We would like to thank James Robertshaw for asking us to write a guest blog for them.  We have worked with James Robertshaw on many projects over the years.

As a commercial office refurbishment company we operate throughout the UK.  With over 20 years experience in the office interior design arena, we offer a blend of practical experience, office refurbishment, space planning and design skills to provide the ultimate in office refurbishment.

We work across a number of sectors including commercial, education, manufacturing, professional services and healthcare and provide a complete project management service. We ensure each and every job we undertake is successfully delivered, allowing the client to concentrate on running their business.

We start by taking an initial brief to gain an understanding of the client’s requirements and vision so that we can provide the best possible solutions.

Our design experience helps us to ensure that the environment can be planned as cost effectively as possible, whilst still creating an exciting infrastructure for the people using the space.

We pay just as much attention to delivery and installation as we do to the initial design and planning.  By working closely with the client we agree the best times and dates to carry out the works, resulting in minimum disruption.

Our full office design and refurbishment service enables the client to have everything completed from a single source; building work, office partitioning, flooring, decoration, signage, window blinds, even plants and pictures.  As a result they have one point of contact to ensure a seamless transformation.

Offices today are the life blood of a business.  We cannot do tomorrow’s work in yesterday’s office.  We have to work smarter to be effective.  If you’d like to know more about what we do please visit our website at www.whitespace.org.uk and do not hesitate to contact us should you require any further information.

Can I issue a profound thanks to Ged with whom I spoke to on the phone just now about a trailer with a broken awning?

 He took the time to give me several possible solutions to the problem – one of which worked!

I’m sorry that this means I won’t be using your services on this occasion to fix the problem, but I couldn’t think more highly of your company and will remember the name in the future.

Many thanks and have a good weekend.

Pete Liggins

News & Sport Editor

Pure 107.8FM

James Robertshaw will be exhibiting for the first time at the forthcoming Glee Expo at the NEC, Birmingham. Showcasing innovative awning systems for garden and leisure usage, as well as our stunning range of Solamagic eco-friendly patio heaters, lights and speakers, be sure to visit us at Hall/Stand: 3AC20-D21.

Feedback and images to follow!

Site:
Christmas Cottage, Stockgrove Park, Leighton Buzzard.

Sector:
Contract won through trade partner client.

Description:
James Robertshaw was contacted through a trade partner after receiving a tender to manufacture, install and commission 42 x automated internal roller blind systems in a state of the art domestic new build home. The standard Somfy automation systems James Robertshaw manufacture, were specified as the contractors preferred motor of choice. The brief instructed that each automated blind was to be mains-wired with LS40 motors on a System 40 barrel and connected through 14 x Moco 220-240V A/C motor control boxes into the Lutron home automation system control panel, already installed by others. Each blind was specified to operate individually in each room, via a wall mounted switch. The new Smoove Pure wireless, wall-mounted switch range from Somfy was the preferred option.

Working closely with the architect and design engineers all blinds were to be installed into the ceiling’s purpose built recess, along with the cables to power them. All rooms were installed with floor to ceiling glazing with the end user’s brief stating that no wires or blinds were to be seen, unless operated or drawn. Combined with the architect’s concise instructions that the blinds required to be hidden unless operated, the fabric also had to be blackout, in a white material to match the colours of the walls and ceiling. Louvolite’s Nocturne Cream material was chosen due to its shading co-efficient materials, combined with its flame retardant properties and black out strengths. Total cassette blackout was deemed non appropriate due to the side rails permanently on show.

What Is Home Automation?
Home automation gives you control over the technology in your home via a central, and often wall-mounted, control panel, remote switch or your smart phone. You can control the temperature in your house, blinds, awnings, curtains, lighting, music, internet, television and home cinema at the touch of a button, without having to walk from room to room. You can also use it to work your security settings. The systems are designed for non-technical users and they make for a rather impressive dinner party feature! The benefit of planning from the early stages is that you can conceal cables and systems around your décor. Once it’s set up, the only technical issue you’ll have is fighting over the control…

For further infomation on both domestic and commercial blind manufacture, please contact the sales team.

