Freedom secures contract win with Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks

Freedom, an NG Bailey Group company, has secured a new contract to deliver substation works with Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Distribution. The framework contract with Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks Distribution began in May and will run until 2024. It will see Freedom’s Networks teams delivering works on the company’s grid and primary substations in the north of Scotland and central southern England. The combined framework will see the teams install, test and commission new and replacement assets from 11kV to 132kV. Peter Jones, Managing Director of NG Bailey’s Services division, says: “This contract is testament to the strength of our working relationships with Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks and the expertise of our teams delivering on the ground. “They will deliver vital works to help ensure that power networks in the north of Scotland and central southern England continue to remain safe and reliable.” Freedom Network teams provide a range of services including installation, maintenance and repair of overhead power lines and substation upgrade projects. They work with distribution network operators including UK Power Networks, Northern Power Grid, Scottish Power and National Grid.

Two new hires for horticultural lighting specialist

Vertically Urban, the Leeds-based manufacturer of LED solutions, has welcomed two new specialists to its growing team. The two recruits have been bought on board to meet the brand's growth objectives and further improve its scientifically based development process. Jon Potter joins as Business Development Director, with a wealth of LED lighting and controls knowledge gained from his time with Philip's Lighting and the Aurora group. In his new role, Jon will be helping to grow the Vertically Urban brand working directly with growers, partners, and system integrators to bring horticultural lighting solutions into several application areas. Phoebe Sutton enters the newly-created position of Plant Biologist, bringing a plethora of research experience in plant photobiology. She has a specific interest in integrating her research and expertise into the vertical farming industry. Currently, Phoebe is completing a Ph.D. in the optimisation of LED lighting regimes to increase the phytonutrient content in hydroponically grown herbaceous crops. In the new role, she will be managing the brand's onsite laboratories to ensure the optimum formula for LED grow lights. Andrew Littler, CEO of Vertically Urban, says: "We are thrilled to have both Jon and Phoebe on the team. Following our successful Seedrs campaign last year, we set some ambitious growth plans to help us meet the fluctuation in industry demand for sustainable, efficient LED horticultural lighting solutions. We pride ourselves on our standard and bespoke products, which we scientifically fine-tuned to specific crop requirements. With Phoebe in place, we are certain to improve our formulas further, and with Jon growing our customer bases, tapping into new markets, we are sure to hit our targets."

BCC awarded contract to support Openreach Full Fibre broadband network

Manchester-based British Cables Company (BCC) has been successful in bidding for a multi-million pound contract to supply Openreach, the largest digital network business, with a variety of fibre optic cables. The contract, which commenced in April 2021, will initially run for three years and will see BCC supply and distribute thousands of kilometres of cable. The announcement comes as Openreach revealed that it has built Full Fibre to five million homes as well new plans to build the ultrafast and ultra-reliable network to 551 more urban towns and cities – covering approximately five million more homes The company’s updated build plan will be fundamental to the UK Government achieving its target of delivering ‘gigabit capable broadband’ to 85 per cent of the UK by 2025 and it follows an extended investment commitment by its parent, BT Group. It means Openreach will now build Full Fibre technology to a total of 25 million premises, including more than six million in the hardest-to-serve parts of the country. Commenting on the contract, BCC Sales Director, Nick Bowman says: “The contract comes at a time when the Openreach network is also significantly expanding to fulfil consumer demand for Full Fibre. For this project we teamed up with ZTT, a highly respected fibre cable manufacturer, and our combined strengths meant we could deliver an exceptional tender proposal. “BCC has developed a very capable logistics solution, an essential requirement for Openreach. Our Manchester headquarters is an ideal location with great transport links. Additionally, our 28-acre site means we have tremendous capacity for bulk storage. It means we can provide a complete fulfilment service, from storage to cable cutting and shipping. A total of nine international suppliers have been awarded various elements of the total contract and I am pleased that BCC will provide logistics services to the majority.” Kevin Murphy, MD for Fibre and Network Delivery at Openreach, said: “Building a new broadband network across the UK is a hugely complex, nationwide engineering project – second only to HS2 in terms of investment. It will help level-up the UK because the impact of Full Fibre broadband stretches from increased economic prosperity and international competitiveness, to higher employment and environmental benefits.”  

