Grip tape is the same as non slip tape, isn’t it?

Put simply, yes and no!  Modern skateboards have their origins in the late 1950s, when grip tape started appearing in the 1970s the most commonly available mineral in the US was silicon carbide (also known as carborundum tape).  From the 1980s onwards throughout western industry aluminium oxide became more prevalent as an abrasive mineral and began replacing silicon carbide; it was more readily available, more quality consistent, had the same level of hardness and was cheaper.  Grip tape can be produced with either, with some non slip tape only produced using aluminium oxide or S2 (a form of silica).

I have heard that silicon carbide is better and tougher?
Completely untrue.  As mentioned above silicon carbide was the original grip material however from the 1980s onwards moves were made towards production using aluminium oxide.  Mineral hardness is measured by the MOHS scale, both aluminium oxide and silicon carbide register the same mineral hardness, 9.  1 is talc and 10 being diamond.  Silicon carbide retains its place in grip tape usage mainly as an ‘old school’ remnant, reminding boarders of its vintage 1970s roots, in performance there is little difference with aluminium oxide offering better quality output.

What about the adhesive?
Most grip tapes have a lower level of adhesion compared to non slip tape.  A skateboard is an easy substrate to adhere onto, in the worst case it might have a lacquer coat.  Non slip tapes might be applied onto extremely low energy substrates, the most difficult materials include PP, PUR and siliconised powder coat.  Non slip tapes have to possess an adhesive capable of permanently and instantly bonding to these surfaces, this can only be achieved with modern, advanced and often application specific adhesives.  The old system of simply applying a higher coat weight is no longer seen as an effective approach.

Is the base material different?
Grip tapes typically use a thin PVC base.  Anti slip tapes will normally use thicker PVC and various thicknesses of PVC dependent on the end application.  Other plastics that are utilised which include: PET (provides extra strength and zero stretch tolerances), PE (full biodegradability), PP (can easily be hot welded instead of adhered), aluminium foil (formability and extreme flame retardancy) and PU (cushioning abilities but very expensive compared to other plastics).

Does the backing liner vary?
At last a simple answer, yes!  Most grip tapes will use a thicker backing paper, the reason is unknown but is believed to be historical.

Slipping over on floors or down stairs are common forms of accidents in the workplace as well as leisure. These can result in serious injury. Prevention of such accidents is very easy and it is not just in industrial workshops and factories that slipping over can occur. Offices are as dangerous if the right prevention techniques and processes are not implemented. Stairs, storage areas, kitchens and corridors can be potential slipping areas. Grip tapes and non slip tapes are easy to apply and conform to health and safety regulations.

Research shows that incorrect weighing can account for over one-fifth of postage costs, guessing weight, adding too many stamps. Then, how annoying is it when an underpaid postage item of mail is received. This is not a professional look and can is severely irritating. The accuracy of electronic postal scales gives you the exact amount for your postage for all types of letters and parcels so you won’t waste any money on over-franking. Old calculation charts result in inaccurate postage costs and postage duties takes ages.

With many sub Post Offices closing, 7500 since 1997, the nearest branch to the work place or home office can be quite a distance away resulting in the need to drive into a busy town. The other consequence of less Post Office branches is that the main offices are usually extremely busy just about all of the time, the busiest times being lunchtimes and just before closing. Of course, these are the times that you yourself will always need to go! What feels like hours can be spent waiting in a queue at a Post Office branch.

Postal scales are not just requirement of large offices and businesses. Small businesses can greatly benefit from the use of them as can small mail order businesses or Ebay or other online auction sellers. Postal scales not only eliminate the need to queue at a Post Office branch but should postage costs need to be worked out prior to a sale going ahead, the correct cost can be calculated and given to the purchaser or client. When purchasing an item from an online auction, the ability to obtain the cost of the delivery quickly is a great benefit. Postal scales can be used to calculate the postage cost of an envelope right up to a package.

To further speed up and save money, postal scales are capable of being interfaced to postage meters or franking machines. Franking machines go even further to speeding up the process of sending out mail and at the same time offering discounted postage rates. Franking machines can save on average at least 2p on a first class, 3p on a second class and 6p on large letters and at the same time, giving mail a professional image. A professional image on an envelope could give you the edge when tendering for new business for example with personalisation of the franking imprint. A franking machine saves instantly on postage costs but also labour costs compared with the process of weighing and sticking individual stamps on. That coupled with the more professional look mean franking machines are the way forward for today’s businesses.

Screens and Partitions
In today’s open plan offices, there are times when you ‘need to escape’ or need privacy for client confidentiality etc. Screens and partitions can be installed on a desktop or can be freestanding. From a simple desktop divider through to a self contained office unit, screens offer flexibility to a business where space is at a premium.

Audio Visual & Presentation Systems
As companies work to limit paper use, how do we keep our clients and staff informed? The ability to scan straight to ‘flash pen/usb drives’ means it is easier than ever to have truly portable documents. Why have your message on a laptop when it can be presented on a wall?

Health and safety in the workplace has cost many companies significant sums of money in recent years through lack of compliance. Staff are the key assets to a company, critical to the day to day business service delivery. Comfortable staff work longer hours, are more productive and show a better return for their employers.

