Friday, 27 January 2012
Granwax commits to raising industry standard as part of the British Wood Flooring Association
Expert
floor finish company, Alfreton-based Granwax Products Limited, is helping to
shape the future of the British flooring industry with the development of the
first industry-recognised organisation, the British Wood Flooring Association.
Developed
in partnership with ten other companies, the British Wood Flooring Association
(BWFA) has been created to raise the standards of the wood flooring industry through
education and training. For installers
and suppliers, membership to the BWFA demonstrates a commitment to upholding
the highest standards of craftsmanship in both the installation process and
product aftercare. The Association also
acts as an independent reference point for customers who want a top quality
product, together with guaranteed peace of mind.
“The
UK
flooring industry has never been standardised nor had a representative trade
body. At Granwax Products we knew it was
vital to the future of the industry that such an organisation should be
established, both as an impartial resource for customers and to improve
industry standards through specialist training,” explains Carl Blythe, Director
of Granwax Products Limited.
“It
is extremely important to us that other companies and, more importantly,
flooring contractors, embrace the Association.
Not only will it demonstrate their dedication to maintaining and raising
industry standards, but also to give their customers and distributors the
reassurance that they are receiving the best products and service on the
market,” continues Carl.
Since
its inception the BWFA is going from strength to strength with the opening of
its own training facility in Birmingham. The specialist education facility for
installers and finishers is helping to raise the standards of the industry, as
well as ensuring future generations have the correct skills to maintain, and
improve on, the benchmarks that have already been set.
“Going
forward we hope the BWFA will act as an industry mark of quality workmanship
our members will be able to display, and which customers will recognise as a
sign that they will receive only the highest standards of skill and service,”
adds Carl.
For
further information about Granwax Products Limited, please visit www.granwax.com or call 01773 541177. To find out more about the British Wood
Flooring Association, please go to www.bwfa.co.uk
or call 01788 522171.
# posted by Freestyle PR : 10:30
Thursday, 26 January 2012
Does your washing machine smell as fresh as you’d like?
Do you ever open the door to your
washing machine expecting the smell of freshly washed clothes but are instead
met by a fusty, damp odour? Smelly washing machines are not only unpleasant but
they can also transfer bad smells to clothes, meaning they have to be rewashed.
But don’t worry; there is an easy, inexpensive and effective way to eliminate
bad smells from your machine using traditional Soda Crystals, Citric Acid and
White Vinegar!
Washing machines emitting bad odours
are usually the result of a build up of bacteria, often resulting from using
cooler wash temperatures and gentler washing powders. Warmth from central
heating can also cause the bacteria to grow more easily.
To eliminate smells, scum, detergent
and grime from your machine simply add half a bag of Soda Crystals, split
between the detergent drawer and the drum and run the machine empty on a 60
degree cycle, or higher if there is a significant smell. This will raise the PH
of the water and help to wash away the smell-causing bacteria.
If you are in a hard water area, it is
recommended to repeat this process using either 500ml of White Vinegar or a
packet of Citric Acid to which will remove limescale build up and complete the
cleaning process.
Not only will Soda Crystals, White
Vinegar and Citric Acid eradicate bad smells in your washing machine, they will
lower the power consumption of the machine by descaling the element.
Citric Acid is available from John Lewis, Soda Crystals and White Vinegar
are available from supermarkets nationwide.
For further information on Citric Acid, Soda Crystals and White Vinegar,
please visit www.dri-pak.co.uk
or contact Dri-Pak directly on (0115) 9325165.
Labels: Citric Acid, Dri-Pak, Soda Crystals, Washing Machine, white vinegar
# posted by Freestyle PR : 09:30
Wednesday, 25 January 2012
A quality manege is the key to competition success
Mansfield
Sand and Bagforce Ltd discuss the importance of a well constructed manège –
from foundation to surface
Training
a competition horse at any level requires time, hard work and dedication. However, without the correct equipment even
the best horse will not reach its full potential. A surefooted manège is one element crucial to
the successful development of both horse and rider, whilst also helping to
reduce the risk of injuries and strains.
“Ensuring
you have the most suitable manège for your needs from the surface down is vital
to the training of any horse and rider, and especially so for competition
horses,” explains Louise Barrington-Earp, Equestrian Technical Specialist at
Mansfield Sand, a leading supplier of equestrian surfaces. “However, the drainage base is just as
important as the surface when it comes to creating a first-class manège. This is why it is imperative to work closely
with our customers from the outset to determine their requirements and provide
them with the best surface possible.”
Sally-Ann
Tucker is one such customer who, due to the nature of her business, Bagforce
Ltd, and her competitive dressage riding experience understands the importance
of a well-constructed, tailored arena more than most.
