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Carrying out inspections with testing equipment certified to a suitable protection level is crucial to ensuring the testing operation does not jeopardise the safety of hazardous environments. This article explains the key details to understand in regard to the correct equipment to use, and where.

Zones & Division

Under ATEX, IECEx and UKEX (to name but a few) Hazardous Areas that contain explosive gasses, must be identified and categorised into a Zone according to the severity of risk.

• Zone 0 for locations where the risk of explosion is permanent
• Zone 1 when the risk is likely to occur
• Zone 2 when the risk may occasionally occur

In North America, a two Division system is used,

• Division 1 = Zone 0 or Zone 1
• Division 2 = Zone 2

Equipment
All equipment taken into and used in these hazardous areas must be certified to a suitable equipment protection level (EPL) for that Zone. For example,

• Zone 0 requires the highest level of protection - “Ga”
• Zone 2 requires a lower level of protection - “Gc”

This equipment must be designed such that it cannot generate conditions that could ignite the explosive atmosphere, for example, by a spark or a hot surface.

Finally, this equipment must be inspected, tested, and certified safe by a notified body, and the equipment manufacturer must commit to regular audits to ensure product is being built to the certified design. Then the equipment may be marked with a ‘Ex’ Marking label showing its group, protection level and protection concept used.

Protection Concepts
Depending on the type of equipment there are various Protection Concepts used to design a product and obtain an ‘Ex’ certification.

Intrinsically Safe
For equipment that contains electronic components including batteries, the intrinsically safe protection concept ensures that under both normal use and with applied fault conditions, no arc or spark can be generated, and no component can heat up enough to cause an explosion.

Some intrinsically safe design criteria,

• The output energy at the terminals is limited so a spark cannot ignite an explosive atmosphere.
• The equipment must be anti-static and not be able to hold a static electricity charge.
• Voltages must be electrically ‘clamped’ to safe levels.
• The use of redundant safety components.
• If a battery or component fails, it should not produce high temperatures that could be incendiary.

In both IECEx, ATEX and North American systems, intrinsically safe equipment can be used in any Zone or Division with the correct equipment protection level.

Explosion-proof or Flame-proof
Explosion-proof is generally a North American term, but it has the same meaning as flame-proof as used by IECEx and ATEX.

This protection concept assumes that the surrounding explosive atmosphere can enter into the equipment enclosure and internal explosions are likely. The equipment enclosures are constructed in such a way that an internal ignition of a flammable atmosphere cannot get outside of the enclosure, thus preventing the ignition of surrounding flammables gasses. The enclosure effectively quenches the flame.

Under the IECEx and ATEX systems, flame-proof equipment cannot be used in Zone 0 areas, regardless of equipment protection level.

In North America, explosion-proof equipment may be used in both Division 1 and Division 2 areas with the correct equipment protection level.

Cygnus 1 Intrinsically Safe Ultrasonic Thickness Gauge
Cygnus 1 Intrinsically Safe ultrasonic thickness gauge is the only one of its kind in the world certified to Zone 0 for ATEX, IECEx and UKEx, and Class 1, Division 1 for CSA-US - specifically designed for measuring metal thickness to determine wastage or corrosion in Zone 0, Zone 1 hazardous and potentially explosive environments. This heavy-duty unit boasts an extremely rugged, dust-tight and splash-proof construction with IP65 rating. It is supplied ready to use and comes with two rechargeable battery packs, offering up to 12 hours continuous operation. NO plant shutdown or hot work permit is required.

Like all Cygnus gauges, Cygnus 1 employs the Multiple-Echo technique to read through coatings - giving accurate remaining metal thickness; and guaranteeing crucial savings in time and money as it eliminates the need to remove and re-apply coating. What’s more, it avoids the risk of exposing the material under test to further corrosion.

For more information visit www.cygnus-instruments.com, call +44 (0) 1305 265533 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Quote HES2022 fo­r 10% off a gauge.

It is essential when evaluating a vacuum cleaner for industrial and commercial cleaning tasks that consideration is given to the relevant hazards and that the equipment is therefore specified appropriately.

Hazards from dusts and spilled product fall in to two distinct categories; the first is dusts that are hazardous to health. This category includes obvious products like asbestos and silica dust, but any dust that can be breathed in by the operator or other personnel in the workplace is likely to be hazardous to health to a degree.

