Mechline Charity Partnership Receives Prestigious Award

To our customers and friends,

We would like to share with you the good news that Mechline’s long-term partnership with MK SNAP, a Milton Keynes based education and skill-building charity for people with learning disabilities, has been awarded a prestigious Third Sector Business Charity Award.

The Business Charity Awards showcase the people and teams behind amazing partnerships and their impactful work, and it is a great honour to have had this recognition for Mechline’s work training project with MK SNAP.

We are very proud and humbled to have been given this recognition in a shortlist that included some very big brands, such as Sky, Deloitte and Network Rail. However, we would not have been able to achieve this without the support of you, our customers, so we would like to pass on our gratitude. Thank you for choosing to do business with us, and putting your faith in us, as without your support we would not be able to engage in initiatives like this.

The Partnership

ceda Platinum Partner, Mechline, outsource part of the labelling, cleaning and packaging of its Dormont commercial kitchen gas hoses to MK Snap – whose fully trained learners work together under the supervision of a tutor. To ensure the project is fully inclusive, MK Snap built personalised aids and adaptations at the work stations to enable those with different disabilities to undertake the variety of assembly tasks and produce the expected excellent quality products.

The Award

One of the award judges, Faiza Khan, engagement and insight director at the National Lottery Community Fund, was particularly impressed at the impact the partnership has had for both organisations:  “Mechline adapts its work practices to different individuals’ needs and provides a good level of wrap-around support, helping its service users and staff develop and be fulfilled. This is a unique example of a charity partnership being a central part of how the charity delivers its services. MK SNAP has also had a wider impact on the community and employers, something that is probably possible only because of Mechline’s long-term dedication.”

Kristian Roberts, Marketing Manager at Mechline Developments, is particularly appreciative of the help that the service users have brought to Mechline: “MK SNAP service users have been an indispensable part of the Mechline team for over 25 years and their ‘can do’ attitude and reliable assembly services has made a positive contribution to our business. It’s been particularly rewarding to see the confidence of the service users blossom during their work with us and heartening that many have gone on to find work at the end of their assignment.”

Angela Novell, CEO of MK SNAP said: “This is fantastic national recognition of an excellent longstanding partnership. Mechline have been so supportive to us over the years providing work for our people with learning disabilities. Through the assembling of components people with learning disabilities build skills, confidence and work-readiness for jobs.”

Hobart Unveils New Website with Complete Suite of Support Tools Including Covid-19 Guide

ceda Platinum Partner, Hobart, has created a brand-new UK website for its entire cooking, warewash and service divisions, offering, for the very first time, comprehensive access to a multitude of support tools and digital assets.

The site www.hobartuk.com is a gateway into the complete Hobart product portfolio, fully tiered, covering warewash, cooking and food preparation solutions in minute detail by way of a simple navigation process. Full service, warranty, parts, chemicals and breakdown support are also close at hand, meaning customers need only visit one dedicated hub to get the lowdown on everything Hobart.

Reinforcing this notion, the new site also links to a comprehensive asset library, offering quick access to machine spec sheets, user manuals and BIM files – the very first time all of this information has been collated in the same dedicated space.

Furthermore, Hobart has created number of support assets relating to the Covid-19 crisis, including direct links to specialist thermal disinfectant machines, a service coverage geo-map – part of its doubling down on efforts to prioritise the healthcare sector amid the pandemic – and a best practice wash temperature guide for all end users.

Tim Bender, Sales Director, Hobart Equipment Division, says: “We pride ourselves on the lifetime support we offer to all customers and this new website is the digital embodiment of that promise. No detail has been spared in the pursuit of ensuring both distributors and end users have the figurative keys to our innovative equipment, and access to the service, preventative maintenance and care plans to keep them working efficiently. The asset library provides a wealth of constantly updated information and is the result of months of hard work. Those looking for their next machine or suite, seeking speedy resolution to an issue, looking for peace of mind in terms of functionality or working on a detailed specification project will find everything they require, and more.”

Falcon Manufacture Hand Sanitiser Station to Help Organisations Reopen with COVID-19 Compliance

Stainless steel stations ideal for commercial kitchens and manufacturing environments

With the Covid-19 pandemic putting the emphasis on employers to provide a safe and hygienic environment for their staff, ceda Silver Partner, Falcon, have manufactured a hand sanitiser station that is perfect for locating throughout any kind of workplace.

This high quality, stainless steel dispenser is an ideal solution for organisations who wish to provide peace of mind to employees and visitors by providing hand sanitiser to minimise contamination. Perfect for hospitals, care homes, schools, universities, retail, factories, golf clubs, gyms among many others.

These stations are robust and long-lasting, manufactured with easy clean stainless steel for enhanced sanitisation. They feature a lockable COSHH compliant storage area below the dispenser for refills. The dispenser compartment is also lockable to prevent unauthorised access. The units also provide lots of available space for signage and bespoke branding as and where required.

There are two models of hand sanitiser stations available – manual or foot pump operated.

