Nedermans 25 years of improving UKs workspaces
November 1st 2003

The effect of the workplace environment on productivity and quality is now widely recognised. It has led to the rapid development of an industry sector on which the primary objective is the development of systems that maintain a safe and pleasant working environment by a variety of methods. The leading company in this field is Nederman. The last 25 years have seen Nederman grow to be the UK market leader in workplace improvement, supplying fume and dust extraction and personal protection equipment along with hose and cable reels and many associated products. Having begun with only three employees, Nederman UK now has over 60. The companys traditional markets of welding and metal fabrication and the automotive industry are still of great importance, but product innovations have meant that Nederman is now strong in dust extraction and is established in new markets such as food processing, chemical and pharmaceutical. Nederman products are applicable to a wide range of industry sectors, from commercial kitchens through to railway locomotive maintenance. Though the general requirements are basically similar falling under the umbrella of fume and dust extraction, and noise and light screening - the different conditions under which they are applied dictate the need for process-oriented systems. For instance, industrial applications using rotary tools and some welding fume extraction applications are increasingly being satisfied using on-tool dust and fume extraction systems. These provide the most effective means of removing contaminants at source, particularly when applied in conjunction with self-retracting hose and cable systems that leave the workshop floor free of trip hazards. This capability to be integrated into the workplace unobtrusively has been a key factor in the ongoing success of Nedermans systems, in company with more obvious considerations such as capability and cost effectiveness. Another factor has been timely development of systems to comply with a broad range of health and safety-related legislation ahead of statutory requirements, and anticipation of market requirements. An example here is the new ATEX Directive 94/9/EC. From July 2003 it has been necessary for all equipment and protective systems which may be used in potentially explosive atmospheres to comply with the directive. To meet this requirement, Nederman provides fully compliant products such as the NEX DX series of extraction arms, fitted with double-earthed antistatic hoses, the Filtermax DX explosion protected dust filtration systems and NCF EX explosion protected fans. A major area of activity in recent years has been installation of Nederman exhaust fume extraction systems for vehicle workshops. Paradoxically, legislation to provide a cleaner environment through reduced engine emissions has created a hazard for garage workers. Test procedures demand extended engine run-times capable of filling the workspace with fumes very quickly, necessitating installation of dedicated extraction systems. In similar vein, extraction of solvents produced by painting, adhesive application and carbon or glass fibre lay-up demands effective extraction and specialist filtration if prescribed exposure and exhaust-to-atmosphere limits are not to be exceeded. Nederman is able to respond to all of these needs and more, offering an extensive range of products designed to meet or exceed workplace safety legislation. A key advantage of the companys systems is the combination of flexible product ranges designed on a modular format with a countrywide network of experienced specialist installers. This provides unrivalled installation flexibility and applications expertise, giving customers the opportunity to develop the optimum working environment - the most important factor for cost effective production. In conjunction with its silver jubilee celebrations Nederman has launched its new Product Catalogue which covers all of the major product areas within the companys range, from hose & cable reels, personal protection, and dust and fume extraction systems to portable ventilation, providing a genuine one-stop-shop for customers.

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