The second category is dusts that are hazardous in the environment. The obvious category is dusts that can potentially cause an explosive atmosphere, particularly organic products like sugar and flour. Some products fall in to both categories such as wood dusts, which are both hazardous to health and potentially explosive.

Selecting an appropriate Industrial Vacuum Cleaner requires consideration of the potential hazards which then informs the specification of the machine. BVC – British Vacuum Cleaners is the leading brand of British manufactured industrial vacuum cleaners. Manufactured by Quirepace in Fareham, the range includes both M-Class and H-Class machines for dusts hazardous to health and ATEX rated equipment suitable to operate in potentially explosive environments.

BVC equipment is manufactured to order to match the specific requirements of individual customers. One of the principal considerations is the choice of filter material used for the primary filter. This can be constructed from several different materials including PTFE coated, fire resistant and anti-static materials in addition to standard filter materials. Within machines designed to recover hazardous materials there is always a second stage filter, usually a 3^rd stage filter, and sometimes a 4^th stage filter, with each stage designed for a specific purpose to ensure the hazardous product is collected safely and that the exhaust air is as clean as possible.

The range of BVC Industrial Vacuum Cleaners extends from 1kW single phase units to 15kW 3 phase machines. In addition Quirepace supply both compressed air and petrol/diesel powered units. The smaller machines in the range; the IV40 and IV60, are both available as several different versions rated as either M/H Class or ATEX, or indeed both, for when dusts are both hazardous and require rating for ATEX rated environments.

The standards that describe the specifications to conform to M/H Class are not appropriate for the largest machines in the BVC range; the Ti60 and Ti80 Centurions. These machines, typically with 4-15kW 3 phase multistage exhausters are available in ATEX versions, and can also be supplied with HEPA filtration to a similar specification to M/H Class units. Again, machines can be configured with filtration against dusts hazardous to health and with specifications suitable for ATEX rated environments.

The choices available to the potential customer are not just related to the specification of the vacuum cleaner itself; the specification of the hoses and tools must also be considered to ensure that they are appropriate for the use the machines will be put to.

Quirepace’s extensive knowledge combined with our experienced sales team, UK manufacture, and local service and spares support, means that BVC UK manufactured Industrial Vacuum Cleaners, with their 5 year parts warranty, deliver excellent durability and value for money in the industrial environment.

In addition to portable equipment, Quirepace also design and install fixed installations for Central Vacuum Cleaning, where multiple outlets are served by central plant through a network of fixed pipework.

Contact us today to arrange an initial consultation meeting.

www.quirepace.co.uk www.bvc.co.uk
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023 9260 3700

For smart devices, use in the oil industry, for example on an offshore oil platform, represents a real endurance test. The Pepperl+Fuchs brand ECOM Instruments subjected the Visor-Ex® 01, the first system consisting of smart glasses and smartphone certified for use in hazardous areas, to this endurance test during its development phase. The practical test reveals great potential for rollout in future applications.

Inhospitable environmental conditions, confined spaces and limited WLAN connectivity – the offshore oil and gas industry with its remote drilling rigs is not the easiest place for digitalization. The stringent requirements for hazardous areas further restrict the choice of smart devices that can be used. This is a reason why, up to now, the staff on oil platforms often works with pen and paper. For example, to provisionally document inspection results before manually transferring the data to digital files at a computer desk. For mobile workers, this practice is associated with traversing long distances along the multilevel oil platforms. So, there is great efficiency potential waiting to be tapped in the oil and gas industry, particularly in the area of knowledge management.

Smart devices for extreme conditions

Another special feature of drilling rigs is that the hazardous areas can change depending on current conditions. So the highest level of protection is essential for the equipment used. Since crews on an oil platform should be kept to a minimum for safety, cost and time reasons, remote support solutions for maintenance and repair are becoming increasingly attractive. Currently, oil and gas Industry is looking for suitable digitization solutions to ensure real-time knowledge transfer for employees and to accelerate the first-time fix. With up to 10,000 maintenance activities per month on the oil platform, streamlined processes are a significant factor to ensure efficiency.