“Bagforce
Ltd is a specialist supplier of aggregate and one of our key sectors is the
equestrian industry,” says Sally, Joint-Director of Bagforce. “Our aggregates are used to create free
draining manèges as well as being used on many cross-country courses.
“However,
although the base construction is crucial the surface plays an equally
important role in creating a top quality manège, which is why we recommend
Mansfield Sand products to our customers,” continues Sally.
Sally
also owns two horses, which regularly compete in Medium Level Dressage
competitions with Sally and her daughter.
“I
have been a personal customer of Mansfield Sand for a while using their Equine
Rubber on my manège at home. I initially
chose Mansfield Sand because of its reputation and locality, and since then it
is also the quality of its products, as well as customer service,
which
has impressed me,” adds Sally. “My
daughter and I use our manège on a daily basis so it is subjected to a lot of
wear and tear, but since using Mansfield Sand it has remained stable and
requires only the minimum amount of maintenance. This is why I feel comfortable
recommending the company to Bagforce equestrian clients.”
Labels: Bagforce, Manege, Mansfield Sand
# posted by Freestyle PR : 09:30
Tuesday, 24 January 2012
Mansfield Sand strengthens team with new sports surface manager
Mansfield Sand Company Limited has
today announced that it is strengthening its Mansfield-based team with the
appointment of Mark Robinson as Sports Surface Manager.
Mark, who has over 25 years
experience of the sports industry, started his career as a YTS apprentice at
Sheffield Wednesday’s training ground undertaking a range of maintenance jobs
as well as learning about every aspect of turf management. At the end of the apprenticeship Sheffield
Wednesday offered Mark a full-time position from which he worked up to the role
of Assistant Groundsman at Hillsborough Stadium.
In 1997 Mark moved to Derby County
Football Club as Head Groundsman three months before the team unveiled its new Pride Park
stadium. As well as preparing the Ground
for Premiership, Euro ’96, England Under 21’s, and England International matches,
Mark was instrumental in the development of Derby County’s
training facility at Moor Farm. He was
also awarded the prestigious Institute
of Groundsmanship’s
Professional Groundsman of the Year Award in 2000.
After leaving Derby
County in 2006, Mark joined Rigby
Taylor as its East Midland’s representative working with clubs such as Nottingham Forest;
Derby County;
Sheffield Wednesday; Notts County; Burton Albion; and Chesterfield.
“I have had a good working relationship
with Mansfield Sand for over 20 years, having managed Fibresand pitches at both
Sheffield Wednesday, which was one of the first clubs in the country to install
a Fibresand pitch, and of course Derby
County.
Jon Boulton, Managing Director of
Mansfield Sand, comments, “Mark’s extensive knowledge of the industry and
previous role as a Groundsman make him perfectly suited to this role. His ability to advise clubs on the best
products based on his own experiences, rather than simply as a “salesman”, has
already gained him respect from many of our clients and contacts.
“His ‘hands on’ approach will also be
of great benefit to both us and our customers,” adds Jon.
For
further information about Mansfield Sand Company Ltd and the products and
services it supplies, please visit www.mansfield-sand.co.uk
or call 01623 622441.
Labels: Mansfield Sand, Mark Robinson
# posted by Freestyle PR : 11:08
Monday, 23 January 2012
Walking in a fresher smelling winter wonderland thanks to Dri-Pak!
Whether
you are a seasoned skier or a snowboarding beginner, you will rely heavily on
your boots and ski clothes to keep you warm and protected. However, daily wear for a one, or even two,
week holiday and exposure to all kinds of extreme weather conditions can take
their toll. However, by following these tips
and using two traditional cleaning products, your ski clothes and boots will
look, and smell, like new for your next winter wonderland getaway!
First
let’s tackle the boots. At the end of
any trip and before you store your boots away, remove the inner boots and allow
them to dry completely. Once they are
dry, replace them and fasten the clips on a loose setting. To deodorise, place a few tablespoons of
Bicarbonate of Soda into two clean socks, tied at the top and place one in each
boot. You can also add a couple of drops
of an essential oil, such as lemongrass, to give your boots a pleasant citrus fragrance. Any smells will be absorbed by the
Bicarbonate of Soda and will disappear without the need for artificial perfumes
or expensive sprays.
Most winter sports clothing is made
from specialist materials that work to repel moisture and protect you from the wind,
whilst also being “breathable”, releasing unwanted sweat and moisture. By washing these clothes in a washing machine
you risk damaging their special fabrics.
Normal washing powders and fabric conditioners can also cause a build up
of detergent which damages the coating of a garment, reducing its long term
performance and usefulness.
There are a number of expensive “specialist”
products on the market that can help protect your ski and snowboarding
clothes. However, when it comes to washing
them simple and economical Liquid Soap Flakes will clean the delicate
micro-fibre fabrics without removing any protective sealants on the fabrics.
