Pelican Products names Phil Gyori as Chief Executive Officer

Pelican Products, Inc. announces the appointment of Phil Gyori as the company’s President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Gyori has served as Group President of Pelican since joining in 2016. He succeeds Lyndon Faulkner, who becomes Executive Chairman after serving as Chief Executive Officer since 2006.

Grant G. Behrman, Managing Partner of Behrman Capital, said: “We are delighted that Phil Gyori will serve as the new CEO of Pelican Products. Phil is a distinguished and outstanding executive who has been instrumental to Pelican’s success through his leadership of the company’s multiple divisions worldwide. Promoting Phil is both a well-earned and natural step.”

“It is also fortunate that Lyndon Faulkner will continue with Pelican as Executive Chairman. Pelican’s exceptional performance throughout Lyndon’s tenure as CEO is a testament to the strength of his leadership. The company has realised a 400% sales increase during this period through an aggressive business strategy, including acquisitions and international expansion through which we now operate in 26 countries across the globe. We are grateful for Lyndon’s innumerable contributions and pleased that he will continue to share his wisdom and experience with Pelican.”

Mr. Gyori said, “I am honoured to lead Pelican Products at this very exciting and critical time. Our company is ideally positioned to capitalise on our market leadership in the coming years with an exceptional global team that is dedicated to meeting and exceeding the needs of our customers worldwide. We will build on the incredible foundation established by Lyndon to take Pelican and our operating divisions to new heights.”

Mr. Faulkner added, “I am very proud of what we have accomplished at Pelican over the past several years. Together with Behrman Capital, our very supportive and insightful owners, we have built Pelican into a truly global leader with many exceptional growth opportunities in the coming years. Phil is an outstanding choice to lead Pelican through its next chapter, and I look forward to supporting him in my new role.”

About Phil Gyori

Phil Gyori has over 30 years of executive and management experience and a proven track record of driving rapid business growth. He has a rich background in marketing, business development and brand management, and his expertise also extends to other cross-functional areas including sales, product development, purchasing and overseas sourcing. As Group President of Pelican since 2016, he has had responsibility for all three of the company’s divisions: U.S. Commercial / Government / Consumer, International and Pelican BioThermal.

Prior to Pelican he spent 16 years as an executive at Bushnell, a global leader in Sports Optics & Outdoor Recreation, where he was the general manager for the $400 million North American Division and where he helped grow the overall business from $100 million to $600 million. Before joining Bushnell, he served in leadership roles at Nike, Procter & Gamble, and The Quaker Oats Company.

Mr. Gyori holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University and an MBA from The Wharton School of Business.

www.pelican.com/

The all new Portatank® from Coltraco Ultrasonics

Identify liquid levels in large industrial containers/tanks/storage units using portable handheld ultrasonic liquid level indicator technology.

The Portatank® from Coltraco Ultrasonics is a portable handheld device with a greater operating range up to tank diameter range 0.5-15 metres, of most common tank types such as steel, plastic, aluminium, etc. It is advanced, lightweight, accurate technology that is designed to improve safety by enabling the user to more easily and quickly identify the contents non-invasively. The portable, handheld device can be used for periodic checks of tanks.

  • For tanks that already have an in-built system, our portable non-invasive technology allows operators to verify liquid levels in tanks with existing in-built level indicators, as some of these can be from an old technology that can be inaccurate such as float level or sight-glass methods.
  • For tanks without any form of liquid level indication, the Portatank®  can detect the liquid levels non-invasively through the outer walls of the tank.
  • Portatank® requires no installation for either application

Typical Applications

  • Food and Drink Processing
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Oil & Gas
  • Chemicals
  • Petrochemicals
  • Water Treatment Facilities
  • Fire Safety Engineering
  • Breweries
  • Process Industries
  • Transformers

Accurate

With clear LIQUID / NO LIQUID result (presence/absence), the Portatank® is accurate to +/- 10mm, providing a safe, quick and accurate method to monitor contents. This adaptable technology can work with liquid levels that fluctuate over time, as well as test a wide range of tanks and liquids. Coltraco’s equipment is designed to improve safety and best practice, ensuring the equipment used to inspect tanks is accurate and efficient.