That's why a company in the oil and gas value chain started its search for suitable smart devices to help digitize processes. In addition to remote support, the most important application scenarios included data harvesting, for example during inspections or for the upcoming general storage system overhaul. Potential devices had to meet a number of requirements in order to make it on the shortlist. Wearables were of interest because they allow hands-free work – this is essential, since mobile workers must be able to safely navigate long distances along steep staircases. Global certifications such as ATEX or IECEx are mandatory to enable safe use. In addition, the devices had to be comfortable to wear, i.e. not too heavy or bulky.

Visor-Ex® 01 smart glasses in a practical test

The company also subjected the explosion-proof Visor-Ex® 01 smart glasses from the Pepperl+Fuchs brand ECOM Instruments to an extensive practical test on a drilling rig. The lightweight wearable (180 g) combines high camera quality and reliable communication features in an ergonomic design. Coupled with the intrinsically safe smartphone ECOM Smart-Ex® 02 as computing unit with reliable LTE connectivity and a pocket device with replaceable battery for power supply, the smart glasses become part of an intelligent ecosystem. A total of three integrated and suitably positioned cameras transform the Visor-Ex® 01 smart glasses into a bionic eye, with the help of which remote support workers can observe the situation from a natural perspective and an unrestricted field of vision. All these features help to implement remote support scenarios without unnecessary complication, even under challenging environmental conditions. During the field test, the company was in close contact with the development team at ECOM Instruments, and the feedback contributed the smart glasses development.

Experience and future application scenarios

Visor-Ex® 01 was able to demonstrate its strengths during the field test, particularly in the area of data harvesting. With the help of cameras and image processing, QR codes from devices and machines can be read to gain access to sensor data such as pump pressure. This opens up a wide range of possible IoT application scenarios. But smart glasses are already scoring points because they improve the documentation of incidents not only quantitatively, but also qualitatively. Mobile workers can not only note down the causes of malfunctions, but also enrich the information with photos or video recordings. The digitized information can then also be shared with external support experts or employees on other rigs or at the company's headquarters – for comprehensive, up-to-date knowledge management. They also don't have to rush from the scene back to the computer or decipher handwritten notes.

The freedom of movement and vision that mobile workers gain from using smart glasses proved to be one of the other advantages. Because their hands are free, employees can move safely and freely up and down the stairs of the multilevel rig while fully concentrating on their task. Furthermore, they can make all the configurations they need on the associated smartphone and use the smart glasses as an optional augmented reality layer. When not in use, users can conveniently fold the OLED display of the Visor-Ex® 01 out of their field of vision and gain an unobstructed view of analogue reality.

Overall, the testing company attests the Visor-Ex® 01's versatility and good usability, even at the prototype stage; the intuitive operation was particularly emphasized. In the short term, the most obvious use scenario for the smart glasses is remote support during inspection and maintenance.

The stable LTE connectivity of the ECOM devices facilitates communication with external experts. This point is particularly worth emphasizing, since WLAN cannot be relied upon in every area of a drilling rig. In the medium term, the augmented reality functions could also significantly facilitate the onboarding of new specialists on the drilling rig. During a tour of the most important areas, for example, the relevant information or efficient routes could be shown on the OLED display of the Visor-Ex® 01 – or a connected expert could communicate via the integrated loudspeaker and describe what to look out for in certain areas. The ability to retrieve data quickly and easily from various sources (data harvesting) lays the foundation for sophisticated application scenarios for smart glasses.

Short portrait ECOM Instruments

The Pepperl+Fuchs brand ECOM Instruments is one of the top addresses internationally for holistic solutions for mobile computing and industrial communication in potentially explosive atmospheres. As an industry pioneer, ECOM has played a key role in the development of explosion protection for mobile devices since 1986 and has demonstrated its technological expertise with a large number of innovations. ECOM is the preferred brand for explosion-protected mobile phones, smartphones, tablets, wearables as well as peripherals that meet the highest requirements in industrial use. As part of the Pepperl+Fuchs Group, technology leader for industrial sensor technology and intrinsically safe explosion protection, customers benefit from a seamless portfolio with technologies for conventional and Industry 4.0 applications.

In the five core disciplines of mobile computing, communication, digital products and services, measurement and calibration technology and mobile luminaires, ECOM offers an enormous variety of innovative and field-proven mobile solutions, peripherals, services and intelligent software. Each individual solution combines uncompromising safety with maximum functionality - with all the necessary approvals and certificates for the specific application. Worldwide support, with service centres in Germany, the USA, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates, rounds off the range.

