Gripple appoints new Managing Director and new Board Directors

Gripple has appointed a new Managing Director for the UK and Ireland, and new Board Directors. Kevin St Clair takes up the role of UK Managing Director, following 21 years at Gripple. Charlotte Hill will replace Kevin in his former role as Operations Director, and Sam Ryall joins the UK board as Supply Chain Director. Kevin started his career at Gripple in 2002 as the company’s first Quality Manager, responsible for implementing ISO9001 and ISO14001 Certification, before moving into a broader quality and supply chain management role and later becoming Site Manager at Gripple’s Riverside Works facility in Sheffield. Five years ago, Kevin was promoted to Group Operations Director, where he had full operational responsibility for Gripple’s six UK manufacturing sites. Kevin St Clair, UK Managing Director, explains, “I am delighted to take up my new role at Gripple and to be working with a fantastic Board of Directors. My focus will be on delivering strong results in the UK as well as continuing to improve our global service and support. He continues, “Our markets and product range are constantly evolving as our strategy is to identify challenges that customers face and to develop innovative solutions, offering environmental, time and user-friendly benefits.” Kevin adds, “Diversification remains a key part of our business, as we launch innovative solutions into the solar, utilities and industrial services markets. This is an exciting time for our business as we continue to target 20% of total sales from new products released in the last five years, with innovation, sustainability and greater efficiency as top priorities.” Charlotte Hill and Sam Ryall have both been promoted from their roles as Operations Manager and Supply Chain Manager, respectively, and join the Gripple UK and Ireland Board. The board also comprises Sales Director Chris Bugg, Head of Digital Transformation Darren Cork, People and Culture Director Katrina Ritchie and Finance Director Clare Legg. Charlotte joined Gripple eight years ago as Product Manager and during this time has gained significant knowledge of the business, through her work in new product introduction, continuous improvement, engineering management and most recently as Operations Manager for Gripple’s Hellaby, Hawke Street and Riverside Works facilities. Charlotte has a BEng in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA in Manufacturing Strategy. Sam Ryall joined Gripple four years ago from B Braun Medical in Sheffield, where she had worked for 18 years, most recently in the role of Purchasing Manager. Since she joined Gripple, Sam has developed an excellent supply chain team and has played a key role in guiding Gripple through unprecedented supply chain challenges, including Brexit, COVID-19 and the Ukraine war. Kevin concludes, “Charlotte and Sam bring great qualities to board. Charlotte’s performance over the years leaves me with no doubt that she will continue to deliver excellent results and strengthen the operations team further. Sam has demonstrated strong leadership skills and has proven to be a real team player, with great drive and enthusiasm, facing challenges head-on and finding solutions that have taken our business forward." Kevin will continue to report to Ed Stubbs, who as Group Managing Director will dedicate more time to the development of the Gripple group worldwide - focusing on driving new product development and overseeing the creation of new operational facilities at the company’s newest Don Road facility in Sheffield.

Power upgrade benefits Kenardington

UK Power Networks is investing £1.2 million to upgrade the electricity grid connecting homes and businesses in the Kenardington area of Ashford. The company is increasing network resilience and boosting capacity at its existing site in Kenardington. A 19-tonne transformer was connected at the substation via a second circuit, increasing network flexibility and unlocking more than 4.5MW of additional capacity. The improvements will maintain reliable supplies and enable more low carbon technologies to connect. Damian Conroy, Programme Manager at UK Power Networks, says, “Our project in Kenardington forms part of a programme of infrastructure investment across the south east. “We are committed to keeping safe and reliable power supplies flowing to the communities that we serve, enabling customers to continue going about their lives with the essential power they need. This project will deliver long-term benefits for hundreds of customers in the area.” Electricity transformers step down voltage so that power can be safely delivered to smaller electricity substations and homes. The substation at Kenardington helps deliver electricity supplies to nearly 2,000 homes and businesses across the local area. The scheme is part of the £600 million being invested by UK Power Networks in the electricity networks across the south east, London and east of England this year.

