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Future Events
UPS Systems will be exhibiting and/or speaking at:
- DataCenter Dynamics, November 9 & 10 2010, Royal Lancaster Hotel, London
Recent News
Feb 2010: UPS Systems moves to new premises in line with its expansion plans
Jan 2010: UPS Systems’ Tom Sperrey wins ARC yacht race with fuel cell power on board
April 2009: City Electrical Factors offers the best choice through UPS Systems
March 2009: UPS Systems supplies EFOY Fuel Cell "Demonstration Unit" to Islington Borough Council.
March 2009: UPS Systems provides fuel cells for the UK’s largest fuel cell telemetry installation
March 2009: Fuel cells inspire young ‘Champions of Enterprise’
February 2009: UPS Systems donates £1200 to Cancer Research
Click here for UPS Systems NEWS ARCHIVE
Feb 2010: UPS Systems moves to new premises in line with its expansion plans
We are pleased to inform our customers that UPS Systems has just relocated to new premises.
Although we have stayed in Hungerford we have moved to new offices to effectively double our office space in line with our continued plans to expand our business offering.
Despite difficult market conditions during the last year, we have reinforced our independent position by developing new partnerships with leading generator, UPS and fuel cell manufacturers to offer an even greater choice of products and a wider range of standby power solutions.
CEO of UPS Systems Tom Sperrey said, “The market situation has been tough and many of our customers have faced budget cuts, however we have continued to work hard and grow our business to come out of the recession stronger than ever. Our continued development is testament to our dedicated team of employees, and of course the loyalty of our customers.”
UPS Systems - Herongate, Hungerford, Berkshire, RG17 0YU
Jan 2010: UPS Systems’ Tom Sperrey wins ARC yacht race with fuel cell power on board
UPS Systems’ Managing Director, Tom Sperrey, and his crew have been declared winners of the prestigious Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) racing division. Tom and crew crossed the finishing line on 8th December having sailed his boat ‘Nightlife’ from Gran Canaria to St. Lucia. A portable fuel cell on board provided auxiliary power.
The annual transatlantic race is part of the largest ocean sailing event in the world, attracting over 200 yachts each year. The race starts in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and covers 2,700 nautical miles, finishing in Rodney Bay St. Lucia. Nightlife, skippered by Tom Sperrey, won the RORC IRC Racing Division of ARC 2009 and received their winner’s trophy in front of 800 people at the prize giving ceremony.
Nightlife had on board an EFOY 1600 methanol fuel cell. The unit generated 65W of electricity to power the navigation, computer and communications equipment.
“After being at sea for 16 days, we were absolutely delighted to reach St. Lucia and discover we had won the race,” said Tom Sperrey. “The fuel cell performed incredibly well, even under the hostile conditions of the mid-Atlantic. It’s perfect for sailing as it provided us with a quiet, clean, compact and reliable source of power that lasted for the whole trip. There isn’t much equipment on a boat that doesn’t require maintenance, but we didn’t have to worry about the fuel cell. Using the fuel cell for the communications equipment meant that we didn’t have to keep powering up the boat’s diesel engine to re-charge the batteries.”
City Electrical Factors offers the best choice through UPS Systems
CEF’s service delivery and product range make it the UK’s leading provider of electrical equipment. It is because the company has to meet the needs of so many different customer enquiries that it aligns itself with market-leading suppliers like UPS Systems, to make sure it can offer the best available products.
Why UPS Systems?
UPS Systems is well-equipped to satisfy the standby power requirements of City Electrical Factors’ (CEF) customers, and has been doing so since 2004. It is the UK’s largest independent supplier of standby power solutions, and its comprehensive catalogue includes products from all of world’s leading manufacturers.
Although UPS Systems has close relationships with these manufacturers, its independence means that it can offer impartial technical advice on the products that it sells.
UPS Systems is already working closely with several CEF branches, who value its expertise; some CEF employees treat it as a member of their own team. Even branches that have a direct relationship with a UPS manufacturer often call upon UPS Systems in the first instance to provide a suitable standby power solution.
“UPS Systems can easily source a variety of different items from several leading manufacturers ensuring their solution is perfect for our clients’ requirements,” says Matt Crab at the CEF Fulham Branch. “There are cheaper suppliers, but UPS Systems are always so helpful – they bend over backwards to help meet our customers’ needs. Their experience, quick delivery times and high stock levels are exceptional and these are all benefits that we can pass onto our customers.”
