LINIAN's new cable tray clip: Fast, easy, sustainable

The creator of the world’s first single component fire rated clip, LINIAN, has now unveiled its most recent innovation for cable tray installations – the LINIAN Cable Tray Clip. Benefits of the product 90% faster installation - forget about stainless steel cable ties and the ratcheting tool. Using LINIAN Cable Tray Clips you can drastically reduce the time spent on installations.  Incredibly easy to install – it simply locks in by hand. With sizes ranging from 50mm (light) to 225mm (medium and heavy duty) it can be used with any brand of trays. Non-corrosive and weather resistant. Manufactured in the UK. This product is said to be a game changer in cable tray installs and will deliver massive benefits on resource, time and cost savings, especially for large electrical and M&E contractors who lay hundreds of metres of trays. Wiring regulations compliance: The LINIAN Cable Tray Clip is fully compliant with the 18th Edition Wiring Regulations (BS 7671:2018), meaning it’s fire-rated and designed to prevent premature cable collapse during a fire. Sustainability: Like all LINIAN products, the new Cable Tray Clip uses recyclable packaging and ethically sourced materials. Manufactured in Britain, it keeps the supply chain short, reducing carbon footprint. Additionally, by replacing traditional stainless steel cable ties with a reusable clip, installers can significantly reduce waste on-site. It’s a win-win for the environment and the installer.  Product uses Railways Data centres and telecoms Industrial and commercial fittings Lighting Fire and security systems General power applications Industrial power applications Building management systems Fibre cable installations Substations All general cable tray applications Where to buy The first production run is now fully available with CEF and, from mid-April 2025, this unique product will also be available through the LINIAN wholesalers’ network.

Linear Pro Max launched by Tamlite Lighting at DCW

Tamlite Lighting is launching the Linear Pro Max at Data Centre World (12-13 March 2025), introducing a new generation lighting solution designed for fast, flexible installation in data centres and large-scale retail environments. By integrating the trunking, electrical components and quick-release luminaires into a single module system, the Linear Pro Max minimises downtime, optimises efficiency and enhances sustainability. As data centres grow to meet AI, cloud computing and e-commerce demands, operators must optimise energy efficiency and performance. Lighting is key for compliance, energy savings and minimal maintenance requirements. The Linear Pro Max is engineered to meet these challenges, ensuring fast installation and high-performance illumination for server aisles. These features also make the Linear Pro Max an ideal lighting solution for large-scale retail environments, providing continuous-row illumination that enhances product visibility, minimises glare and improves customer navigation and overall experience. Engineered for data centres and large-scale retail The Linear Pro Max is designed to meet the specific demands of data centres and expansive retail spaces. By integrating advanced components into a streamlined system, it enhances efficiency, flexibility and performance while reducing operational costs. Key benefits include: Fast and flexible installation, reducing labour costs and minimising downtime. High energy efficiency of up to 180lm/W, reducing power consumption and supporting sustainability goals. Smart lighting integration with VISION, Tamlite’s intelligent lighting control system. VISION provides tailored, solution-based controls that optimise energy efficiency and enhance performance, from simple occupancy sensing to fully addressable DALI emergency test and monitoring, across single or multiple rooms or floors. Customisable optics, including wide and narrow beam variants, to suit different layouts. Options include continuous runs for uniform lighting across a large area or for targeted illumination in specific zones. Sustainability and compliance The Linear Pro Max has been designed with sustainability in mind, featuring a lightweight extruded aluminium housing that minimises material waste and enhances recyclability. It is currently being evaluated according to CIBSE TM65 for embodied carbon, and CIBSE TM66 for the use of circular economic principles. The results of these evaluations are expected in summer 2025. Supporting the rapid growth of data centres According to new research from CBRE, European data centre markets are projected to add 937MW)of new supply in 2025. If this data centre supply is delivered, it will set a record for Europe, representing an increase of 282MW more than the 655MW of capacity delivered last year. Over 57% of this capacity will be delivered in key markets such as Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, Paris and Dublin (FLAPD). With demand outpacing supply, operators must focus on energy-efficient infrastructure to manage power and sustainability goals. Stephen Biggs, National Category Manager at Tamlite Lighting, comments, “The Linear Pro Max’s ultra-efficient design, combined with seamless smart controls, makes it the ideal solution to reduce energy consumption, enhance visibility and future-proof data centre operations. As demand for data centre space increases, optimised lighting solutions like the Linear Pro Max are set to play a pivotal role in improving efficiency and sustainability of these facilities.”

