Ducati go Green

Envirotec answers the Ducati challenge

Envirotec designed and manufactured a bespoke heat pump air handling unit to provide heating and cooling for leading Ducati specialist Moto Rapido in Winchester. The system was supplied by Envirotec as a full turnkey package.

Moto Rapido is a fully authorised Ducati Dealer and Ducati Performance specialist who also manage the British Superbike team. The company operates a workshop and showroom from its Winchester premises, where originally there was no installed heating. Instead, the company relied on plug-in electric heaters through the colder months.

The New Ducati 1199 Panigale

“We were looking for a solution that would improve comfort conditions and reduce our environmental impact,” recalled Moto Rapido’s owner Steve Moore. “We also wanted the project to be painless with minimum input from us and minimum disruption,” he added.

Envirotec proposed a custom heat pump air handling unit be installed at the centre of the building with warm and cold air ducted through the space. The design was carried out in conjunction with consulting engineers BSD and installed and commissioned by Envirotec.

The central air handling unit is based on Envirotec’s HD range and customised for the Moto Rapido project. It incorporates a Toshiba inverter heat pump and serves four supply ducts. Two are mounted at low level to serve the main showroom and two at high level to serve the mezzanine floor. The air intakes on the unit have been designed to resemble the appearance of the exhaust on a Ducati bike.

The result is a building which now has a highly efficient centralised heating and cooling system that is expected to achieve a Coefficient of Performance of around 3.0, thus minimising energy consumption. Crucially, the building will now be properly heated throughout the winter, with the benefit of comfort cooling in the summer months. The company will save on heating bills and staff will be comfortable throughout the year.

“Envirotec was very professional. They took care of everything, we have been so pleased with the results that I have already recommended them to other Ducati dealers,” Steve Moore concluded.

For more information on Envirotec’s range of Energy Efficient HeatPump products contact Envirotec.

Ends

Are your heating systems prepared for what is to come?

The mild autumn is sadly coming to an end and inevitably cold winter weather on its way. Well that’s fairly easy to predict as for most winters the likelihood of freezing temperatures, cold winds and a few inches of snow are what you would expect.

Here in the UK we don’t seem to have learnt enough from past experiences and always appear to be caught out by the first snowfall. The predictability that the weather is likely to get cold over winter and how our transport systems fail to deal with winter weather effectively always amaze me. Other countries manage to keep running in winter without it being a major crisis so why can’t we?

In these times of austerity I don’t suppose I can influence the government much to take the threat of bad weather more seriously but perhaps I can influence readers of my blog to look seriously at the heating systems you have in place at both home and at work.

The autumn is a good time to get boilers serviced and check that all pipe and cylinder lagging is in good order and adequate for the conditions. Check that radiators are bled and are warm from the top to the bottom. If the top of a radiator is cold when your system is running this is usually a sign that you have some air trapped. This can be vented by using a radiator key by opening the bleed valve and holding a cloth to catch the water (carefully as this may be hot) when all the air has been released. If when you have bled the radiator the bottom doesn’t warm up you may have a build up of sediment which would require your heating engineer to conduct a power flush to clean the sediment from your system.

Check that any Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRV’s) are working correctly by fully opening and shutting. This helps release the mechanisms which sometimes get stuck during the summer off periods.

 If this doesn’t free it you can unscrew the top part of the TRV to expose the pin valve which you can ease up gently with a pair of pliers adding a bit of lubricant like WD40 and ease the pin up and down a few times (if in doubt call a professional). 

Make sure to check all TRV’s are set correctly and try turning each valve down a notch to save some energy. In rooms which have less frequent use or require lower heating loads try turning down even further. This will help to allow more heat to be available for other more demanding areas.

Air handling equipment should always be professionally serviced. It makes good sense to have a regular Air conditioning inspection and is a legal requirement to do so if your system has a cooling load over 12kW. The inspection may recommend some remedial work to bring it up to the regulatory standards but it can also be a good idea to have your Air Handling Units (AHU’s) refurbished and updated to make use of the latest energy efficient technologies available.

The other often forgotten part of a commercial heating system to keep maintained and working at peak performance and is often left until the first blast of arctic weather are the door curtains or air barriers protecting the buildings entrances. These are a special interest to me as I have spent nearly 30 years in this industry. 

Door curtains often get mistaken for over door heaters. They are not used to heat your building but are there to help protect your conditioned environment from the outside elements. A correctly sized, correctly installed, well maintained and effectively controlled air curtain will be an energy saving device. (Please see previous blog posts) So please make sure that this underrated energy saving product gets some TLC.

If you require any more information or would like some help with your air conditioning systems please contact me stevebrown@envirotec.co.uk .

  

Heat Pump Air Curtains now in scoping study for inclusion in ECA scheme.

There is a significant move in the HVAC industry towards renewable heat source schemes. With the inclusion of air source heat pumps in the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) next year the interest in products that can benefit from using this medium as its heat source has increased dramatically.

The Carbon trust are currently conducting a scoping study to see if heat pump air curtains should be included into their Technology Listing. Steve Brown Envirotec’s Development Director says “If heat pump air curtains are to be included in the Carbon Trusts technology listing as an approved product and receive enhanced capital allowances  (ECA) this will give a real boost to the industry.