Falcon is the market-leading UK manufacturer of professional cooking equipment and is the UK distributor for Lainox combination ovens. In 2019 Falcon celebrated its Bicentennial. With a company history going back over 200 years, Falcon now supplies operators throughout the catering industry, exporting around the globe. Its comprehensive product portfolio is backed by award-winning customer support. Visit www.falconfoodservice.com for more information.

Rational Extends 2 Year Warranty

ceda Platinum Partner Rational sees itself as a partner to its customers and supports them just when they need it most. For this reason, the company has decided to extend the 2-year warranty by three months for all SelfCookingCenters, CombiMaster Plus, CombiMaster and VarioCookingCenters, provided that the warranty on the units expires in March, April or May 2020.

Trevor Lath, Service Director, Rational UK has confirmed that this adjustment to extend the warranty will be made automatically and free of charge. “It is important for us to show that we stand by our customers, especially when business is challenging”, as Lath explains the initiative of Rational. The Rational service partners, who are of course familiar with the extended warranty, continue to be fully responsible for servicing Rational appliances.

iCombi Classic. The new combi-steamer convinces its worth.

Robust, powerful and efficient – the new iCombi Classic combi-steamer from ceda Platinum Partner, Rational, convinces its worth. With high cooking quality for those offering a simpler menu with less demanding options. Programing up to 100 individual cooking programs for consistent results, peak values in dehumidification performance for crispy crusts and a succulent texture as well as more fan wheels for a greater distribution of hot air, characterise the iCombi Classic. It also features automatic cleaning with descaling. The new model is environmentally friendly, the cleaning tabs are phosphate-free. Optional LAN or WLAN interfaces ensure quick and easy integration into ConnectedCooking, the digitalisation solution from Rational.

“The iCombi Classic is quickly becoming an indispensable assistant in the professional kitchen due to its performance,” says Simon Lohse, Managing Director, Rational UK. After all, thanks to its ease of use, the new cooking system ensures that users quickly get the results they want. A rotary wheel with push function, colour display and intuitive symbols on the user interface ensure error-free operation. This is supported by simple programming of individual cooking programs. ClimaPlus, the measuring and control centre in the iCombi Classic, is responsible for achieving the desired result. With a dehumidification capacity up to 105 litres per second, a powerful steam generator, humidity adjustment in 10% steps, up to three fan wheels and optimum cooking cabinet geometry, it creates a precise cooking cabinet climate for large load quantities and uniformity across all trays.

Lohse affirms that the iCombi Classic is sustainable discussing these performance figures, “With 10% less energy and water consumption compared to the previous model CombiMaster Plus, the iCombi Classic is a green kitchen aid”.

The fact that the iCombi Classic belongs to a completely new generation of cooking systems from Rational is also demonstrated by its enhanced networking capabilities. The optional LAN or WLAN interface enables the integration in ConnectedCooking, the digitalisation solution from Rational. For example, for the central creation of individual cooking programs and hygiene documentation. The iCombi Classic is now available from specialist retailers in various sizes, from 6-1/1 for the classic restaurant to 20-2/1 for catering. As part of the MORE Tour 2020, Rational will be demonstrating the performance of its combi-steamers in the form of webinars with registration via rational-online.com. There will soon be live demonstration events again, the dates and numerous locations will also be available on the website.

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ceda Silver Partner, Boss Contract Furniture Ltd have various solutions to the Return to Work Social Distancing / Protection.

Protection Screens

Below are just two of the ranges Boss Contract Furniture Ltd will be promoting for Workplace Protection.

Great in offices, retail etc, they look amazing and at £428.00 each plus VAT and delivery for a 2000mm² Aluminium Framed Screen, they are very competitive, and ready for immediate delivery.

The images below show some examples of the screens already in use, protecting staff in an office environment.

The product in the third image is available in many sizes with desk clamps.

Other Options

Another range which will be available within two weeks is the Recyclable Board Frame, Perspex Screens.

They are very flexible and fantastic for all social places such as schools, pubs, restaurants, hairdressers, and anywhere outside the home. They are £53 each, usually purchased in packs of four.

We also make similar with steel supports for an extra cost.

Boss Contract Furniture Ltd have many other Protective Screens in perspex, glass, laminate etc so please let them know what you require and they will be pleased to offer a solution.

While the challenges in catering are diverse, the answer from ceda Platinum Partner Rational is simple: Intelligence. Thanks to four intelligent functions, the world market leader in thermal cooking solutions has created the new iCombi Pro combi-steamer; which combines 50% higher productivity, 10% shorter cooking time and 10% lower energy consumption in a single cooking system compared to the predecessor model, while still guaranteeing outstanding uniformity, even at full loads. Time and energy-optimised cooking as well as intervention in the cooking path provides more flexibility in the kitchen. The ultra-fast interim clean in just 12 minutes reduces downtimes to a minimum. The iCombi Pro combines intelligent productivity, efficiency and flexibility.

