What is PFC?

JASIC ARC PFC MODELS

Jasic have just launched the Jasic Arc 180 PFC and Jasic Arc 200 PFC models. The models replace the already popular Jasic Arc 180 dual voltage and the Arc 200. If you are anything like me though, you are probably asking what is PFC and what’s the benefit?

PFC stands for power factor correction. Power factor correction is a complicated thing to explain and having read up about it, I wont even try. I will however try to summarise…… Power factor is a measurement with a value between 0 and 1. A standard power supply has a power factor of 0.7 – 0.75. A power supply with PFC has a power factor of 0.95 – 0.99. Anything above 0.8 is considered to be efficient. The bottom line being, a unit with PFC like the new Jasic machines are more efficient and more economical to run.

The benefits don’t end with efficiency. The Jasic PFC models produce smoother welds when compared to their predecessors. The Jasic PFC models now have a wide input voltage range from 95V to 265V. The inverter welder senses the power input and adjusts accordingly to compensate. It means that PFC machines can be run on both 110V and domestic 240V supplies much like the previous Jasic Arc 180 dual voltage. However, the wide input voltage range means that the users welds will not suffer adverse effects if the power supply to the welder is weak or strong. You would think that all power supplies are the same, they are not. In the middle of a city for example, a domestic power supply through your homes plug may be 240V or more. In the country, the power supply may be lower, perhaps towards 220V. In fact, In the UK, the declared voltage and tolerance for an electricity supply is 230 volts -6%, +10%. This gives an allowed voltage range of 216.2 volts to 253.0 volts.

So, put simply, Jasic PFC machines are more energy efficient than welding machines without. They also provide smoother welding characteristics and are suited for a range of power supplies. Jasic also now manufacture the MIG 200 PFC which unlike the others in the range, will run off both 230V and 110V supplies.

Find your perfect Jasic inverter on our website or contact us for more information.

Jasic True Colour Welding Headshield

Jasic has recently launched it's latest 'True Colour View' auto darkening welding and grinding helmet. The latest model offers smart microchip technology and a new external switch for selecting grind mode. This new technologically enhanced (Second Edition) welding/grinding helmet provides improved visibility, increased productivity and comes with a comprehensive 3 year ADF filter warranty.

 

You can purchase the Jasic JH-HDX welding helmet on the SCION SUPPLY website just click on this link.

Parweld XTS163 MMA Inverter Unboxed

Have a look at the Parweld XTS163 Inverter: 

This is a lightweight, compact welding inverter with LIFT-TIG Capability, 3 YEAR WARRANTY and NEXT DAY DELIVERY FOC!

Parweld's XTS 163 MMA Inverter also gives the user the ability to TIG weld. It comfortably burns electrodes up to 3.2mm diameter with ease. By fitting the optional TIG torch and coupling to a suitable gas supply, the XTS 163 can be used for TIG welding and is suitable for welding steel and stainless steel.

The lift arc mode limits the arc current when the tungsten touches the work piece preventing electrode damage. The XTS 163 is able to cope with inputs which fluctuate by +/- 15% and can be used with the majority of generators. The machine is housed in a rugged steel case. A carry case is available as an optional extra. MMA Inverter With Lift Tig Function, suitable for Light Industrial Manufacturing, Metal Fabrication, Maintenance Repair, Agricultural and DIY and Training.

Available on the Scion Supply Website here.

WHAT IS A COB LED?

Pictured: DRAPER 5W COB LED RECHARGEABLE WORK LIGHT WITH WIRELESS SPEAKER (YELLOW) 90004

COB stands for "Chip On Board".

It is possible to say that COB LEDs became available in the lighting market in about 2007. Initially the market was sceptical about the benefits of COB LEDs because the way they are constructed allowed LED manufacturers to put extremely high powered light sources in small package.

Like a lot of new technologies, there were teething problems, mainly associated with heat management and thermal resistance. though now several lifetime tests have shown that COB packages are very reliable, if heat management is done properly.

These issues have now been thoroughly resolved as demonstrated by the modern reality that every contemporary major LED manufacturer and package maker has COB LEDs as part of their product range.

What are the advantages?

COB packages present excellent uniformity of light from light emitting surface. This is important especially if you want to avoid multiple shadow effect, which often occurs with SMD based lighting solutions. COBs also display superior light distribution. The fact that they are a single light source results in longer battery life, so they are far more economical & better for the environment. From a technical perspective, COB LEDs are also much easier to test. You only need a COB LED constant current driver and a heat sink such as a piece of aluminium.

