"Watts Industries UK Ltd"

ROM Ltd is a specialist manufacturer of reinforcement solutions that has facilities located throughout the UK and Ireland. The waterproofing on the roof of their Sheffield manufacturing facility had exceeded its serviceable life and the main-substructure was extremely corroded leaving it unstable and requiring urgent remedial work.

This private house stands in an exclusive part of Stamford, which is a beautiful historic Georgian Town in Lincolnshire (UK). The architectural style is very contemporary for that region but fits in a unique and attractive way with the surroundings.

HAG was entrusted with supplying a suite of fire protection solutions, including fire curtains and shutters, to HSBC UK’s flagship office, One Centenary Square, located in Birmingham.This cutting-edge conversion of a ten-storey building symbolised a substantial £200 million investment in the West Midlands. Working within this expansive 1.5 million square foot site posed significant challenges, especially given the heights involved. However, HAG met these challenges head-on, prioritising safety throughout the project. By integrating HAG's advanced fire safety measures, HSBC UK's new headquarters not only stands as one of Birmingham's greenest buildings but also aligns seamlessly with the company's esteemed brand standards.

Industrial Sensor Specialist Longvale Ltd located at Lancaster Park in Burton Upon Trent, have selected Schlüter-LIPROTEC illuminated profile technology in conjunction with Schlüter-TREP stair nosing profiles to give their feature staircase a unique lighting design with a modern, slip resistant finish, within the entrance to their brand new facility.

Battersea Power Station, a former 42-acre brownfield site, has recently undergone a major refurbishment project (£9b) to provide a mixed-use development of high-end apartments, leisure and business facilities.The Power Station itself has recently opened to the public and comprises of an event venue, food hall and plenty of shops located within the historic turbine halls.Forming parts of the redevelopment project included the restoration and installation of a new bar within the Power Station’s former control room. The bar has been built around the façade of the original control room B, featuring control desks, switch gears and synchroscopes dating back to the 1950s.Restored to its former glory and sitting on a mezzanine floor overlooking the two large turbine halls, the Control Room B bar has been made accessible to all patrons with the installation of a Cibes A5000 lift.The Cibes A5000 is designed to have a small footprint yet maximum internal space – providing an ideal discrete accessibility solution to the Control Room B bar. Featuring a premium RAL matte black colour and adonized aluminium safety bar and control panel, the lift blends seamlessly with its environment and low-lit aesthetics of the bar. Whilst the fully glass shaft allows for 360 degrees views of the surrounding power station and, screw and nut drive technology of Cibes’ products – complimenting Battersea’s industrial backdrop.Following the successful installation of the A5000, Cibes Lift UK’s technical engineering team provided stand-by services for the official launch of Phase 2 of the overall Battersea Power Station regeneration project. Throughout installation, the launch event and following, Cibes Lift UK’s engineering and service team have remained in regular communication with the client. In particular, the Project Director for Phase 2, John Leverett.

This visually stunning building, constructed for Northern Racing Ltd, provides twelve corporate hospitality boxes, hospitality lounges and a glass-fronted restaurant which provides an exceptional view of the track. The DrillFast Lacquered fasteners fit perfectly into this luxury environment, being colour matched precisely to the scheme and with a neat low profile finish. The use of genuine A2 stainless steel also makes this construction a real investment for the future of the racecourse and facilities."No problems, no complaints - always served us well"Sue Jenkins - Buyer at Southern Industrial Roofing Ltd

One Hyde Park is a major residential and retail complex located in Knightsbridge, London. The development includes three retail units totaling 35,800 m2 and 86 residential properties with prices starting at around £20 million. Buzon UK installed 28,000 DPH pedestals to support Ipe timber decking to all roofs across all four buildings. The project was a success and Buzon UK were proud to be involved in installing their first-class products to one of London’s most prestigious developments.

