A Canvey Island engineering firm has been sentenced for health and safety breaches after a worker suffered life-changing injuries. Southend-on-Sea Magistrates’ Court heard that on 10 June 2015 Felix Trefas, 27, a welder for F. Brazil Reinforcements Ltd, was making large steel reinforcing cages which were moved by overhead travelling cranes. When one of these cranes broke down, a colleague …
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Omnichannel retailer, Screwfix has opened its 500th UK store at Lumina Park, Enfield, north London, marking a major milestone in the retailer’s expansion of its store network. Since opening its first store in Yeovil in 2005, Screwfix has grown significantly and has opened one store per week for the past six years meaning 90% of the UK population is within …
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In February Skill Builder was invited to Festoool’s UK HQ for an exclusive demonstration of the new Festool Kapex KS 60 Sliding Compound Mitre Saw. In this video Philip Beckley, Festool’s training officer, provides a comprehensive demonstration of the new machine and talks through some of its key features and benefits. www.festool.co.uk
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Snickers Workwear has always been well-known for its modern designs, innovative functionality and market-leading fabric technology. Now its WorkTrousers are getting even ‘smarter’ with the integration of technology to improve performance and wellbeing at work. Wearable Technology is already woven into our daily lives through smartphones, fitness devices, sports clothing and accessories – to help monitor and improve performance. A …
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External Wall Insulation by Saint-Gobain Weber has been specified for the thermal upgrade of social housing properties in Bangor and Y Bala, North Wales. They have been transformed with the application of the webertherm XP External Wall Insulation (EWI) with u-values that have been dramatically reduced while the aesthetics of the properties have been changed completely. Residents are praising these …
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Roger Bisby installs a new Van Guard roof rack. When I sold my old Mercedes Vito I sold the roof rack with it. It was a Van Guard roof rack made for the van so there was little point in keeping it besides I really fancied the look of the new Van Guard roof rack with the aerodynamic Ultibars. All …
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Eurocell, the UK manufacturer, distributor and recycler of window, door, conservatory and roofline products – has reimagined the way designers and specifiers access its BIM models. The result is the BIM Centre, where finding and downloading the right BIM models is quick and fast, and updates are delivered automatically. Users can sign up free to the BIM Centre in minutes …
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Pegler Yorkshire has extended its stainless steel XPress Press Fit range of fittings to included sizes up to 168mm – said to be a first for the UK market. The two new additions complement the XPress range offering a complete system from 12mm through to 168mm. “We are constantly looking at what the market wants and addressing needs of specifiers …
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Kensa Heat Pumps, the UK supplier of heat pumps and manufacturer of the award winning Shoebox heat pump, has added a new ground source heat pump series for 2017, said to offer 15% efficiency enhancements. Manufactured in Cornwall, the new Evo ground source heat pump series builds upon Kensa Heat Pump’s eighteen years of experience designing heat pumps specifically for …
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In this latest video from Skill Builder Georgina Bisby provides a demonstration of the What Knot, a device that connects ropes easily and safely without the need to tie knots. The What Knot from Just Right Products allows you to tie ropes in seconds with a simple twist and untie with the press of a button and twist. The device …
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Powertool manufacturer Fein has released its latest “Feeling FEIN’ video tool review, the FEIN Cordless MultiMaster review. The ‘Feeling FEIN’ reviews focus on getting FEIN’s products into the hands of professional tradespeople. Each tradesperson has been using a specific FEIN power tool and has given their honest feedback on camera. In this review Nicola Butcher, a carpenter and owner of …
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‘First Layer’ underwear from Snickers Workwear is designed to keep workers dry and comfortable throughout the working day.
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Roger Bisby demonstrates how to fit a bath from Abacus Bathrooms. Incorrectly fitted baths can easily move and allow water to seep down the back so it’s very important that they are fitted properly. Roger Bisby talks through some key points to consider when fitting a bath including ensuring that the bath is level along both planes. www.abacus-bathrooms.co.uk
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Following the unveiling of its new high-performing bagged product range, Hope Cement has developed a novel incentive scheme that rewards builders merchants and professional builders. Accessed through the Hope Cement smartphone App, the loyalty scheme is said to be the first of its kind, using a new approach to drive traffic into merchants’ stores and help to grow their business. …
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Screwfix has released the latest edition of its catalogue, which features more ‘Trade Rated’ products than ever before – an independent accolade, showing they are rated highly by other trade customers. All products ordered via the catalogue are available for next day delivery seven days a week, or via its Click & Collect service, which allows goods to be picked-up …
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Roger Bisby regrets not having used the Cyclone Paint Stirrer earlier. This little stainless steel stirrer has been sitting in my goods in bay for a few months now and, even though I have used quite a lot of paint in that time I have not thought to use it. To be honest I was thinking “It’s a stirrer, put …
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Roger Bisby takes a look at the Man-Up Key, a new tool that is designed to allow manholes to be safely lifted by one person without the need for chiseling or hammering. Man-Up Key, what a great name for a manhole lifter, unless of course you subscribe to the gender neutral version which is a person hole but person-up is …
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With a focus on ease of use, a clean high-tech design and the possibility for customisastion, ThermoSmart has give Google Nest and Tado a run for their money. According to the company ThermoSmart allows the end consumer to control the temperature in their homes easily. The gadget like thermostat can be operated through an app, at home or remotely, using …
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In this video Roger Bisby takes a look at the new Atlas Bolt from Samac, designed to be a one piece, fast, efficient and cost effective solution for any concrete fixing job. Atlas Bolts are an alternative to traditional concrete fixings with high tensile self-tapping technology, offering quick and easy “drill and screw” installation in a variety of construction substrates, …
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Roger Bisby tries out the Muck Truck, a pedestrian operated motorised power barrow which is designed to carry three times that of a normal wheelbarrow and will shift loads of up to one quarter of a ton. It is a while now since I tested a Muck-Truck. Last time it was a battery powered machine that surprised me by taking …
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Skill Builder Guides & reviews for building and construction