It is clear that COB LEDs have been very important development in the LED lighting business. This great innovation has allowed an increase in the potential power which can be used inside one LED package by an exponential amount.

See the full range of COB lighting solutions available from Scion Supply on our website where you can select a product for free of charge delivery direct to your door,

Above: COB LED Magnetic Work Light Rechargeable Inspection Torch Lamp Flexible Cordless 80966

What size space heater do I need to buy?

KEEPING WARM

Space heaters allow you to add targeted warmth directly where you need it. Simply find your ideal heat level on the thermostats and enjoy immediate warmth. Portable heaters are also ideal for rooms with inadequate heating or spaces where central heat can’t be installed. Here at Scion Supply we offer a broad range of heating solutions to suit every space.

Personal Space: Consider a personal heater like the Airmaster UFH2TN for under a desk or in an office cubicle. They heat small spaces quickly but shouldn't be used in large rooms. Make it even more personal with the Dimplex DDF250 Desktop Heater which even incorporates a USB port for charging your mobile phone or tablet.

Bedrooms/Offices: If you're looking to cool a standard bedroom or office, these heaters will do the trick. Have a look at the compact Airmaster CRMINI oil filled radiator which provides an instant flow of heat and is completely silent meaning it won't disturb your sleep during the night. If you're looking for something with a little more punch, the CR2T provides a maximum of 2000w of heat easily controlled via an adjustable room thermostat and a 24-hour timer with 15-minute segments.

Large Rooms/Basements: These heaters are designed to heat entire rooms and large spaces. Find the one that's best for your area; have a look at the the newly released Draper ESH2000E a 2kw space heater or the Faithfull Power Plus Ceramic Fan Heater

 

Ceramic heaters like the Faithfull Power Plus Ceramic Fan Heater use positive temperature coefficient (PTC) technology which gives a fast heat up time and, once the pre-set temperature is reached, the power goes on stand-by. It only cuts in again once the temperature drops below what was pre-set, thus saving electricity. Their emissivity rate (the degree at which material can emit electromagnetic waves) is high so the heat tends to last a long time in relation to the time required to reach the desired temperature. 

Garages, Workshops, Warehouses: When it comes to the largest areas, you need to look at our industrial space heaters like the Jetforce DSH1750 - a 175,000 BTU (51kw) diesel/kerosene space heater or, if you prefer Propane, the Jetforce PSH125SS Propane Mix Space Heater which provides 125,000 BTU (37kw) of heat.

Space Heater Sizing
It is important to purchase a room heater that’s rated for the approximate square footage or dimensions of your space. 

Why Heater Size is Important
An electric space heater that’s too large will consume more energy and lead to higher utility bills. The opposite is also true: buying a space heater that’s too small will simply fail to adequately heat your space.

Space Heater Square Footage Equation
You can determine the right size by using heater wattage output. As a rule of thumb, you'll need roughly 10 watts of heating power for every square foot of floor area in the room.

This means that a 1,500-watt heater can be the primary heat source for an area measuring up to 150 square feet. If it’s used as a supplemental heating source, however, it covers a much larger area.

Use this chart to determine the right power output required to heat your space:

WELDING FUME – CHANGES TO HSE CONTROL EXPECTATIONS

The Workplace Heath Expert Committee has endorsed the reclassification of mild steel welding fumes as a human carcinogen. Consequently, the HSE has strengthened its enforcement expectation for all welding fume, including mild steel welding and welding outdoors.

What does this mean for businesses?

General ventilation is no longer sufficient and changes are required with immediate effect. Previously welding fume extraction was not needed for outdoor welding or for short tasks such as tacking or minor repairs, however this is now no longer the case.

All businesses should ensure effective engineering controls are provided and correctly used to control fume arising from welding activities of any duration, including mild steel welding.

All exposure to any welding fume must be adequately controlled. Risk assessments should reflect the change to the expected control measures, and welders need to be suitably instructed and trained in the use of the controls. Where engineering control alone cannot control exposure, respiratory protection must be provided, for example in the form of a powered air respiratory system or a mask.

XR940A PAPR Welding Fume Respiratory Protection

Parweld’s XR940A Powered Air Purifying Respiratory System is ideal for situations where exposure risk still remains after other controls have been put in place, or for short-term or infrequent exposure such as outdoor welding.

