GRESWOLD SCHOOL DOUBLES IN SIZE THANKS TO GRESWOLDE CONSTRUCTION

SCHOOL’S out for summer but work goes on at one Solihull primary where Greswolde Construction is busy with a project which looks set to transform facilities.

A £2.4 million project to build two new classroom blocks and carry out major refurbishment work will almost double the size of Greswold Primary School.

Deputy Head Teacher Matt Hornsey welcomed the work which will allow the school to increase pupil numbers from 500 to 700.

"This will have a very positive effect on the school and surrounding community for many years to come, giving us more flexible accommodation which will bring the school much closer together," he explains.

"The design of the new buildings will allow opportunities for us to enhance the curriculum in so many different ways and really complement the ethos of the school."

The striking project is the work of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council's Building Design Group.

"The new design provides the school with an entirely new Foundation stage facility with a prominent entrance façade," explains Architect Sarah Newitt.

Greswolde will also carry out internal refurbishment and alterations. These include converting an existing nursery into a classroom, creating a new staff room, working on the roof and windows as well as providing a new soft playground and car parking.

Greswolde operates a strict building with care ethos in order to minimise any disruption and is working closely with teachers and parents to cause minimum impact to the running of the school.

"We have an excellent working relationship with Greswolde, who have been extremely accommodating and even plan to help children learn something about construction by carrying out guided tours later in the build," Matt adds.

BIG AWARD FOR WINNING ATM ANTI GAS ATTACK SUCCESS

A WINNING ATM protection product, which has already foiled two explosive gas attacks, has now scooped a top industry award.

Gunnebo UK and Safe & Vault Company's Gas Attack Protection (GP-X) system took the honours for Combined Security and Fire Solution of the Year at the 2015 IFSEC Security Excellence Awards.

Designed and manufactured by Leeds-based Safe & Vault Company team, with fire partners Nobel Fire Systems of Heywood in Lancashire, the clever product is being rolled out to major high street banks by Gunnebo UK.

The Wolverhampton-based national security solutions company installed the first GP-X system in December 2014. A protected ATM thwarted a gas attack in May this year and other would-be raiders also sped away empty handed from another attempt in October.

“The success means interest has rocketed. A second major financial institution has signed up for the GP-X and there are more in the pipeline. This award will underline its success as a protection against rising numbers of gas attacks,” says Gunnebo UK Sales Director Nathan Anstee.

The Safe & Vault Company Directors Saul Danby and Anthony Shaun Walker welcomed the IFSEC Security Excellence Award.

“We are very proud of this achievement and the whole Safe and Vault Company team, our fire partners Nobel Fire Systems and our security partners Gunnebo UK for making the GP-X the very best system available for protecting ATMs.”

Ian Bartle, Managing Director of Nobel Fire Systems added: “It has been a great team effort from our Industry experts with unique knowledge combined into one Award-winning solution.”

Gunnebo UK and the Safe & Vault Company have also launched the ATM Strongarm protection against ram-raiders and pull out attacks.

All smiles after comedian Jimmy Carr presents Ian Bartle of Nobel Fire Systems (left) and Adam Greenaway of Safe and Vault Company with the IFSEC and FIREXCombined Security & Fire Solution of the Year for the GP-X Gas Attack Protection System. Far right is Brian Good, Director of one of the Awards sponsors, Bolster Systems.

The latest round up of news and views from Solihull's Greswolde Construction.

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Revolutionising the creation of renewable energy from household waste

GROUND-breaking green technology designed and developed by a Birmingham business looks set to revolutionise the creation of renewable energy from household waste.

The first Vickers Seerdrum machine to come off the production line has been snapped up by Atlanta-based company Synergy Solutions to generate renewable energy for powering an ethanol production facility.  

The Seerdrum machine manufactured in partnership with Cork-based Crowley Engineering, represents a huge leap forward in technology, taking household black bag waste in at one end and sorting materials suitable for recycling. 

Valuable products are separated out, allowing the organic waste to be used to produce renewable energy, providing businesses with a cheap source of green energy power. 

“This machine is the first of its kind, we are taking a new approach to tackling waste in an environmentally friendly and commercially viable way,” says Seerdrum Director Steven Kaack.

“This technology is not being used anywhere else in the waste industry at the moment, because it’s easier to just tip rubbish in a hole in the ground or burn it. If you burn it or bury it you’ve wasted a valuable resource which is gone for ever.”

Legislation currently in the pipeline looks set to tighten up regulations around waste disposal and engineer and innovator Steven, together with fellow Director Bob Grierson, believe the technology they began developing three years ago is world-beating.

“We are ahead of the game. We have designed machines which will recover valuable materials economically, safely and efficiently. This will be of huge benefit to business and interest world-wide has already been phenomenal,” Bob reveals.

Local Authorities are also expected to recognise the potential of Seerdrums, as the machine sorts residual black bag waste, which will help them achieve and exceed their recycling targets.

The first Seerdrum, an 18 metre long, four metre high machine capable of processing 300 tonnes of rubbish a day is now providing US Company Synergy Solutions with an alternative to oil-fired energy which is expected to generate cost savings of around $2 million a year. 

ANOTHER BIG TICK FOR ATM GAS PROTECTION DEVICE

TWO UK companies' phones are red hot after a clever ATM protection product foiled another explosive gas attack.

Would-be raiders sped off empty handed again when Gunnebo UK and Safe & Vault Company's Gas Attack Protection (GP-X) system detected the gas, prevented the explosion and instantly alerted the police.

“Of course, we would rather such a potentially dangerous crime didn’t exist at all, but we are pleased to be able to offer a proven protection against it,” says Gunnebo UK Key Account Manager Steve Lockhart.

“We can show banks and other ATM operators how the system works in our trials, but a real-life success has customers queuing up as soon as the news gets out in the financial marketplace.”

The first GP-X system was installed in December 2014, and thwarted a gas attack in May this year. The latest attempted raid, on a major high street bank cash machine, was prevented last week.

"Once again, there was no collateral damage to the building, the money was untouched and it was business as usual for the customer,” added Steve.

ATM gas attacks have been on the increase in Europe for some time. The first UK incident was in 2013 and numbers have been rising steadily since.

Wolverhampton-based Gunnebo UK and Leeds-based Safe & Vault Company joined forces to develop the GP-X solution, which can be retro-fitted or installed at manufacturing stage.

They have also launched the ATM Strongarm, to protect cash machines from ram raiders and digger attacks.

“That product is also attracting a lot of interest, but the GP-X is causing the biggest stir in financial institutions, who want to protect their business, their cash and also their staff and the public from possible explosions,” explains Steve.