Wednesday, 30 May 2012
Traditional and Economical: How products from yesteryear can help you save money!
There
is a wealth of money saving hints and thrifty ideas around to help us weather
these austere times, but this is not the first time the people of Britain have
had to tighten their belts and be careful with their pennies! During the Second
World War, British families had to carefully plan their outgoings and ‘make do
and mend’ the possessions they had. Luxuries were rare, and even basic supplies
like soap were rationed, so cleaning products like Soda Crystals became
favourite alternatives for laundry and cleaning tasks.
Soda
Crystals are
still available today and are once again gaining popularity due to their
effective cleaning power, sustainability and versatility, as well as their
economical value. For under a pound for a 1kg bag, Soda Crystals have hundreds
of uses around the home, from unblocking a slow-draining sink, to clearing a
driveway of moss, and removing laundry stains like grease, ink and blood.
Other
traditional products such as White Vinegar have also been used for centuries
for cleaning. Remember Granny’s tip of cleaning windows and mirrors with White
Vinegar and newspaper? Well it works a treat, and can also be used for removing
limescale from taps, shower screens and draining boards or even as a fabric
softener and dishwasher rinse aid!
Before
washing machines were an essential part of every kitchen, laundry was a long
and laborious task making use of wash boards, wooden dollys and soap flakes.
Whilst these old-fashioned items are no longer necessary, easy to use Liquid
Soap Flakes are especially good for washing delicate items like silk, lace,
wool, and outdoor clothing, as well as cleaning leather, wooden floors, and natural
stone.
These
simple, multi-purpose products are just as effective as one-task modern-day
products and their versatility means there’s more room in the cupboard and more
money in your pocket!
Soda
Crystals are
available in all major supermarkets and hardware stores, with a RRP of 93p;
White Vinegar is available from Waitrose, John Lewis and other stores with a
RRP of 99p, Liquid Soap Flakes are available from Tesco and Waitrose at a RRP
of £2.99. For further information about Dri-Pak and its products, please visit www.dri-pak.co.uk or call +44 (0) 1159 325
165.
Public Relations by Freestyle PR - part
of Freestyle Marketing Nottingham
Labels: Dri Pak, Dri-Pak, Economical Products, Liquid Soap Flakes, Soap Flakes, Soda Crystals, traditional cleaning, white vinegar
Wednesday, 23 May 2012
Gregoire Besson UK to launch the new Helidisc at Cereals 2012
Gregoire Besson UK
will be unveiling the latest addition to its cultivator range at this years
Cereals event. The Helidisc cultivator will be launched on stand L1312 at the
show, which runs from the 13th to 14th June at Boothby
Graffoe in Lincolnshire.
The Helidisc uses front and back discs that are hydraulically adjustable
and controlled independently, providing a more level finish. This also
increases the choice of tines that can be mounted as well as considerably
reducing the overall length of the machine.
The new Helidisc is available in two models for differing conditions.
The first model for use on light to medium land, has a front row on in-line
discs, three rows of spring loaded Eurocult tines, another row of in-line discs,
followed by a new double Emopak press.
The tines can work 300m below the discs and the front gangs run in
opposite directions to the rear providing a better mix and precise depth
control. The 242mm spacing between the tines and variety of points and wings
allows all of the soil to be cultivated.
The second Helidisc model is built for work on medium to heavy land with
the spring-loaded tines being replaced with either Discordon tines, which go
300mm below the discs, or with Helios (Michel) or LD straight tines, both of
which go 400mm below the discs. The tines are spaced at 484mm, but the disc
spacing remains the same. A choice of a double Emopak roller or a single larger
roller is also available.
 |
| The New Gregoire Besson Helidisc |
“The disc-tine cultivation system on the new Helidisc has been used
successfully on the Gregoire Besson Discordon for over twenty years.” Explains
Robin Immink, Managing Director of Grégoire Besson UK.
“In tests we have found that the flow of the land behind the tines
becomes slightly raised, so we developed the independently adjustable depth on
the front and rear discs to give maximum control in all conditions and provide
a much more level finish.”
The new Gregoire
Besson R6 plough will also be launched at Cereals, and a range of Rabe products
will be exhibited on the stand. Visit stand L1312 at Cereals for further
information or call Gregoire Besson on (01778)
423787.