Client: MoogLocation: Tewkesbury, UKYear: 2023Project size: 10000 m²Vebro systems: vebrores EP SL, vebrores EP HBCA package of durable, industrial-grade epoxy coating systems were required for a military and commercial aircraft parts manufacturer in Tewkesbury, England.Moog, founded in the 1950s is a prominent global leader in advanced motion control technology and operates a state-of-the-art facility located in the picturesque town of Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England.Moog’s facility in Tewkesbury stands as a beacon of innovation and precision engineering. It is a hub of cutting-edge research, development and manufacturing, where intricate machinery and sophisticated technologies come together to shape the future of motion control solutions.The facility required a flooring solution for its temperature-controlled main production area and walkways that are used to show visitors around the site as well as for the more back-of-house areas, such as loading bays, walkways, pump rooms, training areas and workshop spaces.  Moog’s commitment to operational excellence necessitated a flooring system that would facilitate easy maintenance while ensuring a safe and productive work environment.4,000 m2 of vebrores EP SL and 6,000 m2 of vebrores EP HBC were chosen in a combination of RAL 9018 Papyrus White and RAL 5012 Light Blue to reflect the colours often associated with aviation as well as create a welcoming and safely navigable environment.vebrores EP SL, a FeRFA Type 5, self-smoothing epoxy coating system typically installed at between 2.0 and 4.0 mm, is able to meet the demanding requirements of Moog’s industrial environment. Installed in the clean, temperature-controlled main production area and walkways that are used to show visitors around the Tewkesbury site, this solvent-free, easily applied coating system boasts exceptional durability and resistance.vebrores EP HBC, a high-build epoxy coating system that is best suited to coat floors in medium duty dry processing areas where a hard-wearing, chemical resistant floor finish is required, was chosen for the more back-of-house areas, such as loading bays, walkways, pump rooms, training areas and workshop spaces. The pigmented, solvent-free, easily-applied system is typically installed at 0.35 mm and delivers a high gloss, seamless finish that is light-reflective and easy to clean and maintain.The industrial flooring division of IRL Group are dedicated to delivering high standards of polymer floor coating system installation across the UK. IRL is a proud member of the Resin Flooring Association (FeRFA) and fully subscribes to their Code of Practice, meaning they operate to very high standards and have quality assurance and rigorous staff training schemes in place.IRL’s expertise and attention to detail enables the team to carry out their work to the highest possible standard with a minimum of upheaval for clients.Having built a reliable and passionate team, IRL Group demonstrates flexibility, technical knowledge, proactivity and a professional approach.

The zinc roofing and cladding of the social housing in Barchester Street echoes the sawtooth profile of the former factory.

Battersea Reach, an award-winning development consists of 1,350 apartments spread over 14 separate buildings surrounded by beautiful landscaped gardens, shops and cafes. Buzon UK supplied and installed the DPH pedestal range for the composite decking and paving to many of the terraces and balconies across the 14 separate apartment buildings. The DPH pedestal system is perfect for use at roof level as they allow for 5% slope correction and can accommodate a range of services beneath floor level as well as giving excellent drainage.

Sherwin-Williams, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of powder coatings, has helped transform London’s skyline with a stunning new look guaranteed to last for decades.The multimillion pound refurbishment of Great West House in Brentford – one of the capital’s landmarks – demanded a finish that had guaranteed reliability and matched the bold ambitions of its owners, CLS.Market-leading Syntha Pulvin coatings from Sherwin-Williams had a proven track record on the UK’s most prestigious developments, with a 30-year guarantee – making it the obvious choice for the Great West House’s refurbishment. Powdertech (Bicester), a Sherwin-Williams approved applicator, applied nearly 4.5 tons of Syntha Pulvin powder coatings in silver metallic to the two-building development (named GW1 and GW2), covering every inch of its metalwork.“This was a particularly large and impressive job, but it’s the kind of complex, intricate powder coating work that we specialise in,” said Peter Hudson, Commercial Manager, Powdertech (Bicester). “The Sherwin-Williams Syntha Pulvin coating is one of the prime products in the market and we use it on almost every project, as the coating’s inherent quality and long guarantee appeals to our prestigious clients.”These powder coatings are 100% recyclable and can be applied to aluminum and galvanised steel window frames, cladding panels, curtain walling, roofing and most architectural metalwork. All products are fully weather resistant, prevent UV fade and offer thermal shock resistance. The Syntha Pulvin matte coating’s durability was also successfully tested in Florida for five years – the equivalent to more than 30 years in Northern Europe.Project DetailsClient: CLSContractor: Powdertech (Bicester)Coatings Provider: Sherwin-WilliamsProducts: Silver Metallic Syntha Pulvin Powder Coating

Project detailsKenwood, a kitchen appliance manufacturer in Hampshire was suffering with dusty floors and wanted to improve the visual appearance of the warehouse area. Kenwood contacted Watco because they had come to trust our products, having used them over many years. We suggested not only the most suitable repair products and floor coatings but a trusted and experienced flooring specialist to apply the products, Aedean Flooring Ltd in Farnborough, Hampshire.Our solution The floor was shot blasted and lightly ground before being repaired with Watco Concrex® Carbon Fibre, an incredibly strong epoxy resin repair mortar and Watco Flowpatch®, a pourable patch repair material for heavily trafficked floors. Aedean suggested the use of colour inside the aisles, which Kenwood thought was a good idea as it would making identifying each aisle easier. Epoxy Gloss Coat in mid grey was used in the main walkways in the warehouse so that the area could be back in use quickly after coating. The colours chosen for the aisles were: Safety Yellow, Signal Red, Royal Blue and Black. Epoxy Gloss Coat is an extremely tough and decorative industrial floor coating which is ideal in situations where durability is important. "We are delighted with the outcome which completely revitalised the appearance of the warehouse, protecting the floor for many years to come."

The VOX development is a high-rise residential project in the heart of Manchester, UK. It celebrates practical building application with contemporary aesthetics and high performance. It features our AA®100 50mm Curtain Wall System and our AA®720 Standard Casement Window.