Norfolk residents benefit from power upgrade

A £2.1 million investment has upgraded power supplies at an electricity substation near Great Yarmouth, benefiting thousands of residents for the future. UK Power Networks, which distributes electricity across the East, has installed a new 23-tonne electricity transformer in the village of Martham. Transformers step down the power so it can be safely delivered to homes and businesses, offer scope for greater electrical capacity, and maintain reliable supplies. The new kit which was carefully manoeuvred into place is part of UK Power Networks’ investment programme to upgrade the electricity supply. It will receive electricity from the network at 33,000-volts and safely turn it down to 11,000 volts for onward delivery to about 6,000 customers in the village and beyond. Gavin Hawes, Project Manager at UK Power Networks, says, “This investment project will deliver long-lasting benefits in the area and support growth in demand for electric vehicles, heat pumps and more low carbon technologies connecting to electricity networks.” UK Power Networks owns and maintains the network of cables, substations and power lines that deliver electricity to approximately 20 million people across the East, London and South East of England (regardless of who sends them their electricity bill). As the country’s biggest electricity distributor, it has invested £8 billion in its electricity networks since 2011. For more from UK Power Networks, click here.

CEF Ireland celebrates 20 years of success

With 2025 marking 20 years since CEF Ireland opened the first of its five branches across the country, the retailer is celebrating the milestone by hosting a series of trade mornings across the country and throughout the year. In honour of the first five branches that helped lay the foundations for CEF Ireland in 2005, customers are invited to their local branch to join in the festivities. A free breakfast will be available for all attendees, as well as the chance to win goodies in a giveaway. Celebrations will take place in recognition of the month each branch first opened: Thursday 20 March: Sligo Thursday 3 April: Letterkenny Thursday 19 June: Castlebar Tuesday 24 June: Finglas Friday 12 December: Cork The celebrations are designed to show appreciation to the customers and partners who have been instrumental in the success of the business. CEF Ireland tells us that the events are an excellent opportunity for the electrical industry to come together, network, and celebrate two decades of growth and innovation. "We are thrilled to celebrate 20 years of CEF in Ireland," says Dermot Gilmartin, Group Manager at CEF Ireland West Group. "This milestone is a testament to the support from our loyal customers and the hard work of our dedicated team. The strength of our relationships with suppliers has also played a vital role in helping us consistently deliver quality and innovation to the market. These trade mornings are not only a celebration of how far we’ve come, but also an opportunity to thank everyone who has contributed to our journey.” Gerald O’Hare, Director of Operations, Edinburgh Region, IOM, Gibraltar, Spain & Ireland, adds, "20 years ago, when we first set out on this journey, we had a vision - to continue CEF’s mission as a business that connected deeply with our clients, to provide opportunities for employees to grow, and to make a positive impact on the communities we serve. Looking back now, the success we have achieved over the past two decades is a testament to the collective effort of everyone involved, from our team members who have driven our growth, to the customers and suppliers who have stood by us. As we celebrate this milestone, we reflect on the journey and look forward to what’s next." CEF Ireland invites contractors, customers, and industry professionals across the country to join the celebrations at their nearest branch. For more from CEF, click here.

Ansell Lighting supporting Northern Ireland apprentices

Lighting designer and manufacturer, Ansell Lighting, has joined forces with Northern Regional College in Northern Ireland to provide support and resources for the Electrical Installation Apprenticeship course. Ansell has built a strong relationship with a number of colleges throughout the UK to help support students in learning about the latest lighting technology and products. The College, which provides further education across four of the 11 council areas in Northern Ireland from five campuses in Ballymena, Magherafelt, Newtownabbey and Coleraine, is keen for the partnership to provide students with invaluable industry insights and hands-on experience with state-of-the-art electrical components. Ansell has supplied a series of product boards including downlights, retail and commercial fittings, emergency lighting packs and its own smart OCTO lighting technology. These boards, displayed within the College, allow students to interact with working products and gain a deeper understanding of lighting solutions. Each board includes detailed information about the luminaires and their benefits. One of the projects students will undertake during their course this year involves designing lighting for a hotel, with Ansell products playing a key role in the process. Ansell representatives also visited Northern Regional College’s Newtownabbey campus to meet with lecturers and students, sharing their expertise and offering real-world perspectives on the industry. Mark Rogers (pictured above, left), National Sales Manager for Ireland at Ansell Lighting, says, “As a manufacturer, we recognise the importance of investing in and supporting the next generation of electricians and installers, at a time when there has been talk of skills shortages within the industry. “Ansell Lighting was established in Northern Ireland, so we are particularly pleased to be able to support students and apprentices in the region. We hope to see these students flourish and work with us in their future careers.” Iain McCart (pictured above, right), Electrical Installation Lecturer at Northern Regional College, adds, “Ensuring our students are industry-ready is at the heart of everything we do. By working with leading companies like Ansell Lighting we can provide our apprentices with a more practical, relevant learning experience that gives them a real insight into the world of electrical installation. These partnerships not only benefit our students during their studies but also open doors for future employment opportunities in the sector.” For more from Ansell Lighting, click here.

