Pro Installer November 2013 - Issue 08 | Page 6

6 NOVEMBER 2013 PRO INSTALLER PRO NEWS www.proinstaller.co.uk ANOTHER ENERGY EFFICIENCY AWARD WIN The team at The VEKA UK Group notched up another award for its environmental initiatives recently, as the company was presented with the trophy for the ‘Energy Efficiency Award for a Large Company’ at the Groundwork Pennine Lancashire Business Awards. Now known as Newground, the event provides businesses in Lancashire with the recognition of their achievements in improving environmental performance. Rebecca Mayhew-Clegg and Shane Gray from The VEKA UK group are presented the award on behalf of Newground. Sales and Marketing Director Colin Torley explains: “We are thrilled to be recognised by our own county for our environmental efforts - The VEKA INVESTING TO BE THE BEST The Jain family has invested a further £2.1million in Avocet Hardware, taking the total invested since it bought the Brighouse-based company out of administration in February 2012 to £10.6million. Dr Tinkle Jain, director of Avocet Hardware, stated: “Since buying Avocet we have invested heavily in order to place the company in a position where we can legitimately lay claim to once again being the leading player in the home window and door security market.” “We now have the team, the product and the product availability to confidently state that the Avocet Hardware house is well and truly in order.” The Jain family has business interests in Malaysia, Indonesia, India, China and the UK, which in total employ over 5,000 people and turnover £416million per annum. In recent years the family has come to specialise in rescuing stricken companies. from being emitted, as a result of energy saving measures we have put in place. 10,240 of that total being saved in 2012/13 alone. “Through the design and implementation of various measures we are now saving 128.66kg of carbon dioxide for every tonne of product we manufacture when compared to 2008’s figures. Subbies use domestic vacuum to clean up asbestos A North East glass firm has been fined after potentially exposing nearly 200 workers and visitors to dangerous asbestos fibres at its Consett premises. Sunderland-based Romag Ltd also ignored recommendations from its own safety advisors to cordon off a contaminated area and arrange for an emergency clean-up by specialists. The incident was triggered by two fire alarm installers when they started some work at the firm’s Princess Building on Leadgate Industrial Estate in July 2011. This latest investment is aimed at ensuring stock levels across the company’s door and window, ABS high security locks, and builder hardware divisions are high enough to ensure complete customer satisfaction when it comes to product availability and delivery. UK Group works tirelessly to minimise our environmental impact, so to win this award is a fantastic achievement for us.” The award came following the company’s demonstration of significant improvement in reducing its energy use via innovative and exemplary measures. “Since 2008 we have saved a massive 12,448 tonnes of carbon Consett Magistrates’ Court heard that the two subcontractors, who had been told the building was free from asbestos, unknowingly drilled through an asbestos insulation panel while installing fire sensors. They then used a domestic vacuum cleaner to clean up the dust and debris and later used it in several parts of the building as they put up the sensors, spreading asbestos fibres around the premises. HSE found the firm’s delay in taking action led to 180 workers and 16 visitors being put at risk of exposure to asbestos fibres. When the clean-up was organised, a substantial amount of contaminated material was collected. Romag Ltd, of Sunderland pleaded guilty to safety beaches and was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay £12,638 in costs. Source: Construction Enquirer GOT SOMETHING YOU NEED TO GET OFF YOUR CHEST? Send your business annoyances to [email protected] Dr Tinkle Jain, director of Brighouse-based Avocet Hardware Visit www.avocet-hardware.co.uk or call 01484 711700.