What will 2021’s trends mean for the electrical sector in 2022?

Brett Smyth, general manager of IDEAL Industries EMEA, discusses the challenges and opportunities the company has responded to in 2021 and predictions for 2022. While 2020 will always be remembered as a year when everything suddenly stopped for a while, 2021 has been a year characterised by frenetic activity as we responded to substantial and rapid demand as the world came out of hibernation. Sites that were paused due to the pandemic were on catch-up programmes to complete, if not on time, then at least something close to on budget, which meant even tighter deadlines for electrical contractors. Against that backdrop, contracting companies were still battling staff shortages due to COVID-19 and self-isolation regimes, alongside the loss of skilled EU operatives, which made catching up even harder. As a company that has always invested in product development that aims to enable faster, easier and more consistent electrical installations, at IDEAL Industries, we saw demand for our products rocket. If 2020 was a roller coaster, then 2021 was a high-speed bullet train, and I am really proud of how our team has managed customer service and order fulfilment to keep pace with the market. It seems likely that skill shortages will continue into 2022 and beyond, and our approach to this at IDEAL Industries is not only to provide products that allow faster and more consistent installation, such as our FT-45 Feed-Thru modular plug system for data terminations and our new Gen II Wire Termination Connectors, but also to contribute to nurturing the next generation of talent. Over the past year, we have extended our partnerships with FE colleges and sponsored social media influencer, Amy Barrett-Singh, as part of our commitment to supporting trainee electricians and encouraging greater diversity in the sector. With face-to-face meetings now returning, we hope to introduce product demos and business coaching into this developing academy initiative. Supply chain challenges have been another characteristic of the electrical marketplace in 2021 and this also looks set to continue. At IDEAL Industries, we have excellent UK stockholding capabilities and have re-shored our packaging production to the UK to reduce lead times, control costs and cut our carbon footprint. We have also invested in stockholding in the Middle East to enable smaller orders and faster fulfilment from a dedicated facility in the region. It is clear that 2022 will continue to be busy for the electrical contracting sector as people invest in their homes, kick start capex projects again and rise to the challenge of adapting commercial environments to agile working models. Our goal is to help customers deliver projects on time by ensuring good availability across our range through both traditional wholesale and trade retail channels.

CEF reveals a new name and fresh look for its Wimbledon store

The CEF store based in the famous London postcode of SW19, is rebranding as CEF Wimbledon. Previously known as CEF’s Merton store, it’s one of 390 branches of the nationwide electrical distributor that stocks over 3,000 everyday essential electrical products. The Wimbledon store has always been well stocked and ready to supply customers with everything from cables and lamps to sockets, ventilation, heating and switchgear from its trade counter, and it’s hoped that its new name will prevent future confusion about its location. Group Manager, Dan Alimardani comments: “There was sometimes a bit of head scratching about our store name, with customers not realising exactly where we are. We hope that changing our store name will lead to CEF Wimbledon becoming as famous for its outstanding service as the world-class players at our neighbouring tennis club.” "We’re proud of our history of providing customers with expert advice, training and essential electricals from our stores and from our online range of almost 35,000 products at everyday value prices. We want to reassure our loyal customers that CEF Wimbledon is the same store with the same friendly faces, and it’s just the name that’s changed.” The SW19 postcode is famous worldwide as the home of the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club, home to the Wimbledon Tennis Championships. Wimbledon is actually a district and town in the Borough of Merton in south-west London, England.