Not only will the end client benefit from having an air curtain installed - an energy efficient device in its own respect, but to have a air source heat pump as well will be a winning formula”.

You don’t have to have an understanding of how a heat pump works but you do need to know that why they are such a good way forward, for example a heat pump system with a coefficient of performance (COP) of say 3.0 would in simple terms mean that for every 1kW of electrical energy required to run the unit an output 3.0kW of heat could be generated.

For more information or to make an enquiry about Envirotec’s range of heat pump air curtains please contact Envirotec

Indoor Air Quality and Asbestos Exposure

Indoor Air Quality and Asbestos Exposure

Toxic chemicals can be found everywhere we look.  Whether they are in your home, or the ground underneath, it is important to be aware of chemicals with which you and your family may come in contact.

What is asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was incorporated into more than 5,000 products in the 1980’s.  This mineral has excellent insulating and fireproofing characteristics which is why it was commonly used for commercial purposes. This toxic mineral can be found in various deposits throughout the world;   the environmental hazard surrounding asbestos still exists today.

Where has it been used?

As previously mentioned, asbestos has been used in thousands of products.  Some of these products include household items, paper goods, automobiles, heating and cooling systems, and even in the construction materials used to possibly build your house.  A few products are listed below; please look at the complete list of products containing asbestos.

Some household products are

• ·        Adhesives
• ·        Asbestos ceiling and floor tiles
• ·        Vinyl products
• ·        Cook pots, popcorn poppers, stove mats and pads
• ·        Baby powder and hair dryers

Some construction products are

• ·        Cement
• ·        Insulation
• ·        Roofing materials
• ·        Floor backing and dry wall taping compounds

The majority of these materials are commonly found in construction materials used to in buildings and homes. Asbestos has such a high resistance to heat it was used in many heating systems and insulation.  High concentrations of airborne asbestos can occur after these materials are disturbed by improperly trying to remove the materials or a remodeling project.   

Why is it toxic?

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. Due to a severe latency period of symptoms ranging between 20 and 50 years from the time of exposure, mesothelioma cancer is often diagnosed in a late stage of development.

This tendency for late diagnosis often complicates mesothelioma treatment options; as a result, the average mesothelioma life expectancy is 4 to 18 months. There is no cure for this cancer; but, some patients who were diagnosed early enough have survived mesothelioma. For this reason, it is important for anyone exposed to asbestos to seek regular medical exams to check for signs of asbestos disease.

The best way to prevent exposure to asbestos is to learn about it, however regardless of the knowledge that is now available, not everyone takes the proper precautions that are needed to prevent exposure. Prevention in the workplace can be as simple as wearing protective gear or breathing devices.  Since so many homes were built with asbestos containing products, the majority of household exposure comes from renovations, or do-it-yourself home projects.  Once the asbestos is disturbed you are at risk for exposure, so it is important to have professionals involved, or the areas tested for asbestos in advance.

The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com was created to assist patients affected by asbestos-related disease.

Visit www.asbestos.com for more information regarding asbestos exposure.

You can “like” us on Face book and “Follow” us on Twitter  for daily updates and news articles surrounding asbestos and asbestos related diseases.

This article has been kindly written by guest blogger Rachel Gilner from The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com

Marketing Assistant to be based in our High Wycombe Office

Company Overview

A market leader for over 30 years with a blue chip client base, Envirotec is a manufacturer of high quality air movement equipment including air curtains, air handling units and extract fans.

Position Overview

We are looking to recruit a Marketing Assistant to be based in our High Wycombe office.

The successful candidate will work within the development department, assisting in all aspects of product improvement and new product development. This will include identifying new product opportunities from concept to prototyping and launch into the market.

The successful candidate will be an energetic, enthusiastic and resourceful team player with Photoshop experience. You will be a multi-skilled individual capable of working on own initiative and be able to interact at all levels and also be a key team player.

Other duties will include gathering and reporting market intelligence, the design of marketing collateral, technical literature and operating manuals, maintenance and the regular updating of the company’s web site.

Your contribution to this role will help us to increase product development capacity, improve marketing and enhance technical product information.

The candidate: 

• Will ideally have a technical/engineering background with an understanding of the HVAC marketplace.
• Will be motivated, articulate, creative and able to present ideas and reports in a clear, well thought through manner.
• Will possess the drive to ensure that projects are completed to a high standard and within agreed deadlines.
• Will ideally have a recognised marketing qualification although candidates with a minimum of two years relevant marketing experience will be considered.

Extensive training on the company’s products will be provided as part of an on-going training programme.

Typical work activities can include:

• Coordinate PR, ensuring our new products and news reach the media.
•  Responsible for literature / written material. Liaising with Engineering and Sales departments for the technical content and enabling the distribution of material to the relevant media
• Communicates with the sales team and distributors, ensuring they have the most relevant information
• Maintain CRM database. Including removal of old contacts, missing email addresses, along with adding new contacts and unsubscribing existing ones.
•  Assists with the maintenance of the Company website, handling the written material and product updates
• Administrative support to the development team

Qualifications

Marketing, CIM Certificate or Diploma, Design or HNC/HND Engineering related degree or caliber, marketing or technical experience preferred but not essential.

