapid charge, which can result in lengthy delays for motorists who desperately need to charge. The upcoming roaming features of the ivie Charge app will become freely available to all EV drivers in the coming months, rolling out initially to ivie EV Charger customers. For motorists needing to recharge on the move, the ivie Charge app will display accurate updates of a public charge point’s status before arrival. These can be filtered by type, speed of charging and customer reviews, avoiding the likelihood of a wasted journey due to a faulty or currently busy charger. The ivie Charge app delivers seamless charging and payment at over 9,000 UK charging points with one simple, flexible app linked to a preferred payment option, meaning users don't need multiple apps and RFIDs as with other charging apps, and no need for prepayment.

UK’s EV charging infrastructure to double in scale this year

ChargeUK has launched as the new trade association for the UK’s EV charging industry. It brings together 18 of the largest companies installing the charge points needed to enable the UK’s switch to electric vehicles (EVs) and the realisation of net zero. Between them, the members of ChargeUK have announced that they will invest over £6 billion towards installing and operating new EV charging infrastructure by 2030. They will install tens of thousands of new chargers this year, with the aim of doubling the size of the network through 2023. As the sector continues to increase the availability of charging and to accelerate investment and delivery, ChargeUK will work collaboratively with government and other stakeholders to break down barriers and shape the policies and regulations needed to enable the transition. As EV take up accelerates, the charging industry operators that make up ChargeUK will have a vital role in helping the UK transition to net zero. Ian Johnston, Chair of ChargeUK and CEO of Osprey Charging Network, says, “The formation of ChargeUK is an exciting day and is a demonstration of the electric vehicle charging industry’s growing size and importance to the UK economy. “Together we are investing billions of pounds to get more charge points in the ground right across the country. These numbers reinforce our commitment to the UK’s net zero future. “We will continue to be a proactive partner to government as we deliver a world-class charging infrastructure, giving the nation’s drivers confidence to transition to electric vehicles.” Transport Decarbonisation and Technology Minister Jesse Norman says, “The launch of ChargeUK shows how industry working together, alongside the government, can release private investment, improve delivery, raise standards and promote the use of electric vehicle charging infrastructure for drivers across the country. “Our commitment to decarbonising transport, backed by hundreds of millions in funding, has helped to unlock private sector investment, and the ambitious plans of ChargeUK’s members will support more people than ever make the transition to EVs.”

Monta trials new virtual queueing feature for EV charging

Monta is trialling a new feature that it says will dramatically reduce the time EV owners spend queueing at charge points. Now available, Monta’s smart queueing function will allow UK EV drivers to view, book and virtually queue for charge points at selected private charge point locations. Drivers can join a queue for a charge site and receive a notification when a charge point becomes available so that they can go about their day without waiting to charge. Monta says this will be especially beneficial for UK workplaces to help manage efficiency and demand as EV adoption among commuters and the workforce increases. Employees can join a virtual queue at the start of the day and receive a notification when it’s their turn to charge. They can also skip their turn if they’re unavailable to start a charge, or jump ahead in the queue by communicating through the Monta app if they need to charge urgently - cutting down on charge point admin and ensuring charge points are used effectively. This new SmartQueue feature was trialled at this year’s Fully Charged Live South show (28-30 April) on charge points installed by Powered by Monta partner, Rolec. Rolec has installed 18 22KW charge points at Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre and attendees were invited to test the smart queue feature live at the show. Delegates were able join the virtual queue, then enjoy the show, rather than sitting in their cars waiting for a charge point to become available. “While SmartQueue is primarily designed for a workplace audience, we’ve decided to test our new feature in the best way possible - by inviting the experienced EV drivers at Fully Charged Live to join our SmartQueue,” says Alok Dubey, UK Country Manager at Monta. Alok continues, “With the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) ending on 31 March 2024, workplaces have a limited time left to install a subsidised EV charge point. At the same time, workplaces are struggling to effectively manage and make the most of their charge points. “What we’re trying to do with SmartQueue is help employers and employees charge more efficiently without taking on the extra admin of managing a physical queue or keeping one eye on their car park.” “We’re thrilled to test Monta’s new feature on our new charge points at Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre. One of the main reasons we became a Powered by Monta partner is to give our customers instant access to Monta’s innovative features. We can’t wait to share the results of the trial and demonstrate exactly how much attendees were able to charge across the show weekend,” says Frankie Mellon Sales Director at Rolec.

Jointless underfloor heating cable set to transform installation process

ThermoSphere says that its Membrane Heating Cable is the first and only underfloor heating cable that uses TwistedTwin construction and in-line hot-to-cold technology. Many faults occur around the cold tail joint of a heating cable because the joints, which are normally heat-shrink wrapped, are three times thicker than the cable. Installation of thicker cables requires installers to chase out concrete and cut into the membrane and insulation. This risks damaging cables, joints, waterproofing layer barriers and reputations with customers. ThermoSphere’s new Membrane Heating Cable prevents the need to cut the membrane, insulation and flooring. ThermoSphere have incorporated the hot-to-cold joint connections into the primary manufacturing process, creating invisible joints and a cable that’s uniform in thickness from end-to-end. This drastically improves the installation process, with many benefits to the installer: One-step cable installation saves time and effort, and speeds up and simplifies the installation process Stops cable failure by removing the number one fault in underfloor heating installations Preserves the waterproofing layer of the decoupling membrane Allows for quick, quality workmanship with an automatically flush finish ready for tiling Compatible with all membranes on the market so installers can rely on trusted products