Office furniture suppliers look at the environment staff work in, the space needed to work effectively in and the number of people that are required to be accommodated within that space. The new office is then planned out, observing importantly the HSE guidelines on a modern working space to ensure your business’ compliancy to ever changing directives. Many offer a full service which assists with not just office desks and office seating but all aspects of an office make-over or build including flooring, lighting, electronics and cabling.

The first modular building we installed as a temporary walk in centre, was a used 6 bay modular building.

Prior to arrival on site, jackpad foundations were used to erect the building instead of traditional concrete foundations.

Portable Building Sales have agreed to purchase the building back after the Primary Care Trust no longer have a use for the building and in addition will also purchase the jackpad foundations leaving a clear and clean car park area once again.

The Portable Building Sales “buy back” scheme ensures that the building is removed safely, professionally and to the current Health & Safety and CDM regulations. They ensure that the Primary Care Trust has no disposal problems and receives payment for the building before it is removed.

Portable Building Sales Ltd is one of the few companies in the UK to provide this type of service.

The used steel framed modular building that was supplied consists of six plastic coated steel modules which have white Upvc double glazed windows. The building also has a plasterboard lined ceiling and walls and a double thickness plywood floor.

This used modular building was decorated internally, cleaned externally and reinstated electrically to the latest regulations.

This temporary modular walk in centre building complies with the current Part L2A 2006 building regulations and is extremely environmentally friendly as it only uses 3% of the energy required to manufacture an equivalent new modular building. This is because the embodied energy is transportable and therefore can be relocated to a new site.

Also there are significant cost savings to the client and in this instance the tax payer as well, as this building was approximately a third of the cost of an equivalent new manufactured modular building.

Portable Buildings completed the installation of this building within four weeks from the date of order and to the client’s complete satisfaction.

Even though this modular building is pre-owned, Portable Building Sales still provide a 12 months guarantee with the building.

Portable Building Sales provided the Coventry Primary Care Trust with complete peace of mind throughout the process of attending meetings, submission of our Health & Safety plans, supply and installation of the used modular building, arrangement of the crane, to even organising the transportation and temporary traffic management to enable the building to be off loaded from a road adjacent to the site.

For more information please visit http://www.portablebuildingsales.co.uk or telephone 01482 656590

Some people think they should not get a fuel card if they have a credit card. Even if there might be similarities, the fuel card is not a credit card and has its own use and benefits. The similarities pretty much stop at the way they both look and at the fact that the need for having cash is eliminated.

The first and most obvious benefit of fuel cards would have to be the possibility of buying petrol, diesel or other fuel at a discounted price. This is important especially because of the ongoing rise of the fuel. If you have a transportation business or your company has several cars for the employees, then the fuel card is the way to go. You do not have to give your drivers cash and all the invoices come with tax shown individually. This is important for your business because it smoothes the progress of tax recovery.

Fuel cards can be programmed in such a way that one can use them to buy one type of fuel or more depending on your needs. Because the fuel cards use Smartchip technology the number of fuelling transactions can be limited. These and other advantages make the fuel card more and more popular for both business and particular use.

Further benefits are listed below:

1. Simplified administration with itemised drawings in easy format in one invoice;

2. Simplicity of VAT reclaim even for European fills;

3. No home fuel tanks with security, monitoring and insurance implications;

4. You pay for actual drawings in arrears without necessarily needing to buy in bulk;

5. You pay for exact fuel amount used;

6. Costs are negotiable and often creditworthy businesses can agree a wholesale tariff cheaper than pump price;

7. A driver can fill on the road in Europe and take advantage of cheaper fuel provided that facilities fall within the card network;

8. In the event of fraud or misuse, cards can be electronically and quickly stopped;

9. Some card companies offer individual limits on each card for even greater control;

10. Returning drivers can fill to capacity when leaving EC ports and maximise cheaper prices of fills.

Now there are integrated audio visual, or AV, installations that can really make a difference at a conference, meeting or pitch to a prospective client. There are various audio visual and sound system installation packages available, many of which are tailor made to each specific requirement. For example, a large conference room can have 3 separate audio visual installations enabling the room to be divided into three, acoustically isolated rooms for hire to individual groups. Such installations can be operated completely independently but also have the ability for all of the projection systems to display the same image when the main hall is completely open for large delegations.

To further engage delegates and in addition to an audio video installation, interactive whiteboards can be used to energise presentations and motivate learners. Interactive whiteboards combine the simplicity of a whiteboard with the power of a computer and engages students and audiences. The touch-sensitive display connects to your computer and digital projector to show your computer image. You can then control computer applications directly from the display, write notes in digital ink and save your work to share later. And what is a huge plus point with these interactive whiteboards is that if a person can use a computer, they can use one of these systems.

