RITHERDON
DRIVES ENCLOSURE
INNOVATION A Darwen manufacturer has developed the world’s first fully recyclable electrical enclosure, with the product now installed at a Premier Inn hotel at Leeds Bradford Airport.
The PVC cabinets, made by 131-year-old Lorne Street firm Ritherdon & Co, are different from any other plastic electrical enclosure currently on the market because they can be recycled, unlike the standard glass reinforced plastic enclosures, which end up in landfill.
DARWEN TOWN CENTRE
Darwen town centre is set to benefit from more than £5m of investment after plans for an advanced manufacturing research centre were dropped.
It had been announced that an AMRC, similar to that which has been established at nearby Samlesbury, was to be established in the Chapels area of the town.
However Sheffield University, which hosts the AMRC programme nationally, withdrew from the scheme, citing rising financial pressures across the university sector.
Blackburn with Darwen Council has confirmed the funding that had been committed to the scheme will now be channelled into the transformation of the town centre, which will see the market, library and the Library Theatre benefit from investment.
Council leader Coun Phil Riley, who is also vice chair of the Darwen Town Board, said: “This additional £5m for the town centre regeneration will allow us to realise our aspirations – aspirations which have sadly been impacted by global events and the effect they have had on our economy,
single time we go out to consultation and ask for their views.
“We are well on with progressing those plans with Barnfield Construction, with this additional funding providing a huge boost in such challenging times.”
The council said it had reallocated £4.3m of funding committed to the advanced manufacturing project, as well as a further £1m of new funding from the Arts Council’s Creative Foundations Fund for Darwen Library Theatre – taking the total investment to more than £20m.
The new theatre funding will pave the way for a new cinema offering as well as an improved sound system and improved seating.
Council bosses are now finalising detailed design work with Barnfield Construction, with work on site expected to start in the coming months.
The transformation includes the refurbishment of the Victorian Market Hall, a new arcade to replace the existing market annex and upgrades to the town centre car park.
This additional £5m for the town centre regeneration will allow us to realise our
aspirations – aspirations which have sadly been impacted by global events
including the astronomical rise in the cost of delivering complex schemes like this.
“The UK’s university sector is feeling the financial strain and unfortunately Sheffield University is unable to progress with the advanced manufacturing accelerator which would have been the first of its kind in the whole country.
“What this now means, however, is that we have more money available for the town centre, which comes out as a top priority for our residents and businesses every
There’s also investment for the town’s Carnegie Library and Darwen Library Theatre, while Darwen Youth Zone has recently opened in a new youth centre, which is double the size of what was there previously, with activities for youngsters available seven days a week.
And more than £275,000 has also been awarded to projects in the town through the new Darwen Community Fund, supporting ‘quick wins’ as part of the Pride in Place programme.
LANCASHIREBUSINES SV
IEW.CO.UK £5M BOOST FOR
The first of its kind, the cabinet has now been used by hospitality giant Whitbread at its Leeds Bradford Airport Premier Inn hotel, which is going through extensive refurbishment.
Following years of research and development, combined with a six-figure investment, the Ritherdon PVC cabinet range offers a new cost effective solution for housing electrical equipment across a wide variety of applications, including EV chargers. The business is already receiving keen interest in its cabinets internationally, including from France, Australia, New Zealand and Iceland.
Ritherdon & Co managing director Ben Ritherdon said: “Considering the environmental impact in the choices of materials such as enclosures and cabinets is more important and relevant than at any other time.
“Our PVC cabinets combine the strength of our traditional stainless steel cases with the usability and practicality of plastic – all while being totally recyclable.
“We came across the idea while trying to develop an alternative non conductive product that combined the electrically insulating properties of fibreglass cabinets, but with the added bonus of being recyclable – it just made sense, we couldn’t understand why nobody had thought of it before.
“The cabinet’s adaptability ensures it meets the diverse needs of different industries, providing a secure and organised housing solution for electrical equipment, and they are recyclable, which is very important to us as a company.
“We can now provide customers with a product that is long lasting, but also not damaging to the environment.”
Ritherdon’s cabinets, which are manufactured at their factory in Darwen, Lancashire, are crafted from high quality PVC over a metal frame, ensuring years of resistance to corrosion and environmental wear.
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BLACKBURN WITH DARWEN
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