Your skiing gear is now ready to be
stored away, smell-free, until your next holiday. Just remember to remove the Bicarbonate of
Soda from your boots before next you wear them!
Liquid
Soap Flakes are available from Tesco and Waitrose, and Bicarbonate of Soda can
be purchased from Wilkinsons, John Lewis, and Savers. For further information about Bicarbonate
of Soda and Liquid Soap Flakes, and for more tips, visit www.dri-pak.co.uk or call 0115 932 5165.
Labels: bicarbonate of soda, Dri-Pak, Liquid Soap Flakes, Ski Boots, Ski Clothing, Skiing gear, snowboarding gear
# posted by Freestyle PR : 10:48
Friday, 20 January 2012
Gregoire Besson UK appoints new storeman
Gregoire
Besson UK
has expanded its Bourne-based team with the appointment of a new Storeman,
Bertie Wynne.
Bertie,
aged 19, is responsible for the management of the company’s store room, as well
as assisting with the fitting and maintenance of machinery that arrives at the
company’s head quarters before being forwarded to the customer. Gregoire Besson UK (GB UK) also rents office
and storage space to Horsch at their new Lincolnshire site, and Bertie is
responsible for managing their store as well, dividing his time equally between
the two companies.
With
a background that includes working as a window and conservatory fitter; a
supermarket assistant; and a garage mechanic, it was Bertie’s time spent on Dodd’s farm in Graby Lincolnshire in 2010 that really confirmed
which industry he wanted to work in.
“I
am passionate about mechanics, but I also loved the time I spent working on the
farm so when I saw the advertisement for this position at Gregoire Besson UK I
had to apply!” explains Bertie.
“I
have been here for nearly three months and I am enjoying every minute. Not only does it allow me to combine my two
passions, but working for both GB UK and Horsch means my role is very
varied. It also gives me the opportunity
to learn new skills alongside people who have extensive experience of the
industry, which I’m looking forward to,” adds Bertie.
This
latest appointment ends a successful year for Gregoire Besson UK, which has seen the company move into its
purpose-designed headquarters on Spalding
Road in Bourne, Lincolnshire; celebrate its 20th
anniversary; and the retirement of Managing Director, Bill Immink.
“It
has been a busy but fantastic 2011 for us and we are delighted to welcome
Bertie on board at this exciting time,” says Rob Immink, Managing Director of
Gregoire Besson UK.
“His
knowledge of mechanics and passion for the farming industry really made him
stand out for the 90 applicants we had for the position. He has already proved to be an invaluable
member of the team and we’re sure he will have a bright and long future here at
Gregoire Besson UK,”
adds Rob.
For
further information on Gregoire Besson UK, please visit www.gregoire-besson.co.uk or call
01778 423787.
Labels: GBUK, gregoire besson
# posted by Freestyle PR : 10:42
Thursday, 19 January 2012
Looking to the past for a cleaner future!
A brief history of Soda Crystals and Soap Flakes
Traditional
cleaning methods and products are enjoying a resurgence of late. This may be because they are perceived as
being more natural than their modern day counterparts, or perhaps we yearn for
a simpler way of life. Whatever the
reason, products such as Soda Crystals and Soap Flakes are once again being
added to shopping lists – but where do these products come from and are they
really as good as our grandparents said they were?
Soda Crystals
Soda
Crystals – also
known as Washing Soda – have been recognised for centuries as an effective and
efficient means of cleaning. Their
correct name is Sodium Carbonate which in the UK is derived from minerals that
are quarried locally.
Around 150 years ago, at the height of the
Victorian shift from an agricultural to an industrial economy, there was a mass
migration of people from the countryside to the sprawling cities. With this shift came the demand for new
products that better suited the tough, and often grimy, urban lifestyle and
Soda Crystal plants began to emerge in several of the larger towns and cities
to serve the needs of the local populations.
However,
it was not just town dwellers that relied on the effective cleaning power of
Soda Crystals. At the turn of the 20th
Century servants in many of the great country estates were using Soda Crystals
as part of their daily cleaning routine, especially for the laundry – just
picture the amount of clothes needing to be cleaned on laundry day at Downton
Abbey! In these households washing was a
never ending chore, with cuffs and collars to be detached; clothes to be
divided up depending on their fabrics; and then placed in tubs of lukewarm
water to soak overnight. These clothes
would then be placed in large copper baths full of water and Soda Crystals, and
scrubbed out. The many uses of Soda
Crystals, from cleaning clothes and softening water, to washing ground-on
grease off pots and pans, meant they were an invaluable addition to any maid’s
cleaning cupboard.