In the construction industry, contractors move at lightning speed to source the best products at the right price for their projects, all with the goal of ensuring client satisfaction and meeting tight deadlines. Renowned for our leading sealing, bonding, and insulation solutions, a selection of illbruck products were chosen through our extensive distribution network for the New Avenue project in Oakwood, London.The ProjectErected in an affluent neighbourhood within the London Borough of Enfield, New Avenue is an idyllic development boasting the peace and tranquillity of suburban life, whilst being only a stone’s throw from the hustle and bustle of Central London.Due to consist of over 400 mixed-type homes, ranging from apartments, maisonettes, as well as houses, this eight-year development will also include a community and energy centre, in addition to a new nursery. The SolutionDuring phase two of the new housing scheme, illbruck’s expertise were called upon to provide a vapour control layer for the Reinforced Concrete (RC) frame element of the project. This was to restrict warm, moist air from the interior of the finished structure from entering the fabric of the building. For the 11-storey block of flats, Central Essex Interiors required a solution at a competitive rate from a manufacturer with a good supply chain, due to the extensive size of the project.As a brand of CPG UK, illbruck has been recognised for over 70 years across the UK, Europe, and around the globe for supplying high performing solutions that meet the stringent requirements of the construction industry. Catering to a wide range of installation environments for both interiors and exteriors, from major building schemes to home improvements, our solutions can be tailormade to you or your client’s specification.The ApplicationProcured through one of our distribution partners, AC Fixings Ltd, illbruck ME003 Vapour Barrier was stapled into the party walls of the construction to achieve adequate vapour control. 500 rolls of this innovative 3-ply solution were required to protect the fabric of the building and its insulation, by providing a vapour and airtight seal. This in effect will help to improve the overall energy efficiency of the New Avenue apartment block, due to the product’s high-grade granules, which means that the SD value (resistance to vapour diffusion) is not lowered. The flexible and tear-resistant nature of this product boasts ease of application due to its lightweight properties, and is compatible with a number of illbruck’s intelligent window membranes and adhesives.Following the installation of ME003, illbruck’s ME315 Total Protection Tape was used to provide a high performance air and weather tight seal. This special tape is suitable for a wide variety of applications, and achieves a permanent bond to all illbruck indoor and outdoor building protection membranes. This fully compatible solution is highly UV and moisture resistant, quick and easy to install, and can be used within partially open facades. ME315 is also certified to EMICODE EC1 due to its low emission production, contributing to the energy efficient properties of ME003 to provide a total green solution for New Avenue.Scott Hurry, Area Sales Manager for illbruck, commented: “It has been a pleasure to work with our valued customer, AC Fixings, who in turn have supplied Central Essex Interiors with two of our leading products from our sealing and vapour control range.“illbruck was chosen due to being a highly recognised name within the marketplace, and we have been able to work with the Client to supply the products at a competitive rate and turn the project around quickly. The installation is due to span over a course of seven months with completion scheduled for late 2023.“When working with illbruck, however, you will receive more than just products. Behind our brand is a team of experts beholding a wealth of knowledge and industry experience, all of whom are well versed in applying the technique of illbruck’s innovative, high-quality products into the complexities of today’s construction environments. “As a customer of illbruck, you will receive technical support as and when is required, in addition to our suite of training, which encompasses everything from CPD seminars for architects, application tutorials for contractors and installers, as well as trade mornings for distributors.”

The scope of work at 217 Bath Road combined a full-scale structural refurbishment and fit-out of the internal space along with extensive landscaping works around the building.Landlords EPIC UK sought to revitalise the site into four floors of highly desirable Grade A office space — all to be done with a strong emphasis on sustainability.With a view to make the most of the available floorspace, a partially-filled atrium design was submitted by architects Stiff + Trevellion.Radii AG’s experience in providing structural glazed atrium solutions saw them work closely with the architects and main contractors Overbury and contribute their considerable expertise to bring the design to life.The initial atrium design at Bath Road was to be comprised of system partitions that were installed ‘slab to slab’, with spandrel panels then covering the glazing.After careful consideration, Radii AG proposed an alternative solution that would see all glazed elements and spandrel panels installed in one continuous plane.This evolution of the design would ‘value engineer’ the build and improve overall aesthetics by ensuring clean lines throughout.Furthermore, Radii AG were able to work closely with our western contracting office, who were tasked with supplying the abutted glass partitioning systems.The installation of free issue spandrel panels ensured a seamless aesthetic transition to the adjoining glazed partitioning from the industrial-style partition system.

This development consists of two spectacular residential houses. The natural touch is enhanced by the use of Trespa® Meteon® NM07 Casted Grey, which is part of our Naturals collection. The developer was the first to use Casted Grey in the UK. They are always looking for new finishes to give a unique look to their developments.

Situated in the beautiful Cotswold town of Tetbury, Upton Mill takes its name from the town’s famous woollen mills industry and is a beautiful care home, that has incorporated considered design principles, for residents to reside in.

Able Canopies were commissioned by Bouygues (UK) Ltd to produce five bespoke canopies at Oaklands School in Tower Hamlets, London. These canopy installations were part of a major Building Schools for Future (BSF) project managed by Bouygues (UK) Ltd to refurbish parts of the school and construct a new building at the site. The canopies were crucial to bringing the whole look and feel of the refurbished site together and so communication, teamwork and painstaking attention to detail were vitally important to ensure a successful installation.

