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Designers and manufacturers of polymer repair and protection systems, Belzona, has announced the promotion of long-serving employee, Phil Robinson, to its Board of Directors. Mr Robinson, who joined as a Trainee Project Manager in 2007, has now been appointed as Application and Training Director.

Mr Robinson will be responsible for identifying opportunities to expand the application of Belzona’s polymer solutions across a wider range of engineering industries such as wind power, hydropowerand waste-to-energy, amongst others. He will also continue to drive the Belzona application and training programme, which aims to provide its Distributor Network with technical and practical training on the use of Belzona systems.

“Belzona is a fantastic place to work,it has provided me with an incredible number of opportunities over the years,andI’mdelighted to be occupying this new role. Belzona is incredibly well placed to help resolve so many of the issues faced in industry worldwide and I’m looking forward to doing my part in ensuring that potential is realised.”

Mr Robinson’s new appointment as Application and Training Director is part of the Company’s ongoing investment in its staff members, as well as its commitment to ensuring that Distributors and Contractors have access to excellent training services. 

Indeed, in order to ensure that training courses are available globally, in addition to its headquarters in Harrogate, Belzona also provides courses at its state-of-the-art training centres in Miami (USA), Chonburi (Thailand), Jiangsu (China) and Ontario (Canada).

For more information about Belzona’s Training Programme, please visit: https://www.belzona.com/en/about/training.aspx

Global designer and manufacturer of polymeric repair and protection systems, Belzona, has announced the appointments of Charli Yu Walton and Fred Lu as Corporate Development Director (China) and Technical Director (China), respectively. The appointments follow the establishment of Belzona Molecular Technology (Nanjing) Ltd in 2019, as a Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprise (WFOE), making the next significant step in the Company’s international expansion strategy.

Charli Yu Walton, Corporate Development 

A Client who deals with environmental spills was faced with a unique problem when insulating its underslung oil dispersal vessel. The vessel would need to be carried underneath a helicopter over sub-zero temperature conditions todecontaminate the water after potential oil spills. Due to the vessel’s requirements, the insulation material needed to fitparticular specifications.

Belzona insulates and protects the oil dispersal vessel in extreme

Specification of Belzona 5871 and Belzona 3211 (Lagseal)

The job specifications required the insulation material to withstand -25°C temperatures without allowing the dispersant within the vessel to freeze, as well as protecting the vessel against corrosion and damage. 

When the Client considered insulation methods, conventional means proved to be technically not suitable for the operating conditions due to weight restrictions and the potential effects of salt water ingress through standard insulation cladding joints and seams. Also, the proximity of the vessel to salt water in cold temperatures would expose the seams to sea water spray which could cause the insulation to become damp,resulting in CUI problems; a vessel not being adequately sealed leaves the system vulnerable tocorrosion.

Belzona and its licensed Contractor, Grade2, jointly recommended the use of corrosion protection system, Belzona 5871, applied in three layers for maximum insulation and corrosion protection, of a total of 9mm dry film thickness (DFT). This would provide an effective, solvent-free, thermal barrier, while also eliminating condensation, contact damage, anti-icing issues, waterlogging and corrosion. Belzona 5871 is a uniquely placed thermal barrier coating able to also provide long term corrosion protection having been thoroughly tested to ASTM B117 (Salt Spray) for 4500 hours, among other corrosion resistance tests.

The Client chose to overcoat the insulation with acrylic emulsion membrane, Belzona 3211 (Lagseal), for additional waterproofing, UV and fire protection. They also mixed in orange pigment at a ratio of ≤ 5% for high visibility in its working environment, as Belzona was able to adapt to the Customer’s needs.

Simple and Precise Application

The products were applied in a controlled factory environmentin the North of England, after careful surface preparation to ensure good adhesion to the stainless-steel vessel. The substrate was grit blasted to achieve the standard minimum specification of ≥ 75μm, Sa 2.5 cleanliness vacuumed and clean degreased.

The application of the products added just ≤ 10mm thickness onto the vessel dimensions, ensuring that the Client’s weight and protection specifications were met far more effectively than would have been possible using traditional cladding.