Pathfinder - the powerful floodlight range from Ovia

Pathfinder from Ovia is an extensive range of powerful and robust, metal LED floodlights, providing a modern solution for retrofits and new installations alike. The range comprises standard floodlights as well as versions with Photocell and PIR sensors. In total the Pathfinder range offers 40 floodlight options from 10-300W, with fittings up to 50W available in both black and white finishes, and in warm white and cool white colour temperature options. This modern range has high quality LEDs installed, offering a 30,000 hour (L70) lifetime and 100,000 switching cycles. The design incorporates a prismatic diffuser which produces a more even spread of light. All standard Pathfinder floodlights are IP65 rated, while those with sensors are IP44 rated. The more industrial 100-300W range are also IK07 rated. The standard range can be used with remote sensors, PIRs (indoor and outdoor) or Microwave sensors (indoor only) as well as with smart control systems. The floodlights fitted with a PIR have three settings available on the rear of the sensor housing. Sens - enables the sensitivity/distance to be set to help avoid accidental triggering from pets, for example, Time - allows you to set the ‘on’ time when the PIR is activated (from 10 seconds to 10 minutes) and Lux - allows you to set the desired light level (2-2,000 Lux) for when the light will turn ‘ON’. Each Pathfinder floodlight comes with a three-year warranty and they are supplied with an adjustable wall mounting bracket and 1m mains cable.

CKI welcomes Clipacore to its product portfolio

Carl Kammerling International (CKI) has purchased Clipacore, a tool system designed to eradicate a common and dangerous problem for users of core drills. Its purchase by CKI means that Clipacore will quickly become widely available to tradespeople across the UK. Clipacore is a clip release system which allows users to change and remove core bits from drills quickly and effortlessly. Dismantling a core drill after use often requires physical strength and brute force, as torque tension locks components together. Clipacore was conceived by a heating engineer who broke his hand hammering a wrench to change a bit - a course of action likely to be familiar to anyone who regularly uses a core drill. The other issue with core drilling is waste concrete becoming wedged in the tool, another problem which has been solved with the Clipacore system. The Clipacore system is now distributed into the plumbing and heating sector through CKI subsidiary Nerrad Tools, available for purchase in store this spring. It will also soon be available as part of the CKI portfolio of brands alongside, C.K Tools, C.K Magma, avit and Kasp Security, with wider distribution anticipated later in the year. It’s expected to become an essential part of a toolbox for anyone who drills holes in walls using a core drill, whether for electrical conduit, water pipes, waste pipes, boiler flues, exhaust vents or any other reason. Protecting tools from damage and tradespeople from injury, the Clipacore system has been rigorously tested, is produced with high quality materials, and holds its own against CKI’s range of quality tools. Tom Meyerratken, Managing Director at CKI, says, “At CKI, we produce high quality hand tools that meet the most demanding needs of trade professionals. Clipacore offers a solution that so many of our customers really need, so it’s a natural fit. The easy-to-use range is going to cut out a real source of frustration, saving users’ time and effort. We’re excited to share it with our customers.”

ElectricalDirect illuminates its range with new lighting solutions

ElectricalDirect has extended its range to offer a wider selection of lighting solutions, including adding additional products from its exclusive Altro, Touchpoint and Hampstead collections. Recent research by ElectricalDirect found a high proportion of homeowners spend time considering lighting as part of their interior design, and has updated its range to offer installers a wide selection of products to meet every budget and brief. Carrie Earl, Category Manager at ElectricalDirect says, “Lighting serves as a vital and functional element for almost every space, but specifying the right product can offer far more than the practical essentials. With homeowners recognising how light fittings can contribute to interior design, installers have an opportunity to widen the scope of, and upsell projects, with solutions that can add another dimension to their space. As such, ElectricalDirect has added more products to its stocked collection, enabling the trade to offer customers a wide range of lighting options that can enhance indoor and outdoor projects.” Here are some of the recent additions to the retailer’s range: Indoor lighting The Altro collection spans products suitable for domestic, as well as commercial settings. The Altro Seville Ceiling Light Pendant with chrome fittings and clear glass shade, for example, is an attractive and modern ceiling light pendant which is ideal for bedrooms, kitchens or living rooms. For a pendant installation above dining room tables or breakfast bars, the Touchpoint Ohio Ceiling Light Pendant is ideal. This compact, retro styled fixture is available in black, silver and antique gold finishes. For traditional interior décors, the new Hampstead Victory Ceiling Light Pendant is a fine choice. This Victorian-style globe pendant ceiling light features metalwork in an antique brass finish and a clear glass globe with ribbed effect to provide plenty of light - and an excellent feature to enhance any room. Outdoor lighting Outdoor spaces can be transformed with lighting to highlight architecture and zone areas, as well as provide functional lighting to illuminate areas after dark. For a statement piece, ElectrcialDirect has introduced the Altro Square Up and Down Wall Light to its exterior range. IP44 rated with a square shade, this product is ideal for contemporary spaces and is available in anthracite or silver. Alternatively, the elegant and minimalistic Hampstead 3W Up and Down LED Outdoor Wall Light is perfect for casting a subtle glow with the benefit of an IP54 rating and PIR sensor. For illuminating pathways, consider the latest LED Round Surface Outdoor Brick Downlights from Touchpoint. These circular designed brick downlights are compact and hardwearing with IP65 rating and all fixings included.