Pre-owned structures are an even bigger advantage in terms of both cost effectiveness and environmentally. Pre-owned modular buildings have been recognised by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister as being extremely environmentally friendly compared with an equivalent new manufactured building.  The reason for this is that the embodied energy required to manufacture a modular building is transportable as the embodied energy is locked within the fabric of the building. Therefore the energy contained within pre-owned modular buildings can be transported and relocated to another site. In traditional buildings this is largely lost when they are no longer required and demolished, even when the materials are re-cycled. However, with modular and portable buildings the embodied energy can be relocated along with the modules to another site

The nature of a temporary structure means it can be installed, moved or sold quickly and easily. Most portable and modular buildings suppliers offer purchasing and collection services. Collections are carried out under strict health and safety guidelines in compliance with the currently required CDM regulations.
In the current economic climate, this versatile, cost effective and limited risk approach to a business premises or an extension is very advisable. Moving to whole new business premises or building a classroom extension is not viable at present. A temporary structure solves all requirements without compromising on safety or quality.

1. Live availability and online bookings – Many customers will not wait for you to get back to them with your latest availability, they will just go elsewhere. Therefore you need an online booking system that displays your live availability and allows customers to make a booking with instant online payments.

2. Easy to use and install – You should look for a system that someone with only basic web editing skills can install, with no complex installation instructions. This way you will easily be able to manage and maintain your booking calendar without the need to call on your web developer each time something needs amending.

3. No commission charges – You should look for an online booking system that can be purchased for a fixed annual fee rather than having to continually pay out a percentage of each booking taken through the system.

4. Customisable booking pages – It is crucial that your reservation system can be fully customised in order to fit in with the look and feel of your website in order to maintain the professionalism of your brand. 

5. Full Control – Your booking system should enable you to deal direct with your customer and all payments need to go straight to you, not through an agency. You should also be able to choose whether to offer real time online bookings, or provisional bookings which allow you to liaise with the customer in order to confirm the booking. 

6. Help and support – It is important to choose a booking system that includes telephone and email support, as well as a quick and easy guide to getting started with the system.

The reason for this is that the embodied energy required to manufacture a modular building is transportable as the embodied energy is locked within the fabric of the building. Therefore the energy contained within pre-owned modular buildings can be transported and relocated to another site. In traditional buildings this is largely lost when they are no longer required and demolished, even when the materials are re-cycled. However, with modular and portable buildings the embodied energy can be relocated along with the modules to another site.

Where a modular or portable building is relocated, with minimal alteration, the amount of energy used is less than three percent of the energy that would be required to manufacture an equivalent new building. Even when the modular building is refurbished and reconfigured internally, the energy used is no more than ten percent of the energy that would be required to create a new modular building.

The Modular and Portable Buildings Association has produced an energy performance standards document (ADL-2A) which provides supporting information and guidelines for compliance with the Government’s special considerations relating to the design and construction of modular and portable buildings.
So buying a quality pre-owned modular building not only saves you money and is an immediate solution to your accommodation needs, but it also makes a difference to the environment by recycling the embodied energy contained within the building.

Modular and portable buildings come in all different sizes including multi-story they can be used for such a wide variety of functions including mobile classrooms, temporary offices, construction site accommodation and portable storage buildings.

For more details about Real Fleet and their GPS vehicle tracking systems please visit www.realfleet.co.uk

When it comes to exhibition systems Cypher can cater for everyone, ranging from entry pop up stands and level starter packs through to large bespoke banner stands. Their entry level starter pack includes three banner systems with printed graphics, a carry case, a folding metal literature rack and 500 x A4 colour printed leaflets for just £675+vat.

Cypher can provide their own creative graphic design and artwork team available for those who do not have their own design facilities available. Alternatively you can provide the artwork yourself.

Many of the exhibition stands are available to purchase online at www.cypherdigital.co.uk.

They provide a host of installation guides providing step by step instruction of how to ensure your home improvement looks perfect with the minimum of fuss.

All products are delivered nationwide, with free delivery on orders over £49.99 and their buying power brings the best prices to the customer. Property Plastics are so confident their prices cannot be beaten they offer a ‘price promise’. If you find the same product with the same specification anywhere else online within 7 days they will refund the difference.

All Property Plastics products are manufactured in their own ISO9001 registered facilities ensuring quality is second to none.

Take over a whole Lake District Hotel for the weekend for your friends and family or tie the knot with just the two of you in a special setting – the possibilities are endless. All the facilities – hotels, car hire, wedding photographers, catering etc. are already in place to help you plan your day, your way, with your ideas.

There is a vast range of choice of locations and options, formal and informal, including traditional church weddings in churches made of local slate with centuries of history and a wide range of venues for Lakeland Weddings to suit everyone’s tastes, with many offering civil ceremonies in their own grounds.

For more unique Lake District weddings you could hire a steamer to take your guests on a lake cruise whilst drinking champagne and at nightfall you could organise a spectacular firework display over the lake. For something more romantic and less formal you can enjoy a simple ceremony and a walk up one of the Lakeland fells with a picnic and enjoy the breathtaking views – the choice is yours.

As well as being an ideal location for weddings in Cumbria, the Lake District is one of the most romantic destinations to be found anywhere, which makes it an ideal honeymoon destination, with roaring log fires, cosy walks along country lanes and romantic candlelit dinners.

Experience the special magic of the Lake District for yourself and experience what makes it the perfect location for your wedding!