About the charity

Rainbow House helps children with physical disabilities between the age’s of 3 months – 16 years to become more active & independent through Conductive Education and Early Years services, aiming to achieve each child’s goal in sitting, standing, walking and to improve their social skills in eating, dressing and toileting, making integration into mainstream school and the community easier. Not only do Rainbow House help children with disabilities’ such as Cerebral Palsy, Downs Syndrome, Metabolic & other genetic motor disorders, they also provide support for their families & carers.

If you fancy watching Tom scared for his life, he is diving at The Black Knights Parachute Centre, Hillam Lane, Cockerham, Lancashire, LA2 0DYon Saturday 10 September 2011.

If you can donate to this worthwhile charity, this will be greatly appreciated.

http://www.justgiving.com/TomHarrington

As one of the largest independent manufacturers of window blind systems in the UK, James Robertshaw has a reputation for high quality products and fast delivery times. Whether your requirement is for a small quantity or hundreds of blinds, we can guarantee superior quality, superior service and exceptional value for money. You will realise why James Robertshaw client’s come back time after time.

When it comes to window shading, internal blinds are perfect for creating the look desired in so many interiors. Versatility is the key to their success. Whatever your décor, traditional or contemporary, we want to help you create a look which reflects your lifestyle, your personality and your taste in the most stunning way possible. You’ll find inspiration from this superb range of Louvolite and Eclipse made to measure window blinds.

We also specialise in solving complex window shapes and installation problems; where these exist we strongly recommend that you contact our Technical Services department to discuss the most cost effective way to handle the problems. Manufactured in house at our Greater Manchester premises, every product undergoes rigorous tests in our quality control department before delivery.

Full automation is also available with low-voltage or standard motors installed into the blind, operated by a simple switch or by RTS remote/radio control. Blinds can be controlled on an individual basis or as a group function, for example per room or per elevation. Automated blind systems have the ability to link with building-management, AV  or solar-tracking systems.

Read the press release

A site visit was organised and a meeting with the architects arranged. “Once we had presented our credentials to the satisfaction of the facilities management company and the architects, we were able to view the site and make suggestions on the type of structure and the qualities of the fabric to be used.” Matthew Garnett, Director of Business Development states. “We are increasingly working more closely with architects, specifiers and facilities managers to utilise our skills in bespoke products and installations. Steadily building an excellent reputation within the contract sector, James Robertshaw is seen as a company that architects turn to when delivering solutions to problems.”

A space of 18,000mm x 12,000mm needed to be protected from the heat and glare of the sun and a number of suggestions were produced for consideration.  The final solution was designed on a CAD system and a scale model of the space with shade sails in position was produced. Once the design was approved, a health and safety assessment was created, specifying how the shading sails would be positioned, what means would be used to hold them in place and what devices would be used to position the sails. Scissor lifts were the preferred choice with additional support towers. James Robertshaw diligently put its installation teams through scissor lift training using the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) operator training course and the Prefabricated Access Suppliers and Manufacturers Association (PASMA) training based round the ‘Working at Height’ regulations 2005.

High-grade stainless steel deck fittings with a high breaking load were tested by structural engineers and certified for use to hold the fabric in place. Ferrari Soltis 86 shade material was selected as it offered the best solar protection – up to 97%. It also resists tearing without extra reinforcement, will not sag, is long lasting, dirt resistant and can be 100% recycled at the end of its lifespan. Manufacturing the sails took 3 days to cut the cloth, weld the seams and assemble. Five shade sails were manufactured and delivered to the National College for installation.

On installation day, the facilities management team held an on-site briefing session where the risk assessment was accepted and the job started. The building was cleared and the first Internal Shade Sail carefully positioned in the centre of the space and tensioned. This crucially established the symmetry for the additional four Sails to be positioned accurately. The adjacent Internal Shade Sails followed and were installed smoothly. A final clear-up and the building with its new Internal Shade Sails were released back to the buildings facilitators and its users. From the initial enquiry to final installation, the project took just nine months to complete.