It’s portable, compact and slim design offers comfortable, reliable protection, complete with a large view true colour welding helmet. Clever automatic control systems combined with three types of warning alarms ensure a safe, constant airflow for the operator.

Designed with the user in mind, the system features a simple one button control and clear user interface. The long life battery and the filter can be changed quickly and easily by hand. A contoured outer surface help to prevent snagging on other objects. Additional shoulder straps reduce the leverage effect that can cause PAPRs to feel heavy and unwieldy. Importantly, the operator can sit or lie down without obstruction to airflow.
“Regardless of duration, HSE will no longer accept any welding undertaken without any suitable exposure control measures in place, as there is no known level of safe exposure”
Scion Supply Ltd are a Parweld main distributor and have the XR940A in stock right now. Visit our on line shop to order your now!

For more information visit http://www.hse.gov.uk/safetybulletins/mild-steel-welding-fume.htm

Welding Cast Iron

Welding Cast Iron has quite a few potential pitfalls, but if done correctly, it’s not difficult.

Why is Welding Cast Iron problematic

The key reason why welding cast iron can be problematic is the high carbon content. During the welding process, this carbon migrates into the weld metal and/or the heat affected zone adjacent to the weld metal, causing elevated hardness/brittleness. This is how Cast Iron gets its reputation for post weld cracking.

Process for Welding Cast Iron

Gas Welding heats the Cast Iron slower than Arc based processes and the flame is lower temperature than an arc. This means Carbon migration is not normally a problem. Use of a proprietary Cast iron Gas Welding rod is important. The only real downsides to Gas Welding Cast Iron is the amount of heat needed if components are large. Gas Welding is also a slow process.

Arc/Stick Welding is, arguably, the best all-round process for Welding Cast Iron, provided the correct welding rods are used. Cast iron Welding Rods have a special Graphite rich flux, this graphite chemically ties up the Carbon in the Cast Iron, limiting migration into the weld metal and heat affected zone. There are two common types of Cast iron Welding Rod, Ferro-Nickel and Pure Nickel. Ferro-Nickel are typically 53% Steel and 47% Nickel. Ferro-Nickel Rods are cheaper than pure Nickel and are ideal for welding Cast Iron to Steel. Pure Nickel will produce a softer, more malleable weld deposit. I would advocate using Ferro-Nickel, unless the job specifically requires Pure Nickel.

Mig Welding is, in my opinion, not a great way to weld Cast Iron. Whilst there are specialist Flux Cored Wires available, unless you have a repeating application that you can create a procedure for, I would not advocate Mig Welding Cast iron.

Tig Welding is not considered a suitable process for Welding Cast Iron. An open arc process such as Tig offers no opportunity to mitigate Carbon migration.

Welding Techniques

Gas Welding – There are no specific techniques that need to be deployed.

Arc/Stick Welding – All of the following are important:

Prep the job with a ‘U’ shaped groove, avoid sharp corners as this can lead to heat build up which will exacerbate carbon migration.

Use the correct type of welding rod.
Ensure the component is AT LEAST at room temperature, adding a small amount of pre-heat will help, but you only need the component to be warm to the touch.
Limit the amount of welding done in one run. As a rule of thumb, do not put down a continuous run that has a length greater than 10x the diameter of the welding rod being used. Having said that, it’s ok to put down multiple runs in different parts of the component (see graphic in next item). Eg, if repairing a 300mm crack with a 3.2mm rod, you can weld a run of 32mm, then do another 32mm run in another part of the crack. Avoid letting the weld area get too hot, this is the purpose of short runs.
If you’re repairing crack, run a bead across each end of the crack to avoid the crack spreading further.

Keep the welding rod vertical, not at an angle, like you would for most stick welding.
Don’t expect to weld cast iron quickly, the key is to take you time and do it properly.

I hope you found this blog article about Welding Cast Iron useful, if things work out well for you, please feel free to post some pictures of your achievements on our Facebook Page or tweet us @ScionSupply

Please let me know what you thought of this article by leaving a comment. Don’t worry, your email address won’t be added to a database or shared and you won’t receive any unsolicited email.

If you need cast iron electrodes, both main types are available on our website

Overcoming the Pain of Weeding in the Garden!

Weeding is a real pain, right? Often this is a literal fact as well as a metaphorical one! Well I currently have access to a product I had not previously been aware of that makes weeding much less of a pain. I have a good stock at the moment, but these weeders are so well priced I expect them to sell out fairly quickly so you'd better get your order in quick.


