The installation of a five tonne, twin hoist crane from British manufacturer Kone Cranes is providing a boost in production capacity and work flow at the plant, especially in the production of the larger and heavier fans. The growth in large bespoke units too is also a factor in the decision to invest in the new crane.

Larger and more awkward fan units, some weighing up to 3.5 tons, are processed in a safe and efficient working environment, which has been positioned away from some of the busier areas of the factory. Inside the plant the flow of work has been significantly improved following the commissioning of the new crane. Fans are now shipped quickly from the assembly area to the packing area and swiftly out for delivery to customers.

There is also positive news at the smaller end of the Elta market with new hubs being introduced. The new hubs bring extra efficiency and capability to the Elta impeller range. Elta’s latest addition is the ‘Series 1′ impeller blade.

This range offers three different hubs covering 12 duct sizes, nine blade combinations and variable pitch to enable the selection of the most efficient combination for each duty. The new range is also significantly stronger than its predecessor allowing use in more demanding applications.

These latest investments at Fareham are part of progressive modernisation and follow the installation of a seam welder in the sheet metal area in 2013. Speaking about the latest investment, Damian Buxton, Managing Director of Elta Applied Technology said: “Our planning and investment centres on our customers’ needs and our ability to match increased demand with efficient production.”

He will also continue reporting to the Elta Group board on activities at the company’s Building Services Division in Kingswinford, West Midlands. Damian’s promotion is in keeping with the Group’s values based on the belief in its personnel to grow. Indeed, the Group aims to promote from within wherever possible, except when an outside infusion is needed or obviously preferable.

Damian is a graduate of Middlesex University where he gained a BA (Hons) in Accounting and Finance in 1990, joining Elta seven years later in 1997 in the role of Financial Controller. Progressing through the company, he qualified as an Associate Member of The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (ACMA) in 2003. In 2008, in recognition of his unstinting commitment to the company, he was promoted to Finance Director. Former Managing Director, Mr. David Osgerby, left the company in order to pursue other business interests. Following his departure, Damian was asked by the Elta Group board of directors, to coordinate activities temporarily across both the Fareham and Kingswinford facilities.

During this three month period, the board has carefully evaluated a number of key considerations that will have an influence on how the structure of the company is shaped in the future. Damian is based at the company’s head office in Fareham, but will continue to liaise and work closely with management teams from both sites. He will involve himself in all aspects affecting the business strategy and performance of the two sites. Following his appointment as MD, Damian will continue to build upon his responsibilities, providing the Elta Group with focus and commitment in the interests of its longer term objectives. He will actively contribute in developing stronger communication between the Fareham fand Kingswinford sites, having responsibility for the coordination of management meetings across both divisions. He will be fully engaged in strategic and operational developments, reporting regularly to the board on the ongoing business strategy and performance of Elta.

In view of the additional responsibilities that Damian will be assuming and the change to his role within the company, he will be assisted by colleague, Joanne Morgan who, in turn, is being promoted to Financial Controller. She will continue reporting to Damian on all financial matters across both sites.

Now in its 18th year, the competition started in America and was introduced to the UK in 1998 where it is run jointly by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). It challenges teams of students to design, build and race a single seat racing car. The manufacturing facility of Elta in Fareham has a long standing relationship with Portsmouth University, taking a number of students in the sandwich year of the university’s Mechanical Engineering courses. One such undergraduate is Dave Hague, currently studying for his Masters in Mechanical Engineering, who was on a placement with Elta and is now working part time at Fareham until he finishes his course next year. Dave joined some 20 fellow Portsmouth students to form one of a record 105 teams from 23 countries who entered this year’s competition.

Elta sponsored the team by providing scrap metal and use of their cutting facilities, enabling them to save on manufacturing costs, a vital element of the competition which seeks to educate students into realising that a good design is worth nothing if it costs more to manufacture than people are prepared to pay. Dave comments “Elta gave us free run of the scrap metal from the fan manufacturing process which went into building the car’s pedals and suspension, as well as being used in other general areas of the car. Elta also provided the material for the brake discs and cut them into shape using their plasma cutting machine.”