For more information on ECOM, please visit: www.ecom-ex.com and www.pepperl-fuchs.com  

A SEMI-AUTONOMOUS robot currently being manufactured to inspect pressure vessels will remove the risk to humans while also saving industries millions of pounds each year.

As a health and safety requirement, routine internal pressure vessel inspections must be carried out at plants across the world but the process of closing down production, depressurising the vessel and transporting any fluids or liquids is extremely costly.

In addition, these inspections in hazardous environments are currently carried out by humans and there is a high level of risk involved.

To combat these problems, a remotely controlled robot, Chimera, has been developed by a collaboration of companies across the UK for use across all industries, including oil and gas, nuclear and water.

Chimera is a machine which can withstand hazardous environments and is built in two components to allow a great deal of flexibility so it can climb internal vessel walls, and is attached to a tether to enable the machine to be controlled remotely by an operator from a safe distance.

The robot will have a camera attached to relay live images back to the operator and an ultrasonic phased array inspection system and LIDAR scanner will also be included to create a 3D map of the internal structure to paint an accurate picture of the state of the vessel and identify damage.

A slender ‘snake’ arm can also be attached to carry out any minor repairs needed in such a confined space.

Cumbrian engineering firm Forth has developed the robotic platform of the Chimera project and has successfully trialled the machine to prove that the concept model accurately carries out its functions.

Joshua Oakes, a Project Engineer at Forth, said: “Maintenance inspections need to be carried out routinely on pressure vessels the world over and the process of having to stop production and draining or transporting any fluid or gas is a long, and very expensive, one. On average, it can cost £40,000 per day to shut production down, and these inspections can go on for days.

“It also requires people to conduct the inspections and it can be hard getting in and out of the confined spaces, and very dangerous due to the substances which have previously been stored in the vessels.

“Chimera removes the human element from hazardous environments, and lets the work get carried out from a safe, remote distance.

“The job can also be completed in hours rather than days, with production not having to be stopped at all.”

The Chimera innovation will come equipped with four heavy duty magnets each with a pull of 116kg worth of weight so it can climb interior walls and ceilings.

The machine features a four-track drive and the operator will be able to steer each track individually to ensure it can be easily controlled.

The purpose of it being constructed in two separate parts is twofold: to allow for a greater deal of flexibility and to enable the machine to be dragged back should power be lost in the machine’s motors.

To reduce the risks of losing power, a water cooling system has been included on the machine to keep the electrics cool during use.

The team at Forth has proven the concept of Chimera with partners, and has successfully trialled a working model.

They are now looking to gain financial backers to progress the process of the innovation to the next stage, allowing the machine to be modified and adapted into a commercial piece of equipment.

The Innovate UK-backed programme has also been supported by The Welding Institute, Headlight AI, Sound Mathematics, the University of Nottingham, Rolls Royce, Metallisation and Race.

To contact Forth visit www.forth.uk.com

THE LARGEST INDEPENDENT INTERDEALER BROKER IN THE WORLD WINS THE PRESTIGIOUS ENERGY RISK AWARD AS IT CELEBRATES ITS FIFTEENTH ANNIVERSARY

LONDON and HOUSTON and NEW YORK, July 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading independent interdealer broker OTC Global Holdings (OTCGH) continues to strengthen its worldwide leadership position as it is recognized with Energy Risk's 2022 Broker of the Year award. Over the past 15 years, OTC Global Holdings has transformed into a highly technological brokerage firm focused 100% on global commodity markets, and being named Broker of the Year in 2011, 2016, 2017, 2019, and now 2022. "Since 2007, we've worked hard to compile the best talent in the world and an operation powered by EOXLive, our proprietary technology. Today, one third of worldwide natural gas options, one third of all NAPTHA and one third of global gas-oil futures moves between our shops," said Javier Loya, Chairman and Co-CEO of OTC Global Holdings.

OTCGH has built an unparalleled business model, focusing on three key operational pillars: (1) high quality execution; (2) unrivaled customer service and; (3) innovative technology with EOXLive. Joe Kelly, President and Co-CEO of OTC Global Holdings explained, "We want to provide solutions for all of our clients' trading needs. Having the premiere liquidity pools around the globe and the products, means we have the top experts in that space. In times like these, you can't just look at a screen, you need to have that expertise, you need to have all the information together. So, taking research, analytics, an expert to talk to, market data, unparalleled trade execution, and tying that together with not only a physical product but at the same time giving you the freight along with it, the ship logistics to move it, and your financial hedge, that itself makes it incredibly efficient and very valuable for the trader."

