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Following on from their first years success at Ecobuild last year, Franke Sissons, are back this year with a bigger stand in the Southern Hall, Stand S551. Customers are encouraged to meet the team who can offer technical expertise and advice for your projects, no matter how big or small.

A one stop solution provider, Franke Sissons will be showcasing some of their comprehensive washroom technology including the stainless washroom product range such as the water saving waterless urinals and range of taps offering both touch free and central control technology. The revolutionary Aqua3000 open water management system, used where economical operation is of prime importance and the new range of Miranit sanitaryware.

Visitors can register for free at www.ecobuild.co.uk.

Chesterfield MP Toby Perkins has formally opened the latest investment project at Franke Washrooms Chesterfield site.

Franke Sissons’ manufacturing centre now houses a second Franke company, after a major reorganisation of the factory buildings.

Franke Food Service, key supplier to the UK quick service restaurant and fast food enterprises, brings 7 jobs to the site, which consists of a sales office and logistics centre including warehousing.

The whole project was successfully completed by Barton Contractors Ltd over an eight week period. It was undertaken with no loss of service by either company and means substantial benefits to both activities of the Franke Group.

“A company like Franke which has key manufacturing and distribution in Chesterfield and where exporting is a measurable element of the activity is of major importance to this region,” said Toby Perkins.

“This new location will be great for our business,” said Franke Food Service Key Account Manager Richard Godbehere “Our market is growing and service is the key. We will be able to save time on stainless steel manufactured products that might have come from Eastern Europe, but can actually be produced competitively in Chesterfield and also provides for a better service to our customers.”

Franke Sissons Managing Director Andy Dukelow is also certain about the benefits of the arrival of Franke Foodservice. “This project involved a major reorganisation of the whole of our warehouse and raw material stores facilities. At the end of the project we were able to improve the existing Logistics facilities and integrate our sister operation from Food Service. The synergies we will realise will allow further opportunity for the site to manufacture additional product for the Food Service market”

Franke Sissons is one of the area’s oldest manufacturing companies having been founded over 227years ago. There are over 100 staff employed at the site and the company is a key member of the region’s apprenticeship scheme.

Franke Sissons have a new CPD seminar for Architects and specifiers which has been approved by the RIBA. The seminar is called Water Management and Conservation in Commercial Washrooms and covers the key areas of the different methods of water management, the level of control and monitoring of water usage that is currently available and environmental and sustainability issues of water management and washroom materials.

The seminar covers issues relating to BREEAM points, cost savings of different water controls and recent advances in technology for water management.

The RIBA architect who assessed the presentation gave the following comments "The resultant presentation is informative, generic, and memorable and provides much that will help architects. I think it is a very good presentation and I have no hesitation in recommending this be approved."

To book a lunchtime seminar please contact Amy Matkin at Franke Sissons on 01246 450255 or amy.matkin@franke.com

Franke Sissons products are covered in part or wholly by the following Approvals and Standards. The Approvals are for Water Efficiency Product Labelling Scheme (WEPLS), DEFRA Water Technology List (WTL), Water Regulations Advisory Scheme (WRAS), CSA International Canada, Australian Watermark Approval for WCs, CE Approvals, LGA German Approvals, Australian Standard Approval and ISO9001 Quality Management Approval.

Franke has been awarded the Water Technology List (WTL) logo mark for the AQUA200 self closing mixer tap. The award to the WTL logo means that the products can be specified for projects in which the clients can claim reduced Capital allowances for using water saving products. The use of WTL listed products also assists with gaining BREEAM points. Other Franke water control products are currently being assessed for adding to the WTL listing in the future.

Franke Sissons new range of stainless steel Campus WC have passed the new 4 and 5 litre flushing standards as part of the EN997 performance standard as certified by the LGA testing laboratory in Germany.

The products are also Watermark Approved in Australia and are labelled as being water efficient as part of the WEPLS scheme run by the UK Bathroom Manufacturer’s Association.

The product are totally designed and manufactured at the Company’s facility in Chesterfield, England and are supplied worldwide for security, stadiums and public toilets. Recent installations have included two new Euro 2012 stadiums in Poland, public toilets in Sydney, Australia and high security holding cells for the Metropolitan Police in London.

The range of products include floor standing and wall hung models which can be fitted to duct walls or to installation frames and can be supplied with a range of coloured toilet seats and lids.

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A Hand Washing Story

Break time and the girls at Chesterfield’s Meadows School would be queuing to use the wash basins, as there are less of these than there are toilets.

The solution

The Franke Circular Wash Trough offers a number of advantages in the school environment. Principle amongst these is the use of space. Wash basins need to be against a wall. The Circular Wash Trough sits in the middle of the room enabling multiple use at any time. Additionally, wash basins have plugs and soap to lose and taps to leave running. The Wash Trough has no plugs, dispenses soap as required and features self closing taps so that no tap can be left on and are very reliable and robust.

If all these benefits don’t immediately convince the toilet monitors, the ultimate benefit is the environment, as water use with self closing tap technology should reduce by over 30%.

