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Production Facility
detectors per week, expected to rise to
3,500 shortly.
Andrew Williams
Andrew Williams, CEO of parent
UK-based Memco Ltd. has just company Halma p.l.c., officially opened the
expanded and improved their production plant and cut the ribbon in a sunny spell
capabilities with the opening of a new, amidst the snow, with Jan Doubal Union flag
purpose-built factory in the Czech (Manufacturing Director), Peter Bailey (MD)
Republic. The site, in the city of Ceske and John Campbell (Chairman of Memco
Budejovice, was officially opened for Ltd.) hosting the event. Local TV, print and plans
business on March 19th 2008. radio journalists attended the launch
Ever-increasing demand for Memco ceremony, along with various dignitaries
products (up 20% in 2007) has led to the including Jan Zahradnik, Chairman of South welcomed
development of a new 4,000 square metre Bohemia District Council, Juraj Thoma,
plant which has now brought all aspects of Mayor of Ceske Budejovice and Mike A leading manufacturer of flags and
production under one roof. 160 staff are Moon, Head of Trade and Investment from flagpoles has welcomed news that the
already working onsite, and estimated the British Embassy in Prague. Prime Minister is keen to lift
production capacity is 3,000 sets of www.memco.co.uk restrictions on public buildings flying
the Union flag.
VWS appoints a new CEO
Piggotts, founded in 1780, supplies
its flags and flagpoles to a wide range
of events and organisations across the
world, including the Commonwealth
Veolia Water becomes Chairman. The companies under Games, the Houses of Parliament and
Solutions & Ian’s responsibility employ around 1,000 the Asian Games.
Technologies (VWS), people and have a joint turnover in excess The company says the Prime
have announced the of £150 million. Minister’s plans will help restore
appointment of Dr Ian Part of the operations in the UK are national pride.
Stewart as CEO for the Marlow based ELGA Process Water, the At present legislation restricts the
company’s operations industrial, life sciences and healthcare flying of the Union flag on public
in the UK, Germany, water specialists, headed by its Managing buildings to just 18 days a year.
Austria and Director Martyn Fisher, and for Veolia However reports suggest that a
Switzerland. Ian has Water Solutions & Technologies who government white paper is to be
been Managing provide treatment for municipal water published, which will include proposals
Director of VWS in the supply, sewage and industrial wastewater to allow schools, hospitals and council
German speaking from their Birmingham and Stoke-on-Trent buildings to fly the Union flag
Dr Ian Stewart
countries since 2004 operations, by Ole Roesdahl, Managing throughout the year.
and takes over from Roger Mudd who Director. www.veoliawaterst.co.uk As a result they will be able to erect
flagpoles and fly the flags of the Union
and those of its constituent countries,
New name brings big benefits
including the Cross of St George, the
Saltire of Scotland and the Red Dragon
of Wales.
It has also been stated that the
Bewator, UK developers and suppliers brand will continue to be recognised government plans to scrap rules which
of security products, has changed its within the Siemens Building Technologies state that the Union flag must take
name to Siemens Building Technologies Security Products portfolio - along with precedence over all national flags. The
Security Products Limited. the Siemens and Europlex brands – and new rules would apply to all national
The adoption of the Siemens identity is as such the name will continue to feature government buildings in England,
a natural progression following the on a large number of familiar products. Scotland and Wales.
Siemens acquisition of Bewator in “Bewator has always been a Piggotts Sales Manager Paul
November 2005. Bewator is confident successful and market-leading operation,” Tomkins said: “As suppliers of flags
that the change said Managing Director, Bob Cotterill, we are naturally delighted with the
will bring big “but there’s no doubt that membership of news of the government’s proposed
benefits to all the Siemens organisation has given the initiatives.
those who buy, business additional impetus and allows us “In line with the news, we are
sell and use the to move forward more rapidly and in ways reducing our prices on all British
company’s that would not previously have been national flags by 10 per cent until June
equipment. possible. 1st, 2008. There is a strong argument
Despite the “In short, Siemens Building that national pride is being eroded
change in the Technologies Security Products Ltd may because our Union flag is not flown
company title, be simply a new name to front our frequently enough on public buildings.
the renowned business – but it’s a name with an Hopefully this proposed change to the
Bewator name is incredible amount behind it!” current legislation will go some way to
not disappearing. www.buildingtechnologies.siemens.co.uk boosting our national identity.”
The Bewator /securityproducts/ www.piggotts.co.uk
Bob Cotterill
4 news Building & Facilities Management – April 2008
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