OTCGH's portfolio includes nearly 20 of the industry's most powerful and agile independent brokerages across the world. The company serves more than 500 institutional clients, including over 70 members of the Global Fortune 500, and transacts in hundreds of different commodity delivery points in Asia, Europe, and the Americas. According to Joe Kelly, "commodity markets will continue to experience a radical transformation throughout the next decade due to the global linking of energy markets." "As we move forward into a new era, the time is now to continue to innovate, incorporate new products around renewable energy, and consolidate our leadership position in every commodity market around the world.  The time is now to accelerate our journey with technological superiority and high-quality broker execution," he added.

Energy Risk's Broker of the Year award is the most prestigious recognition in the industry, recognizing innovation in trading and risk management, demonstrated prudent energy risk management and expertise and thought leadership in energy derivatives and other risk management tools. "This year's award is very special. It comes on our fifteenth anniversary and it is a testament to our expertise, our leadership and our teamwork. To be recognized as Broker of the Year five times, it takes a team that wants to roll up their sleeves and know that their working for each other and, ultimately, for our clients," concluded Javier Loya.

Visit otcgh.com to learn more or watch a short video here: https://vimeo.com/718433168

For optimal safety during machine maintenance, a large renewable energy producer implemented a worldwide standard approach to Lockout/Tagout. This life-saving procedure enables maintenance specialists to isolate machines from their energy supply while interventions are ongoing.

Challenge: Standard Lockout/Tagout procedures worldwide

The safety of its employees is a high priority at one of the world’s largest renewable energy producers. As a result, company sites in various countries started testing Lockout/Tagout at a site level to neutralise electrical circuits during maintenance interventions.

Lockout/Tagout requires written procedures that enable employees to fully neutralise machines from their energy supply using a blocking mechanism and padlocks. This procedure prevents premature activation of machinery, and any injuries caused by various forms of energy and moving machine parts.

The renewable energy company now wanted to globally standardise its approach to Lockout/Tagout, so that every site in every country could optimally benefit from company best practices, and achieve the highest levels of maintenance safety.

Solutions: 2 practical solution kits to cover worldwide needs

Brady proposed sets of relevant and dedicated Lockout/Tagout tools based on customer needs. Lockout/Tagout specialists

demonstrated and tested all proposed tools at a pilot site, to enable our customer to make a fully informed final selection.

Brady offers several solutions that can block circuit breakers in the off-position while maintenance is ongoing. They prevent shocks and burns caused by re-energising circuits prematurely. They can be locked in place with Brady’s Lockout/Tagout padlocks, including the SafeKey padlock, available in non-conducting nylon versions, complete with colour-coded padlock bodies and matching keys.

To meet customer requirements, 2 practical, standard maintenance safety kits were created containing the selected Lockout/Tagout tools. These kits were made available to customer sites anywhere in the world, to enable streamlined and safer machine interventions.

Results: Highly manageable maintenance safety

The large renewable energy producer’s maintenance specialists now use the same Lockout/Tagout tools in a standardised

approach to maintenance safety. This enables increased safety during maintenance anywhere in the world, fast sharing of best

practices, and a very efficient and centralised management of maintenance safety procedures.

Find out more about Brady’s Lockout/Tagout complete solutions >>

Brady Corporation

Link:

https://www.brady.co.uk/lockout-tagout?sfdc=7014V000002dGpP&utm_source=msl&utm_medium=web-advertorial&utm_campaign=sfid-loto&utm_content=loto-case-standardised&camp=display-uk-awareness-msl-sfidlotocase_wadv#Implementation

Manchester-based compliance consultancy, OHS, has appointed Nick Bye as Group Commercial Director as it diversifies its business to become the UK’s only comprehensive solution for compliance and protection services in occupied and unoccupied property.

OHS has long been in the business of environmental compliance services in occupied, managed spaces, covering risk assessment of asbestos, water and fire, but with the appointment of Nick it will now provide new services to manage vacant property. It will become one of the few providers that offer services that can cover the full property lifecycle, from being vacant to occupied again.