Bespoke twin goods lifts enhancing space and time in Holland and Barrett’s warehouse in Staffordshire, EnglandLödige Industries installs two reliable goods lifts to increase production efficiency in the warehouseHolland and Barrett’s pick, pack and dispatch warehouse in Burton upon Trent has multiple levels. Previously goods were transferred between levels with forklift trucks and pallet gates. However, the a huge spike in orders made the forklift trucks and pallet gates inefficient and impractical. In addition, the number of forklifts operating in a congested area were a cause for concern. To meet the growing demand, Lödige Industries installed two SHERPA goods lifts with multi-level and multi-directional stops, including one for a future mezzanine level yet to be installed, thus future proofing the solution. As a result, H&B has been able to support the increase in its online processes business growth by enabling a higher throughput in its warehouseby operating in an efficient warehouse. The health and wellness market leader benefits from the advantages of quick, safe and reliable SHERPA goods lifts to stock and distribute their goods when required.SHERPA goods lifts maximise storage space in the warehouseThe rising demand for Holland and Barrett’s products meant that the company needed to store and move more goods in the existing facility. The existing lifting processes via forklifts were no longer expandable. By installing twin SHERPA goods only lifts with free standing shafts, all three floors of the warehouse can now be accessed safely and efficiently. As the SHERPA can be installed into any building without any alterations such as pits, there was limited impact during construction.A potential third mezzanine level has already been taken into account and the highest level served has a lifting height of 9.05m. The lifts now enable fast transportation between all floors and open up the possibility of further storage space. Cabin size has been tailored to Holland & Barrett’s goods to ensure the most efficient transportation processes.Integrating with Holland and Barrett’s work routines to ensure uninterrupted processesThe warehouse is a fast-paced and hard-pressed working hive of activity. Avoiding any negative impact on throughput, delivery times and processes was therefore imperative. Lödige Industries team worked closely integrated with Holland and Barrett’s operations team and partners to adjust installation work to daily warehouse routines; the experienced team of engineers were able to adjust their installation to their production times. Therefore, the installation could productivelywas accomplished without impacting warehouse performance go ahead. Fast installation and delivery ensured continuous production and early gains for the customer. Despite the challenges of COVID-19 and its impact on supply chains, Lödige Industries completed the installation ahead of schedule.Enabling construction in an existing facility- a temporary scaffold meets special customer requirementsThe existing warehouse posed a few challenges in the installation of the new lifts. Many lifts require a temporary lifting beam during installation, to facilitate multiple lifting points. However, like many modern warehouses, the facility in Burton upon Trend did not have a lifting beam. As this was required for both lifts, Lödige Industries developed a concept for an extended load bearing beam, that was created and installed by one of Holland & Barrett’s partners in this project.SolutionIntegrating with Holland and Barrett’s daily routines ensured continuous production to address the rising demands and orders.The SHERPA goods lifts are transporting goods over four floors. This allows the customer to maximise its warehouse space and move their goods quicker and more efficiently.To facilitate multiple lifting points and transport unstable loads, Lödige Industries provided a temporary scaffold platform.

Wharncliffe provides technology consultancy, selection, installation and support services to a wide range of businesses and industries. Due to their product offering and bespoke software packages the business has grown over the years and as part of an office furniture refurbishment project, to accommodate their growing workforce, Wharncliffe looked to danfloor to provide a long-term flooring solution for their Sheffield based head office. Not only was look and performance an important part of their decision, but with their technical telephone support team based within the open plan offices an acoustically sound environment was an essential requirement.

Metrotile has been specified for projects at PGL Liddington. PGL is an adventure holiday company that, in their own words, delivers “inspirational learning through adventure”. They have campuses across the UK (in addition to France and Spain) where young people can partake in a vast variety of outdoor activities, including abseiling, canoeing and mountain biking to name but a few. (More at link)

For these headquarters based in Barcelona, a former industrial site was reformed, to adapt the structure to the brand needs . The architect explains that “understanding the design of the interior spaces [was] an important element of branding capable of generat [ing ] brand value”, according to Stefano Colli .On the big glazed façades, Premium Plus roller blinds are used with a Polyscreen ® 403 in Slate color . They are in tune with the brand colors and style, and also they provide optimal solar management . Aluminum Venetian blinds in Smokey Grey finish are used for the internal glassed partition to provide intimacy in working spaces . Both systems cover the sunlight management needs as well as they turn into a key decorative item .

