LearnPro Group acquires Redkite Systems to strengthen software solutions portfolio

by Featured NewsIndustrial

LearnPro Group broadens service offerings with Redkite Systems acquisition

LearnPro Group, backed by Apiary Capital, has acquired Redkite Systems, adding its Smart Training, Competency, and Asset Management systems to the LearnPro portfolio.

Redkite Systems serves civilian and military fire services and major global airports such as King Khalid International Airport and London Heathrow.

This acquisition aligns with LearnPro Group’s strategic goal of expanding its presence in the aviation and industrial sectors.

Redkite Systems strengthens LearnPro Group’s global presence

According to LearnPro Group, this acquisition supports its broader objective of serving global emergency services and critical infrastructure sectors.

CEO Costi Karayannis stated: “The addition of Redkite to LearnPro Group opens up opportunities to extend further into the global aviation and industrial sectors.”

Karayannis highlighted Redkite’s recent success with Riyadh Airports Company, noting: “We will invest further in the product to enhance its value.”

Future plans for Redkite Systems under LearnPro Group

David Arber, CEO of Redkite Systems, will remain with the company during 2025 to support the transition.

Arber said: “Joining LearnPro Group is an exciting opportunity and the obvious next step for the Redkite business. I am confident that LearnPro will provide the resources and capability to ensure a great future for Redkite customers and products.”

LearnPro Group plans to integrate Redkite’s systems to deliver enhanced value to its customers in aviation and industrial markets.

Strategic growth through acquisitions

The Redkite acquisition follows LearnPro Group’s purchase of Infographics UK, furthering its position in the global emergency services software market.

LearnPro Group aims to leverage its expanded portfolio to drive innovation and efficiency across its customer base.

Karayannis emphasised the importance of building on trusted products to serve relevant sectors, stating: “The power of the combined group can drive even more value for our joint customers.”

LearnPro Group acquisition of Redkite Systems expands market reach: Summary

LearnPro Group, supported by Apiary Capital, has acquired Redkite Systems to enhance its software offerings in training, competency, and asset management.

Redkite’s customer base, including major airports and fire services, aligns with LearnPro’s plans to expand into aviation and industrial sectors.

LearnPro’s CEO, Costi Karayannis, expressed confidence in the acquisition’s potential to create new opportunities globally.

Redkite CEO David Arber will remain during the transition to support integration. This acquisition follows LearnPro’s recent purchase of Infographics UK, demonstrating its commitment to growth in global emergency services markets.

IFSJ Exclusive: Unleashing the power of data

by Breaking NewsBuilding Management

Are digital asset registers the future of building safety maintenance?

Today, property owners, facility managers, and tenants expect a certain level of data. The industry wants to be proactive. The issue is a massive need for visibility.

The current situation

Right now, a property manager might engage with several fire and security maintenance companies, each using paper or their software. Unfortunately, this situation necessitates you to look for the proper report everywhere.

The issue is that no central repository exists to gather and manage all this information. You are required to log into multiple portals and handle various reports and certificates. No centralised view is available for your clients, leading to a scattered and messy situation.

Another problem is that there are still paper forms: people send static and straightforward reports to others that need to be actionable. “If a fire and security company is not using a digital asset register, I’d ask why,” says Roi Abraham, Head of Growth at Uptick.

Most companies are likely using generic job management software which does not log the assets, meaning they do not have the asset record. As a result, they do not know that a fire extinguisher has been missing for four years or when their five-yearly or ten-yearly are due. From a fire perspective, the more you record and manage the assets within your job management software, the better it is for everyone.

What needs to happen

Right now, the main barrier is paper and legacy systems. “Fire providers should be using better systems at the source,” says Abraham. “We ditch the paper and start to use modern asset maintenance software made specifically for the industry”.

Digital asset registers, he says, will make fire and safety maintenance easier by mapping an asset from a geospatial floorplan: “This is amazing from a property owner perspective, and it can save a tonne of time for the engineers on bigger sites, as well as giving your customers a real-time view.”

Another fundamental feature is the customer portal: “Every property owner should demand a real-time view of their contractors’ performance. Which assets are non-compliant? How long has it been non-compliant?