“In these difficult times many catering establishments are required to operate differently, with more flexibility, more efficiency, more productivity and with more innovation than ever before, controlling and reducing costs, whilst still providing high quality food, says Simon Lohse, Managing Director, Rational UK. “Chefs therefore require flexible, simple and efficient support from intelligent functions such as those in the iCombi Pro” continues Lohse. Like the iCookingSuite, the cooking intelligence in the iCombi Pro. It is based on the Maillard reaction, the chemical formula for the browning reaction in food, which Rational has decrypted and translated into a software algorithm. Together with sensors, which send actual data such as size, quantity and condition of the food product from the cooking cabinet, the iCombi Pro regulates the entire cooking path precisely and always with reproducible results. If conditions such as the temperature of the food product or the duration of the door opening change, the iCookingSuite will intelligently adjust the cooking path. Whatever is being cooked, and however much is being cooked, it will always be cooked as quickly as possible and in high quality.

Additional fan wheels, optimised cooking cabinet geometry and higher dehumidification performance enable up to 50% bigger loads and shorter cooking times compared to the previous model. iDensityControl, the intelligent climate regulation, makes sure that it all works smoothly. Crusts, grill patterns and crispy coatings are guaranteed and the optimal cooking climate management means even delicate foods such as quiche will be a success.

With the iProductionManager, entire production sequences, even with different foods, are regulated intelligently. The user states whether they want to cook using the time or energy optimising system, or to a certain target time, and the iCombi Pro will take care of everything else. It knows what can be cooked together and will show when a food product does not suite the cooking cabinet climate. This means more flexibility and planning reliability. The intelligent iCareSystem the cleaning system, which only needs 12 minutes for an ultra-fast interim clean, also contributes to this. All cleaning programs only use phosphate-free cleaner tabs in half the quantity compared to the previous model. Together with the lower electricity consumption, which is confirmed by Energy Star, the iCombi Pro is a highly sustainable cooking system.

The intuitive operating concept guides the user through the production sequence with visual language, logical work steps and clear, interactive instructions and makes the cooking system quickly accessible even for untrained staff. WLAN is also integrated in the iCombi Pro providing a fast and simple connection to the Rational network ConnectedCooking and efficient management of kitchen processes. “Due to its intelligence, the iCombi Pro responds just like an experienced chef,” explains Lohse, “it takes on routine tasks and provides freedom. This will sustainably change working methods in kitchens.”

The iCombi Pro is now available from RATIONAL dealers in various sizes, from the compact XS to the 20-2/1. Anyone who would like to get an idea of the new cooking system can now convince themselves of its performance in the online webinar More Tour 2020. Interested parties will soon be able to experience the iCombi Pro also live at the More Tour 2020, the dates will be available on rational-online.com

National recognition has been given to the long-term partnership between foodservice equipment manufacturer, and ceda Partner, Mechline, and MK SNAP, a Milton Keynes based charity for people with learning disabilities. The relationship, which has lasted almost three decades, is shortlisted for the national Third Sector Business Charity Awards – and sits amongst an impressive line-up including Deloitte, Sky and Network Rail.

MK SNAP is an education and skill-building charity dedicated to empowering people with learning disabilities. As part of its mission, it collaborates with businesses like Mechline, which outsources tasks such as labeling, cleaning, and packaging its Dormont commercial kitchen gas hoses to MK SNAP. Fully trained learners, under the careful guidance of a tutor, work diligently to follow Mechline’s established procedures, gaining valuable skills and confidence in the process. Once completed, the finished products are collected and inspected by Mechline before being distributed across the UK.

During a recent workshop at MK SNAP, a discussion arose about the opportunities for innovation and inclusivity in emerging industries, including platforms like crypto casino UK, which have gained traction for integrating new technologies with user-centric designs. The learners were fascinated by how these platforms emphasize transparency and accessibility, offering insights into the evolving digital economy. This conversation highlighted the importance of equipping individuals with skills that prepare them for a future shaped by such technological advancements, reinforcing the transformative impact of programs like MK SNAP.

People with learning disabilities gain invaluable skills and a real sense of achievement and purpose assembling components of Mechline’s Dormont gas connectors. It builds skills, confidence and work-readiness and has led to jobs for people with learning disabilities that may not have been possible. Today MK SNAP supports more than 65 adults a day and the assembly of Mechline Dormont gas connectors is still a favourite skill-building project on the timetable.

The partnership highlights the trust Mechline place in the abilities of people with learning disabilities and what they ‘can do’ and has given MK SNAP and Mechline enormous pride.

Kristian Roberts, Marketing Manager at Mechline Developments, comments: “Over the years, MK SNAP has been able to provide a wide range of skillsets to cover the broad range of production assembly tasks that we have set them. They provide a good reliable service, and the quality is excellent. We find the added expense and commercial time taken to outsource this work an investment to be very proud of. It’s a wonderful relationship. The scheme is currently on hold due to the Coronavirus pandemic, but all parties look forward to it beginning again as soon as possible after the current situation improves and it is safe to do so.”

The results of the awards shortlisting process is due in May.