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February 2002 |
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Battle planning
What happens when company directors fall out? Patrick Rawnsley explains how to prevent problems in times of dispute.
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Joining forces
Is integration the solution for management of quality and environmental standards? Chris Ottaway looks at the issues.
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Your chance to star in industry awards
Get your entries in for the industry’s most prestigious awards event.
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HVCA as standard
The HVCA has allied itself with four other industry organisations to promote the standardisation of circular ductwork sizes, accessories and fittings.
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Lamps market gets green light
Osram had its best year in the UK for some time, with sales up 5% to 110 million euros (£68 million). “We expanded our customer service centre in St Helens and now have the structure that we need in the UK,” said Dr Schaefer.
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NAPIT scheme gets approval from UKAS
Electrical inspection competence scheme has been given the nod by UKAS.
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T Clarke buys GDI Electrical
T Clarke has acquired GDI Electrical Company. The £1.55 million cash deal for the Altrincham-based electrical contractor follows last year’s acquisition of JJ Cross in Preston. GDI had an annual turnover of £2.2 million in the year to April 2001. T Clarke md Pat Stanborough commented: “GDI fits well with JJ Cross. We are confident that with the acquisition of GDI we will continue to improve the quality and size of our order book.”
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Merger looks sunk but ties still strong
The SEC Group is committed to creating a united sector but a merger is unlikely.
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Get set for the new Part P
The long-running saga that is the introduction of electrical safety guidelines into the Building Regulations is inching forward.
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Market to grow 3%
The UK electrical contracting market will increase by 3·3% in 2002 but over one-third of the industry will not grow and could lose 17% of sales.
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Industry star
Clare Roberts has won The Young Woman Engineer of the Year 2001 Award.
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Making the link
A licence-free optical data link has enabled rapid expansion of an IT system and removed the need to lease exchange lines.
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Cool performance
Audiences at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Haymarket, London can enjoy shows in comfort thanks to a new cooling system.
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Complex construction for Games
Shepherd Engineering Services is gunning for glory at the new English Institute for Sport complex in Manchester.
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Making the Point
Lighting of Birmingham’s £114 million Millennium Point used advanced energy saving technology that should have a payback of under four months. LB Lighting, with architect Nicholas Grimshaw, selected Osram leds for the mall atrium lighting. The lights resemble illuminated rivet heads; each unit contains 40 blue Markerlight leds, which provide depth of colour and gives the blue effect desired for the five-storey atrium.
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Time down
A new installation method for heat pumps reduced on-site times by 75% at the Reading Sewerage Treatment Works.
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Power up
An increased demand for power in the Edinburgh area is being met by four new Merlin Gerin Compact integrated Distribution Switchrooms (CiDS). Each CiDS is a totally integrated, self-contained substation. The switchrooms were fully engineered, assembled, tested and pre-commissioned off site, giving shorter lead-times and on-site commissioning; on-site time was reduced by 80%.
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Structured support
The importance of cable support systems is growing as fast as that of the cabling itself. But what factors must be considered when designing a system?
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Discriminating moves
When is discrimination needed? Nick Smith completes the series on circuit co-ordination with an explanation of the pros and cons.
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Faster by bus?
With electrical distribution becoming more complex, can busbar trunking be better than cabling?
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Seven Heaven
With the launch of a cable tester capable of certifying networks to the proposed Category 7, contractors can now have the confidence to install cabling to the highest standards.
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Council facts
With the emergence of a Sector Skills Council getting closer, Simon Bartley continues the series on apprentice training with an update of the likely changes it will bring.
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Tunnel vision
How do you replace a tunnel's electrical distribution and lighting systems while keeping the vital link open to traffic?
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Trading places
The shouts of traders have long died, but refurbishment
has brought a fresh buzz to London’s Royal Exchange, and opened up to the public one of the City’s most impressive buildings.
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Model behaviour
Why should contractors consider using 3D modelling? Paul Haddlesey examines the benefits gained on one recent project.
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Digital harmony
The opportunity for m&e contractors to reap the benefits of electronic trading, regardless of company size or the software that they use, is now on the horizon. David Bell describes the groundwork that has made this possible.
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Sharp focus
John Sharp, N G Bailey's head of IT, is the new chairman of BSRIA. Andrew Brister talks to him about processes, productivity and the Pope.
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