INDUSTRY NEWS Inbrief


Worcester Bosch has launched a new app for the heating sector which will allow installers to promote Worcester boilers to their customers via augmented reality (AR). www.worcester-bosch.co.uk


Chemours’ Opteon Refrigerants will be a platinum-level sponsor of the 1st IIR International Conference on the Application of HFO Refrigerants. www.chemours.com


The Federation of Environmental Trade Associations (FETA) has announced changes to some of its senior positions, with John Smith standing down as FETA chairman and Nick Howlett taking over the role. www.feta.co.uk


Baxi has announced the return of its highly popular Vaults promotion, running through the manufacturer’s online loyalty scheme Baxi Works for the third year in a row. www.baxi.co.uk


BSRIA has released a considerably updated version of its go-to design framework guide for building services – BG 6 – A Design Framework for Building Services (5th edition) – recently holding an industry launch event in London. www.bsria.co.uk


Callum Megarry, apprentice at West London-based WPJ Heating, has won the title of Worcester Bosch’s 2018 Apprentice of the Year. www.worcester-bosch.co.uk


District and community heating specialist Switch2 Energy has launched a new programme of accredited Continuing Professional Development (CPD) seminars, covering all aspects of heat network delivery, metering and compliance. www.switch2.co.uk


FläktGroup, manufacturer of ventilation and air movement products, has announced the appointment of Yan Evans as global director for Data Centre Solutions. www.fl aktgroup.com


SBS featured in Leicestershire’s top 200 companies. www.sbs.co.uk


6 September 2018


PARLIAMENTARY SUPPORT FOR ALDOUS BILL SWELLS


A


lmost one in three MPs (207) now support the Aldous Bill following major eff orts by BESA and ECA to secure support for reforming cash


retentions in construction. The backing comes alongside an unprecedented


coalition of over 80 industry bodies and trade associations, representing over 580,000 businesses and sole traders. This is the largest fair payments campaign ever formed in the UK. Following the collapse of Carillion in January, the Aldous Bill has drawn endorsement from big political hitters, including MPs John McDonnell, Ken Clarke and Sir Vince Cable. While the bill has secured broad cross-party support, Labour (96) and Conservatives (76) make up the majority of parliamentary support. Alexi Ozioro, BESA public aff airs and policy manager, said: “I think we will see more MPs getting behind Peter’s Bill. Carillion put late payments in the public view and we have grown a campaign that 76 Conservatives and MPs from every other party all back. We have a great opportunity for industry unity and to fi nally solve a problem that has plagued the industry, economy and SMEs for far too long.” ECA deputy director of business policy and practice, Rob Driscoll, stated: “The current cash retentions system


is extremely unfair to hard-working SMEs in construction. Given this unprecedented level of support for a pragmatic reform and the Sector Deal’s ambition to create sustainable business models, it’s time for government to back legislative reform.” Peter Aldous MP said: “I am very encouraged by the support that 200 colleagues across the House have indicated for my Bill and the construction industry; it is an important milestone to have reached. “There is more work to be done in persuading government to adopt the bill, but I am confi dent that vital momentum is being gained.” Maria Caulfi eld MP, the 200th MP to pledge support, added: “I am very pleased to be the 200th MP supporting Peter and the ‘Aldous Bill.’ I have constituents that were impacted by Carillion. Even my father and my husband work in the building trade, so I am all too aware of late payment and the issues with cash retentions. Reforming cash retentions will protect thousands of small businesses and help industry meet the needs of the public, and I am fully behind it.” Mr Aldous introduced his Bill to put retentions in secure deposit schemes six days before Carillion collapsed, and its second reading is due to take place after the party conference season, on 26 October.


XYLEM MAKES STRIDES WITH VR W


ater solutions provider Xylem has confi rmed successful trials of its virtual reality (VR) capabilities, which it says will bring customers


closer to complex pumping solutions. The project, which was started at Xylem’s Flygt offi ce in Sundbyberg, Stockholm, uses virtual simulations of 3D CAD models to take the customer through various pump station layouts. This enables more informed decisions to be made on the right solution for their requirements. Xylem is now working on rolling-out the technology to other Xylem offi ces, including those in the UK and Ireland. Jamie Mills, systems engineer for Xylem UK and Ireland,


said: “The water and wastewater industries are facing unprecedented challenges, not least a growing population and unpredictable climates. We therefore need to react faster and be more effi cient by adopting more creative, innovative solutions to solve these problems.” He continued: “VR is a particularly promising technology for the water industry because it allows the supply chain and owner operators to collaborate in the same virtual environment and identify problems before construction, for example the position and accessibility of valves. 3D visualisation is the best way to present complex benching and baffl e design which has benefi ts for construction and design review. Leveraging technology in this way drives key effi ciencies for capital deliver and asset management.”


The team at Sundbyberg developed a virtual model of a pump station by transferring existing product data into gaming software to develop a VR scene. Adam Sheehan, pump station design specialist at


Xylem Flygt, said: “Our fi rst trials with customers were a huge success. We were able to use specialist software to generate an accurate virtual tour of a complex pumping station, which allowed our customers to understand how it would work in-situ. We were also able to present multiple options to the customer, so that they could compare the performance of diff erent pump station simulations.” As well as an international roll-out of the VR software, the team is also working on the development of enhanced functionality, such as faster data transfers, and additional simulation capabilities.


www.heatingandventilating.net


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