Third-party accreditation is also crucial: “If you’re a fire and security company, you should be third-party certified. Fire and security companies use many papers and forms and struggle to keep up. If they’re using a good software that does all of it within, it ensures that the fire companies are third party certified.”

QR codes have become synonymous since the rise of COVID, and Abraham notes that companies are putting a QR code in every single one of their assets: “This allows them to search the asset. So instead of trawling through a whole list of assets on site, they can find that asset quickly and save time for the engineers.”  If you are a tenant or property owner, this could also enable you to scan the QR code of any asset, see whether it is compliant, and find out when it was last maintained.

Abraham notes that another change on the horizon is remote panel monitoring: “Why go to the site when you don’t have to?”

Who owns the data

One issue that Uptick is trying to solve is the possible conflict over data ownership: It’s a long, long debate. So we’re trying to solve it by providing a repository in the middle called bSECURE, which allows each one to put whatever data they want in it.”

He compares it to a logbook for a car: “If you sell the car, the logbook stays with the vehicle. If you sell buildings, good luck finding the fire engineer report, even post-construction. It should remain with the installation.

The solution?

Uptick is software for fire and security companies. It is designed to make a property owner’s life easier by providing a complete asset register with all the data and fire certificates inbuilt. Crucially, they provide a portal to building owners, enabling them to monitor their entire portfolio and see real-time compliance.

“Our vision is that someone sleeping on level 18 of the building knows whether their building is safe,” says Abraham. “They go to sleep at night, put their head in the pillow, promised that their building is compliant, and they should expect that.”

IFSJ Exclusives: The role of Smart Valves with Duyar

by AmericasBreaking News

Duyar looks at the role of Smart Valves in the digitalisation of HVAC installation

The world’s population is constantly increasing, and the rate of urbanisation is also increasing with the growing population. The construction sector has been able to realise high-rise buildings only with installation solutions. Technological products in the field of plumbing have enabled the development of both comfort and essential needs in different directions.

Considering the rapid increase in the world population and the limitation of resources, it is a fact that the problems in both residential and industrial production areas and solutions for the efficient use of scarce resources lie in technology. New ones are added every day to solutions for digitalisation in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) installation field. Smart Valves are one of the innovations in this field.

Duyar Vana is constantly developing innovative products with the awareness that the development of our planet comes from creating innovative products that add value. One of these products is Smart Valves.

Smart Valves ensure that consumption is kept at an optimum level, energy efficiency is increased, and operating costs are reduced. Duyar, which has an important position in the world in terms of valves, is constantly conducting research and development (R&D) studies to ensure energy efficiency both in production activities and in the installations where its products are used. 

In these R&D studies, it is aimed to control the installation sector by using sensors and systems according to environmental conditions to meet the needs and to put it into the service of humanity. Considering these needs, the Smart Valve System defines the installation as a network that contains various elements and works together for specific purposes. It aims to manage the installation and resource management at the maximum level by controlling and detecting each gate in the installation network.

Structure, functions and benefits

The Smart Valve continuously measures the pressure, temperature, and flow values in the installation thanks to the hardware inside. All these values are observed through the Internet of Things (IoT) interface and the collected data is reported. In this way, the reported values make the efficiency of the installation measurable. The data can be analysed and even the flow, position and energy values can be changed with the analysed results.

It measures energy use thanks to the “Q = mC△T” calculation. By observing the behavior of the heat source, it determines the optimum energy requirement in the system. Thus, it ensures efficient use of energy. The Smart Valve maintains the correct flow despite pressure variations. Flow variability occurs when the variability in the actuator position changes only when the demand requirements change or when it is outside the “△T” set point. It is used in the HVAC industry as a solution for unstable systems with optimisation problems.

The Smart Valve is designed to meet the needs of the installation system. Thanks to its integrated compact structure, it observes the status of the installation. Thanks to the data collected through observations, it ensures efficient operation of the system and prevents unnecessary energy consumption.

System components

The system consists of a combination of five main components: DN050 Ultrasonic Calorimeter, Proportional / On-Off Electric Actuator, V-port Two-Piece DN050 Ball Valve, PT1000 Temperature Sensors (△T measurement), and a Differential Pressure Sensor.