Public Relations by Freestyle PR - part
of Freestyle Marketing Nottingham
Labels: Cereals 2012, Cultivator, Discs, gregoire besson, Helidisc, tines
Friday, 18 May 2012
Get your garden gleaming with a little help from Dri-Pak
The
start of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show is a sure fire sign that spring has certainly
sprung. However, before you rush to
create your own Gold Award garden you may want to undertake a bit of “outdoor”
spring cleaning, to clear your garden of the winter blues and make sure your
perennials have that perfect back drop.
Tackling
the great outdoors does not have to be a chore, and by using traditional,
sustainable product you can do it cheaply and quickly, whilst protecting your
most precious possessions – your plants.
Products such as Soda Crystals, White Vinegar and Bicarbonate of Soda
have been used around the house for hundreds of years, but these traditional
cleaning solutions can also be used in the garden.
Firstly,
a good work man never blames his tools so before you start work make sure yours
are in tip top condition. Use half a cup
of Soda Crystals mixed with one litre of very hot water to clean caked grass, dirt
and grime off spades, forks, trowels and even lawn mower blades. Rinse, dry and lightly oil the metal parts to
prevent rust.*
To
help you navigate more easily around your garden clear the moss and rotting
leaves from pathways, patios and steps. Sprinkle
Soda Crystals directly on to the affected areas, use a watering can to wet, or
put them down when rain is expected, and leave for a day or two. Once the moss has turned brown, brush it off
preventing any excess Soda Crystal solution going on to the grass, and rinse
with plenty of clean water to reveal spotless, safer pathways.
You
must also remember those hard to reach places, such as drains and gutters, need
a bit of care and attention at this time of year too. They can become dirty and clogged over the
winter months so the first thing to do is clear the drains and gutters of
visible debris and leaves. Pour 500g of
Soda Crystals directly down the drains and leave for ten minutes before rinsing
with very hot water to clear them of any built up grime and grease. Gutters can also be washed with a Soda
Crystal mixture to remove rotting leaves and any other blockages.
If
you have any iron ornaments or iron gates that have gathered dirt and rust over
winter and need a repaint, simply cover them with Bicarbonate of Soda and pour
White Vinegar over the top. This will
make the surface bubble. When it stops, simply
scrub off with a stiff brush and you will be left with a smooth surface ready
to be painted.
Now
you can prepare for the stars of your garden.
To give your plants the best start in life, wash out your terracotta,
stone or plastic pots with a mixture of half a cup of Soda Crystals and one
litre of water to help remove old compost and caked on grime. You can also make your stone ornaments or
birdbaths look like new by spraying Liquid Soda Crystals directly on to the
surfaces, leaving for around an hour and brushing with a stiff brush before
rinsing with clean water.
After
all that hard work, make sure you can sit back, relax and admire all of your
hard work by cleaning any moss and algae off plastic patio furniture with a
mixture of Soda Crystals and hot water.
This method also works well to prepare wooden garden furniture, prior to
applying a new coat of linseed oil.
And
last but not least, prepare for those long, balmy summer evenings by getting
your barbeque ready for action. Simply
soak the grills and utensils in a solution of one cup Soda Crystals and five
litres of water, before scrubbing them with a wire brush. For the barbeque itself, apply the Soda
Crystal solution to the casing before washing it off with a sponge and rinsing
with clean water.
*Always
disconnect electric mowers from the power supply and keep water away from
electrical contacts etc. Dry thoroughly
before use.
Public Relations by Freestyle PR - part
of Freestyle Marketing Nottingham
Labels: bicarbonate of soda, Dri Pak, Dri-Pak, Garden tools, Gardening, plant pots, RHS Chelseas Flower Show, Soda Crystals, white vinegar
Wednesday, 16 May 2012
Granguard your floors for a perfect game
One
of the key components to any sports hall is its floor. A substandard floor can have a negative
impact on the game being played on it, for example affecting the bounce of a
ball or the height a player is able to jump.
Health and safety are also major considerations when contemplating the
refurbishment of a sports floor.
Somerset-based
Courtship Limited is a specialist in sports hall maintenance and refurbishment,
and has first-hand experience of how important a top quality floor is.