Nick has 10 years' experience in the property services sector, formally working for VPS Group. His experience in vacant property services will see him sell OHS’s wraparound solution of ensuring protected occupied and unoccupied properties to the property management, facilities management, and social housing sectors.

Commenting on his appointment, OHS Group Commercial Director, Nick Bye said: “Part of my role will be to take the business forward with new service lines, such as property maintenance and clearance work, while also developing OHS’s current service lines.

"I have a number of years’ experience of knowing what clients do and do not want from a property support service company, so I will to be able to grow the business rapidly as it offers a completely holistic service.”

OHS Managing Director, Andy Fowler follows: “The business has a lot of heritage and lots of exciting expansion plans, but we also needed someone to spearhead the strategy to deliver more services. This holistic approach will help us stand out in a crowded market space that sometimes can fall victim to poor service delivery and a lack of understanding of true customer needs.

“When we met Nick, the realisation that if we diversified into unoccupied property management –there are so many more following the pandemic- we could grow our portfolio of services and also offer a unique proposition to current customers and potential customers. Nick has fantastic contacts within various sectors, including major insurance companies who have strict requirements on making sure properties are protected and compliant. In addition, as a new board director, he will bring a new dynamic to the management team and we’re sure he’ll be a real asset to OHS.”

A fast-growing Teesside engineering and management services consultancy in the energy industry has revealed plans to target UK regions as part of an ambitious national expansion plan.

Stockton-on-Tees-based Encora Energy already has a strong presence in the north east of England, having had a base on Teesside since 2015. In the last few years, the company has expanded its geographical reach, working on projects in East Anglia and the south of England.

Now Encora has made its first senior appointment in the Midlands to bolster its presence in this region, hiring Michael Coe, a project engineer. In his new role, Michael will be responsible for managing projects on Midlands-based sites that are set to begin construction soon.

A mechanical engineering graduate, Michael previously held the position of international business development manager for environmental consultancy Fosse Liquitrol. He is also working alongside Durham University and Northern Power Grid on a research project to develop a heat exchanger for transformers.

His appointment marks the next phase of Encora’s growth strategy as it looks to expand into new UK markets. The company is eyeing up several regions, including Scotland and the north west and east of England.

Andrew Normand, new business manager and UptimeAI partnership lead at Encora Energy, said: “We’re already very well-known in the north east of England but now we’re looking at markets further afield. Michael’s appointment will allow us to get a greater foothold in the Midlands – an important UK region for us – and win more work there.

Michael Coe said: “I’m delighted to be joining a company that has ambition which matches my own. Encora is a forward-thinking consultancy that’s helping clients to exploit opportunities arising from the rapidly changing needs of the energy market.   The

Encora provides project development, engineering, consultancy and operations management services to customers, helping them deal with the practicalities of developing, installing, operating and maintaining new energy systems such as renewable and battery storage systems, combined heat and power (CHP) plants, fuel cells, gas engines and gas turbines. The company also acts as UK and European agents for UptimeAI, providing cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for the process industries.

For more information, visit https://www.encora.energy/ or Encora’s LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/encora-energy-limited/

TÜV SÜD UK has appointed Darren Hugheston-Roberts as the new Head of its Machinery Safety division.

Darren joins TÜV SÜD from Bureau Veritas, where he was Service Lead of Engineering Technical Services and Technical Manager for its machinery & UKCA Approved Body. Previously, he served for 25 years in the British Army, within the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME). Most recently he served as the senior engineer within a battle group, providing technical advice to the commander to optimise equipment use and ensure its availability. He also oversaw the work of over 40 multi-skilled engineers and engineering managers, and was responsible for the inspection, maintenance and repair of vehicles, plant, weapons and lifting equipment.

Paul Taylor, Business Development Director for Industrial Services at TÜV SÜD, said: “Darren brings a unique set of skills to TÜV SÜD, with 30 years of extensive engineering and people management experience in a high-pressure environment, backed up by his commercial work in technical safety and machinery conformity. His appointment will be a real asset to our growing business - further strengthening our team’s capabilities and our ability to deliver excellent customer service.”

Darren Hugheston-Roberts said: “I am really excited by this new opportunity to work as part of a team that is the UK market leader in machinery safety. TÜV SÜD is at the forefront of industrial safety developments and its certification mark has become a globally renowned symbol for safety, security and trust. Our dedicated and experienced team are superb, and I am really looking forward to working with them to build on that success and develop the business.”