The competition has exacting standards, requiring the students to achieve success in various tests of the manufacturing process before being eligible to race. Although a timing issue with the engine meant the Portsmouth team were unable to take part in the racing at Silverstone from 16-19 July, they were heartened by the achievements that they did make.

Dave continues ” “Our car, affectionately known as ‘Jaws’, passed the scrutineering and the tilt tests but the engine failure meant that we couldn’t compete in the Class 1 racing. It was obviously disappointing that we didn’t get to line up on the grid but we made it through scrutineering, with only a few modifications needed ” a big achievement for first timers. I was speaking with the winners ” the University of Stuttgart ” and they said that they didn’t even pass scrutineering in their first year.” Buoyed by this, Portsmouth are keen to enter the fray again in the 2010 competition. Dave is planning to join the team that entered into the Class 3 category of this year’s competition which requires only the design element to be completed (Class 2 requires the design and the car chassis to be constructed). His experience in Class 1 will therefore stand him in good stead to help the team step up to the actual manufacturing process.

David Osgerby, MD of Elta, said “When Dave approached me about the sponsorship it took me back to my early days in engineering. I inherited my father’s passion for cars and was sponsored by Vauxhall Motors for my mechanical engineering degree at Leeds University back in the late 70’s from where I joined Vauxhall to work with prototype test vehicles. Competitions such as Formula Student are an excellent bridge between academia and business. It offers a real-life exercise in design and manufacture, teaching not only good design but also the business elements of automotive engineering. I do feel for the lads in getting so close but not actually having the chance to race but I am sure they have learned a lot which will prove invaluable when they take up the challenge again next year.”

Air Design Pty. Ltd. is part of the £85 million Elta Group, a family of businesses with operations in six countries on four continents which, together with a network of international distributors, provides quality fans and related air movement equipment to customers worldwide.

A Trumpf TruPunch 2020 punching machine marks the newest addition to Elta’s already extensive manufacturing hardware and software, providing greater productivity and flexibility in the manufacture of fans and ancillary equipment employed in a wide range of building services applications.

The TruPunch offers speeds of up to 2,200 strokes per minute when marking, 900 strokes per minute while punching and rotates at three revolutions per second, whatever the tool being used. With all 19 tool stations fully rotational to ensure swift and easy changing of tools to meet different punching requirements, it also reduces the handling of parts by consolidating different operations in a single machine.

Paul Greenwood, Sheet Metal Foreman at Elta’s Fareham site, said – “As with most fabrication, a lot of the processes are repetitive so the capacity for this machine to be accurate and repeat the marking and punching so precisely and so quickly has been a real boost to our manufacturing capabilities. It is being used for fabricating a number of fan housings, including the Revolution Long and Short Case Axials, the Contra-Rotating Axials, and the Multiflow Mixed Flow Fan ranges. We are also seeing the benefits of it in the bespoke manufacturing for which the Applied Technology division here at Fareham is particularly known.”

Another feature of the TruPunch is the integrated loader/unloader facility which automates the process and allows the machine to run throughout the night if required.

Chris, a well known, high-profile figure within the industry, first met Roger Crook, the founding director of Elta, when they were working together at The Airscrew Co. Ltd. Originally a British manufacturing company based in Surrey manufacturing propellers, the company diversified after World War II and was bought by the Howden Group in 1971. Elta was established in 1974, producing circulating fans for high temperature applications and Chris, recognised throughout the industry as an expert on fans, joined his former colleagues as Technical Manager in 1985. His initial role was to help take the developing company towards the certification and presentation of the performance of the first Elta Axial Impeller range, along with the associated 150mm and 250mm hubs. Chris was appointed Technical Director of Elta in 1996, and will be available to his former colleagues if required.

Chris recently celebrated his 70th birthday and finally decided to call time on his working career. He had originally retired five years earlier at 65 but was persuaded to carry on working three days a week until this latest landmark birthday. Being a keen golfer, often participating in competitions for his local club, no doubt Chris will be spending a large part of his retirement on the golf course with his wife Rita, who is an equally enthusiastic participant. He was presented with a suitably fitting gift of a golfing weekend for two at the world renowned Belfry Hotel and Golf Course to mark his twenty-five year contribution to the success of the company.