Martindale Electric issues downloads and an appeal over electrical safety

With the latest Health & Safety Executive (HSE) figures highlighting that the construction industry still has one of the highest rates of fatalities, especially amongst self-employed workers and the recent death of a contractor who was carrying out pre-planned maintenance on an air compressor, Martindale Electric has issued new safety downloads - the downloads are appealing to the construction industry as a whole to hear its fresh warnings over electrical safety. The latest figures from the HSE, entitled “Workplace fatal injuries in Great Britain, 2021,” highlights the fact that of all fatal injuries to workers by main industry, construction ranked highest with 39 deaths in the period to March 2021, with an increase on the annual average calculated since 2016. With electricity still cited by the HSE as the root cause of about 1,000 accidents at work each year, and with the construction industry’s increase in fatalities, Martindale Electric is asking “How is this still happening?” On 5th July 2021, the outcome was reported of a hearing relating to the tragic death of a contractor who was carrying out pre-planned maintenance on an air compressor when he suffered a catastrophic electric shock in December 2017.  Reported by The Sun newspaper on 14th February 2019, the “dad-of-four lay undiscovered for more than an hour after he was electrocuted at work.” Following the hearing, the HSE’s inspector Joanne Williams was reported as saying; “Poorly maintained electrical installations and faulty electrical appliances can kill or severely injure people; and cause damage to property. This was a wholly avoidable incident, caused by the failure of the company to implement safe systems of work and identify the risks. Had the company identified the correct isolation point for the compressor and ensured that employees were sufficiently trained and supervised in the lock off procedures expected of them then this fatal incident would not have occurred.” Steve Dunning, Managing Director, Martindale, explains; “To lose a loved one in any such incident is devastating enough, but to know that it was wholly avoidable is completely unforgivable.  In the case of this contractor, we are talking about a professional engineer with over 30 years of experience.  Furthermore, the nature of the work meant that there would have been plenty of time to make preparations ahead of a scheduled maintenance visit. Even though the machine was turned off, we understand that a fault meant that a metal plate was permanently live at 240 volts.” “It has taken nearly four years for this particular case to be heard – certainly, I imagine, a painful and protracted process for the grieving family.  In that time, how many more lives have been put at risk – and will continue to be at risk?  How many more people will fail to return home from work as a result of incidents that were totally preventable?  Unfortunately, too many people believe that it simply couldn’t happen to them, but the sad fact is that it could.” In a relentless effort to create safer working practices and protect the lives of anyone working on or near electrical infrastructure and equipment, Martindale Electric created a simplified version of their more comprehensive electrical safe working process in the hope that its memorable acronym – “ALIVE” - will help to prevent electricity related injuries and save lives. It has also added new downloads to its ‘ALIVE’ electrical safety campaign landing page and is encouraging more ancillary trades, as well as electrical contractors, to keep themselves safe around electricity. The downloads include posters for the workplace, ‘ALIVE’ safety cards for toolboxes and a PowerPoint training slide package for all trades. “There is a tendency to dismiss electrical safety as the remit of the electrician – but the reality is that many engineers, technicians, cleaners and other workers can come into contact with electricity whilst carrying out seemingly innocuous tasks. “As an industry, we have to do everything in our power to change mind-sets and create safer habits and we at Martindale will work tirelessly to ensure that our voices are heard, because those who have lost their lives cannot be.”

Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity launches festive E-cards

The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity have launched their 2021 charity e-card campaign to celebrate the festive season. Following the success of their 2020 Christmas Cracker campaign, the charity has three new e-card designs that they will personalise with your company logo in return for a donation. Companies can then share the e-card with colleagues, suppliers and customers to spread some festive cheer and show their support for the charity that provides emotional, physical and financial wellbeing support to the construction community and their families. Bill Hill, CEO of the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity says, “We all know that 2021 has been another year full of highs and lows, and as a charity, we have supported hundreds of families through some challenging times. So what better way to kick start the festive season than sharing a little joy, Lighthouse Club-style! By ordering an e-card and making a donation you’ll be supporting your construction colleagues in need. The donation amount is up to you, but we would recommend a £1/€1 per contact you send your e-card on to. Not only will you be supporting your construction community, you’ll be choosing the environmentally friendly option too!” Find out more about this year’s e-card campaign, including all the information about how to get involved, here. The charity provides a 24/7 Construction Industry Helpline which provides a range of free and confidential wellbeing support services and this is complemented by their free Construction Industry Helpline App which offers expert guidance on a huge variety of wellbeing issues. They also offer a variety of free construction focussed training programmes ranging from hour long interactive wellbeing sessions through to the MHFA England approved Mental Health First Aider course.

