THATCHAM TOWN GIRLS SEEKING GIRLS' AMBASSADOR

A Local entrepreneur has given a financial boost to Thatcham Girls FC and opened up the beautiful game for more female players. A Sponsorship deal to raise the profile of local startup fabric and design firm - JuBerry. Newbury-based RAB Specialist Engineers has signed a two-year sponsorship deal with Thatcham Girls FC, providing the club with financial support until the end of the 2015 football season. Two U11s girls’ teams – Thatcham Town Pumas and Cougars will use the sponsorship money to attract fresh players and create more opportunities for girls in the local area to take part in what has now become the biggest female team sport in England. The new football kit, purchased with the help of RAB Specialist Engineers, will also help raise the profile of a Newbury-based startup up firm - JuBerry Fabrics & Designs. Specialists in bespoke fabrics, quilting and home furnishings, the JuBerry logo will feature prominently on the front of the girls’ shirts along with advertising displays at each game. Local businesses are tightening their belts in the current economic climate and securing sponsorship has become increasingly difficult for many youth teams. Coach for the U11s girls’ teams Neil Penny said: “We’re very grateful for this generous sponsorship deal with RAB Specialist Engineers as it will make a huge difference to the club. It means we have the financial security to grow the club and encourage more girls to play football in what is a predominantly male-dominated sport. Through clubs like ours, we focus less on the competitive nature of the game and more on providing a fun and enjoyable environment for our players to learn new skills.

“The money will help Thatcham Girls FC to buy new football kit, equipment and contribute towards the payment of costly pitch fees,” he continued. Richard Betts, local entrepreneur and managing director of RAB Specialist Engineers said: “I’ve worked in this area for many years so it’s great to have the opportunity to give something back to the localized community. Football allows youngsters from all ages and backgrounds to come together and have fun, keep fit, improve their self-esteem and create brand new friendships. The new training equipment and kit will help give the girls’ teams a more professional look as they compete in the Berkshire County Girls Football League.” He added: “As an experienced businessman and entrepreneur, I know how difficult it can be to raise the profile of new startup businesses. Supporting community groups, such as regional football teams, is one way JuBerry Fabrics & Designs hopes to promote its name and professional services within the local area.” Thatcham Girls FC is recruiting players for next season. Training sessions are held every Wednesday evening at Moors Playing Field, Lower Way, Thatcham.

Neil is looking for senior players to act as role models, and therefore, it would be great to get someone to speak to his teams Coach Neil Penny said, " In terms of the team players, it would be great to have a prominent figure / top player from the women’s game to come down and give the girls an insight into how they got started, what they have done to get where they are today, and the work required to stay at the top level as well as the trivial day to day opposition they may or may not have faced from the male side of the game along the way. A Q&A session along with someone taking the girls training to pass on vital information and tips would go a long way. At the club, we create a fun but yet learning foundation for the girls to come along, learn new skills not only in football but social and physical, and we have some girls who really enjoy watching football as well as playing the game. These are the girls who are the future of the game at grass roots, and so we need to nurture their talent and grow it in the right way along with all the right behaviours so they have the potential, opportunity and skills to go all the way if that’s what they choose."

If You can help please contact Neil by Email, neil.penny@mitie.com or Mobile 07771 775653

What is an Air Intake Filter Screen?

We  have been writing about this product for some time and there appears to be some confusion in the wider market.

Basically this product is not a filter as we would traditionally imagine it, although it does act as a filter in the truest sense of the word.

It's job is to protect the existing pre-filtration, and areas where traditional filters are not practical, from many types of airborne debris including seeds, pollen, leaves, cigarette ends and (most recently) carrier bags.

There are two manufacturers who currently supply this product in the UK.

RAB Specialist Engineers work with the Permatron Corporation www.permatron.com and supply the PreVent® product which has some unique characteristics and benefits. It is also available with a variety of fixing methods including simple Velcro, magnetic framework, turn-button and self tapping screws with bonded washers.

Air flow through the media creates a static charge which attracts debris and prevents it from contaminating your equipment. The effect on performance is minimal and the product is easy to clean with a vacuum cleaner or brush.

The Permatron Corporation have been making filtration products since 1957 and fully understand the requirements of a front line system having developed it to sit alongside their own high quality products in the USA.

Richard Betts (Managing Director of RAB Specialist Engineers) was responsible for the introduction of this highly competitive and unique solution into the UK .

Alternative products are available but should not be confused with PreVent® equipment protection.

Particulate contamination and industrial compressors.

Permatron's PreVent® Equipment Protection Filters.

Compressed air, commonly referred to as the fourth utility in the industrial world, is as crucial to the manufacturing process as electric, water and natural gas.

Delivering an extremely efficient energy supply, these industrial compressors generate the "plant air" that operates pneumatic equipment and air powered tools.

It's a simple process with a goal of providing more air with less fuel consumption.

Compressors enable major industrial manufacturers, like the Checker Motors Corporation (previously known as the Checker Cab Company), in Kalamazoo, Michigan to process their steel auto bumpers and other body components in the heart of the automobile capital of the world.

These busy compressors often operate a continuous heavy duty cycle 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.

Large 150kW industrial air compressor packages, such as the KAESER Model DSD 200 shown here,

are designed to run for extended periods of time in demanding industrial applications.

Similar, but smaller portable KAESER units provide compressed air for construction sites and other industrial environments that place them right in the middle of demolition sites, sand blasting, sprinkler irrigation and monument engraving.

Particulate contamination is the #1 enemy of industrial compressors.

As dirt is being drawn into the air intake louvres of the compressor enclosure cabinet, it clogs the oil cooler and after cooler (2 cell cooling system) , fin and tube heat exchangers, pneumatic control valves, electric motor cooling air intakes, centrifugal fans and sensitive electrical controls (like variable speed drive systems).

