THE QUEEN’S AWARDSFOR ENTERPRISE:INNOVATION 2011IN
NO
VATE
Silent Running:
Good timing assures quiet progressForging Ahead:
Xcalibre welcomes some new additions
Undisputed Champion:
Packing a punch in North America
Hit the Road Jack:
The ‘Big Rig’ tour is heading your way
Leeds Castle:Top tourist attraction
selects Checkmate
#7SUMMER 2012
THE C
HECK
MATE
NEW
SLE
TTER
CHECKMATE
CHECKUSOUTwww.checkmateuk.com
XcalibreRUN SILENT
FLEXIBLE ENGINEERING CONTINUES TO SEE CONTROLLED AND SUSTAINED GROWTH AS A RESULT OF INVESTMENT IN THE RIGHT PRODUCTS AT THE RIGHT TIME. WITH MASSIVE increases in orders for both dunnage bags and peristaltic hoses, Tom Roach (pictured left), managing director, is delighted to announce that the Wiltshire-based team has grown by 30% during the last six months, entirely as a result of expanding order books. Sourcing quality staff is always tricky, but Tom has been very satisfi ed with the calibre of new recruits that have been taken on. An overnight production shift is also now running to meet the high demand; both new and existing staff have blended well
and the business is looking forward to further growth during 2012/13.Tom commented, ‘This represents our confi dence in our process, forward order book and continued relationships with our customers both within the UK market and abroad.’Checkmate Flexible Engineering’s special projects have ranged from waterproofi ng for military equipment through to submarine fuel tanks, explosives moulds and the design of hover barge skirt systems. Clients include the MOD, government research establishments, major shipping companies, offshore, chemical, aerospace, construction, naval architects and the automotive industries.
RUN DEEP
To contact Checkmate Flexible Engineering call +44 (0) 1225 705 465
2 INNOVATE WWW.CHECKMATEUK.COM
CHECKMATE
XcalibreOUR EAGERLY anticipated new additions to the Xcalibre range are now available to buy or pre-order. Managing director Oliver Auston said, “After many months of design, engineering of the prototype and constant honing of the product we are really delighted
to offer to our customers the latest incarnations of the Xcalibre fall arrest block.” Light, yet incredibly sturdy and produced with cutting edge technology, these new products cement Checkmate’s position as a leading British manufacturer of height safety equipment.
There drew he forth the brand Xcalibre*
* With thanks to Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s poem “Morte d’Arthur”
CHECKMATE UNVEIL NEW XCALIBRE FAMILY MEMBERS
To discover more about the new members of the Xcalibre family, check out our website or call +44 (0) 1795 580 333 SAFETY BY DESIGN
®calibreX
XcalibreXcalibreXcalibrecalibre
FABX ATOM-X FABXOSFABX2R
The ATOM-X is the smallest, lightest, most compact fall arrest block in the world. So small it fi ts in the palm of your hand! This little gem is designed as a lanyard replacement.
Specifi cally designed for the offshore wind energy market. The FABXOS features a transparent casing for easy inspection, a sealed brake module and stainless steel fi xings.
A retrieval unit versatile enough for use in most scenarios. Its ability to raise and lower without changing modes really makes the FABX2R a class-leading rescue product.
2m Vectran webbing Load indicator Swivel eye top anchor Superlight 700 gms Double action snap-on lifeline Single or dual options
Glass fi lled nylon drum Powder coated chassis Hardened alloy
anodised pawl plate
5mm Dyneema rope Stainless steel sealed brake
module and pawls
18 metre maximum capacity Engageable retrieval gear Independent friction brakes Foldable handle Modular components
INNOVATE SUMMER 2012 3
CHECKMATE
Leeds Castleappoints Checkmate for its Roof Safe Access
CHECKMATE HEIGHT SAFETY WAS RECENTLY INSTRUCTED
BY WORLD FAMOUS TOURIST ATTRACTION, LEEDS CASTLE,
TO CONSTRUCT A WALKWAY DECK AND A HORIZONTAL
LIFELINE. CHECKLINE WILL BE PERMANENTLY INSTALLED
AND WILL FORM PART OF THE BUILDING FABRIC AND
STRUCTURE WHEN COMPLETE.
THE WORK being carried out includes a
walkway deck, horizontal restraint systems,
access ladders and safety platforms.
The castle’s Gloriette Roof is rectangular in
shape with a fl at lead area at the top bordering a
deep light well. This is where the walkway deck
will be fi tted. On all four sides of this lead roof
there are steep sloping tiled and slated areas.
A Checkline horizontal restraint system will
be fi xed to the deck to act as a continuous
connection point for a safety harness to
prevent staff falling from the roof.