Multi-zone smart heating controls are in demand, research shows

Heating control expert, Drayton, recently surveyed heating engineers, plumbers, electricians, and renewable installers to understand what its customers are looking for from smart heating controls and how important it is to have a reliable system from a manufacturer they can trust. When it comes to the features that are most desired by homeowners, the survey found that a heating control that can be managed via a smartphone app (66%) and a system that offers room-by-room heating control (50%) were the two most common requests that installers were asked for last year. However, following rising energy costs, energy-saving features – such as smart modes – came in a close third (48%). Additionally, the flexibility to include further connected devices at a later date was desired by just under a third of customers. While having a solution that meets customers’ needs is essential, it is also important that installers are confident in working with the product, as according to the survey the most common issue that causes delays on the job was products that are hard to install (64%). Alongside this, product compatibility issues were another top cause of wasted time, cited by 44% of installers. When issues like this occur, it is crucial that technical support is available from manufacturers; but according to a quarter of installers (25%), they were unable to access this support or find the information they were looking for online. Merlin Milner, Product Owner for Water-based Systems at Drayton, comments, “The results of our research highlight that in today’s market, customers are prioritising simplicity and convenience; they want the ability to control their heating remotely via a user-friendly app on their mobile and ways to improve efficiency. As such, it’s crucial that tradespeople have a go-to solution that they can trust to deliver all of these key features and doesn’t cause them delays when working. “The Wiser solution is a one-stop solution for installers, that offers all of this and more. With multi-zoning capabilities and smart modes, installers can help their customers save up to 30% on an average energy bill, as well as access valuable data via Insights. Wiser is capable of controlling a wide range of heating systems and is easily scalable as additional devices can be added to the system at any time. “For installers, Wiser is incredibly easy to fit, as it is compatible with the standard UK backplate and can be set up without requiring the customer’s Wi-Fi details. Plus, should any issues arise, here at Drayton we have a number of different ways for installers to get assistance. Along with our UK-based customer support team, we also offer online training courses via Drayton Rewards+, video tutorials on YouTube, and technical documents can be found on our website. All of this helps ensure a smooth and speedy installation, so they can get on with the job and onto the next customer.” For more from Drayton, click here.

Skills shortage to hamper Scotland's net zero transition

Training the electrical talent of tomorrow is essential if Scotland is to address the current skills shortage and meet its net zero targets, the Managing Director of Scotland’s largest construction trade association has warned. SELECT MD, Alan Wilson, insists that training for electricians must be prioritised to help counter Scotland’s shrinking talent pool, and that there must be greater support for businesses diversifying into renewable energy. Speaking in a video as part of a new UK-wide digital campaign, Alan says that although plenty of apprentices join the industry each year, it is still not enough to counter an ageing workforce and a rising number of retirements. Alan tells viewers, “There's not a shortage of electrical apprentices – indeed, for every apprenticeship, it’s probably fair to say we have four or five applicants. However, the fact is that we do have a skills shortage of qualified electricians in Scotland, with the average age of an electrician now 34 and a number of people coming to the end of their career. “As fossil fuels run out, changes to government policy mean you can't install gas products or must change to an electric vehicle, but how are we going to actually maintain that? If we don't get the skilled workforce we need, how are we going to make sure there are enough people around to install these products? “We have to focus on training young people and adult trainees on the fundamentals of electrical installation work, doing it competently, safely and then, if necessary, we can upskill them on the new technologies that are required. “It’s also important that support is given to businesses who want to branch out into other parts of work.” Alan's warning comes in a video for Electrifying Our Future, a new digital campaign from SELECT’s southern counterpart, the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA), that explores the critical role of the electrical industry in delivering the UK’s net zero ambitions. In the film, titled The Status of Electrical Engineering Talent, Alan says the pool of potential electricians has halved in his lifetime, telling viewers, “When I was born, you had 100,000 people potentially to recruit, but you’re now looking at a pool of 50,000. “And if we look at the elephant in the room, which is the gender problem in the sector where we’re only recruiting 2% or 3% of women, that means predominantly businesses are now fishing in a pond of 25,000 compared to 50,000 or 60,000 just a few years ago.” However, in a call to potential new recruits, Alan also said there had never been a better time to join the electrical contracting industry. Alan said: “Increasingly, everything is becoming dependent on electricity, whether it be our transport, heat, power or light. “So from a career progression perspective, joining the electrical sector now and looking at what's going to happen in the next five, 10 or 15 years, the sky's the limit for people joining this sector.” Currently celebrating its 125th anniversary, SELECT is a strategic partner in the new ECA campaign, which was launched on 27 February. Produced with sustainable creative agency Content With Purpose, it includes films and interviews on key topics such as the rise of green technologies, the need for skilled workers and the evolving role of electrical contractors on the path to a net zero future. The series is hosted on a dedicated microsite and highlights the essential steps needed to scale up efforts in the sector, from addressing the skills gap and improving workforce training to adopting emerging technologies and optimising existing low-carbon systems. For more from SELECT, click here.