“In
any sporting facility it is the floor that receives the most wear and
tear. Deterioration of the surface can
then have a detrimental effect on performance and even cause an increase in
injuries through slipping and tripping,” says Marcus Ryan, Managing Director at
Courtships Limited.
Courtship
Limited has recently completed two sports hall renovations, the first at Culm
Valley Leisure Centre in Devon and the second
at the Parish Wharf Leisure Centre in Portishead. Both projects required the top layer to be completely
removed before being resurfaced.
 |
| The newly refurbished Culm Valley Leisure Centre sports floor |
“Both
floors had experienced a lot of use and as such were under performing. We were tasked with stripping the surfaces
right back and applying a finishing coat to protect the newly revealed floors
and increase their longevity,” continues Marcus. “As the floors were made from Granwood, we
chose the new Granguard Aqua II-Pack from Granwax to finish them.”
The
new Granguard Aqua II-Pack is a water-borne, two component polyurethane finish,
specially formulated for use on all new and refurbished Granwood and Gransprung
floors. Its durability, low glare
coverage and excellent traction properties make it the ideal choice for sports
floors.
“We
are constantly reviewing our products to see how we can make them even more
user and environmentally friendly,” explains Carl Blythe, Managing Director of
Granwax. “Our customers are an
invaluable source of information and provide us with feedback and first-hand
experiences of using our products. The
new Granguard Aqua II-Pack was created in response to such feedback and we are
confident we have created a product that now fulfils our customer’s
requirements.”
Marcus
from Courtship Limited, concludes, “The old Granwood formula was quite pungent
and our staff had to wear protective masks when applying it. However this new water-based solution is
almost odour free but it still retains all the properties of the old product,
which makes for a nicer working environment as well as an ideal sports floor!”
Public Relations by Freestyle PR - part
of Freestyle Marketing Nottingham
Labels: Courtship Limited, Culm Valley Centre, Floor Renovation, Granguard, Granwax, Granwood, Parish Wharf Leisure Centre, Sports Floor, Sports Hall
Monday, 14 May 2012
GNB Industrial Power to unveil innovative Modular Energy Management System at All-Energy Show 2012
GNB
Industrial Power will be unveiling its innovative Modular Energy Management System
(MEMS), the latest addition to its renewable energy applications range, at this
year’s All-Energy Show taking place in Aberdeen from the 23rd to 24th
May 2012.
The
market for the storage and integration of renewable energy is set to grow, with
total worldwide revenue for energy storage expected to reach £21 billion by
2020. With this in mind, GNB has taken
up the challenge of developing an innovative and cost-effective storage system
based on its lead acid technology.
 |
| The Modular Energy Management System (MEMS) from GNB Industrial Power |
“We
began developing a scalable Battery Energy Storage System for on and off-grid
applications in 2009,” explains Bruce Glaister, UK Sales Manager of GNB
Industrial Power. “Since then our
Systems Development team, based at the European Development Centre in Büdingen Germany, have been working hard to design and
build a transportable prototype for use throughout Europe.”
This
new “turn-key” battery storage system is modular in design and transportable by
truck or sea. It is based on a twenty
foot sea container which acts as a compact and low cost battery room (“Energy Module”),
and a ten foot container for the AC/DC converter and AC-grid connection (“Power
Module”). Each module serves as a
building block from which solutions can be assembled to a customer’s specific
requirements and installed with the minimum preparation.
“Our
aim is to create a storage solution that is easy to install and even easier to
manage, giving our customers complete control over their energy storage system. With this in mind we are working closely with
D3I GmbH to create a system manager,” continues Bruce. “This controller will allow the system to be
operated autonomously or directly commanded via a Graphic User Interface or
remotely via Web interface, allowing MEMS to be safely operated by customers
either on-site or remotely via the web.”
Going
forward, GNB will be designing region-specific versions of the “Power Module”
to ensure its compatibility with different grid voltages and frequencies in
different countries. It has also begun
the development of a control strategy for Photovoltaic (PV) applications which
will allow a PV/MEMS combination system to have controlled electrical power
output to the consumer or grid.
The
MEMS can be adapted to many different applications including peak shaving for the
utility and industrial industries; time shift for renewables; long term storage
of renewables; and grid voltage stabilisation.