Successful Application Represents Future Insulation Potential

Belzona’s solution has performed extremely well in tests over its first year in service, which shows the effectiveness of the products. The polymer technology enabled the Client to protect the vessel against the extreme conditions in which it operates, while also meeting specifications such as weight and thickness. Belzona proved more effective than traditional cladding, and the successful application demonstrates the potential for its use across multiple industries.

www.belzona.com

TheFEV300 Electric Vehicle Charging StationAdapter from Fluke is designed to simulate an electric vehicle for AC charging Mode 3 with connector types 1 and 2, allowingthe output of an Electric Vehicle Charging Station to be efficiently and safely tested.

: Fluke, a global technology leader in the manufacture of compact, professional electronic test and measurement equipment tools and software, has today launched the new FEV300 Electric Vehicle Charging Station Adapter for electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS). Designed to simulate an electric vehicle attached to the EVCS, the user-friendly tool allows for the output voltage of an AC charging station Mode 3 with connector types 1 and 2 to be safely and accurately tested in accordance with IEC/HD 60364-7-722 and IEC/EN 61851-1. 

Growth of e-mobility 

There are approximately 20 million electric vehicles on the road today globally, according to Bloomberg’s Annual Electrical Vehicle Outlook 2022. With rising fuel prices and new fuel economy regulations in many countries, the adoption of electric vehicles as alternatives to fuel-powered vehicles is expected to rise dramatically. Bloomberg suggests electric vehicle share of new vehicle sales market will grow to between 40 – 50 per cent in the UK, France and Germany by 2025.

EVCS are critical to reducing the charging time for vehicles. A typical, compact vehicle can take between 24 and 36 hours to charge from a domestic mains supply. An EVCS provides one or three phase supply with a mains voltage at 230 volts or 400 volts, charging electric vehicles much faster. For safety,communication between the charging station and the connected electric vehicle must occur before an output voltage is delivered. Adapters, such as the new-to-market FEV300Adapter from Fluke, are critical pieces of equipment used in the installation and mandatory routine testing of Mode 3 EVCS which provide accelerated charging of 3.7 kW to 22kW. 

Simple, safe and reliable

Testing of EVCS must be performed at regular intervals. There are local safety regulations, international and European standards, including the IEC/HD 60364-6, IEC/HD 60364-7-722 and IEC/EN 61851-1, to which installation and testing must adhere too. Both the safety and communication functions of an EVCS must be accurately tested to ensure the safety and efficiency of the electric system for the safe use by owners of electric vehicles. The tests required include continuity of conductors, insulation resistance, automatic disconnection of supply (loop impedance, RCD or RDC-DD test) and functional tests. All of which can be performed using a multifunction installation tester (MFT) such as the Fluke 1663 or Fluke 1664FC.

The FEV300 Adapter is compatible with Fluke’s leading MFTs used in the installation and commissioning of EVCS as well as routine maintenance tests. The FEV300 Adapter can also be paired with Fluke’s range of multimeters or scope meters for investigative troubleshooting.

Hans-Dieter Schuessele, Application & Technology Expertat Fluke says: “The energy which is transferred from an EVCS was previously mostly used in industrial environments – and now it is provided directly to private vehicles. Testing of these high-power, live voltage electric systems is critical to ensure the safety of end users, and the electricians installing and maintaining these essential pieces of equipment.

“The new FEV300 Adapter includes significant safety features such as a touch electrode function which quickly displays if there is a high-risk earth fault and improved safety sockets which are covered by plastic lids to protect the connectors in wet weather conditions. The safety aspects of Fluke’s new FEV300Adapter surpass other competitive products in the market.”  

Training the workforce to deliver the infrastructure 

Fluke is a leading provider of training programmes for the testing and installation of EVCS in Germany. The market for EVCS is booming, with extended waiting lists for charging stations to be installed. Infrastructure for EVCS across Europe doubled between 2020 and 2021 and is on track to deliver the same volume increase in 2022, according to The European Commission for Alternative Fuels Observatory. 