myenergi encourages Brits to go green this Black Friday

With estimates suggesting that greenhouse gas emissions resulting from Black Friday will this year exceed 429,000 metric tonnes of CO2e (the equivalent of 435 return flights from London to New York), myenergi is encouraging consumers to consider the environment and go green instead! Throwing its support behind the alternative Green Friday movement, which has been gathering increasing momentum since its inception, the company is asking Brits to think twice about the importance of their cost-cutting purchases and help to prevent unnecessary carbon emissions. Rather than offering tempting deals via its website, myenergi is ramping-up plans to unveil a seasonal campaign to celebrate local shopping. In addition, final preparation is underway to announce the winners of its Random Zaps of Kindness competition, which will see EV chargers donated to local heroes and hugely deserving community groups across the UK. Jordan Brompton, co-founder and CMO at myenergi, says: “Every year, millions of shoppers head online to grab a Black Friday bargain. According to research firm Statista, consumers will spend nearly 10 billion pounds in just a few days. “But while it’s an important promotional event for retailers, consumers should consider the environmental impact of their purchases. Indeed, with many shoppers simply looking to grab a bargain, rather than purchasing what they really want or need, Black Friday is quickly becoming the UK’s most environmentally-damaging online event. “Instead of adding to the problem, we want to go against the grain, break the cycle, stand up for the planet and inspire change. As such, we’re throwing our support behind the Green Friday movement and encourage consumers to do the same. While no-one can single-handedly change the world, it’s up to all of us to make small changes and ensure there’s a planet left for our grandchildren to inherit.”

Electrical Safety First releases new report on the Future Home

Moving to net zero will bring fundamental changes to our homes, with new technologies creating a web of interconnected challenges and risks – made more problematic by having the oldest housing stock in Europe. Yet, in our increasingly electric world, electrical safety is still not given the attention it deserves. Now a new report by campaigning charity, Electrical Safety First, offers a 360 degree look at the issue. Future Homes – Electrical Safety in the Net Zero Home, considers some of the key technologies of the home of the future and their associated risks, as well as recommendations to enhance electrical safety. The report offers an integrated approach to the future home, reviewing four key themes: housing infrastructure, electric vehicles, product safety, and growing the installer base. “Transitioning to net zero is of critical importance but we need to ensure it is not at the cost of consumer safety”, explains Lesley Rudd, Chief Executive of Electrical Safety First. “We believe that by addressing these key, interrelated issues now, will help ensure the future home is not only low carbon and smart, but also safer. “From 2025, all new homes must be future-proofed with low carbon heating. A net zero home is also likely to be highly insulated and may include on-site renewable electricity generation and smart technologies, as well as electric vehicle home-charging points. So electricity – now increasingly produced from renewable sources – is set to play a key role in new builds. However, retro-fitting existing homes will be a greater challenge. The UK has the oldest housing stock in Europe and deploying such new technologies introduces inherent safety risks, particularly since we are in the midst of a major skills shortage.” To gain feedback on the report – to inform further research and campaigns – the Charity has established a series of roundtables. The first event, on housing infrastructure, took place recently, with representatives from housing associations, consumer protection organisations, fire and rescue services, and relevant professional bodies. Discussions focused on the report’s recommendations for improving data gathering for effective policy planning and the need for interventions and safeguards, such as mandatory electrical checks and support for vulnerable consumers.

