Topic: electrical contracting

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Blog Articles Case Study Company News Guide Uncategorized

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Blog Articles

Published 8/3/2024

How far does power travel and what impact does distance have on performance

It’s easy to take our electricity supply for granted. We flick a switch and instantly have light or power. We don’t even think about it unless there’s an issue or an outage. But when there is an issue or outage, the impact can be significant. For manufacturers, even the smallest change in power can make […]

Published 8/2/2024

Will security lighting help to protect my staff?

Looking after the safety and well-being of employees should be a priority for any business. And while it’s not possible to mitigate every risk, there are measures you can take to improve their safety and security. One measure that is often overlooked is the installation of security lighting. When daylight disappears, visibility is reduced, increasing […]

Published 25/1/2024

Top 5 considerations when comparing electrical quotes

Budget is always a factor when you’re considering any type of upgrade, revamp, or maintenance work within your factory. But when it comes to electrical work, you have to consider more than just money. Don’t rush into accepting the cheapest electrical quotes without knowing exactly what you’re getting. Electrical work is not an area where […]

Published 18/12/2023

How to identify when an electrical job is too big for you

You probably don’t want to call your electrical contractor every time a lightbulb needs replacing in the staff room – there are plenty of small electrical jobs you can handle in-house. But what about the larger jobs? How do you determine when an electrical job is too big for your onsite team? Here are some […]

Published 20/11/2023

Why is it important to control voltage?

In the UK, commercial electricity suppliers are permitted to feed power from the grid into a network at 230v with a tolerance of -5/+10%. This means the supply may increase to 240v or reduce to 225v at any given time. On average, the supply runs as high as 242v. Most small work tools such as […]

Published 27/10/2023

How often should I undertake an electrical audit?

All businesses have a responsibility to undertake a periodic electrical audit to ensure electrical safety. Part of this responsibility includes having an up-to-date commercial Periodic Inspection Report (PIR), also known as an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR). Commercial properties should get an EICR every five years or whenever there is a change of occupancy. Industrial […]

Published 14/10/2023

Why is certification so important?

Having the right certification in place isn’t just about ticking boxes. If you don’t have the right certification, you can face penalties, fines, and even prison time. That’s why it’s so important to understand your responsibilities. Electrical safety and compliance BS 7671 is the British Standard for “Requirements for Electrical Installations.” You may also hear […]

Published 12/9/2023

Our guide to EV Charging at work

The EV revolution is well underway with over 700,000 electric vehicles on the road just in the UK. And with the government’s plan to ban sales of new petrol or diesel cars by 2035, the switch to EV shows no signs of slowing down. Combined with pressure on businesses to reduce their carbon footprint, it’s […]

Published 26/8/2023

10 signs that indicate you should be getting your wiring checked

When is the right time to get your factory wiring checked? What warning signs should you be on the lookout for? No manufacturer wants to disrupt production unless it’s absolutely vital. But equally, it’s not sensible to ignore warning signs and risk a minor issue turning into a major problem. 1. Frequent electrical surges […]

Published 16/8/2023

How to carry out vital electrical works without interrupting production

Unexpected downtime is never good, but if your power fails and you need to carry out electrical works, it’s unavoidable. This is why you need to be proactive with testing, inspecting, and maintaining electrical equipment and installations. But even planned downtime can cause disruptions to production which isn’t ideal when you’re on a tight schedule. […]

Published 31/7/2023

What actually is a power surge?

A power surge is a sudden, temporary increase in voltage that occurs in an electrical system, usually lasting only a fraction of a second. These surges can enter your factory through power lines and affect all electronic devices connected to your electrical system. Power surges can be caused by various factors, including: Electrical overload A […]

Published 14/6/2023

What to take into account when designing a new factory

Planning a new factory is exciting, but there are lots of factors to consider. Poor planning can result in expensive problems later down the line, so it pays to invest time and money into getting it right. Factory design should be a collaborative effort involving engineers, architects, production managers, electrical contractors and other relevant stakeholders. […]

Published 28/4/2023

5 ways electrical contractors can improve your working environment

Most manufacturers rely heavily on electricity to power their factories and warehouses, which is why having reliable electrical contractors to call on should be a no-brainer. But the best electrical contractors aren’t just there to tick compliance boxes or fix things when they go wrong. A good electrical contractor should help you improve your business, […]

Published 27/2/2023

Why proactive preventative maintenance is key to factory efficiency

When it comes to maintenance, many manufacturers opt for a “we’ll fix it when it breaks” approach, doing the bare minimum to stay compliant and operational, rather than taking a preventative maintenance stance. But being proactive with maintenance improves factory efficiency. And factory efficiency has a direct impact on productivity and profitability, so it’s not […]

Published 10/1/2023

What is Power Factor Correction?