Non-Invasive

Unlike traditional methods of testing, the Portatank® boasts its core capability of non-invasive testing. The Portatank® measures levels of fluids, particularly hazardous liquids where the tank cannot be opened for safety reasons and a float gauge cannot be installed. With the external, non-invasive, non-intrusive technology, the Portatank® is suitable for testing hazardous liquids without the risk of contaminating the liquid. As the liquid storage system is undisturbed during testing, with no removal of lids needed, the risk to the personnel conducting the test is minimised. The unit has a simple and straightforward testing process, requiring only the simple application of the sensor to the container wall.

coltraco.com/

BAFE opens new Emergency Evacuation Scheme with four-week consultation period

BAFE has announced its new Emergency Evacuation Scheme, which is available to view and comment on for a four-week consultation period by industry.

BAFE SP207 covers the design installation, commissioning and maintenance of evacuation alert systems. These systems are used by fire and rescue services in buildings containing flats (including single-storey flats and maisonettes) across the UK. The Scheme has been developed with the support and cooperation of the National Security Inspectorate (NSI), Gerda and other industry parties.

The new BAFE Scheme observes best practice and the recent standard developed by BSI, BS 8629 (Code of practice for the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of evacuation alert systems for use by fire and rescue services in buildings containing flats), published in November 2019.

BAFE has made the BAFE SP207 Evacuation Alert Systems Scheme Document available to view and has launched a four-week consultation period requesting comment from the fire safety industry, Fire and Rescue Services and the wider safety industry for comment.

BSI has commented the BS 8629 Standard “exists to help ensure that systems are fit for purpose and to encourage uniformity. If systems look and function the same way in every building, firefighters won’t waste any time understanding how they work.”

In May 2020 the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government published a document: Government Response: Sprinklers and Other Fire Safety Measures in New High-Rise Blocks of Flats. In this it revealed that 92% of respondents believe that Approved Document B “should include a requirement for an emergency evacuation [alert] system, which could support fire and rescue services operational response by alerting residents if they need to escape.”

Government responded that “there was also strong support in the consultation responses for the inclusion of guidance on an evacuation alert system for high-rise blocks of flats, although many respondents also raised concerns about the use of this new technology.”

BAFE highlights that it was always planning to develop a Scheme to support the industry with a robust method of providing evidence of competency to work with these systems. The organisation strongly believes these systems in more buildings, when implemented correctly, will aid Fire and Rescue Services across the UK in saving lives.

The BAFE SP207 Evacuation Alert Systems Scheme consultation runs from 03/08/2020 to 31/08/2020 (closing at 11:45pm). Upon official publication, Third Party Certification for this Scheme will be available via NSI.

www.bafe.org.uk/

Pandemic support for ambulance service ends after completion of almost 1500 hours of work

Firefighters in Northamptonshire will this week bring their programme of ambulance service support efforts to a close, having completed almost 1500 hours of work during the pandemic.

Since the end of April, on-call firefighters from Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) have completed 146 shifts to support East Midlands Ambulance Service, amounting to just under 1500 hours of work.

Early in the pandemic, NFRS became one of the fire and rescue services asked to take part in work which included performing tasks such as driving Urgent Care vehicles and the safe moving and handling of patients.

Other services in the region asked to participate included Humberside, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.

In total, 12 firefighters from NFRS took part in supporting the work of EMAS during the Covid-19 pandemic.

NFRS Group Manager Stefan Douglas said: “All the firefighters who have supported this work for EMAS have volunteered to take this on and it has been a huge learning experience for them, and a rewarding one.

“Although this was borne out of managing an extremely challenging situation, there have been positives in the work the organisations have done together. The individuals who took part in the scheme have been able to take back additional skills to their on-call stations and EMAS has learned more about our way of working too.”

In order to carry out the work alongside Urgent Care colleagues in EMAS, firefighters undertook specialist training to gain the skills needed to perform their new roles.

Michael Jones, General Manager for Northamptonshire at East Midlands Ambulance Service said:

“We are incredibly grateful for the support of our colleagues from Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service during these unprecedented times, helping to support our staff and patients who need us the most.

“We already work very closely with NFRS through our Emergency Services Volunteers and so this extra support has built on the great relationship we have with the fire service.

“A big thank you to all who have stepped forward to help.”

NFRS Firefighters remain ready to resume their role supporting EMAS should the need arise.

www.northantsfire.gov.uk/

Pierce secures order from Hall County Fire Services, Georgia

Pierce Manufacturing Inc. has secured an order from Hall County Fire Services in Georgia. Sold through Pierce dealer, Ten-8 Fire Equipment, the order includes eight Pierce Enforcer Pumpers and one Ascendant 107’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Ladder. The new fire apparatus will support the department’s efforts to standardise its fleet to allow personnel consistency in their response and service delivery.