Automated parking system will combine storage and service for classic, racing and luxury cars.Lödige Industries has secured a contract from SSR-Performance to deliver an automated car storage system. The 141-space facility in Munich, Germany is billed to be the most modern automated system aimed at luxury and classic car owners.About the new classic car parking facility in Munich SSR-Performance is constructing a 10,000 m² classic, racing and luxury car hub with specialist repair and styling facilities, race sports services and showroom. The new automated classic and sports car storage facility complements these plans. The contract with Lödige Industries includes the planning, construction, installation and servicing of the new robotic system. Work on site has already begun and is scheduled to complete in early 2020. Combining maintenance and storage of classic, racing and luxury cars on a restricted footprintConsistent humidity and reduced levels of oxygen are important to reduce corrosion and fire risk when storing classic cars. Humidity, temperature and atmosphere inside the robotic parking system are controlled to cater for the specific requirements of vintage cars. “I have been looking for a facility like this myself for several years now. When it became clear that it didn’t exist, I decided to build one myself,” says Stefan Schlund, Managing Director of SSR-Performance. “After visiting Europe’s largest public robotic parking facility in Denmark a few months ago, I was impressed. In working with Lödige Industries, I have chosen an experienced partner that not only understood my needs but also knew how to make them happen.”In the fully automated facility, cars will be parked in one of the access cabins from where they will be transported into the system by a flat robot carrying them by their tires onto a transport vehicle and from there onto the parking space.About the customerStarting in spring 2020, SSR Performance GmbH will offer a demanding clientele automotive services with a focus on sports cars, classic automobiles and motor sports under one roof. SSR is opening an automotive competence and service centre in the north of Munich, which will offer a large number of lifting platforms, an air-conditioned four-wheel drive performance test stand, a showroom and fully automated nitrogen storage areas for exclusive cars on 10,000 m² of floor space and six levels.Challenges of storing classic, racing and luxury carsThe German market for classic cars is constantly growing and faces a gap in combined storage and service for classic, racing and luxury cars.Providing enough parking spaces on the restricted footprint, is one major issue SSR Performance faces.When storing classic cars, consistent humidity and reduced levels of oxygen are important to reduce corrosion and fire risk.High security standards need to be provided in storing classic, racing and luxury cars, as they value significantly higherA thorough maintenance and cleaning of the classic, racing and luxury cars is the basic requirement for an optimal storage. This prevents the formation of rust or other deposits on the vehicle.Our solution and benefits for the customerSSR Performance recognised the market gap and took the opportunity to serve high-quality service and storage for classic, racing and luxury cars within a new facility in Munich.Humidity, temperature and atmosphere inside the robotic parking system are controlled to cater for the requirements of vintage cars.The automated parking systems, provided by Lödige, delivers high security for customers, as access to the cars stored within the system is only for authorized personal.Our CUBILE technology uses a flat transport robot, which carries the cars by their tires and therefor reduces the risk of damages.The customized automated parking system for SSR Performance features direct automated access to mechanic workshops. With this fully automated link, SSR can provide the unique combination of storage and maintenance for classic, racing and luxury cars to their customers.“I have been looking for a facility like this myself for several years now. When it became clear that it didn’t exist, I decided to build one myself. After visiting Europe’s largest public robotic parking facility in Denmark a few months ago, I was impressed. In working with Lödige Industries, I have chosen an experienced partner that not only understood my needs but also knew how to make them happen.”- Stefan Schlund, Managing Director of SSR-Performance

Amazon is the world’s largest technology company, with one of the most advanced fulfilment networks in the world.Project/doors: 9 Speedor Storm2 Speedor MiniThe challenge Due to the high-volume of traffic in the fulfilment centres where products are stored and shipped,efficiency of vehicles coming in and out of the building and the safety of drivers is paramount. Slow moving sectional overhead doors were left open to allow speed of access which is vital to efficient deliveries but resulted in heat loss. The solution Seven large Speedor Storms seamlessly integrated with existing doors in a heavy traffic despatch area. The Speedor Storms allow quick and easy access to the openings whilst maintaining internal temperature with its fast open/close action. Due to the quality and longevity of Hart Speedors there is less stress and downtime fixing and replacing defective doors so productivity is unaffected. The success Following the successful installation of Speedor Storms at Amazon in 2016, Hart was chosen as a reliable and trusted supplier. Hart provided expert design advice, specification and installation of the doors to an agreed time frame while not affecting the distribution process. Amazon was given peace of mind with a 2 year warranty as standard.

Powder coatings from Sherwin-Williams helpeddefine Sunderland’s exclusive Echo 24 development– built on the site of the historic Sunderland Echonewspaper building.With the goal to create one of the most prestigiousresidential addresses in the North East, the £38million Echo 24 project demanded a powder coatingsolution with unrivalled durability and a finish thatwas second to none. Following its impressive trackrecord on other high-profile jobs, the metalworkfabricator on the project handpicked the SherwinWilliams approved-applicator, Architectural PowderCoatings, to deliver the perfect finish. 

