AIR CONDITIONING, COOLING & VENTILATION
A year in review: a new era for air movement and quality
As we approach the end of 2024 and look towards the new year, Vikrant Bhatt managing director of Elta, reflects on a successful yet challenging 12 months in the ventilation industry and discusses what the future holds for industry professionals
Celebrating half a century
While 2024 has brought many changes to the ventilation industry, for Elta, it has been a year spent marking milestones. We celebrated 50 years with several major investments and a significant rebrand. Previously known as Elta Fans, we have now repositioned as Elta, which may seem a subtle change to many, but this now signifies an identity that better represents the company’s full capacity.
As well as our industry leading fan technology, we have continued to invest in air handling units, noise control equipment, and controls to provide markets with holistic solutions that futureproof against the demands involved with maintaining air quality in modern society. We have also implemented major upgrades to our factories, enabling us to stay ahead of growing demand for full system specifications. While this year has been one full of celebrations and achievements for Elta, we have also embarked on a number of major events and product launches that address issues faced by building service engineers and ventilation professionals.
Partnerships, purpose, people
Engineers often need to integrate new technologies into existing buildings, for example, which can be complex and require innovative problem-solving. Industry professionals have also had to contend with rising cost of materials and labour, along with extended lead times and delivery delays, which add to the complexity of keeping projects within budget. Solving these issues have been a key focus for us and have been the ‘why’ behind several of Elta’s ventures this year.
As part of the rebrand and 50th Anniversary,
there have been many positive developments, such as Elta’s partnership with air handling unit manufacturer Euroclima which increases our capacity to provide more bespoke air handling solutions than ever before. Crucially, it also allows ventilation professionals to choose from a wide range of design options for air handling units, all under one roof. The move has also resulted in improved lead times, making it easier and quicker to specify and purchase the products they need. Similarly, Elta has recently partnered with smoke control manufacturer, Teal Products. to enhance the smoke prefabricated solutions Elta offers. Teal Products’ range of solutions complements Elta’s existing offerings to make Elta a one-stop-shop for building engineers working on construction projects with a smoke ventilation element.
In another strategic move, Elta Group - parent company of Elta- acquired Irish manufacturer Air Movement Supplies. The addition of the Dublin-based manufacturer to Elta Group’s
portfolio sets the group up to significantly increase its distribution network across the Republic of Ireland and Europe, working closely with Elta Ireland to better serve its customers, strengthen its product range, and boost production capabilities. The Elta Trade division similarly saw notable
growth due to partnering with several electrical wholesalers across the UK. The recent partnership with Edmundson Ventilation & Heating, part of the wider Edmundson Electrical chain, is a perfect example of how this trade growth has manifested. The collaboration means Elta’s residential range of products is now more readily accessible to ventilation contractors across the UK and Ireland.
Product advancements
While partnerships and acquisitions have been occurring, we have kept service engineers and ventilation professionals at the centre of major changes to Elta’s business structure. It is the boots-on-the-ground engineers that are at the heart of many new product developments over the past twelve months.
The developments include advancements in smoke fans, to ensure safety for building occupants and emergency services and was recently the subject of an ITN Business Special Report on Fire Prevention and Protection. The issue of fire safety has also led to Elta pioneering innovations such as the prefabricated smoke ventilation range, commercial kitchen fans including a new range of Qube Fans and the Turboflow Max, and also a range of accessories such as a reengineered Room Sensor to detect air quality. In the interest of fire safety innovation, Elta pioneered a new solution for smoke fans with the prefabricated smoke range. This comes as an add on solution to Elta’s fans for both general and emergency situations. But it is not only our desire to innovate that propelled this design change forward, it is also the significant skills gap that is prevalent in the industry. The lack of experienced professionals across the trade means mentorship and continuous professional development is vital. From a day-to-day perspective, the skills shortage makes on-site assembly more difficult. The new prefabricated range overcomes this by removing the need for contractors to assemble parts on-site, simplifying complexity and reducing project timelines.
12 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER DECEMBER 2024
The need to meet high client expectations for both performance and sustainability while managing costs and timelines is a growing priority. The prefabricated smoke range, constructed off-site and delivered when needed, answers this challenge by ensuring compatibility and compliance from the outset, reducing the risks of on-site assembly errors and minimising the likelihood of needing to re-order. Keeping up with this rapid technological change is crucial and engineers need to stay updated with the latest tools and technologies to implement innovative solutions. Navigating the ever-changing landscape of regulations and standards in not easy as engineers strive to make sure their designs comply with current regulations. Engineers must also design systems that are both efficient and sustainable. This includes integrating renewable energy sources and reducing carbon footprints which is why the EC versions of the Qube fans allow operators to fine-tune performance to reduce energy consumption, helping businesses lower their carbon footprints while also cutting operational costs. These innovations are inspired by the engineers who work with them and the building occupants who rely on them. They are created by our team ventilation specialists, who design systems that meet specific requirements. Two great examples are the Qube box fans and Turboflow Max which have been specifically designed to meet the evolving demands of modern commercial kitchens. This suite of new products underscores Elta’s dedication to delivering cutting-edge ventilation solutions that exceed industry standards and engineer expectations.
Reflection and optimism
With the success of the past 50 years comes the knowledge that there is still more to do to alleviate the challenges faced by building services engineers and ventilation professionals. These partnerships and product launches of the past twelve months are targeted at solving some of these issues while making the jobs of engineers easier and hassle free. As we look to the future, we intend to continue our journey of innovation with engineers always in mind, aiming for better air quality for everyone. To find out more about Elta, please visit
EltaUK.com.
Read the latest at:
www.bsee.co.uk
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