Birmingham Energy Innovation Centre opens at Tyseley Energy Park

A new £8.5 million centre, designed to promote innovation in waste, energy, and low carbon vehicle systems has been officially opened at Tyseley Energy Park (TEP). The Birmingham Energy Innovation Centre (BEIC) is part of an overall programme of more than £20 million invested to deliver energy innovation activities at TEP. It received £7 million of funding from the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP). The building was opened by Andy Street, Mayor, West Midlands Combined Authority, along with Tim Pile, Chair of GBSLEP and University of Birmingham Vice Chancellor Professor Sir David Eastwood. Tim Pile, Chairman, Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) comments: “Over the last six years GBSLEP has allocated nearly £11 million into three projects. This funding was vital as it not only supported the construction of the new Birmingham Energy Innovation Centre (BEIC) but also a new road to allow for vehicles to access the UK's first low and zero carbon Refuelling Station and an incubation space for low carbon SMEs. For our region, Tyseley Energy Park is building a sustainable legacy that our communities and businesses will benefit for years to come.” Professor Sir David Eastwood, Vice Chancellor of the University of Birmingham, says: “The cutting-edge work in waste, energy and low carbon vehicle delivered by the Birmingham Energy Centre systems will help deliver a greener and cleaner ecosystem for Birmingham and the West Midlands. We’re particularly grateful to the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership for their financial support in building this Centre as well as to Birmingham City Council for their ongoing support. We’re looking forward to working with all our partners to drive forward this important research.” The BEIC will focus particularly on hydrogen and fuel cells, energy storage, magnet and battery recycling and converting waste to fuels and energy. Innovations developed at the Centre will spin out into the city and region, as well as national and international markets. The Centre will also offer students from the university, schools and colleges the opportunity to get involved with projects in and around the East Birmingham area. These projects will range from supporting the acceleration of the research at the Birmingham Energy Institute through to education and engaging with the community.

Kona high reliability power connectors from Harwin now available through Powell Electronics

Powell Electronics, the supplier of connectors and more for high-rel applications including defence, aerospace and industrial, is now stocking the new Kona high-reliability power connectors from Harwin. Highly durable and capable of delivering 60 A of continuous current per contact, Kona connectors support battery charging applications without needing to divide the current across multiple contacts. Kona connectors from Harwin benefit from a six-finger beryllium copper contact design with full gold plating in an 8.5 mm pitch. The components are individually shrouded on both male and female versions, preventing accidental touching and physical damage. Designed for use in harsh environments, the devices rely on a rugged cable-to-board design to maintain electrical continuity during heavy vibration and shock. Featuring stainless steel thumb screws on the female connector housing, the power connectors can be easily repaired without any tools required. The Kona connectors also use an innovative mate-before-lock mechanism which ensures contacts are fully mated before engaging fixings. The robust connectors offer a durability of 250 mating cycles, a wide operating temperature range of -65°C to 150°C, and a 5kV maximum voltage rating. Available in a single row of two-, three-, or four-contacts, the devices are ideal for a range of uses in extreme conditions, including power control systems, robotic drives, electric vehicle battery monitoring and management, satellites, and UAVs

eBus charging solution paves way for carbon-neutral transport in Zurich

Siemens has been awarded a contract from the Zurich Public Transport Authority (VBZ) to supply, install and commission 45 eBus charging stations, type Sicharge UC. The charging infrastructure will be installed at the Hardau bus garage, where 45 new eBuses will be supplied with power in the future. The installation is scheduled to go into operation in early 2022. The City of Zurich has set itself the goal to bring direct greenhouse gas emissions in the metropolitan area to net zero by 2040. By 2030, it already wants to achieve a reduction of at least 50 percent compared to 1990 levels. “With our strategy eBus VBZ, we want to contribute to this goal and convert most of our bus operations to electric, emission-free drives by 2030,” says Christoph Rütimann, Vice Director / Head of Technology at VBZ. “In order to retrofit our existing garages for eBus operation as easily as possible, it was important for us to find a charging infrastructure that offered flexible integration. The charging solution from Siemens are exactly what we were looking for.” The bus garage will be equipped with 45 Sicharge UC charging stations, 30 with a charging capacity of 100 kW and 15 with 150 kW. The vehicles will primarily be charged via charging cables and connectors (CCS standard) during nightime breaks. “What makes the VBZ solution so special is the way the charging cables are routed through the ceiling,” comments Birgit Dargel, Global Head of Future Grids at Siemens Smart Infrastructure. “Existing garages are often not designed to be equipped with charging infrastructure, and it’s important not to disturb ongoing operations when installing the necessary equipment. We will install a corresponding cable suspension system, which is also very low-maintenance compared to other common cable drums. As a result, the passageways will remain clear and entering and exiting vehicles will not be impeded.” Just recently, Siemens was awarded a contract for another Swiss eBus charging infrastructure project by the public transport authority in Bern. This project includes fast charging units at three terminal stations as well as charging infrastructure for the Eigerplatz bus depot. To optimize operations, a cloud-based depot management solution from Siemens will be used as software-as-a-service.