As the global climate crisis intensifies, the imperative for sustainable and low-carbon housing solutions becomes increasingly apparent. In response to this pressing need, the United Kingdom has emerged as a pioneering force in the development and implementation of net-zero housing initiatives. Net-zero housing aims to mitigate carbon emissions by ensuring that the total amount of carbon released is balanced by an equivalent amount sequestered or offset, thereby achieving a neutral carbon footprint.Vistry group, a UK leader in providing affordable housing, embarked on a mission to collaborate with different suppliers and manufacturers to come together to create the Vistry Innovation Centre; a unique, full-sized house bringing together come of the most innovative technologies in the construction industry to help towards net-zero goals. The Head of Technical Innovation at Vistry Group, Jack Brayshaw, stated “We are very proud to share our progressive timber frame facility and the VIC with its innovative new technologies. This centre is part of Vistry’s roadmap to Net Zero and this ambition is thriving as we keep moving on our journey”.Metrotile’s innovative, fully-integrated solar tile, eQube, was used for the roofing inline with their Qube roofing system.eQube is where sustainability meets style; providing a stunning design with no additional height and minimal extra weight to the roof, enabling quicker and easier installation of solar panels than ever before. The eQube system as part of the VIC showcases Metrotile’s drive towards helping meet sustainable energy goals, providing solutions to help lower carbon emissions in the UK construction industry.Interested to know more about the VIC? Check out Vistry’s case study here: https://www.vistrygroup.co.uk/media-centre/press-releases/vistry-launches-vic-unique-innovation-centre-showcasing-technologiesFor more information and to see the full range of Metrotile products available, please visit www.metrotile.co.uk or call the sales team on 01249 658514

Innovative collaboration results in mobile access for guests: Over two thirds of the British population now own a smartphone, using it for nearly two hours every day to browse the internet, access social media, bank and shop online. Now, they can also check-in to a hotel and open their hotel room using their smartphone as a virtual key. Mobile access is an innovation that is shaping the future of the hotel industry. A good example is the UK’s Village Hotel chain (www.village-hotels.co.uk). Village Hotels has 31 locations throughout the UK catering to both locals and travelers alike through its extensive food and beverage offerings and health and fitness club amenities. To implement the smartphone-based solution, Swiss-based dormakaba partnered with LEGIC and Village Hotel to implement a fully integrated Mobile Access solution. Based on embedded LEGIC security technology, dormakaba mobile locks implement Bluetooth Low Energy to deliver a seamless, reliable and highly secure guest experience. During the current COVID pandemic, the virtual key solution also allows guests to benefit from a contactless experience, bypassing crowded situations including check in and check out, the elimination of physical room key, as well as contactless housekeeping requests. For an overview of the benefits of Village Hotel’s contactless hotel key experience, watch the 1-minute video “Keeping you safe during your stay”. The solution is built on the cloud-based security platform LEGIC Connect which communicates with embedded security modules developed by LEGIC Identsystems. The flexibility of the mobile access solution ensures emerging demand for greater mobile compatibility. Guests can check-in online with their mobile device and use it during their stay as their very own mobile room key. “Technological innovation is a core part of our brand DNA - Village Hotels is respected for pushing boundaries to provide a better experience and ultimate convenience to our guests. This new mobile solution has been rolled out across all of our hotels, allowing guests to check-in before they arrive, receive a secure mobile code on their Bluetooth device and go straight to their room - a service that many of our guests value after a long journey,” Jon Davis, Chief Technology Officer for Village Hotels

A client with a strong reputation for sustainable construction needed a flood defence system to protect a large substation in Croydon.UK Power Networks and ClancyUK Power Networks is responsible for electricity distribution and maintenance across London, the southeast and east of England. Clancy contracts for UK Power Networks refurbishing substations. Clancy was founded in 1958 and is now one of the largest privately owned construction firms in the UK. Its vision is to be “trusted to deliver smarter, greener infrastructure brilliantly.”The challengeClancy managed construction and implementation of the Andel flood defence system for UK Power Networks.Location: the substation is located within a flood risk area and is critical for maintaining electricity supply to thousands of homes and businesses.Sustainable: they wanted an environmentallyfriendly approach in line with their commitment to sustainability.Disruption: the aim was to protect transformers from flooding to maintain reliable electricity supplies to homes and businesses.Protection: they needed to protect the transformers from flooding to maintain network resilience.Inconvenience: they wanted a solution that would cause minimum disruption to the site allowing for continuity of service.Cost: they needed a cost-effective solution compared to the costs normally associated with traditional flood defences.The solution Andel FloodWall and Andel FloodBlox® Andel FloodWall is a cost-effective, environmentally friendly alternative for perimeter flood defence and is suited to commercial, residential, new build and retrofit installations. Panels and posts are constructed from robust, 100% recycled, nonporous, post-industrial plastic waste.This means the substation now has:A sustainable, cost-effective and environmentallyfriendly system compared to traditional flood defence systems.A flood defence system with a lower carbon footprint compared to an all-concrete construction.A modular solution that was easy to transport and speedy to assemble on site with minimum disruption.A robust perimeter flood defence designed and tested to meet the requirements of British Standard BS 851188-1:2019 for Flood resistance products.Andel FloodBlox® is an easy-to-use, lightweight, demountable flood barrier for all types of openings such as gates, house doors, patio doors, garage doors, warehouse and factory doors as well as creating easy access within a perimeter flood defence wall.This means the substation now has:A lightweight, easy-to-use demountable flood barrier allowing easy access to the bund.Proven technology that uses the natural pressure and weight of floodwater to create a watertight seal.The result Sustainable: Panels and posts are constructed from 100% recycled, post-industrial plastic waste, reducing the carbon footprint compared to traditional allconcrete flood defences.Convenient: A modular, easy-to-assemble system causing minimal disruption to on-site operations as no heavy machinery was required.Effective: FloodWall and FloodBlox® provide a robust, tried and tested flood defence solution allowing easy access to protected areas.Cost: The modular and flexible system reduced installation time and delivered a cost-effective solution.Excellent communication: The on-site Andel team worked closely with the client, ensuring open and constructive dialogue with regular updates on progress and timescales.Added value: The project also included installation of Andel’s market-leading BundGuard® units, a bund dewatering solution previously supplied to the client and contractor on other sites.What the customer said;We made the right choice working with Andel on the UK Power Networks Croydon project. Andel has worked with Clancy before providing pollution prevention products and maintenance services for the electrical distribution sector.As a safeguard against the increasing risk of flooding, Andel were able to provide a sustainable and cost-effective solution for the Croydon substation, protecting UK Power Networks transformers from the risk of future flooding.Craig Aust, Project Manager, ClancyIt was great to work with Clancy on the UK Power Networks Flood Defence project at Croydon Substation. We were tasked with delivering a robust, reliable and environmentally sustainable solution to protect the transformers on site from the risk of flooding. Working closely with Clancy Project Manager, Craig Aust, we were able to navigate the project to deliver a solution that sat in line with their values of delivering quality and sustainable practices. We are delighted to have successfully delivered a flood defence system that ensures the transformers are protected from the ever-increasing risk of flooding. 