“Our fire department covers 429 square miles with diverse response districts from rural to suburban,” said Christopher Armstrong, Fire Chief of Hall County Fire Services. “We respond to a variety of hazards, and standardisation and continuity in our operations are crucial to fulfilling our mission. Both the excellent customer service provided by Ten-8 Fire Equipment and the quality of Pierce apparatus contributed to our decision to execute this significant order.”

Hall County Fire Services’ new fire apparatus will feature:

Pierce Enforcer Pumpers

  • Extended cab and raised roof
  • 750-gallon tank with low hose bed
  • 1,500 GPM Waterous Pump
  • Detroit Diesel DD13 525 HP Engine
  • TAK-4 Independent Suspension
  • Side roll and frontal impact protection
  • Multiplex electrical system with Command Zone screen
  • Additional storage cabinetry for EMS equipment

Ascendant 107’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Ladder

  • Enforcer chassis with extended cab and raised roof
  • 500-gallon tank
  • 2000 GPM Waterous Pump
  • Detroit Diesel DD13 525 HP Engine
  • TAK-4 Independent Suspension
  • Side roll and frontal impact protection
  • Multiplex electrical system with Command Zone screen
  • Single rear axle configuration
  • Additional storage cabinetry for EMS equipment and extrication tools

“Our team is honoured that our longstanding relationship with Hall County Fire Services continues with an order of such magnitude for their community,” said Guy Binion, sales representative for Ten-8 Fire Equipment. “The eight pumpers and aerial ladder offer the desired level of standardisation of apparatus operation, training, and vehicle maintenance, as well as superior manoeuvrability, innovative design, and essential safety features. We are confident the new fire trucks are the optimal choice for the department’s response area.”

Hall County Fire Services’ new fire apparatus will support the work of 369 personnel,16 stations, and an annual service call volume of over 25,000 per year. Delivery of the eight pumpers and the aerial ladder is expected to take place in December 2020.

www.piercemfg.com/

C-TEC’s CAST XFP addressable fire alarm system protects retail development in Yorkshire

C-TEC’s revolutionary CAST XFP addressable fire alarm system is protecting a refurbished retail development in West Yorkshire.

Situated in the heart of Cleckheaton, Victoria Court has recently undergone a £2.5M transformation and is now home to two floors of offices and an array of retail and commercial outlets including Dominos Pizza and the Halifax Bank. With its cutting-edge control panels, detection and alarm devices, C-TEC’s new CAST XFP system provides the highest levels of fire protection at the multi-purpose site.

Featuring all the top notch qualities of C-TEC’s existing panels plus distributed intelligence, autonomous decision making, high speed data transmission and a powerful group activation command for the rapid deployment of alarm signals, CAST is designed for fast and easy install. In addition, its capacity for displaying detailed data on all system activity was also a key factor in its specification for this particular site.

Said Nathan Douglas-Smith of Centurion Fire and Security Ltd, the specialist fire company that completed the installation of the life-safety systems in just under five weeks: “Fire alarm panel feedback is crucial so engineers and end users can ascertain all site activity. CAST XFP provides the responsible person with vital information on system activity in complete contrast to the old fire alarm system it replaced. As a result, engineers and end users can see exactly what is happening on site.”

“CAST XFP is a great product – it’s easy-to-install, well manufactured and very reliable on all the current installation sites. From a customer support point of view, C-TEC are very responsive to enquires, requests and the occasional technical support call. For example, at a late stage in the installation, the client decided they wanted the smoke detectors in a specific area to be black. We simply called C-TEC and they manufactured them to order.”

Said David Armstrong, Centurion’s MD: “CAST is powerful, feature-rich and intuitive. We’ve installed ten systems to date and have many more projects in the pipeline. Going forwards, we can’t wait for it to be rolled out to C-TEC’s larger panels particularly the ZFP over the coming months.”

www.c-tec.com/

At least 100 killed and 4,000 injured in Beirut explosion

The head of Lebanon’s Red Cross, George Kettaneh, said at least 100 people were killed and more than 4,000 were wounded in the Beirut explosion yesterday (4th August), adding the toll could rise further.

Video footage shows the moment a building exploded, sending a huge shockwave across the city that was heard and felt as far away as Cyprus – more than 125 miles (200km) away.