“The e-mobility market is growing at an exponential rate. Many general electricians are now seeking to upskill through certified training programmes for the installation and testing of EVCS to meet this demand. We identified a significant market need for an easy-to-use adapter that could be used for the safe installation and commissioning of EVCS as well as regular maintenance testing and troubleshooting,” said Schuessele. 

Fluke has a comprehensive range of rugged, handheld tools and software for e-mobility, allowing technicians to safely test and install charging stations for electric vehicles. Fluke’s solutions are designed for ease-of-use and include market-leading safety features that meet the stringent international and European safety standards for EVCS.    

For more information, about Fluke’s new FEV300 Electric Vehicle Charging Station Adapter, go to:https://www.fluke.com/en-gb/product/electrical-testing/installation-testers/fev300-connector-kit

pandemic

Dubai, UAE: The seventh annual The Maritime Standard Tanker Conference takes place on 16th November at the Atlantis, the Palm, Dubai. A stimulating and thought-provoking program is rapidly taking shape that reflects the fact that this is a pivotal time for the tanker sector, as it not only emerges from the pandemic, but as other geopolitical challenges arise with uncertain consequences.

Many aspects of the business have been changed forever by two years of lockdowns and disruption to economic activity and trade. Now the world is wrestling with the impact of the conflict in Ukraine and what that means for the global economy as well as the specific patterns of oil and gas trades. In addition, tanker operators face the ongoing challenge of gearing their fleets to meet tough new environmental regulations in force now and in decades to come, and the drive to decarbonise operations.

One of the highlights of the TMS Tanker Conference is sure to be the opening Session 1 which has the theme ‘Tanker trades - recalibrating after the pandemic.’ Clive Woodbridge, Conference Editor, says, “The first main session in the morning sets the tone for what is going to be a really informative and energising day. After two difficult years caused by economic and trade upheavals during the pandemic, there remains a lot of uncertainty about the short and longer term outlook for tankers. We have been able to gather together a really top class set of speakers for the opening session who will get proceedings off to a strong, thought-provoking start with a series of presentations certain to trigger plenty of discussion and debate.”

Assessing the likely supply and demand balance will be a key task for Session 1 panellists, who will also assess changes to regional oil and petrochemical trade flows as well as likely tanker fleet growth projections. Other topics in this session include the effects of climate change actions on tanker shipping; the importance of scrapping older tonnage; the impact of digitalisation and the specific prospects of the gas carrier trades. Speakers will look at markets both from a global perspective and also at the specific characteristics of the Middle East and Subcontinent trades. 

To date speakers confirmed for the main Session 1 include: Capt. Abdulkareem Al Masabi, CEO ADNOC Logistics & Services; Dr Ibrahim Al Nadhairi, CEO of ASYAD Shipping and Drydock Services; Esam Khoori, Executive Director, Container Terminals, DP World UAE; Capt. Ammar Al Shaiba, Acting CEO – Maritime Cluster and Safeen Group, AD Ports; Nikos Michas, Global Tanker Segment Director, Lloyd's Register; Petros Doukas, Mayor of Sparta, President of Capital Partners and former Deputy Minister of finance & foreign affairs, Greece; Navin Kumar, Director Maritime Research, Drewry Shipping Consultants.

Clive adds, “We have speakers who can provide a macro economic background, and who can analyse in detail the key market trends, as well as executives at the front line in the ports, shipping and shipyard business sectors who can present a real-life assessment of how the market is evolving post-pandemic. 

For more information about the conference and how to register please go to: www.tmstankerconference.com

The British Compressed Air Society (BCAS) welcomes the Government’s new Energy Bill Relief Scheme, which comes into effect from tomorrow, the 1st of October - but is encouraging compressed air users to also act now to minimise their compressed air energy consumption for the long-term through a series of low-cost measures.

With 10% of all the energy consumed by industry used to compress air, any Government programmes which can help mitigate for the unprecedented rise in the cost of business energy are very welcome, says Vanda Jones, Executive Director at BCAS.

“The scheme will apply automatic discounts to the price of business energy usage initially between 1 October 2022 to 31 March 2023.^[1] While this will offer some relief to manufacturers and operators already struggling with soaring bills, the six-month time frame may not be sufficient to assist many end-users in the medium to longer term.