Power Factor Correction (PFC) is the process of improving power factor (and, therefore, power quality) by reducing the reactive power component of an AC circuit. Power factor measures how efficiently your electrical power is being used. It looks at the ratio between real power and reactive power to determine total power drawn by a single […]

Published 18/11/2022

Business continuity- are you prepared?

Most manufacturers rely on electricity to power their heating, lighting and ventilation, machinery and equipment. But what happens when machines break down, or the power goes out? How much would it cost your business if your production lines went down or you were without power for an hour, a day, or a week? We can’t […]

Published 15/10/2022

How a factory audit can identify potential savings

In most manufacturing facilities, the top three operating expenses are labour, materials and energy, with energy often coming out as the highest cost. A free energy reduction audit from AES will identify potential energy savings across your factory, helping you minimise your carbon footprint whilst improving your work environment and reducing costs. What are the […]

Published 1/9/2022

Top tips to lighting a factory

Manufacturing plants need adequate lighting – if your teams can’t see, they can’t work. But lighting big spaces can be a challenge, not to mention a huge investment. With health and safety, energy efficiency and cost all playing a part, it pays to plan. In this article, we’re sharing our top tips to lighting a […]

Published 16/8/2022

5 Key questions in choosing an electrical contractor

If you’re planning a major electrical installation or upgrade at your commercial premises, you’ll need an electrical contractor. But a quick search on the internet will show you thousands of electrical contractors, possibly hundreds just in your local area. So how do you know which is right for your business? This article looks at the […]

Published 18/7/2022

What electrical regulations do I need to know about?

We all know health and safety at work is a big deal. Business owners want a clean sheet on safety for many reasons, not least to keep a happy and healthy workforce operating at its best. In the past fifty years, much has been done to create procedures to support workplace health and safety. From […]

Published 16/6/2022

5 most common electrical problems in factories

Manufacturers rely heavily on electricity, often grinding to a halt if electrical problems occurs. What’s more, serious electrical faults can trigger a fire or explosion, leading to injuries or, much worse, fatalities. As a plant or production manager, you don’t need to understand how to fix your factory’s electrical faults yourself – that’s our job. […]

Published 17/5/2022

Key factors when planning a factory extension

Customer demand can peak and trough, but if demand for your products is constantly rising, it could be time to expand. However, upsizing a factory is not straightforward. There are multiple components to think about before you begin to extend, and you might even find that relocation is a more viable option (although this is […]

Published 14/3/2022

Understanding the design process in new factory installations

The key to achieving an efficient production plant lies in its design. Whether you’re creating a brand new facility or simply assessing your current installations to make improvements, getting the design spot-on is essential to the production output. In this article, we’re looking at manufacturing design in more depth – asking questions about the DFM […]

Published 31/1/2022

Top 5 tips for minimising production downtime

Unplanned downtime – every production line will experience it, but none will welcome it. It’s among the biggest concerns for anyone running a manufacturing plant, capable of causing havoc in seconds and resulting in severe financial losses. Of course, not all production downtime is bad. If you’re upgrading a major system or implementing a brand […]

Published 23/6/2021

Bright Spark – What you need in place… if it all goes wrong

with Carl Johnson – Electrical Technician Let’s face it, we live in a country that has an enviably reliable power supply – certainly by comparison with many developing countries. However, that doesn’t mean that from time to time an office, factory or other organisation won’t find itself unexpectedly without power. This might be down to […]

Published 6/1/2021

Is a contractor only as good as the equipment they install?

Lee Johnson, Managing Director of Advanced Electrical Services explains… Here’s a bold statement for you: ‘A contractor is only as good as the equipment they install.’ I read this recently in a trade magazine article and it caught my attention because it only tells half of the story. Although we all understand the importance of […]

Published 2/12/2020

Bright Spark – Electrical maintenance tips

Electrical maintenance tips We’ve all heard the addage, ‘If it ‘ain’t broke, don’t fix it’. But when it comes to electrical systems, a lack of moving parts doesn’t mean that nothing can go wrong – and leaving well alone can simply store up problems for the future. By having a programme of planned preventative maintenance […]

Published 25/11/2020

Jargon Busted: Single-phase and Three-phase electrical power – what’s the difference?