Sievert are well known for being a world leading manufacturer specialising in high-quality heating tools for professionals. Sievert has been in business for more than 130 years and today works together with customers in more than 50 countries all over the world. Sievert's offering contains top-quality products for any type of soldering, brazing or heating task. Sievert strive for continuous innovation in the development of their products with new technologies and designs.

After quite literally years of fighting my own Infinity War with the weeds on my patio, using every method I could find, from weed killing chemicals to patio scrubbers to pressure washers, the Sievert Gardener was a bit of a break-through for me!

In fact, weed fighting with heat is nothing new. It has been used by professional gardeners for a long time. With this method weeds on patios, terraces and paved paths, kerbs and so on, can be treated in a non-toxic and environmentally friendly way.

You simply sweep the burner slowly about 5cm above the weeds. The plant should be heated - not burnt. The heating causes the cell walls in the plant to burst and the plant dies of drying out. A simple procedure to check that this has taken place is to press a leaf between the fingertips. This should leave a dark green fingerprint. After two to three days the leaves will have completely wilted and all you need to do is to sweep up and compost. The treatment is most effective in the Spring when the plants are small and have a limited resistance. The treatment must be repeated a couple of weeks apart during the planting season. A final treatment late in Autumn is also useful to destroy the seeds which will become next years weeds.

Order yours now at Scion Supply's great new e-commerce web site, which accepts Paypal payments as well as all major credit and debit cards and get the Sievert Gardener delivered to you next day with reliable tracked home delivery from our delivery partners DPD.

The Sievert Gardener is not suitable for use on lawns however and if you enjoy gardening, but want to save your back and knees a bit of strain, you might also be interested in this Garden Kneeler which combines the functions of a garden kneeler, stool and storage box in one. The Garden Kneeler allows you to kneel in cushioned comfort or turn it over to sit at the correct height for many gardening chores. Manufactured from a heavy-duty, impact resistant plastic frame, with an inset rubber seat and integral foam kneeler. The stool's cleverly designed legs have integrated hand grips, that serve as supporting arms to assist you when kneeling down or standing up again. The under seat storage compartment is useful for storing secateurs, gloves or other small hand tools. This dual-purpose kneeler is especially useful if the ground is wet or muddy, but it also has multiple uses around the home when working while sitting or kneeling is required. Check out both products in our Gardening Tool section at Scion Supply.

Launching our on-line shop

Screen shot from the new Scion website with on-line shopping facility

I have finally managed to find the time to finalise the Scion Supply on-line shop and making it activating payment methods and setting it to "live".

I really hope this will provide an opportunity for us to broaden our customer reach. We have worked hard to develop a product range that works over the last few years and these products are obviously now available to purchase on our website as well as in our Ebay store.

I have tried to maintain visual continuity through the two sites in terms of images. Our carefully selected range of products reflects our experience dealing with face-to-face engineers and mechanics, learning their preferences, what works and what does not work.

The main challenge with on-line stuff is getting the product uploaded. It can feel like something you are doing continually and it is a challenge to keep up with the day-to-day business tasks and get time to catalogue and upload product details. I've found doing a few a day helps.

In particular, I have a couple of new products I am selling on-line which are quite interesting. In this post I want to introduce you to this simple tool: PipeStrip.

PipeStrip is a really clever idea thought up to deal with a specific task. If you've ever been on site and had to strip paint from copper pipes you will know what a tough job it is. It usually involves a sharp blade, like a Stanley knife blade, and a lot of elbow grease!

Stripping is time consuming and hard work, so someone has had the clever idea of PipeStrip - a light-weight, handy tool specifically designed to make the stripping of paint from 15 & 22mm copper pipes easy.

To use, you simply place the curved blade of PipeStrip over the pipe at the point where you plan to make the cut. With your free hand, press the blade firmly into the paint so that it 'bites'. Maintaining pressure on the blade, push & pull PipeStrip along the pipe to clean about 5cm on either side of the central point, so that you strip approximately 10cm of pipe.

Turn PipeStrip as you work to clean the sides and back of the pipe - PipeStrip is flat enough to help you reach the back. It really is essential for any tool box!

If you visit the page in our on-line store and scroll through the pictures you will see a video we have uploaded about the tool, how handy it is and how to use it.

Thanks for taking the time to read this blog. Please do visit the new shop and let us know what you think in the comments below.