Martindale Electric introduces ET6300 tester

Martindale Electric, a provider of electrical testing and safety equipment, has announced the launch of the ET6300 Series Multifunction Installation Tester. Designed to meet the needs of electricians now and into the future, Martdinale describes the ET6300 as "accurate, reliable and user-friendly". It has a high level of input protection with a CAT IV safety rating, ensuring that users are protected when working in challenging environments. The high-quality, full-colour TFT display provides clear, easy-to-read results and connection information. The tester has an intuitive interface, together with multiple help screens that guide users through the testing process, displaying easy-to-read test connection diagrams that simplify even the most complex tests. The ET6300 not only provides testing to the 18th Edition Wiring Regulations, but it is also EV-ready, making it ideal for electricians who may need to test electric vehicle (EV) charger points in the future. It comes with enhanced test capability such as low-current continuity tests and multiple RCD test options and is supplied with the TL180 slimline test probe and a mains charger with rechargeable batteries. To enable EV testing capability, the ET6300 can be upgraded at any time with the Martindale TL305EV adapter which allows connection to an EVSE charging point (Type-2 connector), giving the ability to support all relevant measurements via the standard measurement inputs. The Martindale ET6300 combines precision, safety and future-ready features like EV testing capability making it the ideal choice for electricians tackling today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. For more from Martindale Electric, click here.  

ICEL Conference to guide the future of emergency lighting

The ICEL Emergency Lighting Conference 2025 is set to return to Cavendish Conference Centre, London on Thursday, 11 September 2025, bringing together leading experts and key stakeholders to drive progress in emergency lighting safety and compliance, where attendees will have the opportunity to engage with manufacturers, industry leaders, and key decision-makers. The event will explore the latest industry advancements, regulatory updates, and best practices to reinforce building safety and create more secure environments for people to live, work, and learn in. For the third consecutive year, Joanna Watchman, CEO of B Corp-certified agency Content Coms and Founder of Work in Mind, will facilitate the conference. Her expertise in ESG and sustainability communications has been highly praised by attendees in 2023 and 2024, ensuring another engaging and insightful event. The conference agenda is tailored to a diverse audience, including designers, specifiers, distributors, installers, maintainers, and end-users. Key themes will include: • Part 1 - Competency in Emergency Lighting: Where are we now? • Part 2 - Regulatory and Standards Updates: Discussions on BS 5266 and BS 8887-221, their implications, and their impact on lighting design. • Part 3 - Installation & Maintenance Best Practices: Expert insights on contractors and maintainers in emergency lighting. • Part 4 - Sustainability in Emergency Lighting: A dedicated session on EPD/LCA/DPP for batteries and energy-efficient solutions. The event will feature a keynote speaker slot, panel discussions, with a attendance from high-profile organisations such as Laing O’Rourke, MITIE, CBRE, NHS, E.ON, EDF, WSP, Transport for London, BDP, and Sainsbury’s, many of whom attended the 2023 and 2024 conferences. Additionally, members from leading industry bodies, including ACE, BAFE, BCA, BCO, ECA, EDA, FIA, IWFM, REF, RICS, and SLL, are invited to attend and contribute to discussions shaping the future of emergency lighting. Attending the ICEL Emergency Lighting Conference 2025 offers a unique opportunity to stay ahead of the latest regulatory changes and compliance requirements. Delegates will gain valuable insights from industry-leading experts on enhancing emergency lighting design and maintenance while participating in thought-provoking panel discussions on competency schemes and sustainability. The event also provides a platform to connect with professionals and organisations at the forefront of innovation, fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing to drive the future of emergency lighting. The ICEL Emergency Lighting Conference 2025 is the ultimate platform for knowledge sharing, networking, and staying ahead in an evolving industry. To register, please complete the registration form by clicking here. For more from The LIA, click here.  

Sangamo launches new motorised zone valves

Sangamo, a provider of innovative heating control solutions, has announced the launch of its new, high-quality motorised zone valves. Designed with both the installer and end-user in mind, these motorised valves offer precise control over the flow of hot water in heating control systems, providing a reliable solution for both residential and commercial applications. The new motorised zone valves feature a robust brass body and a steel actuator head to ensure longevity and reliable performance, even under challenging conditions. For added convenience, they are equipped with a manual lever that allows quick filling and draining of the system, making servicing straightforward and reducing maintenance demands. They are also widely compatible with existing zone valve systems, making them an ideal replacement option and come offered in two sizes: 2 Port 22mm and 3 Port 22mm. The Sangamo range of specialist time switches and heating controls is distributed through Scolmore Group company, ESP. For more from Scolmore, click here.