The multi award winning Care Group provide homes that consistently exceed industry expectations and Ferrars Hall is one of their purpose-built developments. Ferrars Hall delivers personalised family led residential and dementia care in a homely and luxurious environment. County Court Care are passionate about their resident’s well-being which reflects their core belief that all older people deserve the best quality of life.

Relying on industry leading technology, BEMO produced approximately 2,000m² of extreme tapered N65 panels in stucco embossed aluminium on site. In lengths of up to 18 metres, the tapered panels varied in width from less than 100mm to over 700mm, eliminating the need for welded junctions

The Cooperage is located on a former industrial site in Central London and is believed to have been built in the early 1900s. Following an unsympathetic earlier restoration in the 1990s, Chris Dyson Architects were invited in 2011 to prepare a scheme for the extension and complete renovation of the property, turning it into a spectacular five bedroom family house. The Cooperage has been nominated for the RIBA House of the Year 2017 long list. Photography by Peter Landers.

German online retailer improves its distribution centre performanceLödige Industries equips distribution centre with 12 goods lifts in 3 yearsOver a period of three years, Lödige Industries has delivered 12 SHERPA goods lifts to a newly built distribution centre in use of a German online retailer. The customer required a solution which would guarantee high throughput and availability together with compact construction. After installing nine SHERPA goods lifts in 2013, the customer decided to install two more SHERPA in 2015 and one in 2016. How does the customer benefit from relying on SHERPA goods lifts?Save spaceThe customer needed a compact lifting solution. Altogether four different elevator sizes were installed for this customer. The sizes fit the different pallets and picking trolleys, which the customer is using. Additional space was gained by reducing the floor space of some SHERPA freight elevators. Pallets and picking trolleys are moved efficiently and without disturbances between levels.Structural conditions do not complicate the installation of the SHERPA as the motor is located in the head room. Moreover, the control cabinet can be positioned remotly from the lift. Access for maintenance is provided via a maintenance gap above the upper door to the shaft head room. The area around the lifts can thus be used for other purposes.Flexible integration12 SHERPA goods lifts in total had to be optimally positioned. The foundations of the hall supports and the hall ceiling girders had to be taken into account. The Lödige SHERPA comes with a free-standing shaft structure and hence it does not require any rack modifications. By using 80 mm high ramps, it was possible to dispense with shaft pits for the SHERPA freight elevators. As a result, the freight elevators could be optimally positioned without any structural changes, thus achieving a high degree of flexibility for integration into the racking systems.High throughputMore importantly, the customer required a solution that offers a high throughput. Usually, goods lifts have a transportation speed of 0,2m/s. The 12 SHERPA goods lifts at this project offer a maximum transportation speed of 0,4m/s. This means, the lifting frequency for the customer was doubled.Challenges for the online retailer in doubling frequencyTaking structural conditions of the existing rack warehouse into account, as no change to the racks and building itself can be madeTransport of pallets and picking trolleys in different sizesDifferent lifting capacities and lifting heights necessaryIncreasing throughput of goods over several levels of the rack warehouseSolution from Lödige and benefits for the customerSHERPA goods lifts come with a free-standing shaft and no need for a pitCompact construction by installing goods lifts in two customized sizes, lifting capacities and heightsDoubled lifting speed of 04,4m/s leading to high throughput