The Headteacher, Lynn Asquith is delighted with the new facility and is hoping to install 2 further units later in the school year and is more than happy to recommend the Franke Sissons circular wash troughs to other schools in the area.

In terms of the girls at Meadows School – they will be able to enjoy more of their breaktime!

North Derbyshire’s Ashgate Hospice have received an unusual and very effective donation this New Year, in the form of an “All in One” wash station.

The new design wash station incorporates no touch electronic water control and spout, wash basin, mirror, paper and soap dispenser. The discrete space requirement of the one piece unit is particularly appropriate for the limited area available at the Hospice.

Franke Sissons continue to generously support registered charity Ashgate Hospice as it is local to the manufacturing facility, and the new All in One wash station offered a particularly appropriate solution to them. The station is manufactured in stainless steel as one unit, offering hygienic and user friendly washing with water triggered when hands are placed in front of the sensor.

Ashgate Hospice’s Support Services Manager, Jane Bridge, said, “Our relationship with Franke Sissons has been incredibly productive for us and we are very pleased to continue working in partnership with them and to accept their kind offer of such installations. The design and material of the wash hand basin works extremely well with our infection control policy.”

A Big Thank you

Thanks to our customers who completed the recent Customer Satisfaction Questionnaire. The questions enabled customers to report on their experiences with the company, warts and all, enabling us to continue to improve the customer experience.

The responses indicate that the vast majority of customers are either satisfied or very satisfied with the service and products provided by the company but also useful feedback on those areas where there is still greater expectation.

Those responding were put into a draw for a free digital TV, and the winner (Pictured) was Kevin Kerr of Stevenson and Reid. Ireland Kevin was presented with his prize by Head of Sales Mike Gillett,

A WC for the heaviest people in the UK has been designed and is being manufactured by washroom manufacturers Franke Sissons.

“We have supplied the first order to Lincolnshire hospital”, said commercial director Paul Markwell, “where it is thought the country’s heaviest man is being treated.” The Bariatric WC is large and floor standing and features a stronger designed and constructed toilet seat 50 cm wide. Designed specifically designed for use in hospitals, doctor’s surgeries, specialist clinics and nursing homes, the Bariatric WC is manufactured to order.

Franke Sissons manufacture a range of stainless washroom systems, and the Bariatric WC has been developed to specifically answer the demand for studier WC bowls and seats where conventional facilities may be unusable. The Bariatric WC is secure to a final weight of 841 kg and is manufactured at the company’s headquarters in Chesterfield.

A brand new baby change station introducing new materials and safety features has been introduced by Franke Sissons. The Comfort Baby Changing Station offers child safety, hygiene, hand washing facility, safe storage and uniquely utilises Miranit for the change mat, a strong material that is both room temperature and smooth finished for easy cleaning.

The Baby Changing Station is manufactured a safe, solid and durable product that is free standing and designed for location within washroom or changing facilities where water and waste facilities are available.

The WRAS approved self closing tap has an anti-scald feature toTMV3 water regulations combining ease of use with safety. The restraining strap is made to BS1888 regulations and has an easy to release clasp.

The Base unit is available in two product options, 2 door or 4 door for storage and access for maintenance to plumbing and services. The lockable doors are made from scratch resistant laminate and their hinges open to 170° to prevent trapping little fingers. An additional range of related stainless products such as a paper towel dispenser, soap dispenser and nappy bin is available alongside the Baby Change Station.

Franke Sissons provided over 300 stainless steel bidets together with stainless steel WCs for a new women's prison in Italy. Franke products were selected as the solid construction and design was ideal for a prison environment and to ensure that the same appearance of the products was maintained. A bidet for women's prisons is a requirement in Italy and Franke Sissons are one of a few suppliers in Europe who can manufacture the product to the specific installation requirements.

For details of the bidet product and other stainless steel sanitary products that can be provided by Franke Sissons call the Customer Service Department on +44 (0)1246 450255.

Franke Sissons have provides a unique on-site welding, polishing and installation service for the refurbishment of student kitchens at Warwick University. Over 80 kitchens have been fitted with stainless steel worktops and sinks that have a seamless appearance due to the expert site work that Franke Sissons has carried out. The worktops were made a two sections to the specific designs of the client, transported to site and welded together. The overall finish is a stunning kitchen for new students to enjoy and use. This project is part of an ongoing refurbishment of the kitchens on the University campus lasting over 3 years.

For details of the Warwick university installation and other special stainless steel products that can be provided by Franke Sissons call the Customer Service Department on +44 (0)1246 450255.

A remarkable increase in export orders has been achieved by the company during the last 6 months, with none more significant than the order for washroom equipment received from the construction company building the new Baltic Arena Gdansk stadium in Poland. The orders, delivered just before Christmas, comprised 250 WCs, 290 urinals and 200 washbasins with the timescale between order and delivery just eight weeks! how does such business translate into an order for Franke Sissons? There are Franke businesses all over the world today and in this case, experienced sales manager Thomasz Skuropa in Germany worked with the local salesmen in Poland. It is this team whose work to meet the specification challenges set by the design architects and construction company was so successful. Stainless washroom appliances are now the favoured specification within stadiums worldwide, representing security under short bursts of heavy use. Washroom product exports have also been made to Australia, Switzerland, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Belgium, France and to Italy where supply to a new women’s prison meant the supply of 270 bidets and WCs.