Cowboy customers leave tradespeople £1.7bn out of pocket

We've all heard of the cowboy builder - the stereotypical handyman who charges the earth for a job that's barely presentable. The work of rogue traders has been well documented in Britain across a plethora of TV shows, but what about the cowboy customers that cost tradespeople millions of pounds every year? New research from field management software service Powered Now has found that at a time when the backlog for tradespeople to commence work on home improvements is on average three months, builders are being swindled out of vast sums. Whether it be creating fake appointments with tradespeople to get out of rental agreements or as a threat to a landlord to receive a deposit back in full, seldom is it the case that the tradesperson who is losing money through bogus appointments is considered. What's more, it appears that many Brits have actively withheld payment from their tradespeople to attempt to negotiate a lower price, or lodged false complaints with threats of bad reviews, simply to receive a discount. A recent survey of tradespeople by Rated People found that the most common irritant within the industry was that homeowners were late with their payments, especially when trying to rush through the transaction of a property or to drive down the price after the work was completed. Now, with severe labour and material shortages, along with record client demand accelerating the backlog of work that tradespeople are contending with, field service management software Powered Now has commissioned nationally representative research to investigate what may be the most common faux pas committed by consumers when dealing with tradespeople. Key Statistics: Over five million (5,038,000) Brits have requested a quote for a project from a tradesperson when they know they will not choose them Over two million (2,496,000) Brits have forgotten about an appointment and been out when the tradesperson has arrived at the agreed time Over one million (1,282,000) Brits have unfairly criticised work done during a home improvement project in order to receive a discount 1,743,000 Brits have delayed payment to a tradesperson in order to try to negotiate a lower price According to Checkatrade, the average daily rates for tradespeople in 2020 is as follows: Plumber - £347.50 Electrician - £225 Handyman - £200 Kitchen Fitter - £150 With so many people agreeing to use the time of tradespeople for services they know will not be ultimately required, Powered Now estimates that between £776m to £1.75bn of revenue for the UK's trades has been frittered away, purely through bogus quotes.

Half year revenues up 60% at Woodward Group

Midlands-based mechanical and electrical contractors Woodward Group has reported a strong first half to 2021, with turnover up 60% from the same period last year. The 60% revenue rise follows a significant number of project and client wins, as well as Woodward Group’s acquisition of Midlands-based Lowthers Electrical Engineers in January 2021, which bolstered the company’s growing customer base and enhanced its hazardous or potentially explosive area installations (ATEX) service offering. In response to its growth, Woodward Group, a second-generation family business that provides electrical, fire, security, building and compliance services for commercial and industrial businesses nationwide, has made seven new appointments already this year, including Chris Henderson as purchasing manager, Matt Clarke as business development manager, and Luke Robinson as junior contracts manager. Aden Woodward, Managing Director of Woodward Group says: “We are thrilled to be signing off the first half of this year with record revenue, and to be well on track to exceed the revenue targets set out at the beginning of the year. The pandemic forced us to take stock and identify key areas for business growth, and the business is thriving following the delivery of a number of successful projects and our acquisition of specialist electrical engineering firm, Lowther’s. “The expansion of our team underpins our commitment to organic growth, and it’s been a privilege to welcome a number of skilled industry specialists to Woodward Group already this year. Our mission is to offer all our clients an extensive range of bespoke, high-quality services to meet their needs, and our team consistently delivers an outstanding level of commitment and dedication to this. Demand for our services continues to grow, and we expect to maintain this strong momentum throughout the rest of 2021.”