GDPR Deadline

The GDPR ( European General Data Protection Regulation) deadline is 25th May 2018

GDPR regulation for small businesses is a hot topic, Most businesses hold data on individuals which falls under the scope of the new regulation.

If you do use or store personal information, and this information relates to someone that can be identified, you are referred to in the Act as a ‘data controller’.

The government has confirmed that Brexit will not affect the GDPR start date, or its immediate running. It’s also confirmed that post-Brexit, the UK’s own law (or a newly-proposed Data Protection Act) will directly mirror the GDPR.

If your organisation deals with personal data, you must ensure that you consistently act in accordance with the eight key principles set out in the Data Protection Act.
1. Personal data must be processed fairly and lawfully

This is among the most important requirements of the Act. In order to comply, you must provide individuals with the name of your business, and details of the purpose for which their information will be used. You should make it clear that the individual can access and correct the information that you hold about them.

Crucially, you must also tell them if the information will be used in any way that is not immediately obvious. For example, you must tell the individual if their details will be passed on to credit reference agencies.
2. Personal data must be processed for specified lawful purposes

You must have a specified, lawful reason for collecting data; you cannot simply collect it speculatively. Furthermore, you cannot use the data collected for another, “incompatible” or unlawful purpose.
3. Personal data must be adequate, relevant and not excessive

You should only collect the bare minimum; you may not collect information that is not immediately relevant to the specified purpose, and you may not collect more information than you need.
4. Personal data must be accurate and up to date

Any information you hold must be factually accurate, and updated where necessary. Depending on the nature of your business, you may need to develop mechanisms that allow individuals to update their details quickly.
5. Personal data must not be kept for any longer than is necessary

If the purpose for which you collected the data is time-limited, you must ensure that the data is not retained once it is no longer needed. Where applicable, you should tell individuals how long the data is likely to be retained for.
6. Personal data must be processed in accordance with the rights of individuals

The Act sets out the rights of individuals, as well as the responsibilities of data controllers. You should make sure that you understand these rights, and act in accordance with them.
7. Personal data must be kept secure

You must take adequate steps to ensure the security of the data. This means that it should be safe from tampering, loss, or unlawful processing. You may need to develop both technical and organisational processes to help you deal with this obligation.
8. Personal data must not be transferred outside the European Economic Area without adequate protection

Data may only be transferred out of the EEA if the country to which it is being transferred has adequate legal protection for individuals and their details.

As well as ensuring that you abide by the eight key principles, you may also be required to notify the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) of your activities. The Act works on the basis that all data controllers are required to notify, but some exemptions are available. If you are not exempt but you fail to notify the ICO, you risk prosecution.

You may be exempt from the notification requirement if:
you only process data for the purposes of: staff administration; payroll; advertising, marketing and PR that are directly related to your own business activities; or accounts and record-keeping
yours is a not-for-profit organisation
data is only being processed for personal, family, or household affairs
you only process data in order to maintain a public register
or if no automated system, like a computer, is used in the processing of data

You can use the ICO’s online checker tool to see if your business is exempt from registration.

If you do need to register, you can do this on the ICO website. Registration generally costs £35 per year.

If you don’t comply with the Data Protection Act, you could face serious penalties, including a fine of up to £500,000. If you are in doubt, seek advice from the Information Commissioner’s Office, or from an independent legal professional.

Please take a moment to check out our website for tools, welding plant and consumables, fasteners, and a wide range of industrial products.

Website Changes

Over the Christmas period I have been working on the Scion Supply website.

I haven't looked at it since I knocked up a quick template in October 2016 and hurriedly published it online. A lot of customers ask if you have a website, so I acknowledge it is important to have an online presence, although for my type of business, I'm not sure how much actual business you get from a site. At least let's say I am willing to be convinced!

I've really enjoyed what I have learned and have been slowly putting up some product linked to our Ebay store, so customers can purchase immediately online, as well as some informative videos and some details about the weld purging products we sell.

We have also started selling Diadora Safety Work Wear and this really clever first aid kit that you fit into your hard hat called E-FAB.

Please do check out the Scion Supply website and let me know if you have any comments or advice.

New LED Lighting Installation in Top London School

Working with organisations in order to reduce their carbon footprint is something we specialise in. The photos here show the staff break out area of a top London school before and after we installed 32 watt LED panels last week.

Photo one shows the existing lights which give’s at 700mm height from FFL 328 Lux’s using 1.1Kw of power (approx. 0.15p per hour).