"Indeed, the cap still means that electricity prices for business customers will be around double the price per megawatt hour compared to this time last year.  Add to this the fact that generating compressed air can be very energy-intensive, representing as much as 30 per cent of a site's total electricity bill, and it is well worth operators considering further energy saving measures to help reduce their energy consumption, and therefore the cost burden further."

Earlier this year, BCAS launched its 10% Taskforce campaign, designed to encourage compressed air users to take simple steps to cut their compressed air energy figure by 10 per cent, by reducing wasteful and inefficient practices.  Vanda Jones continues:

"At the time we launched the campaign in April this year, we could not have predicted the huge rise in the wholesale gas and electricity prices. Our original calculations of £485.43 million being spent in wasted electricity have now risen two or even three-fold - meaning that the assistance now being offered through the Energy Bill Relief Scheme is vital.

"Since the launch, our members have been speaking with customers to encourage them to take action and to dispel some of the commonly-held beliefs that saving energy will require significant investment in new capital equipment.

"We have been demonstrating to operators that taking small, incremental steps can have a significant impact on reducing energy consumption.  This can include better housekeeping routines to avoid wasteful practices, fixing air pipework leaks, recovering heat which would otherwise be lost to the atmosphere, or implementing routine system maintenance."

The Society has a dedicated website at taskforce10.bcas.org.uk containing a host of end users hints and tips of simple ways that compressed air energy consumption can be reduced.  Free, downloadable guides are available (taskforce10.bcas.org.uk/simple-steps) as well as an area highlighting real examples of energy-saving measures that customers have implemented.

Businesses looking for further information and advice on ways to reduce compressed air energy consumption can contact their local BCAS member or visit taskforce10.bcas.org.uk

^[1] https://www.gov.uk/guidance/energy-bill-relief-scheme-help-for-businesses-and-other-non-domestic-customers

 Elddis Transport is rolling out new mobile working technology as part of a programme to fully digitise the workshop. Part of a fleet maintenance system from Freeway Fleet Systems, workshop fitters are being equipped with rugged tablets to replace paperwork. Freeway also receives daily vehicle inspection data from mobile devices used by drivers. With the addition of digital data from the workshop, Elddis will gain a complete and real-time insight into the status of the fleet.

Elddis is a well-established family firm specialising in the storage, supply and delivery of consumer goods for supermarkets and retail outlets. Headquartered in Consett in County Durham, the company operates a fleet of 150 vehicles and 360 trailers with additional depots in Heywood and Doncaster.

Through integration between Freeway and the Mandata transport management system (TMS), transport operations are given around-the-clock visibility of the status of the fleet. In turn, first-use-check data received from mobile data terminals used by drivers, the workshop is provided with immediate information on defects.

“With the digitisation of the workshop we are closing the information loop giving us 24/7 visibility on the status of the fleet,” says Alan Henderson, Fleet Engineer, Elddis Transport. “Freeway is proving invaluable as it links engineers with transport planners. This means we can reduce vehicle downtime and ensure the fleet is always operating at maximum efficiency and safety.

“For management, Freeway allows us to see the pressure points of resources so we can smooth things out. It’s a tremendous resource that allows us to better manage and optimise the use of all resources; assets and labour,” Henderson adds.

As well as receiving 700 daily vehicle check reports, Freeway also helps Elddis manage around 60 Preventative Maintenance Inspections (PMI) and MOT preparations each week.  Freeway stores parts data and builds records of use and performance over time. Through the mobile app Freeway, fitters have instant access to historical maintenance information so they can immediately spot recurring defects.

“Our ethos is to fix once. We particularly like the fact that we can use Freeway’s analytics functionality to drill down to access the performance and value-for-money of every asset – right down from an entire vehicle to an individual bolt,” says Henderson. 

One key feature of Freeway is ease of integration and Elddis see seamless communications between other supplier systems as important. As well as the TMS integration, Freeway has integrated with North East Trucks Spares (NETS) which enables automated replenishment of stock used in the workshop.  Elddis is also planning integrate Freeway with their local Mercedes dealership.