The first to enjoy the latest generation of Lödige Industries' proven technology are the homeowners of a luxury residential complex containing 29 luxury apartments for the over 60s on Fitzjohn’s Avenue in London. The building’s footprint could not accommodate enough conventional parking spaces and street parking was not a viable option. To meet this challenge, Lödige Industries, on behalf of the London-based residential development company Lifestory Group, installed a fully automated parking system with capacity for 29 vehicles, all equipped with electric vehicle charging docks, at a depth of 10m over two levels.Today's cars are bigger, heavier, and more and more often electric. We are responding to this development with a major update of its RESPACE technology. Among other things, we have increased the load capacity of the automatic parking solution to 3 tons, adapting the equipment and drives as well as expanding charging technology for electric vehicles. Globally the number of electric vehicles is on the rise. In 2019 alone, global e-vehicle stock climbed by 43%. Architects and developers alike are forced by regulations as well as buyer intent to offer e-charging in their parking facilities. This has long been an issue for many automated parking technologies, especially since car manufacturers have yet to agree on a standard for wireless charging.  The new RESPACE offers 100% e-charging for all spaces. Following an engineering breakthrough, the new technology is resilient against dust and dirt and responds automatically to periods of high system activity to ensure vehicles can be retrieved quickly and efficiently at any time. The new e-charging technology supports individual billing per vehicle and can be retrofitted in existing systems. Furthermore, an intelligent load management system automatically exchanges a fully loaded car with an empty car, if not all parking spaces are equipped with a charging facility. RESPACE uses a sliding pallet system and provides optimal use of space in residential developments as it eliminates the need for drive or walkways within the parking system and the requirement for internal or external access ramps, the combination of which can save more than 60% of the space taken up by traditional car parks.  Faster installation and commissioning times are another major benefit of the optimised RESPACE technology. This increases the number of parallel movements possible, whilst avoiding any single point of failure. New engineering software integration also means that system configurations can be tested early in the development process using simulation programmes to optimise planning and give a greater range of viability options to developers.An improved cabin setting means that drivers accessing the system are now going to benefit from a much-improved user guidance. Users of the system will enjoy the new on-screen visualisation with specific step-by-step task focused instructions, on larger, eye friendly screens. In-cabin panels have been given a modern design overhaul in line with Lödige Industries’ successful CUBILE technology and are now equipped with security and motion sensors, cameras and number plate recognition technology if requested.  In addition, a new app, called ParkGO!, now available in iOS and android app stores, enables users to park and recall their vehicles with the touch of a smartphone. A handy system status view allows retrieval of cars during less busy periods. With its overhaul of the cabin and introduction of the app, Lödige Industries has brought the luxury parking experience that has defined their public automated parking systems in outstanding architectural objects in Denmark and elsewhere to private parkingUSP -       The Car Park System RESPACE is an extremely space-saving option - up to 60 percent more cars can be placed in the same space in comparison to traditional car parks. -       Residents will use a modern and intuitive smartphone app ParkGO! developed by Lödige Industries to retrieve their cars.  -        Due to the increase of e-vehicles, the new RESPACE offers 100% e-charging for all spaces. Easy parking and unparking guaranteed by parking aids, safety checks and the provision of the vehicle in the direction of travel. “This solution ticked all our boxes. With Lödige’s RESPACE, every apartment has its own parking space and owners will benefit from a seamless parking experience; they will simply drive their car onto a pallet in a cabin, the only interface between the driver and the car park. From then on, the process is entirely automated.”David Newey, Director of Development at Lifestory Group

JD Gyms are a reputable company within the leisure industry. When they started to experience serious leakage problems across their estate (especially on mezzanine floors), they quickly realised that their existing shower construction does not live up to the standard of their service – and would need a reliable, guaranteed system solution.In order to allow for a straightforward and safe replacement of existing showers without the need to change the existing pipework, a grid platform constructed of 80mm XPS building boards was proposed . The showers then were fitted with XPS linear shower trays featuring dry-fit drain technology, 12.5mm XPS building boards on the walls and surrounding floor areas were sealed by proprietary sealing and decoupling membrane, all ready to tile after 24 hours. Up till now, 18 different sites have been completed and the shower system solution comes with one manufacturer’s guarantee on the whole installation. 

Products from leading paint brand Johnstone’s Trade have been used to bring a student housing development in Liverpool sparkling back to life in time for the start of the new academic year. Cambridge Court, which is managed by the UK’s leading developer and manager of student accommodation UNITE, sits in the heart of the city and its 265 rooms, communal areas and hallways were in need of a facelift before the new intake of students. Offering excellent value, the Acrylic Durable Matt boasts a unique washable formula allowing walls and ceilings to be regularly cleaned between redecoration programmes.

Based in Newbury, Berkshire, Howard Porter founded Polgate Ltd some 35 years ago. Formerly a Chartered Surveyor, he saw the opportunity to start his own company and has never looked back, developing mainly new build residential and commercial properties within around 25 miles of Newbury. Here we speak to Howard to gain his point of view on the Grant Aerona³ heat pump.