Baxi Combi ranges prove a hit with installers

Baxi’s latest 200 and 400 Combi 2 boiler ranges are proving to be a popular choice with installers, thanks to the introduction of a series of new and improved features making installation as seamless as possible. Lightweight and compact, the cupboard-fit boilers include an upgraded and simpler wiring experience, brass hydraulics on the Baxi 400, increased LPG options across the range, stainless steel heat exchanger and both ranges have easy-to-replace components. Providing installers with greater flexibility to meet the requirements of a variety of domestic properties - large and small - outputs range from 24kW for both natural gas and LPG in the Baxi 200 Combi 2, up to 30kW in the new, higher-output addition to the Baxi 400 Combi 2 range. Manufactured with emissions reductions and efficiency goals in mind, both models are 80/20 hydrogen certified to run on a 20% hydrogen blend. Covered by two and five-year parts and labour warranties respectively, the Baxi 200 Combi 2 and Baxi 400 Combi 2 boilers also feature certified Opentherm technology for connecting smart controls, such as Baxi’s uSense 2, to further optimise energy usage, reduce consumption in domestic properties and help meet mandatory Boiler Plus compliance requirements. Nick Platt, Commercial and Marketing Director at Baxi, says, “The Baxi 200 and 400 models include some much-loved features that heating engineers will recognise - and some that are brand new. Using high-quality, robust components from our group, BDR Thermea, the new boilers provide installers with two affordable heating solutions that don’t compromise on build quality or durability.”

New EV charging cables from Webro

Webro Cables and Connectors has launched a new range of EV cables. Electric vehicles are getting more popular, with current government data showing that over 2,000 new charging points are installed every quarter, and this trend is likely to continue at pace for the next 10 years or more. Webro EV cables are specially designed for EV charging points with integrated data connectivity. The new line-up features a fully screened Cat 6A cable, along with 0.6/1kV power cores, precision bundled to ensure that fast, accurate data and power can be maintained at the same time. With both power and data combined in one cable you get an easier and neater installation that takes far less time to complete. The Cat 6A cable is fully screened, with an individual pair foil and a collective foil screen, so data is passed interference free. The power cores include premium quality bare copper conductors with class 2 stranding to IEC 60228. Overall protection is provided by a black UV-stable Low Smoke Non-Halogen (LSNH) jacket that provides more resistance to sunlight, and ensures that the sheath retains its structural integrity much longer than standard PVC. The new Webro EV Charging Cable range is available from stock in four different sizes, as a 4mm² or 6mm² cable - all with a Cat 6A F/FTP cable with three or five power cores. In terms of CPR-compliance, Webro EV charging cables are CPR/UKCA classified to ECA and are fully LSNH throughout.