Photo two shows the newly installed lights complete with 0.10V dimming and give’s at 700mm from FFL on full 98% dimming 845 Lux’s using 0.44Kw of power. (approx. 0.06p per hour).

I'm sure you'll agree the difference is quite marked, and obviously, as well as improved lighting & performance, customers also benefit from much cheaper running costs and longevity. The longevity is a result of less heat loss from the fitting, which is the main reason for failure of light fittings.

If you are interested in seeing how much you could save in this way, please call me on 01268 523 245 to arrange a survey. We will look at your current lighting and energy usage and provide a detailed report on what options are available to you in terms of cost savings and lower carbon footprint for changing your lighting to more energy efficient fittings.

BREXIT

I'm a real Europhile. I love being "European" and I'm not particularly seduced by nationalist feelings, perhaps due to my mixed heritage. But even given that, I can't see what benefit there is to staying in the EU, an organisation which seems to contradict so many of the moral and social principles I hold dear, aims at federalism when I value subsidiarity, and hasn't had any audited accounts for 20 years!! The only arguments I've heard for staying in boil don't to "bad things will happen if we leave". I don't buy it. We're a net contributor, we'll make a net saving by not buying in. For example, we are the 4th largest importer of BMW. Are you seriously telling me that Germany will want to jeopardise that market place?

The Magic Sales Ingredient

This week I have been out of the office quite a lot visiting clients and have seen reasonable success. Obviously this is a great boost to my motivation levels as well as the performance of the business.

I have always had a knack at sales and know that, when I want to I can, as my dear Mother is fond of saying, sell snow to the eskimos.

But there's more to my approach than just clever persuasive techniques.

I start by finding out how a customer's business works. I am really interested in what my customers do, what they produce and how they make it. My fascination with the manufacturing process allows me to contextualise what they are doing and make suggestions as to what we might do to improve their process. You see my goal is not to simply sell as much stuff to a customer as possible, but to form a long-term business relationship which is mutually profitable. L&B Technical Services Ltd must add value to our clients. If we do, we succeed, our customers succeed, everyone wins.

Developing a thorough understanding of customer's processes make L&B Technical Service Ltd better at adding value to their businesses.

This ability to find a synergy between two organisations is such an unusual approach in practice that it often takes clients some time to recognise that it is genuine. They can think it is some kind of strange scam. Why would a potential supplier be interesting in helping them? To me, the question is why would a potential supplier not be interested in helping their clients?

Can this knack be passed on? I'm not sure it can. You have to have a will to help people; it has to be one of your main motivations. You have to have an interest in manufacturing processes and a desire to innovate. You have to have integrity in your approach—what you know and what you say must be the truth. The products and services you offer must genuinely improve the process noticeably for the customer. And you have to be motivated to do this, because even when you are good at it, sales is 90% motivation. If you can stay motivated even when you are having a bad day, you know it is just a numbers game. Even when nothing is working, you just have to play the numbers, make a few more calls, and you will find someone who needs some help.

If you would like us to take a detailed look at your manufacturing process, wether it is welding or mechanical, whether you are interested in welding plant, automation, abrasives, weld purging, fasteners, or hand and power tools, just give us a ring and we will pop down and meet up!

If you think I have described you perfectly and you're interested in furthering your career in sales with a company that puts people before profit, get in touch and arrange a meeting.

To see an overview of the products and services L&B Technical provide, take a look at our website here.

EV's Get a Boost

Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin will today announce the first ‘Go Ultra Low Cities’ set to share a total £40 million Government budget for improved electric car infrastructure.

The eight champion cities were chosen after each pledged innovative ideas as part of an initiative that will deliver cutting-edge technology to millions of motorists. The ideas include rapid charging hubs, street lighting that can double as electric car charge points, and special privileges for plug-in car drivers – like exclusive access to previously restricted bus lanes.

See full article here.

This is a positive move if we are to meet our target commitment with regard to the environment. Conventional electricity is responsible for 30% of Britain’s carbon emissions – it’s our biggest single source as a nation – and therefore the biggest single thing we can change. Whatever the current situation, we need to move forward with energy generation and find new and sustainable ways of powering our society. To make this change, we need governments to incentivise projects like electric vehicle (EVs) roll out. The biggest thing stalling the growth of the EV market is range anxiety, therefore investment in infrastructure is essential.