Web: www.freewayfleet.com 

Altus Group has announced the addition of several new electronics manufacturers who will join the UK and Ireland’s leading capital equipment distributor, and event partner Fuji, for ‘The Factory of the Future’ on 19^th and 20^th October 2022.

Since organising the 2-day event, Altus has received so much interest from those interested in learning more about best-in-class technology and emerging processes that even more leading names in the industry have joined the line-up.

Four new speakers including kolb Cleaning Technology, Cencorp Automation, YJ Link and Quality Line will give informative presentations on everything from manufacturing process improvements, automation solutions, board handling and data analysis processes.

Joe Booth, Altus CEO said: “The response to our technology event has been very exciting! The market is keen to get out and take part, they want to listen, learn, meet suppliers and see brand new hardware as they plan for process optimisation projects for 2023.

“Partnering with Fuji, principal manufacturer of SMT and assembly machines and tools, has been ideal to add breadth. We will welcome a mix of existing users, new prospects and industry leaders creating a great melting pot for the event.

“Due to our raft of suppliers that want to support local engagement, we have been able to invest in the days and we hope to put on a memorable event for all involved and to add value to the sector by showcasing the best of the best.”  

As well as welcoming esteemed new speakers several manufacturers have been added to the demonstration floor. Over 25 machines will be on display including those from Magic Ray Technology, Global Datum Tooling, MP Dry Cabinet and I3 Automation being the latest companies to add hardware or demonstration software to the impressive array of solutions on show.

Both Altus and Fuji will be available to offer in-depth advice on equipment that will help to optimise processes, improve production through turnkey solutions, increase the level of quality and cut down overall cost.

‘The Factory of the Future’ will be held on 19^th and 20^th October 2022 at the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Centre (AMTC) in Coventry. To be a part of event and for further information visit www.altusgroup.co.uk

Customers can save energy hiring the new water-to-water heat pumps with near zero GWP R-1234ze refrigerant, benefiting from renewable energy heating.

  ICS Cool Energy, an international market leader specialising in complete temperature control solutions for manufacturing process and facilities applications, announced that it has expanded its i-FH (industrial free heating) rental fleet with new water-to-water heat pumps below 400kW of heating capacity. The new compact units in the ICS Cool Energy hire portfolio give customers more opportunities to lower their energy consumption and associated costs by moving to renewable energy heating.

The new i-FH water-to-water heat pumps feature near zero global warming potential (GWP) and non-flammable R-1234ze refrigerant and can deliver hot water at temperatures between 50°C and 80°C. Sourcing energy from waste-water or geothermal systems at 5 to 30°C, the units match conventional heating system requirements and are designed for applications like high temperature heating, sanitary hot water supplies, district heating and heat recovery cascades. Thanks to its compact design, the new units fit restricted spaces and are easy to move and install, which makes them suitable for small commercial buildings, industrial facilities, industrial processes and other applications within modern cities.

 “At ICS Cool Energy we want to combine the latest technology with decades of experience in process temperature control to meet the diverse and changing set of our customer cooling and heating needs,” said Dave Palmer, ICS Cool Energy general manager for UK and Ireland. “With concerns around rising energy costs and with growing sustainability efforts, we help our customers relieve their operational pressures. The new units in our i-FH free heating portfolio represent another step for us in the journey to offering most sustainable and most efficient heating solutions.”

ICS Cool Energy has a 500MW cooling and heating hire fleet at the customer’s disposal, accompanied by equipment capabilities and expertise to quickly respond to any customers’ temporary cooling and heating needs within their process, critical or comfort applications.

The new i-FH heat pumps and other solutions are available for short or long-term hire, as well as part of the FLEX Membership, long-term exchange programme, offering access to the latest heating and cooling equipment with the flexibility of an operating expense. As part of the ICS FLEX package customers receive the equipment, preventive and 24/7 emergency maintenance, as well as replacements and upgrades for an all-inclusive monthly rate. This allows them to transform their temperature control system from a fixed asset into a dynamic solution that will be up-to-date with their changing business and process needs.

For more information on ICS Cool Energy complete process temperature control solutions, please visit www.icscoolenergy.com/.