The new Portsmouth Cruise and Ferry terminal has achieved a BREEAM rating of “very good.” It replaces the previous Ferry Terminal build in the 1970s. The new building (officially opened in May this year) offers the modern high standards and style of an airport. A full height concourse contains shops, check in desks and the arrival departure area, while a mezzanine area offers views from the bar and cafe area.

Such a green achievement for the £16,5m facility has resulted both from its geographical position and the use of sea water for flushing in the washroom due the installation of products provided by Franke Sissons . Individual Franke Sissons stainless urinals and WCs in 316 material are used in the terminal’s washroom facilities where further savings are secured though the use of the unique AQUA3000 electronic water management system. The water valves used in the project are fully suitable for sea water use. The use of dual-flush touch free controls to flush the 4 litre WC further reduced the water consumption of the building. Stainless steel also adds to the environmentally beneficial building as it is fully recyclable and therefore ideal for modern public washrooms.

Visitors to the popular destination Fox & Goose pub in Brampton near Chesterfield, who have been invited to an event in the function room, will have been delighted with the makeover given to the pub’s washroom facilities. Now up to the standard of the newest west end hotels, the washrooms feature individual gents urinals in stainless steel and water saving no touch taps in the pristine wash basins. Since the pub is close to Franke Sissons headquarters in Chesterfield, the newly updated function rooms will no doubt be a relevant destination for sales demonstrations!

One of Britain’ major new hospitals Forth Valley Royal Hospital opened in August 2010, delivering to Scotland a major new 24 hour emergency and treatment facility. The £300m facility is the largest NHS construction project ever built in Scotland and one of the most modern and well equipped hospitals in Europe.

Franke Sissons supplied the new hospital with their modern no touch taps, sensors and spouts to nursing stations and washbasins across the wards and medical areas. The total order was for over 1000 electronic tap units.

The company also supplied stainless steel sink units, Slop hoppers, Scrub up troughs, Janitorial units and special Endoscopy sinks and cupboards. The stainless steel and water control products were installed by specialist wall panel manufacturer C & B Systems as part of their Medi-serve range of products and designs.

New Stadium has sustainability features

Chesterfield Football Club’s new b2net stadium has at its heart some of the most modern and sustainability features of any stadium in Britain. Supplied by Franke Sissons, whose manufacturing plant lies within half a mile of the stadium, the public and disabled persons washrooms incorporate stainless steel washtroughs, WCs, urinals and accessories for toilet paper, soap and paper towel dispensing, all with the latest self closing water control technology, saving water on a huge scale. The player’s dressing rooms have wall mounted shower heads and controls as well as urinals and washbasins in stainless steel. And finally, the Corporate and VIP areas of the stadium have Franke Sissons electronic taps and upmarket Stratos soap and paper towel dispensers.

Permanent water consumption savings in the new stadium are achieved in two ways. Self closing technology employed throughout the washrooms ensure taps can never be left running, while flush water for the urinals is provided from cisterns that only operate when the facility is being used. Urinal cisterns and related delivery pipework are concealed, helping to ensure that the facilities will withstand the intensive use that can be expected in a sports stadium environment.

Washtroughs and toilets within the stadium are complemented by stainless steel accessories such as grab rails, paper towel dispensers and toilet roll holders and disabled visitors enjoy the most modern Franke designed disabled washroom facilities.

Amongst the newest design principles being employed in Dublin’s new 50,000 seater Aviva stadium, is a plumbing innovation that might prove to become the most influential.

Brightwater Environmental brought stainless washroom manufacturers Franke Sissons into the contract, in order to deliver waterless urinals.

“Waterless urinals offer benefits on every level, said BrightWater Environmental director Alan Flight, “ since the primary one of less smell and simple operation is obviously preferred, it is then environmentally starred because of the removal both of substantial water pipework and a header tank for every urinal. In a project the size of Lansdown Road, this is a saving of water and materials on a colossal scale.”

A total of 165 stainless steel waterless urinal troughs have been bespoke manufactured for the contract, with each adopting the new waterless technology. Key differences between this and a conventional urinal are the increased slope of the base channel in order to eradicate all liquid, and a patented sleeve below the drain – in an easily replaceable form - that fully seals the outlet to anything but liquid.

“Stainless steel in stadia washrooms has been the preferred material in recent years, because it is both safe and secure. Now employing the waterless technology so effectively and with such an impact environmentally, we believe it is only a matter of time before this specification becomes preferred policy.” said Paul Markwell Head of Customer Marketing Services at Franke Sissons.

All the stainless products supplied were manufactured at the company’s factory in Chesterfield.