Question:

Please ask our members if they can recommend any UK supplier of the following please?

• Freestanding professional kitchen fermenting cabinet.
• Good quality professional countertop dehydrating unit, s/steel 6 tray.
• Herb refrigerator freestanding.

Replies:

1. I would suggest contacting:
   CHR Equipment Ltd
   Astar House
   Fourfields
   Bamber Bridge
   Preston
   PR5 6GSTel: 01772 499 774
   www.chrequipment.co.uk

Question:

Can anyone recommend a company who can install an acoustic ceiling in a school dining room?

Replies:

1. There is a company is the North East who might be worth contacting. I’m not 100% sure they do acoustic ceilings, but might be worth asking. The gents name is Stephen Wake.
   Fulwell Ceiling Contracts Ltd
   178 Fulwell Road
   Sunderland
   Tyne & Wear
   SR6 9QTTelephone:  0191 5481419
   Mobile:       07930521714
   Website:     www.fcc-ltd.co.uk
   Email:         steve@fcc-ltd.co.uk
2. Scobie McIntosh are happy to help.
   Please contact Jono McMillan
   Email: Jono.McMillan@scobiemcintosh.co
   Switchboard: 0845 5040 466
   Website: www.scobiemcintosh.com

Question:

Does anyone know of a company other than Elro or Kuppersbush who offer bratt pans with cooling lids please?

Replies:

1. Therma via Electrolux may do this type of kit
2.  MKN

Question:

Can anyone recommend a reputable commercial Laundry Equipment installation company for a London based project please?

Replies:

1. Allsop and Pitts https://www.allsopandpitts.co.uk/

2. JLA https://jla.com/

3. We can provide Machinery and install Commercial laundry Machines if required. Please contact John Ward via 07918 690275 or john.ward@scobiemcintosh.com

4. Electrolux Professional will have an agent covering London

5. WashCo are good. Contact James Holmes (Sales Director) via 0800 054 6546

Question:

We are due to do some installs at nine airports over the next two months.
Do you know if there is a single form you can fill out that covers every airport as it’s becoming a bit of a pain filling out each individual set of Rams.
Heathrow are telling us we need to go to site for a meeting.

Replies:

1. Unfortunately, no, each airport will have its own Airport security and they will have to apply to each one, we do work at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Edinburgh and all are separate to each other.
2. Annoyingly, there is not a single form – each Airport sets its own standard.
3. I would think that with such high-profile sites it is pretty certain that RAMS will have to be site-specific.
   A generic single form would not be accepted.
   We have had experience of this with Luton airport both for an installation (airside) and multiple service engineer’s attendances (airside and landside).
   Being called to site to sit through a site contractors Health & Safety brief is quite common – despite the inconvenience it’s rarely avoidable, if requested. In the interests of distributor/contractor relations it is also probably best to comply!
4. I can confidently say that no, there is no 1 single form you can fill in. It’s all down to the individual site requirements! Painful, I know. The best thing is to get each RAMS done and accepted – I always get them for the remainder of the year I am applying for.
5. I have had experience at three airports, Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton.
   The last two use a P2W (permit to work) system and you need a separate log into both, Gatwick was the hardest to deal with and on one occasion it took me four weeks to get one permit approved. With both, you had to attend a training course with the relevant FM company to use the system and to understand their expectations on information being provided.
   Heathrow was a nightmare and yes you had to attend site meetings. I had a couple of occasions where we had installs of one appliance in and one out. The client managed to do the donkey work on organising the work and I only had to provide rams.
   On all sites the attending engineers will have to be vetted so that a contractors pass can be issued.
   If the work is considered airside this can take longer for a pass to be issued.
   If they have to take a delivery vehicle airside, more hoops to jump through.
   One last thing, if the installs are into what is considered a construction site then CDM Regulations 2015 will apply, good luck with adhering to those.
   Not sure that helps but airports are difficult ones until you get in the door, then it’s easy.
6. RAMS need to be site specific, your method statement might be generic across the scope of works that you will undertake on each site, but the access route, working conditions in each different environment will be different thus the hazards/ risk and how you intend to deal with them will be site specific and different on each instance.
   I certainly expect that Heathrow would need a site visit as it’s a high security environment,
   and with enormous implications if an incident occurs for both its operation and the public.
7. Each airport has its own requirements and there is no shortcut/easy solution.
8. There isn’t any one form as airports are owned by different companies.  It is correct that you have to jump through hoops to get access. This is by no means an easy achievement.  We currently do work for Edinburgh, Glasgow, Heathrow and Gatwick and it is best that you first contact the Customer Support Centre at csc@gatwickairport.com
   I have telephoned them and they have said if you email them they will give instructions, however , they can only advise on the airports that are owned by the same company.
9. I would strongly advise that the CEDA member embraces the opportunity to visit site as RAMS must capture site specific access constraints. If an accident occurred to an engineer or member of the public and an agreed delivery route / method of delivery hadn’t been identified the CEDA member would be exposed. Generic RAMS should never be accepted. Whilst the additional expense and time of the meeting may want to be avoided it will likely offer the member a solution to devising the most efficient, safe and approved method of getting goods to their final destination.

