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Ardex UK, suppliers of tile fixing products and adhesives, has been selected to provide natural stone fixing products for the new BBC Scotland Headquarters in Glasgow. Stone contractors Watson Stonecraft specified Ardex to provide the fixing solution for 1500 m² of Lazenby Stone throughout the interior. Ardex S 20 incorporates the Ardex Rapidry Formula which combats the problem of water staining occurring in natural stone. This staining is often caused by moisture from traditional tile adhesives being absorbed into stone. Rapidry Formula 'locks' the mix water within the mortar virtually eliminating the risk of water staining.

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A concealed, controlled door closer from Samuel Heath & Sons has been installed at the new Hilton Manchester Deansgate. Over 400 of the Perko Powermatic door closers have been specified for the hotel as it meets all the fire requirements whilst remaining invisible when the door is closed. Leaderflush of Nottingham supplied the doors pre-morticed ready to accept the closers.

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Mast Climbing Work Platforms (MCWP) are an ideal access solution on large-scale refurbishment and over-cladding projects, but their advantages are also being acknowledged within the new build sector. No less than 20 of SGB's single and twin MCWPs are deployed at gh20, a multi-storey development in Glasgow Harbour, a three year project undertaken by Isle-of-Man based developer Dandara. Large balconies can present a major challenge to access systems, and on this project the balconies project up to 1.8m from the façade. The solution offered by SGB was to erect the work platform masts outside the balcony line, and then to fit the 24m long platforms with sliding cantilevered extensions that provide operative access to the façade wherever needed. MCWPs from SGB feature a maximum working height of 200 metres, working platforms up to 31 metres in length and a reduced installation time of weeks not days.

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Retail project management specialist Barlows has implemented Asta Powerproject Enterprise software for its roll-out store refurbishment projects. Using precise project management, the software ensures Barlows can schedule a store refit with as little disruption to trading hours as possible. It also helps Barlows manage and forecast demands on time, labour and resources across all projects at the same time. A number of McDonalds have been fitted out using the technology.

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A high-visibility bar button from LiftStore has been selected for a major lift refurbishment programme at Manchester International Airport. The bar button is a larger style lift button, which makes it clearly visible to all users, including those with visual impairments, while universal symbols are used for recognition. The button's low profile (43mm) incorporates a clearly illuminated legend to ensure a bright, wide-angle view in all lighting conditions. The range also includes tactile and Braille button options.

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An Isle of Lewis Housing Association has chosen Eco Heat Pumps for six new properties in Newvalley near Stornoway. The Eco Thermia Diplomat Heat Pumps are linked to a specially drilled borehole, and provide renewable energy for domestic hot water and space heating for each of the houses. A water-glycol mixture is pumped through pipework in the boreholes, drawing naturally occurring heat into the system from deep below the ground. The heated water - at 12 to 15°C - then enters the flow side of the Eco Heat Pump, where the compressor and condenser brings it to the temperature levels required in the property.

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Three former council tower blocks in Manchester have been given a multi-million pound face-lift with help from Accent Kitchens. Working with property developers Urban Splash on the "Three Towers" refurbishment near the city centre, Accent has supplied bespoke kitchen designs, custom-made to a contemporary, stylish specification. The kitchens specialist has also created a centre in Bradford which enables it to develop mock-up kitchens in accordance with any design or requirement. 'This allows all of our clients to come and have a look at the layout and style of the kitchens and enables them to make any changes to meet the needs of their building,' says Andrew Robinson, national sales manager for Accent Kitchens UK. 'Once this has been completed we then re-create the kitchens in all the dwellings.'

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Work to turn an unstable sloping site in Poole, Dorset into a level area suitable for development has included the use of Secugrid geogrid products from Naue Geosynthetics. Formerly a landfill site, the area measures some 350 x 150m. A 'cut and fill' operation was carried out to remove soil from the high part of the site, and placing it in the low section. This demanded a solution for earth retention, which was provided by three examples from the firm's range. Spoil from the excavation at the rear of the site was used to create the correct level at the front. Some parts of the front of the site are now 5m higher than they once were, so a reinforced bank was needed. The Naue Secugrid was selected because it was cost-effective in terms of purchase price and installation costs, and because it was capable of meeting the structural demands of the site. Secugrid is a flat geogrid made from interlaced polymer bars, available in both uniaxial and biaxial orientations.

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Currently at the centre of the UK's largest student accommodation development, Lancaster University is also undergoing modernisation of its teaching facilities with Ecophon supplying the ceiling systems used for refurbishment work. The company's Focus and Focus Wing products have been used to create a series of floating ceilings in teaching spaces and administrative area creating an advanced new medical school at the hill top campus where trainee doctors can practice clinical techniques on artificial tissue. Architect Derek Southworth said: 'Although we have used Ecophon tiles for a number of projects in the past we had never tried the rafts. Having seen some technical literature we decided the appearance would be appropriate.'

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Modular Curved Frame Technology specialists Vista System International has introduced laser cut pictograms that attach to the sign frame to create a unique and stylish design.The pictograms are another example of the flexibility of MCFT. The client chooses any icon or logo to be featured. The image chosen is then laser cut from an aluminium sheet and attached to the appropriate sign extrusion. MCFT offers the advantages of a modern modular system with the ability to provide a highly customizable solution that meets the requirements of each project.

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