Schneider Electric equips customers with a sustainable portfolio

Schneider Electric has appointed Rohan Kelkar as the new Executive Vice-President of Power Products global business. Kelkar will continue to drive the division's electrical distribution transformation business and to develop innovative solutions, delivering more sustainable, efficient, connected, and circular products to the market. Rohan takes over from Nadège Petit, who was appointed as Chief Innovation Officer. Having served as Schneider Electric's Senior Vice President, Power Products, North America, since 2019, Rohan brings more than 22 years of experience, working for leading multinational corporations. His experience spans multiple disciplines, including Global Operations, Services, R&D, Product development, and Business management. Based in Atlanta, Georgia (USA), Rohan will report directly to Philippe Delorme, Executive Vice-President of Energy Management and a member of the Executive Committee at Schneider Electric. He will be charged with spearheading innovation to deliver a greener, future-fit portfolio of products that help every Schneider partner and customer worldwide to accelerate their digital transformation and sustainability journeys successfully. He will focus on building Schneider Electric's flagship innovations, solutions and work with customers and partners across the ecosystem. Under his leadership, the division aims to deliver simplified, open, and digital solutions to the marketplace, driving meaningful outcomes. Some of the latest innovations include revolutionary PrismaSeT Active, New Generation ComPacT, and TeSys motor controls. In his new role, Rohan will also focus on empowering partners with dedicated resources and tools, including collaboration within Schneider Electric Exchange, a platform which encourages transformative and collaborative development across the ecosystem of partners. Rohan will also focus on identifying ways to drive sustainable innovation through technology, helping Schneider's customers and partners position themselves as market leaders, as they bring new technologies into the world to address their clients' needs. Rohan Kelkar, Executive Vice-President of Power Products, says: "The convergence of IT & OT, combined with the increasingly digital and electric world, allows us to offer smart interoperable solutions, systems, and products that do not cost more to build and commission while bringing substantial cost efficiencies and operational synergies to the marketplace. Digital technologies are a catalyst for business growth. Yet, the inherent complexities that digital transformation projects bring with them may cause decision paralysis and implementation delays. This is why our goal is to face up to the digital challenge and enable the market through 'Partnerships of the Future' by equipping our partners with strategies, solutions, and services for increased sustainability and efficiency." Partnerships of the Future go beyond solutions, technologies, and pieces of training. They provide Schneider Electric's customers with future-facing opportunities to better navigate the new digital and electric world, create a pathway for transformation and collaboration, and design strategies to win more business. Rohan gained his master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY, and holds an MBA from Emory University, USA

Construction industry up £334m since pre-pandemic

New research highlights that the construction industry grew nearly 6% in early spring 2021, meaning that new work and repair and maintenance is £334m above pre-pandemic levels. The research, conducted by specialist on-site storage company SiteStak, looked at the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics alongside UK Government data to discover the latest trends in building and construction. In line with the increase in growth, new orders have surged by over £1.2m in Q1 of 2021 compared to Q4 of 2020. This represents 12.2%, which also supports an increase in sales of SiteStak’s storage management system which is up around 45% year-on-year. Of all UK new builds, 79% represent housing, which is the highest figure since 2000. Of this number, London is also seeing an 11% increase in housing builds since 2019. Further investigation into search data not only backs this figure but is encouraging for the industry, with the term ‘new build’ seeing increased interest over the last two years and searches for ‘new builds near me’ more than doubling between April 2020 and April 2021 (14,800 vs 33,100). Although house builds are massively on the up, new infrastructure is leading the way across the construction industry as we’ve entered 2021, with high-grossing projects such as Euston HS2, HS2 Northolt Tunnels and HS2 Chiltern & Colne Valley all ones to watch this year. Luke Siderfin, Account Manager, comments: “We developed our SiteStak system entirely with groundworkers and the construction industry in mind. We wanted to provide something practical and easily manoeuvrable that would revolutionise how underground drainage is stored and managed on-site. Our system allows for easy stock level checks on top of organised storage and doubles up a workstation all in the area the drainage is being laid. We know that you will get your return on investment within 6-9 months just through time and wastage saved.”