Electricians are the most likely tradespeople to feel proud of their work

Tradespeople are significantly more likely to love their jobs than the average working Brit, with over half saying they really enjoy what they do, according to new research. The study, by IronmongeryDirect, asked UK tradespeople about their level of job satisfaction and found that 56% are happy with their careers, compared to just 37% across all industries. Additionally, nearly half (47%) of tradespeople are proud of the work they do and around a third say they are happy with both their work-life balance (32%) and level of income (31%). Tradies were also asked exactly which parts of their work they find the most enjoyable. The most popular answer was interaction with customers (22%), while the ability to continually learn on the job also ranked highly (21%). The top five things tradespeople enjoy about their work are: Interacting with customers – 22% Learning something new – 21% Working outdoors – 20% Job variety – 20% Seeing visible accomplishments each day – 19% When it comes to individual trades, bricklayers are the most likely tradespeople to say they enjoy their job (69%), but interestingly are also the least likely to feel proud of their work (19%). Electricians (63%) and plumbers (61%) also have really high job satisfaction, while at the other end of the table, building surveyors are the least likely tradespeople to enjoy their work (43%). Painter decorators and electricians are the most likely tradies to feel a sense of pride about their work (58%). # Trade I enjoy my job (%) I’m proud of my work (%) 1 Bricklayer 69% 19% 2 Electrician 63% 58% 3 Plumber 61% 44% 4 Painter and Decorator 60% 58% 5 Scaffolder 60% 40% 6 Builder 58% 45% 7 Landscaper 57% 56% 8 Roofer 54% 23% 9 Plasterer 46% 39% 10 Carpenter 45% 43% 11 Joiner 44% 33% 12 Building Surveyor 43% 45%   Millennial tradespeople are the least likely to enjoy their job, with only 43% stating that they like their work, whilst those over the age of 65 have the greatest career satisfaction (69%). More men said they enjoy their job (60%) than women (50%), but women are more likely to be proud of their work (51% vs 45%). Dominick Sandford, Managing Director at IronmongeryDirect and ElectricalDirect, says: “It’s great to see that so many tradespeople enjoy the work they do, and feel a real sense of accomplishment for their projects. “We’ve always believed that for many tradies, their work isn’t just a job, but truly a passion and a way of life, and that was echoed by the majority of tradespeople in our study.”

TRILUX Lighting meets requirements for an Excellent Breeam certification

Work hard, Play harder is MACRON's motto. The Italian sporting apparel company is the number one brand for many clubs, sponsored in the Serie A TIM soccer, and one of the largest players on the European market, next to Nike, Adidas, and Puma. With a focus on growth, MACRON decided to invest in new headquarters in the outskirts of Bologna, Italy. TRILUX was the sole lighting partner for the project. The new headquarters, owned by VGP, a pan-European company, which owns, develops, and manages high-quality logistics and semi-industrial parks, is in Valsamoggia, Italy. It occupies an area of 55,000 sqm, of which 22,000 sqm house the distribution centre (16,000 sqm) and the offices (6,000 sqm). In addition to green spaces, the external area provides parking for almost three hundred cars, including dedicated sections for electric vehicles and car-sharing. The structure of the building is quite minimalistic. Fausto Savoretti, Partner of Studio Lenzi & Associati, explains, "The construction concept was to have a structure free of beams and pillars on the inside, for the benefit of the usability of the spaces. All working spaces have been created with a "HUMAN CENTRIC" approach to guarantee the people's well-being. The office area is in a building, three floors above the ground, and a mix of open space environments, meeting rooms, and large showrooms. The shape of the building and the use of glass walls ensure a constant influx of natural light, intelligently balanced with the light of the high energy-efficient LED lighting system. The logistics building is equipped with the latest lighting and handling technologies and complies with all anti-seismic regulations and the rainwater recovery system for irrigation. The company places great importance on employee welfare, and the new headquarters goes a long way to reflect this. Valentina Barbolini, Events and Communication Specialist at MACRON, says, "There is a gym, restaurant, coffee area, and a large outdoor courtyard, which can also be used as a location for corporate events." Guido Lenzi, Partner at Studio Lenzi & Associati, continues, "This is a highly sustainable working environment, and we have paid attention to the smallest detail. Thanks to the high quality of the materials used, we have been awarded an EXCELLENT rating by the BREEAM certification system for building sustainability." A smart solution TRILUX installed the 4200 lumens ETDD version of its JOVIE LED in the outdoor areas and parking lots. Thanks to Multi Lens (MLTIQ) and Constant Light Output (CLO) technologies, it was possible to adapt Jovie LED to the project specifications, providing a luminaire in the Smart Lighting Ready variant with Zhaga interfaces for integration into the lighting management system. The facades were illuminated with FACIELLA LED in 3800 lumens, combined with the 7500-lumen version of the COMBIAL LED. These luminaires are both ideal solutions for highlighting surfaces and buildings. The LUTERA LED ground-recessed solution was also used for uplighting. Almost all interior areas, open space offices, showroom, gym, restaurant, and coffee area have been equipped with FINEA LED pendant lighting. Thanks to its modular structure and the great variety of versions, it was possible to rely on a single solution while maintaining a unique design. In the laboratories and some corridors, designers chose the 4000 lumens version of the OLEVEON FIT LED, an extremely versatile product within the X-RANGE SERIES. Lastly, in the Distribution Centre, 13000-lumen MIRONA FIT LED in the ETDD version was used, providing an optimal solution for logistics and production sites. Its features make it highly reliable, guaranteeing high-quality light in all areas and therefore more safety at work. Paolo Guizzardi, Production Director at MACRON, comments, "Lighting is an important part of a building, even more so if it has to meet certain requirements in terms of sustainability and environmental impact. The new lighting integrates perfectly into the overall design of our buildings and contributes significantly to the well-being of our employees."