Sales support
UPS Systems is more than a supplier and its customer service reaches far beyond the point of sale. Its after-sales support ensures questions or additional requirements are dealt with quickly and effectively.
UPS Systems Account Manager Gill Wood says, “We receive many calls from CEF branches requesting product information and sales quotes. Often they will ask us to speak directly with their customers so we can fully understand their requirements and provide the best possible solution.”
Extensive product portfolio
UPS Systems’ product portfolio ranges from the smallest UPS battery to the largest available UPS or fuel cell. We offer everything from cables to complete project management,” says Gill. “We have spent time building up an extensive product catalogue so that no order can ever be too big or too small. As an independent supplier, we source our range from the leading manufacturers, enabling us to offer the best-quality solution to fulfil their needs.”
Sales delivery
CEF promises its customers delivery of stock within one to two days. For its suppliers, this means that quick turnaround times are essential. UPS Systems has a vast network of suppliers, which ensure they are always able to deliver a timely and professional service to CEF, which in turn allows them to meet their high service standards.
Market leaders
“UPS Systems are a valued supplier,” says Mark Gerrish, Manager of the CEF Ashford Branch. “Their customer service is great and we’ve never had any problems. When we order something, they call to check we’ve received the item and it meets our requirements. They really go out of their way to look after us.”
UPS Systems supplies EFOY Fuel Cell "Demonstration Unit" to Islington Borough Council.
UPS Systems plc has supplied a methanol fuel cell to Islington Borough Council for use in its demonstration project promoting the benefits of clean energy technology. The unit will be on display in the Council’s foyer and at several events across London from March.
Islington Borough Council is committed to reducing carbon emissions and is one of London’s leading boroughs councils for using and promoting green and clean power. Having already acquired a fleet of electric cars and a wind turbine the Council is now adding a fuel cell to its repertoire of clean energy initiatives.
UPS Systems is supplying an EFOY 1600 methanol fuel cell encased in ‘Pro-Cube’ housing as well as an inverter and additional methanol canister. The benefits of using the EFOY 1600 fuel cell include delivering clean energy and guaranteed power. At just 7kg it is lightweight and compact making it easier to transport between several locations and is virtually silent when running so it doesn’t disturb you. EFOY 1600 fuel cells are intended solely for recreational and leisure purposes providing 1600 watt hours per day for household and office appliances.
Zoë Hatherly, Sustainability Officer at Islington Borough Council said, “We were keen to use fuel cells instead of conventional power because they offer a clean energy solution. The fuel cell will be on display in several locations across London and will be made available to anyone in the Council to use so they can benefit from its clean credentials to reduce their carbon emissions and improve air quality. It will also be an educational tool so we can all learn about the benefits of implementing fuel cell technology. UPS Systems has been very helpful in giving us advice on the available options and demonstrating the unit to us. If the project is a success, our long-term plan is to invest in fuel cells for a widespread roll out for standby power.”
Tom Sperrey, Managing Director of UPS Systems commented, “When Zoë first approached us at the London Hydrogen Partnership Showcase last November, we were happy to discuss her requirements and knew instinctively which fuel cell would best meet her needs. We are eager to get this project underway and ensure its success so we can help facilitate a wider roll-out across the borough. We are confident that together we can promote the value of fuel cells as part of a clean energy initiative so more people can benefit from implementing this innovative technology.”
The project is funded by Transport for London through the Council’s ‘Local Implementation Plan’ and will be first on display on the 20th March at the Islington Climate Change Partnership’s Energy Survey Workshop.
UPS Systems provides fuel cells for the UK’s largest fuel cell telemetry installation
UPS Systems has provided 20 methanol fuel cells to Interserve Project Services who will install them into the UK’s largest fuel cell telemetry project. Severn Trent Water will use the equipment to monitor and control water flow and alarm signals within an aqueduct that serves the Elan Valley Reservoir.
The Elan Valley Reservoir is vital for supplying water to the West Midlands. The 73-mile long stretch of man-made lakes and reservoirs in Powys, Mid Wales has a potential capacity of 99,500 mega litres of water and supplies over a third of Severn Trent’s total capacity.
Due to the aqueduct’s remote location, using renewable energy sources is not feasible; the only viable option is to install fuel cells. Methanol fuel cells were chosen because they are small, quiet units which can generate enough energy to power the telemetry equipment whilst leaving the surrounding area undisturbed, regardless of sun or wind conditions.