I would very much like to run an electric fleet at L&B Technical Services Ltd and as part of our commitment through ISO 14001 we are constantly evaluating out environmental impact and considering ways in which we can reduce our carbon footprint. It is obvious to me that vehicles are the most effective area we can address. To that end, we have recently ordered our first electric vehicle. Depending on our experience with that, we may soon be all electric!

Keeping Focus: On or In the Business?

I'm puzzling over a bit of a dilemma this weekend.

I have two distinct aspects to my business born of the expertise of myself and my co-director. The organisation was set up as an engineering firm, but as I have become increasingly involved, and since I sold my shares in another company I owned which sold tools and engineering supplies, I have been increasingly interested in developing a sales dimension to L&B Technical Services Ltd, using our expertise to supply tools and welding consumables to trade, industry and commerce in the South East of England and up the East Coast (Suffolk/ Northamptonshire/ Linciolnshire/ Herefordshire/ Peterborough/ Norfolk). A couple of years ago now I merged a third business I own with L&B Technical Services Ltd, which also sells engineering and welding products. Obviously this is an allied area of industry and there are distinct advantages to the amalgamation in terms of sourcing product.

We have secured some important distributorships, notably Huntingdon Fusion Techniques superb range of Pipe Purging Equipment and Kemppi, probably the most popular brand of welding plant in the world today!

Our engineering function is currently much larger than our supplies function, but I would like to see that change and have been dabbling quite a bit, employing different sales people and admin staff to see if I could find someone who would really make it roar ahead. I haven't.

In fact the sales thing is quite extraordinary. How does one find a decent sales person these days? Even with my extensive connections in the marketplace, I don't even know anyone good enough to poach even if I could! I think the model used to be that someone would join a trade counter and learn about products and services, eventually seeking promotion to field sales. Things are very different today with on-line buying and the job of the sales rep seems largely redundant. Still, the same old players are out there earning a living, so there must be something to say for the tried and tested way of doing things.

So now I face a dilemma. I could just leave the sales function bubbling along as it is and through all my energy and commitment into the engineering aspect of the business, or I could do what I do best and get out there and sell to the customers myself. This would be fun and I know I can do it, but can I continue to effectively work on the Company and work in it at the same time? Taking your eye off the ball can be the worst mistake anyone makes in business, but does getting more involved with the work of the Company mean taking my eye off the ball or being more on it?

Another part of the equation is that I feel quite stagnant in the office. I would like to get out and about and shake things up a bit; see where I can take it. It could be a healthy and valuable change for me to get out a bit and see the customers, after all who has more passion and belief in L&B Technical Services Ltd and the products we supply than me?

If you would like to know more about the products and services we offer at L&B Technical Services Ltd, please do not hesitate to call and arrange a meeting, or check out our website here for mechanical and electrical engineering, facilities maintenance and engineering consultancy and here for hand and power tools, fixings and fasteners, abrasives, welding plant and consumable and other allied products.

High Level Lighting Project in the City

Energy efficiency is becoming an increasing priority for businesses these days, especially with more and more Companies insisting conformance to the ISO 14001 standards. This accreditation (obtained by L&B Technical Services Ltd in 2013) allows your organisation to demonstrate that environmental impact is something carefully considered and that you are putting in place systems that will not only benefit the environment but will also reduce costs and improve efficiency within the organisation.

L&B Technical Services Ltd are keen to exploit new technology to bring about these benefits, and consider it part of the service we offer to be constantly looking at new technologies and advising customers of ways in which it can be utilised to achieve cost savings and energy efficiency.

One of the simplest ways to do this is by evaluating your lighting, what kind of lighting you are using and how it is programmed. Last weekend, one of the jobs we were involved in was just such a project for one of the most prestigious banks in the City of London.

The project involved analysing the high level lobby lighting and presenting a plan for more efficient usage programme. We replaced 19 high level light fittings and replaced them with Zumtobel LED light fittings, new LCMs and reprogrammed the lighting to run at 80% during daylight hours and 50% during night time hours for energy efficiency. Of course, we had to erect a scaffold to enable us to reach the lighting, and the whole project had to be completed within out of hours time, so that it was complete when the work for returned on Monday morning.