As a solution, where a Smart Valve is used, by monitoring the low △T Syndrome and the temperature difference, the valve tries to keep △T at the highest possible value or at the value set on the interface thanks to the IoT platform by observing the temperature difference. It increases the △T value by reducing the flow rate of the excessive amount of water that is continuously pumped into the system.

This saves energy as the pump does not run continuously at full speed and provides comfort as the system runs more efficiently. It fulfills its functions not only in heating applications but also in cooling applications.

Thanks to its ability to reduce energy costs, the Smart Valve has become the darling of the HVAC sector due to its single structure (Combined Valve + Calorimeter + Shut-off Valve) and the possibility of observing and intervening with the IoT interface.

Smart Valve position scenario

It can see the position of the valve on the IoT interface. If necessary, the position of the valve can be adjusted within the limit values.

Flow scenario

Thanks to the ultrasonic sensors on it, it provides the opportunity to measure the flow rate. This flow rate can be seen on the IoT interface. If necessary, the required flow rate can be provided to the system by adjusting the flow rate.

Pressure scenario

Smart Valve performs delta P(△P) pressure difference measurement. These measurements can be monitored on the interface. The impurities accumulated in the installation system over time will affect the pressure loss of the system. To eliminate this negative effect by continuously reading the pressure values in a cycle, the problem of pollution accumulated in the installation is eliminated by alerting other peripherals.

In the installation example given above, the particles accumulated with a strainer can be monitored with the Smart Valve. When the pressure amount increases, it gives a warning to the system and the accumulated pollution is removed with the help of an actuator until the pressure value reaches the normal value.

Removal of impurities plays an important role for the long life of the installation.

Delta – T(△T) scenario

With the Smart Valve, △T is measured thanks to the temperature sensors on it. The △T limit value can be changed and the valve now regulates its behavior according to the set value. It automatically adjusts the flow rate so that only the amount of water required to achieve the desired power is used. It prevents the formation of low △T.

Energy scenario

Thanks to the Ultrasonic Calorimeter, the Smart Valve can calculate energy. It can observe this value on the IoT platform. If necessary, a fixed energy value can be entered. Thus, the valve changes its behavior and performs its functions at the set energy value.

IoT interface

It is simpler and more effective to use the Smart Valve’s options more efficiently and to meet the requirements with the IoT interface that contains all the data to observe and optimise to meet the needs in the system.

Maintenance period

The valve must be maintained to preserve its functions. Logically, the valve can predict the maintenance time by observing its own condition and gives an alarm.

Alarms

When the Smart Valve exceeds the values set in the scenarios or when the electrical signal is interrupted, the alarm scenario is activated. Thanks to the warning system, it provides the opportunity for early intervention to communicate the problems that occur, to prevent these problems from progressing further and to protect the functions of the installation system.

Drag and drop feature

In the IoT interface, the installation architecture can be set up and the values provided by the Smart Valve can be observed and the simulation of the installation can be provided through the interface.

The benefit is not only in its functions, but also in the ease of procurement and shortening of the procurement period by being in a single structure with Control Valve + Calorimeter + Shut-off Valve and its own interface, providing a solution to the problems experienced by our stakeholders.  

Conclusion

Smart Valves, which rank first as an innovative solution in the installation sector, also play an active role in digitalisation. It has become the heart of the sector in the sense that the problems in the system can be analysed under the direction of the data coming from the digital environment, the requirements of the system can be easily determined, and it is an answer to these requirements. In the light of the data received, communication within the installation and artificial intelligence studies with the data obtained, thinking, self-deciding installations and new scenarios can be developed.

The Smart Valves, one of Duyar’s high value-added product development efforts, provide solutions to the problems experienced by our stakeholders with the convenience provided such as fast product supply, easy assembly, shortening labour times.

This exclusive article was originally published in the June 2023 issue of International Fire & Safety Journal. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.