An access ladder will also be installed down
the roof slope, it will provide access to the
lower gully level where a second Checkline
system will be installed, again to provide a
safe and continuous connection point for
a harness along the lower level gulley.
A vertical access ladder on the Box Roof,
one of the castle’s high turrets, will be
restored and fi tted with a vertical safety rail
for the attachment of a safety harness.
We will also be designing and fi tting
a safe platform to stand on in the
gulley at the bottom of the ladder.
Checkmate’s Roger Townsend said, ”We
are just delighted to be working with Leeds
Castle. This latest contract adds to the stable
of buildings we have worked on across the
world including The City Centre in Las Vegas,
Westminster Palace, and many more”.
If you want to fi nd out more about Checkline
horizontal restraint systems, visit www.
checkmateuk.com or call +44 (0) 1795 580 333
4 INNOVATE WWW.CHECKMATEUK.COM
CHECKMATE
Leeds Castleappoints Checkmate for its Roof Safe Access
newsCHECKNEWS FROM AROUND THE CHECKMATE GROUP
H.A.R.T gets a lift from LEEACHECKMATE’S HEIGHT and Rescue Training division (HART) has been awarded Accredited Training Company status by the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA).
Andy Stock, HART’s training director, undertook a comprehensive audit that covered criteria such as the quality of the training facilities and instructors, and the effectiveness of student assessment.
Following the successful audit we are now able to offer a range of LEEA-accredited training courses, including: Basic Work at Height/
Harness Awareness Work at Height for Managers Inspection of Equipment Rescue Training – Tower,
Crane, Rooftop, Racking.
Geoff Holden (below centre), LEEA’s chief executive, presented the award to Andy Stock (below right) and Checkmate’s managing director, Oliver Auston at the Checkmate HQ in Kent.
Full details at www.H-A-R-T.co.ukFull details at www.H-A-R-T.co.ukH-A-R-T.co.ukH-A-R-T
INNOVATE SUMMER 2012 5
CHECKMATE
Undisputed
World Heavyweights...
SLING WHEN
YOU’RE WINNING
THE CHECKMATE-PRODRAGON JOINT VENTURE IN
VIETNAM RECENTLY CELEBRATED ITS THIRD ANNIVERSARY
IN STYLE WITH NEW CONTRACTS TOTALLING OVER
$2 MILLION IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2012 ALONE!
PRODRAGON VIETNAM is
a joint venture between
Checkmate and the
Do Van family.
With more than 100 years’
experience in the weaving and
production of textile slings
between them, the partners
have brought European
standards of quality and
technical excellence to create
a world-class manufacturing
operation just outside Hanoi.
The facility and production
plant was designed from
scratch and built to demanding
specifi cations to facilitate
the weaving of high quality
polyester webbing and the
conversion of the fi nished
product into webslings.
And now, due to the
arrival of these huge new
contracts, additional
weaving capacity is being
ordered to increase output
and productivity.
For further information
visit our website or call
+44 (0) 1795 580 333
CHECKMATE FLEXIBLE ENGINEERING NOW MANUFACTURE
THE LARGEST PERISTALTIC HOSES IN THE WORLD
WE HAVE recently invested in more
infrastructure at our Wiltshire
base to cope with the growing
demand for peristaltic hoses.
Peristaltic hoses are used to pump
viscous ‘fragile’ liquids like mustard,
yeast and printing ink which are ‘shear
sensitive’ which means they can’t be
sloshed about as in a normal centrifugal
pump. Peristaltic hoses are also commonly
used in the water treatment industry.
Did you know Checkmate Flexible
Engineering manufacture the largest
peristaltic hoses in the world? Weighing
in at about 200 kg each these massive
hoses are used for pumping fi sh!
But probably most impressive of all is we have
grown our market share for supplying peristaltic
hoses in the North American market to 20%.
For further information on Peristaltic Hoses
visit our website or call +44 (0) 1225 793280.
...and European
Welterweight
■ Pictured above is some of the existing
weaving machinery at ProDragon’s
Hanoi manufacturing plant.
6 INNOVATE WWW.CHECKMATEUK.COM
CHECKMATE
newsCHECKNEWS FROM AROUND THE CHECKMATE GROUP
CHECKMATE FLEXIBLE Engineering is now responsible for manufacturing more than 9,000 dunnage bags as a result of new customer win, Grieg Star Shipping. A specialised transportation and logistic service company, it presently operates
some 46 ships with a deadweight of 2 million tonnes. This latest order confi rms Checkmate as the world’s number one dunnage bag maker - no mean feat when competing internationally.