Due
to the rationing of soap, the use of Soda Crystals continued throughout the
First and Second World Wars. They were
seen as a viable alternative to soap and were much easier to acquire during the
restrictions of the Wars. However, a
decline in the use of Soda Crystals began in the 1950’s when big-name brands,
such as Tide and Omo, hit the shelves of a booming post-war Britain
promising improved formulas and superior whitening powers for use in new
fangled washing machines.
From
the very beginning, the industrial manufacture of Soda Crystals involved mixing
a huge quantity of the solution which was left to crystallise in large
tanks. Workmen would then go into these
tanks with large sledge hammers and grind the solid material into smaller
crystals which could then be dried, packaged and sold locally. In the 20th Century, the hammer
gradually gave way to the pneumatic drill, but the process was still largely
manual and labour intensive.
By
the 1990’s only two factories survived –
the former ICI factory in Northwich, Cheshire, which had made Soda Crystals
since 1896, and the East Lancashire Chemical Company in Droylsden, Manchester,
which dates back to around 1860 and is now owned by Dri-Pak Ltd.
Whilst
the ICI plant closed in 1999, Dri-Pak has developed a new process to
manufacture Soda Crystals without the need for extensive manual labour, which
has resulted in a purer grade of crystal and more consistent output of
quality. The new plant, replacing its
Dickensian predecessor, was opened at the end of 1991 providing working
conditions fit for the 21st Century.
Partly
due to the improvement in product consistency, and the fact that they are a
simple and unique chemical, as well as incredibly versatile, Soda Crystals are enjoying a
revival. Many people are now using them
for everything from cleaning greasy pans, laundry, water-softening and
unblocking drains, to cleaning their best silver and glassware, and even as an
additive in the cooking process, primarily to help retain the crispness and
colour of vegetables.
Alongside
Soda Crystals, another traditional cleaning product which is enjoying new found
popularity is the humble Soap Flakes.
Soap Flakes
Soap
has been used as a cleaning product for thousands of years, with documents
showing that even the ancient Egyptians bathed regularly and often combined animal
and vegetable fat oils with alkaline salts to create a soap-like
substance. Over the following
generations, soap was used to clean clothes, household items and people. However production was conducted on a small
scale and the finished product was often very rough and ready. It was not until the industrial revolution
that the likes of Andrew Pears and William Lever began to produce higher
quality, smoother bars of soap.
In
1899, the Lever Brothers (now Unliver) spotted a gap in the soap market for Soap
Flakes. Before this invention, washing
clothes at home was laborious and involved chipping bits off a larger piece of
hard laundry soap to create a lather.
Soap Flakes, which made suds faster and came ready to use, helped to
make lighter work of household cleaning.
The Lever Brother’s Soap Flakes started life as “Sunlight Flakes” but
the name was soon changed to “Lux” in 1900.
After gaining popularity in the UK,
Lux Soap Flakes were exported to the US in 1906 and in 1915 a hugely
successful advertising campaign by J Walter Thompson helped to introduce Soap
Flakes to the American public. With
poster girls in the 40’s and 50’s, including Marilyn Monroe and Betty Grable,
claiming that they washed their delicate nylons in Lux Soap Flakes, the brand
soon took off and the reputation of Soap Flakes was established.
Although
the Lux brand still exists today, Unilever decided to leave the Soap Flakes
market in 2001 to focus on its larger brands and products. However, UK-based Dri-Pak Ltd, the only
manufacturer of Soap Flakes in England
and previously the European manufacturer of Lux Soap Flakes for Unilever,
decided to continue the tradition - still using the same manufacturing
processes that have been used for the last 100 years!
Despite
Unilever leaving the market the popularity of Soap Flakes is increasing, with
their appeal remaining much the same as it was over 150 years ago - they clean
effectively and efficiently, but contain no perfumes or allergens so are
perfect for delicate surfaces such as wooden floors, as well as the delicate
skin of people and pets (Soap Flakes are ideal for washing your dog or
horse!). A more recent innovation from
Dri-Pak is Liquid Soap Flakes. Whilst
these retain all the benefits of traditional Soap Flakes, this pure soap is a
ready to use liquid, bringing traditional cleaning right up-to-date for the 21st
Century home.
A cleaner
future thanks to the traditions of the past
For
many years products such as Soda Crystals and Soap Flakes fell out of favour,
failing to compete against new fangled products that promised to clean even the
toughest of stains. However, it seems
people are once again starting to realise the benefits of the more traditional
cleaning products – not only are they multi-purpose and contain less chemicals
than their modern day equivalents, but they are also extremely simple to
use. So were our grandparents and their
parents before them, right? Of course
they were!
Labels: Dri-Pak, Liquid Soap Flakes, Lux, Soap Flakes, Soda Crystals
# posted by Freestyle PR : 10:34
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