Interserve Project Services is installing eight EFOY Pro 600 fuel cells to integrate with the telemetry equipment in specially designed kiosks, and 11 EFOY Pro 600 Cube units. The ProCube casing enables the unit to be self-sufficient. It incorporates a weatherproof box making it suitable for installation in existing buildings and well-houses that are adjacent to the aqueduct. The final Pro 600 unit is being kept in reserve.
Each unit has a 28 litre canister of methanol which is sufficient to power the equipment 24 hours a day for a minimum of 300 days.
Tom Sperrey, Managing Director at UPS Systems commented: “We are pleased to be able to announce our newest fuel cell project, especially because it’s a telemetry application. Fuel cells are ideal in this particular setting because the units are required for remote locations where access to alternative power sources is difficult to obtain. We are already demonstrating the benefits of fuel cells for portable applications with npower renewables. This project will showcase their suitability for stationary installations, and show how fuel cells are sometimes a better and more effective option to fulfil organisations’ remote power requirements.”
Interserve Project Services Project Manager, Mick Brown remarked: “Thanks to the help of UPS in working with us to our overall solution. We have been able to achieve an innovative solution by providing a constant and cost effective power source in remote locations to one of our key clients”
Fuel cells inspire young ‘Champions of Enterprise’
A group of winning students has selected UPS Systems plc as the best company to invest in at the end of a ‘Champions of Enterprise’ competition. The students awarded the business an imaginary £100,000 to further its work in fuel cell technology.
The Dragon’s Den style challenge is the brainchild of the Education Business Partnership West Berkshire and the Greenham Common Trust and has been running within the region for the last five years. During this period over 3,000 year 12 students from eight schools have taken part.
Designed to give an understanding into the various elements that go into running a successful business, the competition gives students the opportunity to develop new skills such as planning, organisation, communication, decision making and teamwork to help prepare them for the future careers.
Three local companies pitched to the students for the imaginary £100,000 investment giving details of what they would do with the money. Winning company UPS Systems presented its work with fuel cells, explaining that it would use the money to fund a public relations campaign to raise awareness of this technology, promoting the benefits fuel cells offer and why they are important for sustainable energy.
The competition saw eight schools from throughout West Berkshire battle it out to be crowned the ‘Champion of Champions’ at the prize giving ceremony at Newbury Race Course in an event which attracted over 150 people including Councillor Phil Barnett, Mayor of Newbury. The winning students from the Willink School chose UPS Systems because of its dedication to promoting fuel cell technology and the value they would add to future energy provision.
Karen Sperrey, Operations Director at UPS Systems said, “Obviously we are extremely happy that the students chose UPS Systems to invest in. They fully understood the potential of fuel cell technology to provide clean and reliable energy, and even simulated a power cut in the middle of their presentation to reinforce the benefits of using this technology. We have been involved with the Champions of Enterprise competition for several years but this is the first time we have been asked to pitch for the imaginary £100,000 investment. It’s a great competition because it gets the students involved in real business situations and we are keen to support the students’ development in helping them to acquire new skills.”
Lesley Yates, Project Officer at the Education Business Partnership West Berkshire commented, “We are very grateful to UPS Systems for their involvement in the Champions of Enterprise Programme and especially for allowing over 800 students to scrutinise their business! Without companies like UPS Systems, this event would not be possible and it is such a great opportunity for the students to understand the various elements that go into running a successful business. The enterprise skills learnt by the students during Champions of Enterprise are key life skills and invaluable to their future careers.”
UPS Systems donates £1,200 to Cancer Research UK
After a year of hard work and fundraising by UPS Systems staff and their families UPS Systems have donated £1200 to our chosen charity for the year, Cancer Research.
Since nominating the charity as our good cause for 2009, staff have run half-marathons, made no-smoking pledges, taken part in raffles and jeans-to-work days, and given generously at collection points around our offices.
“We are delighted to receive the cheque from UPS Systems and would like to thank them for supporting our charity over the last year,” said Susan Mayes, Treasurer of the Hungerford Friends of Cancer Research UK. “The work that the charity undertakes is so important and we are grateful for all donations as they bring us one step closer to helping us achieve our goal of beating cancer.”
Damian Brooks, Charity Coordinator, UPS Systems, commented, “As an organisation we actively look for ways to support our local community. We are pleased to be able to support our local branch of such an important charity.”
Karen Sperrey, Operations Director, UPS Systems, said, “It is always a shock when you realise how many people that you meet every day have been affected either directly or indirectly by cancer, so it is wonderful that we can help by contributing to Cancer Research UK. Our staff have worked really hard and should be very proud of the final amount they have managed to raise.”