G R O U P
To contact Checkmate Flexible Engineering call +44 (0)1225 705 465
Star Shipping
Enterprise
Tweet Tweet...WANT TO HEAR WHAT WE’RE UP TO ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS? FOLLOW US on Twitter for all the latest company news and updates as they happen.
G R O U P
Our call sign is: @Checkmate_Group
...and European
Welterweight
CONGRATULATIONS to Danny Susan on becoming
European Super-Welterweight Kick Boxing Champion.
Danny (pictured left), who builds peristaltic hoses
at Checkmate Flexible Engineering, said, “Since
winning the English title two years ago I’ve been
working towards this and the next step is to go all
the way for the world title.” Good luck Danny!
On me ‘ead USHPAL THIND and Julie Abbott of Checkmate Flexible Engineering are pictured above with a giant, 6 foot high ‘push ball’ which was made for a local football team who were raising money for Sport Relief. It was pushed for 80 miles along the roads of Wiltshire. Rather them than us!
G R O U P
Our call sign is: @Checkmate_Group
Hear! Hear!HART HAS been awarded the Rooftop Safety Training Contract for the Palace of Westminster.
The contract consists of basic work at height training centred around the systems already in place at the Palace and will cater for all contractors and members of staff who need to access the roof area for any reason, including Police search teams, the BBC and cleaning contractors.
G R O U P
Full details can be found at www.h-a-r-t.co.uk
INNOVATE SUMMER 2012 7
CHECKMATE
Hit the
Road Jack
AT CHECKMATE we are always on
the lookout for events and
tradeshows to attend.
Keeping abreast of trends
and industry developments
enables the group to innovate and
deliver great new products to our
extensive range of customers.
‘Big Rig’ Road Show
Following its debut at A+A in Dusseldorf
(the world’s largest trade fair for safety and
security), the Checkmate fi re truck (AKA
‘Big Rig’) has been on tour around the UK,
stopping off at the LEEA Liftex Expo and the
Speedy Showcase 2012, among others.
The Speedy Showcase 2012 was a great road
show held at four locations in March – Haydock
Racecourse in Merseyside, Murrayfi eld Stadium
in Edinburgh, RICOH Arena in Coventry
and Epsom Racecourse in Surrey.
The events showcased a great new range
of products and services for 2012 with over
60 new “Green, Lean, Safe and Specialist”
products on display from over 30 leading
manufacturers. Speedy is a key client for
Checkmate, having recently standardised
its entire fall arrest block offering to include
the award-winning Xcalibre range.
We took the opportunity to display a huge
selection of products to branch personnel and
end users in a live environment – and audience
reaction was exceptional. Our fi re truck was an
instant hit with
all present as they could see
the practical application of our
product lines, and even take part
in live demos where possible.
The ‘Big Rig’ is now a
regular member of the
Checkmate family and is
available for hire either to demonstrate
our range of height safety equipment, or
as a stand-alone mobile training unit.
For details on how to book the ‘Big Rig’
contact us on +44(0) 1795 580 333
or email [email protected]
WE ARE looking into holding our fi rst ever
International Distributor Conference in 2013.
This will be a great opportunity to bring
together everyone under one roof to launch
products and discuss new ideas. Companies will
also be able to share their thoughts, successes
and opportunities relevant to the industry.
With distributors and manufacturers
invited from across the globe, there is just
one discussion to be had on the ultimate
destination of this event… Vegas anyone?
If you are interested in being part of
Checkmate’s fi rst International Distributor
Conference or you would like more
information, please contact Mark
Hesslegrave on 01795 580 33 or
Checkmate, Xcalibre, the Knight’s Helmet logo, ATOM-X and HART are all registered trademarks of Checkmate Limited, a company registered in England & Wales. All rights reserved. © 2012
Checkmate Distributor Conference 2013
available for hire either to demonstrate
our range of height safety equipment, or
instant hit with
instant hit with
all present as they could see
and Epsom Racecourse in Surrey.
of products and services for 2012 with over
60 new “Green, Lean, Safe and Specialist”
products on display from over 30 leading
manufacturers. Speedy is a key client for
Checkmate, having recently standardised
its entire fall arrest block offering to include
‘Big Rig’ Road Show
Following its debut at A+A in Dusseldorf
(the world’s largest trade fair for safety and
security), the Checkmate fi re truck (AKA
‘Big Rig’) has been on tour around the UK,
stopping off at the LEEA Liftex Expo and the
Speedy Showcase 2012, among others.
The Speedy Showcase 2012 was a great road
show held at four locations in March – Haydock
Racecourse in Merseyside, Murrayfi eld Stadium
8
CHECKMATE