IFSJ Exclusive: Creating the NFPA LiNK

by AmericasBreaking NewsIFSJ ExclusivesTraining

With new features added, IFSJ takes a look at the NFPA LiNK platform

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recently announced enhanced features and a supporting YouTube channel to NFPA LiNK, its subscription-based application that delivers digital NFPA codes and standards, expert commentary and supplemental content. The NFPA LiNK YouTube channel is designed to complement NFPA LiNK by providing tutorials and quick-start video guides for optimising NFPA LiNK.

Iain Hoey, Editor at IFSJ, spoke the Kyle Spencer, Director of NFPA LiNK to find our more about the online learning platform and its recent upgrades.

What is NFPA LiNK?

A digital platform providing instant access — via your favorite device — to NFPA codes and standards, plus exclusive expert commentary, visual aids, and more.

Why was it developed and who is it for?

The digital tool enables fire and life safety professionals to easily navigate and understand code requirements based on real-life situations. The platform was developed to streamline workflows, solve industry challenges, and encourage continuous education past traditional handbooks. NFPA LiNK’s capabilities were also developed to simplify communication and collaboration amongst teams, ultimately increasing workplace efficiency.

How does it work?

In NFPA LiNK, users can store content for offline viewing, curate content, bookmark, add notes, share, and collaborate. NFPA LiNK is continuously updated with the latest codes and standards information, enabling workers to always perform their jobs accurately and efficiently. The search feature allows users to quickly search all NFPA code books by keyword or phrase – eliminating time spent scanning physical pages to find answers – and users can filter their search to further refine code content results.

NFPA LiNK is a progressive web application (PWA), which is an enriched application software that is delivered through a web browser. This all-in-one solution allows NFPA LiNK to be delivered to all devices and does not require the installation of an application through an app-store.

What content is available on the platform?

NFPA LiNK provides digital access to 1,500 codes and standards publications dating all the way back to 1993. This includes the most current edition of every code and standard. In addition, NFPA LiNK users have access to 43 documents translated in Spanish, mitigating the challenge of a language barrier during the design-build process.

NFPA LiNK also provides several learning opportunities for subscribers to keep their knowledge growing in a world that is constantly advancing. NFPA DiRECT is a section of the digital tool allowing access to industry-specific scenarios and illustrations. Users who have a Team subscription also have access to team collections where their peers can share industry knowledge, enabling a continuous flow of collaboration and education among teammates.

What are some recent additions to the platform?

The most recent additions to the platform consist of navigational improvements and code change indicators. The NFPA LiNK team is continuously implementing user feedback to improve and personalise the platform to fit the needs of the end-users, as seamlessly as possible. Three new code change indicator tools were recently added to NFPA LiNK. Subscribers can view the prior code edition side-by-side with the current edition to identify and understand changes made to codes.

Additionally, users have access to change summaries which provide detailed explanations to why the changes to the code were made. Lastly, a new indicator was added for Tentative Interim Amendments (TIA), allowing users to make a quick comparison of the original text and the amendment.

Why was the YouTube Channel launched and what can people find on there?

The NFPA LiNK YouTube Channel was launched to provide industry professionals with supplemental content and encourage ways to maximise the use of the platform. The channel offers tutorials, quick-start guides, and explanations to industry specific codes, classifications, and requirements. The channel also serves as a visual guide to future and potential NFPA LiNK subscribers.

Are there any plans to further develop NFPA LiNK?

NFPA LiNK is continuously being updated to include new features that improve the user experience and enable users to work seamlessly and safely. NFPA is constantly searching for user feedback and creating plans to adjust and advance the platform based on the preferences of its everyday users.

Why should people use NFPA LiNK?

People around the world have turned to NFPA codes and standards to do their jobs efficiently and effectively for more than a century. As the world around us is constantly evolving, being able to adapt and grow as an employee will set organisations up for future success. At NFPA, we found that digital transformation solves our challenges rather than creating them. Other leaders may find they are able to create a more meaningful customer experience or interpret their business data more efficiently.

NFPA’s approach to implementing NFPA LiNK was to create a tool that requires little to no training, is easy to access and navigate, and provides tangible value to employees’ daily operations. Digital transformation looks different for everybody; however, the implementation should aim to improve functionality, add value and drive innovation.

This exclusive article was originally published in the June 2023 issue of International Fire & Safety Journal. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.