Neil Jolliffe joined Elta at 17 in the Fabrication section when the company was still based in Byfleet. After time in the Impeller and Assembly sections, Neil moved into the Purchasing office and eventually secured an internal Sales role. The company recognised Neil’s ambition and loyalty, along with his communication and ‘people’ skills, and rewarded him with an external Sales role through which he has introduced many new customers to the company. When the company re-located to Fareham in 1991, Neil continued living in London where he resides with girlfriend, Natalie, and he still commutes to the South Coast.

Neil is known for his commitment and his ability to build strong relationships with clients and co-workers alike. He is always on the go and likes nothing better than travelling to the far-flung corners of the globe with a rucksack and a list of things to do and places to see. Neil received a plaque to commemorate his service to the company and unsurprisingly, the gift of vouchers for even more travel. Neil’s ‘wanderlust’ also takes him to some not quite so exotic locations as he follows his beloved Chelsea FC around the country (he is quick to point out that he has supported them since a teenager rather than taking them up when their current spell of trophy gathering began!).

Elta is part of the £85 million Elta Group, a family of businesses with operations in six countries on four continents which, together with a network of international distributors, provides quality fans and related air movement equipment to customers worldwide.

CIBSE is the professional body for building services engineering. It publishes guidance and codes which are internationally recognised as authoritative and sets the criteria for best practice in the profession.

By collaborating with fellow patrons, Elta will strengthen and develop closer links and working relationships globally, and with a network of professional support and expertise will both keep abreast of new ideas and innovations and support CIBSE’s continued professional development programme.

As a patron, Elta’s contribution supports initiatives to improve the building services industry and encourages best practices within many areas related to the industry including health and safety, energy efficiency, product development, environmental quality, work efficiencies and training.

Elta is part of the £85 million Elta Group, a family of businesses with operations in six countries on four continents which, together with a network of international distributors, provides quality fans and related air movement equipment to customers worldwide.

Stuart Johnstone joins as key account manager and will be based in Glasgow. With many years of experience within the heating and ventilation industry plus an extensive knowledge of the region, Stuart’s experience with distributor sales, consultant specifications and contractor orders will guarantee existing Scottish customers are supported whilst ensuring the growth of sales within the region.

The appointment reflects an increase in demand from clients in Scotland for Elta products and with an unrivalled knowledge of the area, Stuart is looking forward to growing and expanding the Elta brand in Scotland.

Having previously been employed as a consultant, Alan Grant has been appointed as key account manager to work closely alongside Stuart to develop sales throughout Scotland and will be based in Edinburgh. In relation to the task ahead, Alan commented “I’m very pleased to be joining the company and look forward to putting Elta on the map in Scotland.”

Elta is part of the £85 million Elta Group, a family of businesses with operations in six countries on four continents which, together with a network of international distributors, provides quality fans and related air movement equipment to customers worldwide.

Elta has now extended its EC-Certification for smoke related fan units with BSI, making it one of the largest certified standard product ranges available within Europe. From left to right: Scheme Manager of BSI Products Paul Whitehorn is shown presenting the revised EN certificate to Allan Hurdle, Managing Director of Elta Ltd. Bob Rees, Elta’s QA manager holds their BS EN ISO 9001:2000 Certificate also awarded by BSI, which covers both manufacturing facilities and Chris Lack, Elta’s Engineering Consultant responsible for overseeing the extensive smoke test programme.

It is a mandatory requirement in the European Union that all smoke extract fans are independently tested to EN 12101-3:2002 Smoke and heat control systems – Specification for powered smoke and heat exhaust ventilators. This standard covers the testing, design and production controls that are required before the manufacturer can obtain product certification from the appropriate notified body. As Allan Hurdle, Managing Director of Elta explains “As one of the leading suppliers in the industry, customers are assured of consistently high product quality by encompassing the very latest standards”.

With fan sizes up to 2 metre in diameter and covering F200, F300 and F400 classifications, the certification was awarded following rigorous smoke test programmes. Elta’s operations in both Fareham and Kingswinford produce the SmokeVent, Jetvent and Induction Smoke product ranges to the EN12101-3:2002 standard.

Elta is part of the £85 million Elta Group, a family of businesses with operations in six countries on four continents which, together with a network of international distributors, provides quality fans and related air movement equipment to customers worldwide.