New Stratton mk3 boiler from Hamworthy Heating

Hamworthy Heating has announced the introduction of its new Stratton mk3 wall-hung condensing boiler, which provides a compact and efficient heating solution for plant rooms with limited space. The latest addition to the Hamworthy range of commercial boilers features a 5:1 turndown ratio, low-class 6 NOx emissions across all models, and up to 97% gross seasonal efficiency. Designed for simple installation and maintenance, the new Stratton mk3 features a small and lightweight design, making it a fitting solution for plant rooms where location and space present a challenge. To illustrate this, Hamworthy recently joined forces with Tucker Mechanical and Electrical Building Services to provide a charity with a much needed space-saving and efficient space-heating solution. Following a site visit to the Hull and East Yorkshire Centre for the Deaf, Tucker Mechanical and Electrical Building Services identified that moving to the Hamworthy Stratton mk3 wall-hung condensing boiler system would provide the building with a space-saving alternative to its previous floor-standing unit. Installed on an internal frame, this allowed space to fit additional pump equipment and a plate heat exchanger for hydraulic separation to preserve the internal boiler components. Following the upgrade, the Hull and East Yorkshire Centre for the Deaf now benefits from a reliable and energy-efficient stainless steel boiler system which has enabled the charity to reduce its carbon footprint, lower fuel bills, and make additional savings on future maintenance and servicing. Available in seven different models with outputs from 40 to 150kW, single units can also be cascaded to meet building demands or larger installations more effectively. The Stratton mk3 is available with a range of easy to install AHRI certified plate heat exchangers designed to enhance energy efficiency and performance. Compact and lightweight, the range includes 316 stainless steel plates with copper brazing for maximum durability. A full range of frame and header kits and accessories to support system design are also available from the Hamworthy Heating range. Fully compliant with Building Regulations Part L, the Stratton mk3 is supplied with a five-year warranty as standard from Hamworthy Heating. To mark the arrival of the latest range, Hamworthy Heating has released its new ‘Stratton mk3 Wall Hung Condensing Boiler’ range brochure. Split into clear, concise, and easy to read sections, the 20-page brochure includes a comprehensive product overview and technical specification guide.

Megaman launches its new INFINITE smart lighting system

Megaman has announced the launch of INFINITE, its new smart lighting system for residential and commercial spaces. Easy to set up and operate, this lighting system enables the wireless control of both smart and traditional fixtures. The range includes a number of smart fixture options as well as an innovative two-in-one smart sensor, relay, driver and switch. Bluetooth-enabled, the INFINITE system is not reliant on an internet connection and is easily configured via the INFINITE app to provide fully integrated and adaptive lighting. The components of the INFINITE system are quick and simple to install and maintain, with the MILENA integrated LED downlight featuring toolless installation straight out of the box. Additionally, the INFINITE smart driver enables existing lighting fixtures - such as the Performa BERTO Sidelit and Essentials BERTO Backlit LED panels - to be connected to the INFINITE system and take on dimming capability. This provides a significant advantage for installers as it allows an existing in-situ lighting system to be retained. Control of the INFINITE smart system is fully wireless and can be easily set up and adjusted via the INFINITE app. Available to download for free from the Apple and Google Play stores, the INFINITE app controls the entire smart system - including any traditional lighting fixtures that have been incorporated. Utilising Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), the app provides quick and easy control for up to 100 devices. The INFINITE system also takes a human-centric approach: the two-in-one smart sensor can measure and respond to ambient light levels, in order to maintain optimal lighting throughout the day and ensure a comfortable environment. Furthermore, the sensor can also utilise microwave movement detection in order to activate lighting when a room is in use and automatically switch it off when a room is empty - helping to save electricity and keep energy costs low. Finally, scenes can be created and controlled via the INFINITE app in order to tailor lighting conditions to a particular space. These can also be controlled via the wireless smart switch, which can be placed anywhere within a room for ease of access. Micaela Abbot, Sales Director at Megaman comments, “With our new INFINITE smart lighting system customers can easily tailor the lighting and atmosphere of any space to their specific needs. We developed this system to provide ultimate control for users in domestic and commercial environments, but we also wanted to make it as easy as possible for contractors to install and connect the system to existing lighting.”

Carhartt’s Lightweight Packable Anorak

Spring has just about sprung, but it can still be chilly and wet out on the construction site. Carhartt has got you covered with the Lightweight Packable Anorak (105749). Easy to store in your bag, it is the ultimate on-site companion, ideal for those cold mornings and unexpected rain showers. 100% nylon on the outside, this anorak is tough, abrasion resistant and dries quickly, while the inner lining is polyester so it won’t tear or stretch. It is also the ideal layer to keep out the wind and rain no matter what the job: the attached three-piece hood has an adjustable draw cord, and the half-length front zipper comes with a neat chin protector. It has handy adjustable cuffs and a drop tail, adjustable hem to ensure the perfect fit. This versatile anorak features a Rain Defender water repellent finish that will protect you from the elements, rain or shine, keeping you dry and warm all day long. It is designed for a relaxed fit, so popping a warm layer underneath is easy and won’t make you feel restricted. When it comes to storage, this anorak has all you need, with two convenient front-zippable pockets. And when you are finished with it, you can quickly and easily pack it away by zipping it neatly into a pocket. The Lightweight Packable Anorak can handle whatever the weather throws your way and is available in two colour options: black or two-tone malt asphalt.