Question:

Integrated hot holding cupboard : the issue is to prevent children from touching the hot surface of a hot holding cupboard, so an integrated cupboard would hopefully prevent this. Anyone aware of the availability of this type of unit?

Replies:

1. ceda member company ‘Kitchequip’ https://ceda.co.uk/members/kitchequip-co-uk  have said ‘We can provide a number of different models of hot holding cupboards, that we supply to schools and hospitals etc. The heat is within and are only ‘warm’ to the touch externally for user friendly practicalities. We can provide integrated models, varying sizes available’.
2. I would have though hot-holding would be kitchen-side and away from children. If it is kitchen side, a void in servery countering to allow a roll-under holding cabinet (or space close to point of service) should do the job. These are widely available from Victor/Hatco/Alto Shaam/Blanco/BGL Rieber/Prince Castle/Tournus to name a few (there are others!).
   These are not strictly ‘integrated’ but they would not normally need to be so in a school kitchen.

Question:

We’ve got an enquiry for a high-end deli bar that wants to use mist-cooling on its FOH display counters, mainly for fresh fish, dispensed on short totems. Does any member know a UK source for this kind of technology?

Replies:

1. There used to be a company called Smeva who manufactured serve-over cabinets that added moisture.  Dutch company but I’m not sure if anyone still imports them into the UK.
2. I know the World Food market in Kensington use it!
3. Stephan Baldock at ISA Italy. Email: baldock.stephen@isaitaly.com Mobile: 07971 654348
4. XL Refrigeration in Leeds
5. John Ward has said that they can provide the misting technology and can you contact him via John.Ward@scobiemcintosh.com to discuss further.

Question:

As part of our new kitchen/restaurant facility, we are looking into the payment of food. Ideally, we would like staff to have an ID card, which also doubles up as their access control card to get them into areas of the building but also as a payment card for food.

Like the system schools use, called Parent Pay…… where as they can pre load and then swipe as they pay. Are you familiar of any such systems/suppliers? Thank you.

Replies:

1. ceda Member ‘Kitchequip’ are currently involved in launching  the ‘new concept’ of ‘cashless kiosk’  which is very much aimed at this type of operation you highlighted from enquirer. They have set up a showroom layout of this very operation, offering hot/cold grab n go foods, drinks/snacks/ & coffee machine facility, with the pay station at the end / cashless system/ operated by till type system that we’re all familiar with/can be set for retail pricing and additional staff concessionary rates etc. They are happy to speak with the interested parties and show them the concept.  (it’s very much like the ‘coming across to us from America, the ‘amazon go’ type grab n go store for busy people on the move at break times – https://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=16008589011
2. A ceda Member’s customer has this in place and is very pleased with the service she has from Systopia:
   https://systopia.co.uk/?gclid=CjwKCAjw8e7mBRBsEiwAPVxxiP-QJQpLHm6Z-3AJrSGlSCLQv8H6dQLCaL5npW4n65hZkLGfr6VQlRoCRtQQAvD_BwE

Question:

One of our customers has approached us to supply and install bespoke Commercial Barbeque appliance that incorporates refrigeration and induction units within it.