The electrical world can be confusing and we’ve all come across some terms that don’t make much sense. That’s why in each issue of Wired we unravel a piece of industry gobbledygook and tell you what it means – In plain old English. In a nutshell… When you plug in your kettle, phone charger or […]

Published 10/11/2020

Get the Facts – The importance of planning work and producing drawings

Hands up those of you who like spending more than you need to on electrical services? Thought so. Yet time and time again, the AES team sees examples of how bad planning and a lack of drawings end up causing clients unnecessary costs.Have you co-ordinated your services? One of the key causes is failing to […]

Published 19/8/2020

Bright Spark – Electrical Thermal Imaging

It’s particularly useful for checking hidden wiring, otherwise inaccessible systems and machinery that is permanently in use and would be inconvenient to turn off. While all systems can be checked, the focus is usually on key electrical panels and any connections that carry a high load.

Published 16/2/2020

Jargon Busted: Thermal Imaging

The electrical world can be confusing and we’ve all come across some terms that don’t make much sense. That’s why in each issue of Wired we unravel a piece of industry gobbledygook and tell you what it means – In plain old English. One of the tricky things about electrical systems is that often you […]

Published 9/12/2019

Jargon Buster: Power factor correction

So what exactly is power factor? Simply put: it’s all about efficiency. Technically, power factor is the ratio of the true power (kW) that is used to do work in electrical equipment and the apparent power (kVA) that is supplied to the circuit. If you’re scratching your head right now, all this means is that […]

Published 27/11/2019

Six things to consider before hiring an electrical contractor

No one likes to waste money – least of all us. But we also like to see our clients spend their hard-earned pennies wisely. Electrical contractors are not all the same, so if you need help with general maintenance work, a refit or an emergency job, take a look at our top tips before you […]

Published 17/11/2019

Jargon Buster – Electrical data logging and recording

The electrical world can be confusing and we’ve all come across some terms that don’t make much sense. That’s why in each issue of Wired we unravel a piece of industry gobbledygook and tell you what it means – In plain old English. Electrical data logging and recording What is data logging and why is […]

Published 8/9/2019

Jargon Buster – Who to call when the lights go out!

The electrical world can be confusing and we’ve all come across some terms that don’t make much sense. That’s why in each issue of Wired we unravel a piece of industry gobbledygook and tell you what it means – In plain old English. From the CEGB and AEBs to RECs and DNOS: Who to […]

Published 30/6/2019

Jargon busted – Amps

The electrical world can be confusing and we’ve all come across some terms that don’t make much sense. That’s why in each issue of Wired we unravel a piece of industry gobbledygook and tell you what it means – In plain old English. What is an amp? An amp – or ampere, to give […]

Published 3/3/2019

Bright Spark – How to cut down time and costs

By Carl Johnson, Electrical Technician You don’t invest in machinery for it to sit there looking pretty – every machine you have is there to make you money. So if it’s not working, it’s not doing its job – and it’s therefore losing you money. Simply by following a few simple maintenance rules, you can […]

Published 28/4/2018

Get the Facts – 5 things to consider when extending your premises

1. What is going in the extension? It sounds like an obvious question, doesn’t it? But it’s surprising how many people don’t plan ahead. First make a simple list of all the equipment that will be going into the new extension. Next to each item, add the recommended supply size and load of the equipment […]

Published 22/6/2021

Case Study – Kerry Foods

Operational efficiencies maximised with new equipment integration.

Published 22/6/2021

Case Study – HSG Bradford

Flexibility key in creating new state-of-the-art energy efficient building on schedule.

Published 22/6/2021

Case Study – Rakusens

Rapid response minimises production downtime and prevents safety issues

Published 22/6/2021

Case Study – B.V Diamond

AES significantly enhances machine safety with retrofit solution

Published 22/6/2021

Case Study – Beech Hill School

New electrical supply allows for 50% additional growth

Published 24/5/2021

Case Study – Harrison Spinks

Smart project planning from AES ensures extension hits deadline and saves money.

Published 19/5/2017

New factory design and installation for HSL

As the UK’s leading manufacturer of back-care chairs, recliners and adjustable beds, HSL’s focus is on making life easier for others. So when the company approached AES to design the electrical installation for its new factory, the team put in every effort to make life easier for HSL. An important part of the design element […]

Published 22/6/2021

Guide – Electrical Contracting

Proactive electrical maintenance to minimise production downtime and eliminate inefficiencies