If you are interested in what savings L&B Technical Services Ltd can achieve for your organisation, or want help or advise regarding the broad range of electrical and mechanical engineering services we are able to offer, please do not hesitate to contact me directly on our office number: 01268 523 245

Corporation Tax

It is now four years since Private Eye pointed out that the 2010 takeover of Cadbury by US food conglomerate Kraft wiped out the group's tax bill using "weird and wonderful organisations including a Dutch limited partnership...and a US limited liability corporation..." The Sunday Times reports that the group is still not paying a bean in tax.

More than five years after he became chancellor, and long after he called aggressive tax avoidance "morally repugnant", it's pretty embarrassing for George Osborne that a major company operating so profitably should pay no UK tax, HM Revenue & Customs may also expect tough questions on why it appears not to be enforcing laws that it ought at least to limit such avoidance.

If politicians want to plead the immorality of tax avoidance, they must first make the case for the morality of state taxation, for the arbitrary way in which taxes are legislated and implemented and for the concessions that the taxman is allowed to make to some taxpayers. Only then will it be valid to criticise people who arrange their affairs in such a way as to avoid tax.

Field Sales Manager Vacancy

L&B Technical Services Ltd is a dynamic, growing wholesale supplier of industrial consumables to major industry. The Company’s success is a result of the implementation of a unique strategy which builds strong relationships with leading international manufacturers, and offers unparalleled service to our clients. 

L&B Technical Services has a unique attitude to staff which focuses on recognising talent & nurturing it, inspiring & motivating individuals to get the best from them. We firmly believe that success comes from building a strong, happy team of motivated and talented individuals who are committed to achieving. Our Company strategy is born of an intellectual conviction that labour takes precedence over capital, people are more important than things, and that work is more than just an activity or commodity; it is an essential dimension of human nature. L&B Technical Services functions on an integral ideology which encourages and fosters the dignity of every human being.

As the Company continues to grow and expand, a fantastic and unique opportunity has arisen for a Field Sales Engineer based at our exciting new premises, ideally located in the busy industrial centre of Basildon, Essex.

Having led the independent market for over twenty years, the directors of L&B Technical are now beginning a new chapter of development for the Company. An unprecedented three year run of success and growth has opened the door to an experienced Sales Executive to cover the local area, with opportunities for further development throughout the South East.

You will be selling an extensive portfolio of products including Welding Plant and Consumables with the full back up of leading manufacturers, including Kemppi, GYS, Migatronic and HFT. You will also be required to develop sales of Weld Purging Equipment, Abrasives, Hand and Power Tools and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Our target markets are Industrial Fabrication organisations, Aerospace, Manufacturing, Process Engineering, Construction, Facilities Maintenance, Pipeline and Sheet Metal sectors. Our approach is to find the best product for the client and sell it based on it’s features and benefits, suitability, and the value it will add for them.

L&B has an extensive presence in the City of London as well as a base in Peterborough. 

The Candidate
The Field Sales Engineer will have a passion for welding technology and process. A previous experience and a successful track record of networking, developing new business, sales and account management, and deep knowledge of market as it relates to Welding Plant & Consumables, Abrasive Products, Hand & Power Tools, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). You will be a tenacious individual looking for career advancement, self-motivated and target-driven, who thrives on working within a fast paced and rapidly changing environment, building client relationships & delivering continued improvement.

The Package
As Field Sales Engineer you will be rewarded with a basic salary of between £25,000 and £35,000, (This is negotiable based on previous experience with the possibility of a higher base for a truly exceptional candidate) with a generous, uncapped commission structure bringing OTE to around £45,000. Benefits include Pension, car, laptop and phone.

We are looking for an individual who is interested in joining a dynamic team at a key moment in development. You will have an extensive customer base with a proven track record of success in the industry. You will be working alongside the directors under your own initiative in order to grow the business in an environment where success will be richly rewarded. You will join the directors in sourcing new manufacturers and developing relationships with international suppliers and manufacturers as well as customers.

Don’t miss out on this wonderful opportunity! Apply now!

If this sounds like the right opportunity for you, contact us immediately and we will arrange an interview.

Job Title - Field Sales Engineer
Products - Industrial Consumables including Welding Equipment, Welding Supplies, Abrasive Equipment, Power Tools, PPE, Personal Protective Equipment
Location - Primarily Essex/ Suffolk/ Kent but not fixed.

Package - £25,000-£35,000 basic AAE, uncapped OTE £45,000, Pension, Car, Laptop, Phone.

To apply, send your email to info@landbtechnical.com or using LinkedIn.

Parliament's Christmas Tree! - L&B To be on the BBC

Post by L&B Technical Services Ltd.