Could you ask if anyone knows who may deal or supply this type of appliance. Thank you.

Replies:

1. Adande Refrigeration Ltd – https://ceda.co.uk/our-partners/adande-refrigeration re the refrigeration part.
2. Inox Fabrications Ltd – https://ceda.co.uk/our-partners/Inox-Fabrications
3. MCS Technical Products Ltd – https://ceda.co.uk/our-partners/mcs-technical-products/ re supplying the unit.
4. Scobie McIntosh – https://ceda.co.uk/members/scobie-equipment-ltd/
5. Holmes Catering could supply this. Please contact Matt Taylor mtaylor@hce.co.uk 
6. Try Rex Martins
7. Modo-Commercial Kitchen Design. Concept Bars,Concept Refrigeration, Concept Bar Systems https://ceda.co.uk/members/modo-commercial-kitchen-design/ 
8. Kitchequip have installed a similar set up: Please contact https://ceda.co.uk/members/kitchequip-co-uk/ 
9. I would try Clay Oven Company or Control Induction perhaps, Levon at Clay Oven would be able to help I am sure.
10. Archway Engineering who supply both direct and through distributors do bespoke BBQs.
    There is also a company called Oxgrills who I think are local to us (01789 263 799). I have not dealt with them personally so unable to vouch for them.
11. Hope this helps – There won’t be a single manufacturer that makes the whole unit so it would be a case of selecting:
    A. A suitable induction hob – various manufacturers
    B. A suitable refrigerated base unit – variously known as a ‘Chef Base’/‘Under Broiler Counter’/’Low Level Counter’ etc etc – these are available from all of the Major manufacturers.
    C. A suitable custom-built stainless steel, firebrick-lined charcoal-pit BBQ from a reputable fabrication shop to surround/support A and B above and bring the whole unit together.
    1. The above assumes that the custom-built BBQ fabrication is a charcoal fire-pit and not gas-fire.
    2. Due to excessively high burning temperature of the charcoal the fabricator will have to ensure adequate insulation to prevent damage to the hob or refrigerated base. Ideally the hob should be separated from the charcoal pit by a solid insulated screen or adequate separation.

Question:

We are pricing a central London based kitchen/pantry refurbishment job which will be taking place over the summer on a 5-6 week contract period.

We will need to take on the role of Principal Contractor and therefore have full responsibility of the site with a full time working site manager for the duration, to oversee the overall job including our own sub-contractors and client specified specialist subbies for fire alarms, ventilation systems etc.

Can any member recommend either a freelancer capable of undertaking this role or an agency who has suitably reliable/qualified staff whom we can go through to find a candidate.

Replies:

1. I would caution anyone taking on the roles of PC and or PD unless they have the right policies and systems in place especially around PQQ and demonstrating competency. I would advise the member to talk to Tim Knowles in the first instance who will be able to assist in both advising them and in also doing the role/roles. Tim can be contacted via Email: tim.knowles@fourgroup.co.uk
   Tel: 01780 755 751 Website: www.fourgroup.co.uk
2. We work for a company based in Manchester who use a chap based in the South for their London works. His name is David Ford he has been around the industry for a long time. Tel: 07917 696720
3. I can recommend Mark Laxton who has undertaken similar work for our company. He is available via Email: marklaxton01@gmail.com
4. Doug’s Perea’s details (for the project manager) are: Email: dougperea@dapces.com I have not used Doug but have him on record to contact if I need him.