• • • NEWS • • •
Equipment hire crucial to expected surge in UK manufacturing demand
ew approaches to procuring power generation and cooling equipment could prove essential for manufacturers ramping up production to meet rising demand forecasted in the Confederation of British Industry’s (CBI) April industrial trends survey. According to the CBI, UK manufacturing optimism is rising at its fastest rate in 48 years, with the confederation citing the continued success of Covid-19 vaccine rollouts and the lifting of lockdown restrictions as reasons behind this. This situation is further boosted by additional CBI findings demonstrating that the sector’s potential economic rebound will coincide with a sharp rise in output expected next quarter.
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Though manufacturers may look to invest in new equipment to meet this increasing post-pandemic demand, the sector needs to strike a balance between ramping up production and futureproofing current operations, as Matt Watson, Manufacturing Specialist at Aggreko Northern Europe, explains: “The disruption brought on by the pandemic means many businesses may be operating with stretched capex budgets. As such,
they may be faced with a question – how can they meet this demand, while minimising financial risk? “No-one knows what the future
holds, so while the predicted boom by the CBI is welcome news, reduced levels of capital means businesses may need more agile equipment purchasing strategies to suit changing circumstances. Generators and cooling equipment are expensive to purchase outright, and as demand levels out, they may prove costly burdens unsuitable for everyday utility requirements.”
Businesses may be able to increase output and safeguard against uncertainty by hiring equipment as an ongoing opex expense. With temporary solution suppliers like Aggreko able to supply up-to-date generators and cooling equipment, manufacturers can also avoid the issue of outmoded, stranded assets as technologies around these solutions advance. Matt concludes: “As demand rises, innovation around equipment will likely follow suit, and companies opting for permanent equipment may run the risk of this equipment becoming outmoded over time.
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anufacturer of cable management products, HellermannTyton, has just launched HelaCon Releasable, a universal push-in wire connector designed to make electrical installation easier and safer. Suitable for all types of wire – including solid, stranded and fine stranded – the HelaCon Releasable uses a lever clamping system to connect electrical cables and conductors quickly and easily. Together with built-in features including a separate voltage test point and transparent housing, it streamlines installation, application and maintenance while enhancing overall safety. The transparent housing means that the installer can see at a glance whether
the cable has been inserted the correct length and that there’s a sound connection. It also helps them quickly identify any noticeable faults or problems. Designed for maximum flexibility, HelaCon Releasable can be used in all kinds of enclosures or junction boxes, on-wall or flush-mounted. It has a 10mm stripping length and clamping range of 0.2mm to 4.00 mm2 and can therefore handle most wires and applications, including in household installations behind light switches, light fittings and sockets. With an operating temperature range of –30° to +85° C and a UL94VO flammability rating, it’s also designed for strong all-round performance and safety. Nathan Bennett, product manager - Electrical Installation & Enclosures at HellermannTyton explained: “As a business, we’re always looking to make lives easier for our customers, especially through these changing and challenging times. By offering a safe, speedy and convenient solution to electrical installation, HelaCon Releasable demonstrates this commitment.” The latest addition to HellermanTyton’s range of cable management solutions, HelaCon Releasable is currently available direct or through leading distributors.
Whiting, IPAF’s UK & Ireland Market General Manager, who led on developing the IPAF Roadmap, comments: “It is positive that, just as the UK Government announces major backing for in-work training and support for upskilling and retraining, many of IPAF’s member firms are already taking advantage of these defined routes to certifying and training their employees in service technician and engineering roles. We are pleased that in conjunction with our member firm and recognised training provider Learning for Hire, the first candidates have now completed their NVQs and are certified as service technicians. They now have a number of options open to them to continue training and are a step further along the route to IPAF Competent Assessed Person (CAP) status. We urge all our member firms to consider how they might be able to support their employees in this way through training and upskilling in the workplace.” Paul Robertson, director, Learning for Hire (LfH), comments: “Acquiring and keeping good technicians and mechanics has never been more of a challenge than right now. Based on recent research in the UK, we need to bring in nearly 600 new machinery technicians per year. That is a huge number for our relatively small industry, especially when the appeal seems limited or unheard of. Employers that engage with regional colleges to establish apprenticeship schemes work well, but this alone will not fill the current skills shortage. IPAF Service Technician training is another route for people already in the powered access industry to upskill and get qualified. There is a huge number of workshop staff that have come from other related trades such as vehicles, construction plant, electrical and other mechanical backgrounds. They perhaps start as 'check and test' or PDI Technicians and then pick it up along the way with a mixture of in- house training, mentoring and learning by their mistakes. Our range of modular training courses written specifically for the powered access industry gets back to basics and leads to nationally recognised Level 2 and Level 3 NVQ qualifications. Those qualifying have the ideal grounding to enable them to diagnose faults, carry out servicing and undertake more complex repairs requiring an understanding of how things work and engineering principles, such as structural designs, electrics, engines, hydraulic systems, safety and safe working principles.” Jake Howard from Speedy Powered Access is among the first candidates to complete the six-day course to attain his Level 2 NVQ and is now on course for his Level 3
Firms urged to support in-work service technician training M
NVQ. He explains why he’s found the IPAF Roadmap so useful: “My current job role is a service engineer; I have worked for Speedy Powered Access for two years and three months. The service technician course gave me the knowledge to progress with my NVQ because the instructor, Paul Robertson, was fantastic, and very patient. The training helped give me the foundation to build more knowledge on the machinery – in places the Level 2 was difficult, but I’m fortunate enough to work with some top-class qualified engineers, who were more than happy to help. I was put at ease with the final assessment, thanks to Paul. I think the Level 3 NVQ in Testing, Inspecting and Thorough Examination will help me massively, as it’s specific to my job role and is vital in what I need for my end game. The qualifications are very important in my career progression, and my long-term aim is to become an IPAF CAP engineer. I’d recommend this course to anyone looking to get into this line of work who has little to no prior knowledge, because it breaks down all parts of the job in a way that’s easy to understand. It is challenging, rewarding and interesting.”
6 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • MAY 2021
electricalengineeringmagazine.co.uk
Universal push-in wire connector
ember firms are being encouraged to embrace the options for in-work training to support and certify MEWP technicians via the Roadmap that was developed by the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF), as the first wave of candidates complete their level 2 and level 3 NVQs under the scheme. Richard
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