Mathew Garnett adds “We relish the challenge of unusual solar shading projects and gain great satisfaction from resolving these issues. We work closly and in partnership with our clients and complete the projects on budget and on time.”

Offering over 100 free seminars and a hall packed with innovative exhibitors, the Greenbuild Expo will again provide solutions to the challenge of creating and maintaining sustainable buildings. The sustainability agenda continues to affect everyone involved in buildings and the event will feature an extensive conference programme and a host of new features. James Robertshaw will be exhibiting specific products whilst also educating professionals on the huge energy saving benefits solar shading brings to building’s, both in refurbishment and new build projects.

There has been a trend in the UK for much of the population to capture the sun rather than seek shade. However, with an increasingly warm climate and improved education shade is becoming more essential.

Unprotected glazing leads to overheating. Air conditioning systems represent a highly costly and energy consuming option. Solar shading is a much more suitable alternative to reduce energy demand and maximise thermal regulation. Many buildings, both existing stock and new build can be radically improved by adding shading.

In collaboration with C-Tech Innovation and Lancaster University and using a software programme from Somfy, we have been working on the quantification of our products’ benefits, in terms of energy, carbon footprint and financial savings.

It was shown that these external shading products can reduce energy demand for air conditioning by as much as 50-70% or more. This represents financial savings of hundreds of pounds a year and a carbon footprint reduction of hundreds or even thousands of Kg every year.

External automatic shading control achieves the biggest savings in cooling. In buildings where cooling has already been installed, the product could pay for itself in under 5 years. Investment in solar shading saves energy and therefore reduces the environmental footprint of the building over its entire life cycle.

Combining both internal and external automated shading is the optimum way to achieve energy savings and cost efficiency.

Come and see us:

Stand F39

Location: Manchester Central

Dates: Wednesday 29 June 2011 & Thursday 30 June 2011

Opening Hours: 09:30 - 16:00

Getting There:

By train: Deansgate station is a two minute walk from the venue and Manchester Piccadilly is 20 minutes on foot or a couple of minutes by taxi.

By car: Manchester Central is a quick drive from the M60 . Exit at Junction 12 and join the M602 (signposted city centre) then take the A57, passing under a railway bridge before exiting left and merging with the A56 (Bridgewater Way). Turn right onto Whitworth Street West at Deansgate Station, left onto Albion Street. The entrance to Manchester Central’s car park is left after the next set of traffic lights.

Parking: The venue has its own car park, immediatley underneath the exhibition hall, and ticket machines accept both cash and credit cards. There are several other car parks within a short walk. 

A Showcase of Eco-Innovative products and services developed by North West SMEs

The event will include an exhibition of sustainable products and services, plus networking and an opportunity for a range of eco-innovative SMEs to deliver a 90-second business pitch to an audience of small and large companies, investment businesses, public sector organisations and research and university organisations.

Introduction to James Robertshaw Solar Shading Products

There has been a trend in the UK for much of the population to capture the sun rather than seek shade. However, with an increasingly warm climate and improved education shade is becoming more essential.

Unprotected glazing leads to overheating. Air conditioning systems represent a highly costly and energy consuming option. Solar shading is a much more suitable alternative to reduce energy demand and maximise thermal regulation. Many buildings, both existing stock and new build can be radically improved by adding shading.

In collaboration with C-Tech Innovation and Lancaster University and using a software programme from Somfy, we have been working on the quantification of our products’ benefits, in terms of energy, carbon footprint and financial savings.

It was shown that these external shading products can reduce energy demand for air conditioning by as much as 50-70% or more. This represents financial savings of hundreds of pounds a year and a carbon footprint reduction of hundreds or even thousands of Kg every year.

External automatic shading control achieves the biggest savings in cooling. In buildings where cooling has already been installed, the product could pay for itself in under 5 years. Investment in solar shading saves energy and therefore reduces the environmental footprint of the building over its entire life cycle.

Combining both internal and external automated shading is the optimum way to achieve energy savings and cost efficiency.

To be a part of our Eco-Innovative product and services presentation:

Date: 23rd June

Venue: Reebok Stadium, Bolton

Register at: http://eco-innovation-expo.eventbrite.com