EV charging hub introduces rainwater harvesting and purification tech

Bluewater, HORECA, and public dispensing applications have installed a rainwater harvesting and filtration system for drivers using a new EV charging station in Dundee. Opened by Dundee City Councillor Mark Flynn, Convener of City Development, on 25 April 2023, the new charging hub at Clepington Road features an on-site solar canopy that can provide power for both the electric vehicle charge points and the Bluewater system. Rainwater that falls on the canopy is collected and processed using multiple stages of advanced water filtration and purification technologies to create chilled and purified drinking water vended from the two on-site Bluewater dispensers. “The new EV Hub with Bluewater hydration solutions in Dundee is a game changer because it will provide clean water for the city’s residents and visitors for free, while reducing pressure on municipal resources and helping to build greater water resilience,” says Bluewater founder and CEO Bengt Rittri. Bengt adds, “In the past, drivers went to a petrol station, filled up the car and often at the same time ended up purchasing a beverage in a single-use plastic bottle. The Dundee project represents the future of the service station, in being not only zero-emission but also zero-single-use-plastic.” Bengt believes the global problem of environmental pollution by plastics and chemicals - increasingly apparent in both marine and freshwater ecosystems - can be fixed using human ingenuity, which is why he is building a purpose-driven beverage organisation focused on innovating creative approaches to using water sustainably. Bluewater represents the world’s most sustainable drinking water solution that ends the need for environmentally damaging single-use plastic bottles, and their associated high-carbon production and transportation. Bluewater UK Events and Venues Managing Director Philip Russell noted that Bluewater purification solutions have been verified in independent testing to efficiently remove PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ from tap water, providing peace of mind to consumers by removing up to 99.99% of health-threatening microplastics and chemicals such as toxic PFAS from tap water. The tests were carried out by Bluewater and verified by the independent worldwide bio-analytical testing group Eurofins. Philip adds, “Fear of what is in tap water has driven millions of people worldwide to use bottled water, but research continues to show the potential health concerns associated with frequent use of bottled water.” A study published in the journal Water Research and led by Johns Hopkins University researchers detected PFAS substances in 39 out of more than 100 bottled waters tested. And in 2022, a French study showed that 78% of French bottled mineral water tested by the environmental group Agir pour l’Environnnement contained microplastics. The combination of low-carbon and sustainable technology solutions being deployed at the new public EV charging hub in Dundee resulted from a unique collaboration between Bluewater, Dundee City Council, and traffic technology group SWARCO. The new hub features as the latest instalment of Dundee’s efforts to become the greenest city in Europe by investing in sustainable EV structures with 3.9 public EV charge points per square mile. The Bluewater Rainwater harvesting system integrates rainwater storage, controls, pumps, and mains water backup and was developed in close partnership with GRAF.

Screwfix installs defibrillators in partnership with the British Heart Foundation

Screwfix has partnered with the British Heart Foundation (BHF) to roll out defibrillators in all of its stores across the UK and Ireland. With more than 870 stores across the UK and Ireland, Screwfix is positioned to provide the lifesaving devices in the communities it serves and has worked with BHF to determine what would be the best approach to take to help save more lives. A defibrillator is a device that gives a controlled high energy electric shock to the heart of someone who is in cardiac arrest. This shock is called defibrillation, and it's an essential part in trying to save the life of someone who’s in cardiac arrest. It’s estimated that the location of tens of thousands of defibrillators remains unknown to ambulance services, meaning emergency services cannot direct bystanders to them in the event of a cardiac arrest. To help tackle this, Screwfix is registering its network of defibrillators onto The Circuit - The National Defibrillator Network - which was developed by the British Heart Foundation in partnership with Resuscitation Council UK, St John Ambulance, and the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives. The Circuit’s aim is to map all public access defibrillators, so that when someone has a cardiac arrest, 999 call handlers can direct bystanders to the nearest registered defibrillator while they wait for the ambulance to arrive. Screwfix will also begin the roll out the BHF’s first-of-its-kind CPR training tool RevivR to its colleagues. RevivR is an innovative tool that teaches the user CPR and defibrillation skills in just 15 minutes. With just a phone and a firm cushion, the training tool teaches users how to recognise a cardiac arrest. It gives feedback on chest compressions and outlines the correct steps of defibrillator use, giving anyone the confidence to step in and save a life in the event of the ultimate medical emergency. There are over 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests every year in the UK, but currently, fewer than one in 10 people survive. However, immediate CPR and defibrillation can more than double the chances of survival from a cardiac arrest. Scott Parsons, Screwfix Operations Director, says, “We are extremely proud to join forces with The British Heart Foundation and support our local communities with the tools to help potentially save a life. We believe this roll out of defibrillators at Screwfix stores will help make a significant difference, meaning more lifesaving defibs are close to hand in the event of a cardiac arrest. “Working together with our colleagues on our People Forum we are delighted to have been able to roll out this initiative across our network of over 870 stores in the UK and Republic of Ireland.” Mike Taylor, Commercial Director, at the British Heart Foundation, says, “Every minute without CPR or defibrillation reduces a person’s chance of surviving a cardiac arrest by up to 10%, so we are delighted that Screwfix has installed lifesaving defibrillators in all its stores and started to roll out RevivR, our CPR training to its colleagues. “Screwfix is helping communities by providing its colleagues and customers with the information and tools they need to potentially save a life and help to triple the number of people surviving a cardiac arrest.”