Lebanon’s prime minister has called for a day of mourning today (5th August), saying that his country was experiencing “a real catastrophe” and said those responsible would pay the price.

He tweeted that Tuesday’s blast was caused by more than 2,700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate left unsecured at a warehouse near the city’s port for six years.

Cars are upturned and streets covered in shattered glass and twisted metal, with homes and businesses reduced to rubble.

Lebanon’s internal security chief, Abbas Ibrahim, also said the blast may have been caused by explosive material confiscated from a ship and stored at the port.

Early fire detection with TITANUS® air sampling smoke detectors

Every second counts where fire is concerned. The faster a fire is detected, the faster action can be taken in order to prevent more serious damage. The head start that WAGNER’S TITANUS® air sampling smoke detectors offer can be crucial to a company’s continued existence. After all, fire is an ever-present risk that is not to be underestimated. Material assets, operational processes, people and the environment are always exposed to this threat, which is why appropriate fire protection solutions are so important.

According to statistics by Siegfried Bussenius, the majority of damaging fires (68 %) develop from prolonged smouldering fires. Conventional smoke detectors have a crucial disadvantage there: depending on whether they are optical fire detectors or heat detectors, these smoke detectors will only react to high concentrations of smoke or increased temperatures within the protected area. By that time it is often too late to implement countermeasures.

WAGNER’s highly sensitive air sampling smoke detection systems (previously known as aspirating smoke detection systems) offer early smoke detection in the pyrolysis phase along with graduated alarms. High response sensitivity, continuous air sampling, and a graded alarm-activation concept ensure early detection of smouldering and incipient fires, so that users have time to react to alarms appropriately.

www.wagnergroup.com

BIG Fire & Ventilation Smoke Blocking Curtain assists rescue teams in disaster situations

BIG Fire & Ventilation have been designing and developing some of the world’s most innovative equipment to assist rescue teams in disaster situations and firefighting teams across the world with improving visibility and operating temperatures for rescue situations.

With the easily operated tension lever, the BIG Fire & Ventiliation’s portable smoke blocker made out of heat resistant fabric can be installed quickly into a door or entrance opening. The door to the affected area can then be opened so firefighters can enter the room behind for their operations without the spread of smoke and heat in the building. Escape routes for the residents and retreat ways for the fire fighters can then be kept smoke-free.

It is possible for the security backup to stay close to the attacking firefighters so the time for a rescue operation in case of a breathing protection emergency is considerably reduced. Dangerous situations through the spread of smoke and heat are effectively minimised or avoided because the portable smoke blocker allows control of the inflow of air to the area of the fire for directed and controlled ventilation.

www.vimpex.co.uk/big-fire

The HD-RAKSHAK IHP CO2 System protects electrical cabinets and enclosures

The HD RAKSHAK is a specialised In-Cabinet Fire Suppression System, utilising CO2 extinguishing agent. RAKSHAK In-cabinet suppression system is a fire suppression system designed for specific application of protecting electrical cabinets and enclosures.

In-Cabinet fire suppression systems are used because these are efficient as well as economical in protection of Computer Server cabinets, Electrical cabinets, CNC machines, IT closets, UPS switchgear cabinets, and archive storage enclosures to name a few. Rather than a total flooding of the whole room with an agent, only the specific cabinet is protected. RAKSHAK In-cabinet suppression system is a StandAlone Automatic Fire Suppression System.

The effectiveness of a genuine HD RAKSHAK System, happens by utilising the best Fire Detection Tubing, which detects a fire due to precise temperature sensitivity, allowing our systems to react quickly and effectively. This unique detection can be run through the smallest or most complex enclosures to ensure detection is always close at hand. RAKSHAK System can be utilised anywhere that a fire poses a risk, and it is flexible enough for virtually any Industrial Equipment, Traditional as well as Emergency Vehicles, Storage Compartments, Control Cabinets or various types of Remote Installations From CNC Machines and Fume Hoods.

RAKSHAK direct system quickly detects and suppresses fire, directly at the source, efficiently and automatically by discharging CO2. It is a totally self-contained, requiring external electric power and remains active and operational 24×7. After use, naturally-occurring element, CO2 dissipates into the air allowing easy usage. The CO2 discharge also leaves no residue, eliminating the need for agent cleanup and helping reduce downtime.

CO2 is discharged through an indirect IHP Valve, which is a differential pressure piston valve that engages immediately when a fire is detected.. The IHP Valve is approved by Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), India.

hdfire.com/