Prysmian launches Flexibox range of innovative enclosures

Prysmian Group has launched the innovative Flexibox range of compact and flexible enclosures for internal and external Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) and Fibre-to-the-Antenna (FTTA) applications. For FTTH applications, Flexibox is available for the termination of fibre in various combinations including: splice only, pre-terminated fibre, and splice and patch versions. Each configuration is designed to enable the unit's fast deployment through easy customer installation and connection. In the case of a multiple dwelling unit, Flexibox is suitable for use as a basement box. It can accept an external cable for splicing to the individual drop cables, which can be done as a point-to-point solution or through the use of splitters. For FTTA applications, Flexibox is available in a variety of configurations including fibre only, power, and hybrid fibre/power to enable the termination of hybrid cables faster and more cost effectively. The fibre/power hybrid box has been designed to enable the termination of Prysmian's FTTA hybrid fibre and 48V DC power cables to ensure the efficient delivery of power and fibre to remote radio heads. The single termination process reduces installation time and cost, making it ideal for the deployment and densification of antennas needed for 5th Generation mobile network. In addition, the Flexibox can be used as a power or fibre primary distribution point to enable up to 10 drops to antennas for connection with fibre and power utilising off-the-shelf DIN rail-mounted products. Depending on application, Flexibox is available with external IP ratings for ex-ternal wall/pole-mounting. Nathan Paddick, Prysmian Group UK Telecom Connectivity Design Manager, explains the versatility of the new enclosure. He says: "Flexibox has been designed with multiple network architectures and practices in mind to offer off-the-shelf customisation and flexibility with a standardised installation practise, all from the same product". Flexibox is available directly from Prysmian or through distributors in the UK.

Ellis buoyed by Floyd appointment

Ellis Patents has strengthened its UK-based export team with the appointment of Alex Floyd as export sales executive. The Rillington-based cable cleat manufacturer is currently active in 45 export markets; and Alex’s appointment means the company now has a five strong export sales team based in the UK. In addition, it has local distributors in each of its export markets, and a business development manager for Latin America who works out of Montevideo, Uruguay. Kelly Brown, Ellis’ head of sales, says: “The last 20-months have been the most challenging I’ve known for export sales, both in terms of COVID and Brexit, but we have come through stronger.” “Sales are strong, new specification opportunities in the pipeline are incredibly high, and the nature of our relationship with our distributor network has never been better due to the replacement of irregular face-to-face meetings with regular video calls. Bringing Alex on-board will ensure these relationships remain strong, while ensuring we also have the capacity to slowly reintroduce international travel to export markets – both new and existing ones. Despite COVID, Ellis Patents’ export division turned over close to £3million last year, with significant specifications being secured in Bahrain, Norway, the United States and Uruguay. Commenting on his appointment, Alex Floyd (23) adds: “Ellis has a great reputation covering all aspects of its business, and I was particularly impressed by its track record of promoting from within. This was a big motivation for me when joining as I knew there would be no limit put on what I can achieve here.”