EuroWire September 2021

Focus On UK

All change at Braude Braude manufactures heating and cooling equipment for corrosive solutions found in processes from acid etching to electro and electroless plating.

to the Braude range to provide additional protection, such as over temperature protection for heaters. These include the Thermaster OTP and Thermaster OTF (thermal fuse) systems. These combine with the HPD system, which has been available on Polaris Popular and Modular heaters for many years.

Since 2016 the company has been a member of the Backer group, which is part of the Element division of the NIBE group. The company has been absorbed into Heatrod Elements in Bolton and all the products are made in the modern purpose-built factory. The Braude sales office is retained in Crowthorne, not far from its original home in Sandhurst. Braude products are still manufactured to the quality standards demanded by customers, and all production and processes are certified to BS EN ISO 9001:2015; in addition the factory is certified to the environmental standard BS EN ISO 14001:2015. Braude’s policy is to improve and update products wherever possible, using the latest available technology. The company’s engineers talk to customers so that specific modifications for their applications can be tailored. Given the importance of the safety of products in use, a number of variations in heaters and controllers have been added Supplying and technical service support to customers in the non-ferrous industries is a global business for Rautomead. Despite the recent restrictions on travel, the associated reduction in the number of flights and consequent reduction in freight space, the company managed to ship out three large continuous casting machines to customers in China just prior to the UK’s first lockdown in March 2020. The company subsequently delivered, installed and commissioned new con- tinuous casting machines for customers equipment, spares

Neptune immersion heater

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The most recent product to be added is the Polaris Neptune range of tubular MI heaters. These have a moisture- proof head to encapsulate the joint between the heater and the lead, which is essential in any wet environment. The Triton range of tubular ceramic heaters is available in materials such as porcelain, stainless steel or titanium. Braude maintains stock of both finished goods and component parts. Products can be despatched the same day as an order, or a non-stock item can be manufactured in a short space of time. Simon Ellam, managing director of Heatrod Elements, said, “The Braude division is a valuable and profitable in Germany and the USA during the past year. Since March 2020, restrictions on international travel continue to be one of the greatest hurdles when arranging on- site technical support. After a lot of paperwork and quarantine time, Rautomead managed to get one of its experienced engineers out to China in August 2020, initially for a period of three months, to install and commission the first of the three machines. As the world closed down, international travel became almost impossible, but

part of our company, but we know that if we do not invest in the brand it will not grow and we will not be able to continue to provide the current level of service to our customers. Therefore, all our developments are geared to enable us to provide better and more efficient products and service, which in turn will lead to expansion.

“Our clients can be certain that we are here for the long term and will be able to continue to support our products once they are in use.” Braude www.braude.co.uk Supporting customers through the pandemic

with the help of its customers and a local Chinese agent, Rautomead extended the engineer’s visa – three times. This enabled him to complete the installation and commissioning of all three machines, travelling between different Chinese provinces and enduring the restrictions applied with each move. The engineer completed his mammoth task, and was booked on a return flight to the UK almost a year to the day from his initial journey out. global manufacturing is that deliveries of spare parts and tooling have remained almost at pre-COVID levels throughout the year. However, as a consequence of the combined effects of COVID and after-effects of Brexit, Rautomead is experiencing longer lead times on some parts from its suppliers, and is encouraging customers to place spares orders early. Rautomead Ltd www.rautomead.com An encouraging sign for

Rautomead engineer Graham Lees with the Chinese customer’s team following successful

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installation and commissioning

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September 2021