“Renewable
energy is high on everyone’s agenda and finding ways of harvesting and storing
this sustainable energy is an ever increasing dilemma. However, we believe our Modular Energy Management
System will allow many more companies to store and use renewable energy
efficiently and, more importantly, cost-effectively,” concludes Bruce.
For
further information please visit us on Stand A73 at the All Energy Show. Alternatively, please visit www.gnb.com or call +44 (0) 1204 661 460.
Public Relations by Freestyle PR - part
of Freestyle Marketing Nottingham
Labels: All-Energy 2012, Energy Storage, GNB Industrial Power, MEMS, Modular Energy Management System, Renewable Energy
Friday, 11 May 2012
Banish Kitchen Odours!
Cooking meals from scratch is more popular
than ever thanks to cookery television shows and growing trends for healthy
eating and economical living. However the excitement of trying new flavours and
recipes can have its downside. Cooking foods with strong aromas like curry and fish
can leave smells that linger long after the meal has been enjoyed. This can put
some people off cooking different cuisines, but there is a natural and
effective way to neutralise kitchen odours and get rid of that pong for good. The
natural deodorising properties of White Vinegar and Bicarbonate of Soda
eliminate odours safely and inexpensively.
Once the meal is over, simply place a pan of 200ml White Vinegar and 500ml water on the stove and leave to gently simmer for 15 minutes. White Vinegar is a natural deodoriser that will neutralise bad odours, making the room smell fresh and clean in no time.
If culinary masterpieces don’t go to plan
and a burnt, smoky smell lingers, simply spray a 50/50 White Vinegar and water
solution around the room, and on any soft furnishings that have absorbed the
smell*. Adding a few drops of essential oil to the solution will also fragrance
the air.
Nasty niffs can also linger around kitchen
bins. To help combat the stink, regularly wash the bin and any recycling
containers with a Soda Crystals solution. Once dry, add a two table spoons of Bicarbonate
of Soda to the bottom of the bin to absorb bad odours naturally. Keep fridge
food odours at bay by placing an open box of Bicarbonate of Soda in the fridge
for up to four months.
There’s nothing like a home-cooked meal
made with fresh ingredients, so don’t let strong smelling foods put you off
your cooking your favourite foods!
Dri-Pak White Vinegar and Bicarbonate of
Soda are available from selected stores and online. For further information
about Dri-Pak and its products, please visit www.dri-pak.co.uk
or call +44 (0) 1159 325 165.
*test on an inconspicuous area first to
avoid discolouration
Public Relations by Freestyle PR - part
of Freestyle Marketing Nottingham
Labels: bicarbonate of soda, Cookery, Cooking, Curry, Deodoriser, Dri Pak, Dri-Pak, Fish, Kitchen, Odours, Smells, white vinegar
Wednesday, 9 May 2012
GNB Industrial Power contributes to safety in the charger room
Health and safety in the workplace is
an increasingly hot topic and is particularly important when undertaking
battery charging and maintenance. The Control
of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations place considerable emphasis
on assessing potential risks and taking the appropriate measures to ensure
personnel are working in a safe environment – especially when operating in
areas with harmful substances such as acid. GNB can offer factories and warehouses that
use traction batteries a dedicated “Health and Safety Station” which can be
wall-mounted in the charger room. It
contains equipment to help protect workers as well as emergency items for use in
the event of an accident.
 |
| The GNB Health and Safety Station |
This purpose-designed station
contains essential clothing and equipment for use during maintenance and
topping off operations, such as rubber gloves, face visor, breathing masks,
eyewash and soda ash to neutralise acid spills. One safety station is recommended for up to 20
batteries in a charging area.
GNB can advise managers on their
obligations towards employee safety in the charger room, as well as offering
free posters that act as a permanent reminder on correct working practices. According to Andy Sheppard, GNB, National Service
Manager, “The free battery care posters,
combined with the Health & and Safety Station are a very cost-effective way
for employers to meet their legal obligations under COSHH. If the worst happens, first-aid action can be
taken immediately which could mean quite a difference in the outcome.”
To ensure the Health and Safety Station is
fully stocked, GNB also offers individual components that can be re-ordered
when required. To reorder items, please
contact GNB on 0845 606 4112.
Public Relations by Freestyle PR - part
of Freestyle Marketing Nottingham
Labels: Batteries, COSHH, GNB Industrial Power, Health and Safety
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