Excellent communication (verbal and written), organisation skills and have creative flair


Proficient in the use of MS Office suite and Photoshop.

To express interest or more information contact Steve Brown

Trainee Sales Engineers and Marketing Assistant at Envirotec

Envirotec is recruiting for a number of newly created roles, due to investment in a programme of innovation, combined with ambitious growth plans.

Trainee External Sales Engineers

We are looking to recruit an additional five external sales engineers to work in the Midlands, South West and South East.

The role:

• to sell and promote the company’s expanding range of air curtains, air handling units, trench heating and refurbishment services, into specifiers, contractors and end users. 

To present the company in a professional manner at all times and to develop relationships with existing and potential customers. 

Extensive training on the company’s products and development of sales skills will be provided as part of an on-going development programme.

The candidate:

• will have experience of working within the HVAC industry, ideally in air movement or air handling, although this is not essential, along with experience of working closely with specifiers, contractors and end users.

• will be self-motivated, results driven, ambitious and looking to develop their skills and knowledge.

• will have either a formal engineering qualification or the ability to demonstrate previous success.

Applications please by email to danwild@envirotec.co.uk

No agencies thank you. 

Marketing Assistant

We are looking to recruit a Marketing Assistant to be based in our High Wycombe office.

The role:

• the successful candidate will work within the development department, assisting in all aspects of product improvement and new product development. This will include identifying new product opportunities from concept to prototyping and launch into the market.

• Other duties will include gathering and reporting market intelligence, the design of marketing collateral, technical literature and operating manuals, maintenance and the regular updating of the company’s web site.

The candidate:

• will ideally have a technical/engineering background with an understanding of the HVAC marketplace.

• will be motivated, articulate, creative and able to present ideas and reports in a clear, well thought through manner.

• will possess the drive to ensure that projects are completed to a high standard and within agreed deadlines.

• will ideally have a recognised marketing qualification although candidates with a minimum of two years relevant marketing experience will be considered.

Extensive training on the company’s products will be provided as part of an on-going training programme.

Applications please by email to stevebrown@envirotec.co.uk

No agencies thank you.

Envirotec

High Wycombe, Bucks HP12 3BX

www.envirotec.co.uk

ENV101 Recruit ad 134x190clr.indd 1 17/06/2011 16:21

Envirotec Career Opportunities

Envirotec are recruiting enthusiastic HVAC engineers for external sales and internal engineering roles. Would you like to be trained in sales? 

Would you like a career with one of the HVAC industries leading companies?

A market leader for over 30 years with a blue chip client base, Envirotec is a manufacturer of high quality air movement equipment including air curtains, air handling units and extract fans.

Envirotec’s innovation programme has generated a significant increase in demand for its bespoke products and services. To help deliver the high quality service Envirotec’s customers demand they are looking to recruit a number of high calibre individuals.

External Sales Engineers

Envirotec is known within the building industry for the quality of its products and services. By helping to continue developing and maintaining its great working relationships with its customers (at all levels) you would be a member of Envirotec's external sales team delivering exceptional service to a demanding client base. 

These challenging and rewarding sales roles will only be offered to exceptional people.

Is that you?

If you are qualified to degree standard in an engineering discipline and would like an opportunity to be trained to become an external sales engineer then please contact peterfaruqi@envirotec.co.uk and enclose your current CV and contact details.

Internal Development Engineer

Our markets constantly demand new, non-standard and special products.

Reporting to the Marketing Manager as a member of the Product Development Engineering team you will be involved in all aspects of product development. You will possess the initiative to liaise with clients and work closely to customer requirements. The successful candidate will be an energetic, enthusiastic and resourceful team player with CAD experience and a comprehensive knowledge of sheet metal work. You will be a multi-skilled individual capable of working on own initiative and be able to interact at all levels and also be a key team player.

Your contribution to this role will help us to increase product development capacity, reduce lead times, reduce costs, and enhance technical information systems

If you have an Engineering or Design related degree or you are HNC calibre and have product development experience and would like to be considered then please contact anguscreighton@envirotec.co.uk  and enclose your current CV and contact details.

Development and Marketing Administrator 

Reporting to the Marketing Manager as a member of the Product Development team you will be involved in all aspects of product development. Our markets constantly demand new, non-standard and special products. You will possess the initiative to liaise with clients and work closely to customer requirements. The successful candidate will be an energetic, enthusiastic and resourceful team player with Photoshop experience. You will be a multi-skilled individual capable of working on own initiative and be able to interact at all levels and also be a key team player.

Your contribution to this role will help us to increase product development capacity, improve marketing and enhance technical product information.

If you enjoy creative and original thinking, have a marketing, design or engineering related degree or are of HNC calibre with marketing or technical experience with good communication skills both written and oral and would like a career with a progressive company then please contact anguscreighton@envirotec.co.uk  and enclose your current CV and contact details.

Envirotec