Airflow obstructions in these types of equipment can be a costly expense. Typical maintenance programs of cleaning and setting adjustments are required every 500 operating hours to prevent equipment damage and to allow the systems to run at peak efficiencies.

Major annual maintenance of part and fluid replacement is required approximately every 2000 operating hours. Both of which require costly man hours and equipment downtime, which ultimately interferes with industrial processes.

As a solution to protecting the sensitive components inside the compressor enclosure, TGF Engineering (based in Indiana) recommended the installation of Permatron's PreVent® Equipment Protection Filters.

TGF is an engineering consulting company who specialises in "engineered solutions" for air side, equipment protection filtration.

Effectively preventing debris from entering the air inlets, the PreVent® filters are made of washable, 3-0 polypropylene media, which draws in and traps airborne particles. The electrostatic media, enhanced by airflow, needs no system modifications or electrical hook-ups.

Custom sized and manufactured to fit any sized air intake, media can be framed with flexible vinyl binding or rigid galvanized steel frame. Installation options include grommets, bungee hook cords, Velcro hook/loop, magnet stripping or metal clips affixed to enclosure cabinet.

Polymer coated polyester media mesh is available for high abrasion applications. Filters are easily cleaned by rinsing with water or using a portable shop vacuum. The black media is UV protected, for indoor or outdoor use. The media's inherent electrostatic charge won't diminish over time, providing years of equipment protection.

PreVent® the damage before it's too late!

Contact Permatron in the USA http://www.permatron.com/contact-us.aspx

For the UK and Europe contact RAB Specialist Engineers http://www.rabse.com/contact-us

The frustrations of low speed broadband

For those of you that work and live in major cities this is not something that you will understand.

Having had an office in Baker Street I know that the connection and download speeds are on a different planet in comparison with the rural world.

Those of us who choose to leave the city for the benefit of looking out of a window at the rolling Berkshire Downs must pay the ultimate electronic price.

Frustrating views of an important email attachment which sits there in the world wide ether, tempting you with the expectation of an order or enquiry but failing to download.

Oh, how I wish that the field outside was Baker Street, the noise was of passing pedestrians and buses and the gentle wash of exhaust fumes, cigarette smoke and body odour entered my nostrils.

Then I could read that bloody email and update my webpage in real time rather than wait for the gentle clunk click of rural broadband.

Actually, that is obviously a lie. Let's face it there was a time when the only written communication was by post.

So, what I am losing on the swings is more than made up by the roundabout of a rural base and I have time to make yet another cup of tea to ease the stress.

Not all air intakes are the same (part 2)

Some do not have the additional protection provided by 

 

 Permatron Air Intake Filter Screens.

During part one of this blog we referenced some key considerations based upon the RAB experience of this sector. 

A lot of people have taken an interest and have been kind enough to write in with their own stories of clogged coils etc. 

Response 1

While working for a consultancy I was called on to inspect a plant where there had been a failure of a Carrier 5H86 compressor in a shopping centre that the office looked after and I found the filters and evap coil  looking like they had been lined with cardboard. As you can imagine the compressor had liquid refrigerant enter it, wash out the oil and destroy the valves.  

Response 2

I was asked to view a job near to the Shard today. There is a problem with construction dust which is being sucked into the intake louvres on two McQuay AHU's. This dust is everywhere and is clogging the filters which is reducing the air supply to the building. Is this something that your screen filters will cope with?

Response 3 

On walking around the outside of the place I came to a plantroom that contained the equipment servicing a day treatment area. The grille for the air handling unit was so matted over it looked like it had a blanket across it. 

 

Summary

It is very easy to ignore the facts which are:

• Coils and air intakes DO become clogged with airborne debris.
• Running equipment with a dirty coil DOES cost more.
• Cleaning a PreVent air intake filter screen IS very simple to do.
• Cleaning a matted coil IS NOT very easy to do.

 

 

 

Not all air intakes are the same.

A simple and innovative solution to improve plant maintenance.

Not all air intakes are the same.

Not all air intakes are the same.

Some have the additional protection provided by 

 Permatron Air Intake Filter Screens.

You may not have considered the damage caused to major plant by the contamination of fin coils, fill ponds and AHU’s by the airborne debris surrounding your building. 


"If a condenser becomes dirty or fouled, less heat transfer can take place from the refrigerant to the surrounding ambient. Dirty or blocked condensers are one of the most frequent service problems in commercial refrigeration and summer air conditioning fields today". 

John Tomczyk  - Troubleshooting and Servicing Modern Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Systems

When the condenser coil becomes dirty, the six-month cost of operation escalates by 30% as detailed in a recent study by Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E). http://www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/pdfs/om_cooling.pdf 

Like many of us I am sure that you have been looking at energy efficiency as well as the cost of maintenance. Take on board the environmental impact of cleaning chemicals and we need a solution. 

Luckily there is now a cost effective and innovative solution.



Move the debris from high value equipment, which is difficult to keep clean, to the Permatron Air Intake Filter Screen which can be easily brushed, vacuumed or hosed down to remove any debris. 

Prevention is much better than the cure which is why RAB Specialist Engineers are now representing Permatron here in the UK. 

All filter screens can be custom manufactured to match your equipment and have been installed on Trane, Airedale, Carrier, BAC, Evapco and Klimatherm plant with outstanding results. 

Unlike other manufacturers Permatron offer a variety of fixing methods which include the traditional screw fixing and as the unique magnetic framework as well as the wrap around style for easy fitting to smaller plant.  

If you would like to read more about how these screens can help you to reduce energy and maintenance costs then please take a look at www.rabse.com or see the PreVent video clips on http://www.youtube.com/user/permatronfilters/videos .

A simple and innovative solution to improve plant maintenance.