Two-Stage Scrubbing System Installation

Forbes have recently completed the design, build, installation and commissioning of a two-stage scrubbing system to reduce emissions from industrial waste processing. The system included two packed towers in series, recirculation pumps & pipework, chemical dosing equipment, extract fan, discharge stack, control instrumentation & control panels. Forbes also fabricated and installed ducting to join the new scrubbers to the client’s process by connecting to existing ductwork.

With the feedstock to the process being different from day to day, the off-gasses from the process are also varied.  Therefore, it was important to allow operating flexibility, allowing for different chemicals to be used as a scrubbing medium to target as many contaminants as possible. Each scrubber was manufactured using materials compatible with a number of common scrubbing liquors (NaOH, NaOCl, H₂SO₄ & H₂O₂) and the control system was designed such that the two scrubbers could operate with a combination of any of these scrubbing liquors, using an operator-friendly touch screen.

Both scrubbers were designed such that the effectiveness of scrubbing liquor can be automatically maintained, using pH or ORP (oxidation-reduction potential) monitoring and chemical addition via dosing pumps. An automated purge of the scrubber sumps was also included to minimize salt build-up in the systems.

One of our sitework teams recently completed the install of a new bunded Acid Tank and SB2 Fume Scrubber to replace the previous system, which we originally supplied 22 years ago. It was a smooth transition from old to new, and to quote the site manager overseeing the installation; “[I would] just like to say that the install guys did a cracking job over the last 3 days and nothing was too much trouble.”

We operate two proficient site teams who are out on sites up and down the country all day every day, completing installs, inspections and modifications to existing tanks. It’s a pleasure to be recognised for their hard work and dedication.

We offer a full range of ‘standard’ bunded tanks suitable for almost any chemical application, from 1500 litres up to in excess of 30,000 litres, known as our Minibulk and Minibulk Plus range.

 

Last month, Forbes successfully installed 2 x replacement Salt Saturators at a UK Water Treatment Works. The scope included removal of the old system to be replaced with two 25/20 Salt Saturators, complete with ladder and platforms to suit both Saturators giving access to necessary areas at high level.

Forbes manufactures a wide range of standard salt saturators designed to suit most customer requirements. These range from 100 kgs up to 130 tonnes salt recharge capacity, producing brine at up to 6,800 l/h of continuous supply and up to 9,500 l/h of short term demand.

The GRP vessels have a semi-translucent shell, incorporating UV stabilisers, allowing salt and water levels to be easily seen. All of our salt saturators can be fully approved to the stringent requirements of the WRAS (Water Regulations Advisory Scheme) where required.

Whatever the application, our experienced team can select a salt saturator to suit. Speak to our sales team to find our more.

Ahead of a hot weekend and peak demand, emergency repair work carried out by Forbes at a UK Water Treatment Works ensured service was resumed quickly and downtime was minimal.

Project Manager overseeing the work at the WTW expressed thanks to Forbes stating, “it has helped make a big challenge achievable”. Forbes’ prompt response to this urgent repair was well received.

Commended on our “approachable, informative, helpful and hardworking” operatives, Forbes philosophy to go above and beyond to assist our customers did not go unnoticed.

This month Forbes Technologies will be marking a very significant milestone. Our production facility in Kelso, Roxburghshire will be celebrating its golden anniversary.

It is nearly fifty years to the day since production was moved from Norfolk to The Scottish Borders after we outgrew our original facility.

Much has changed in the intervening years.

Over its five decade history the Kelso site has grown from 500m2 to 20,000m2. From the original one production unit, there are now five purpose-built factories.

The latest facility, an automated production plant for large capacity spiral wound thermoplastics tanks, was commissioned in 2013 and extended by a further 50% in 2017.

 

New Developments for 2020

To coincide with the golden anniversary, a significant £500,000 investment has been made in the shape of a new architect-designed office building.

This will replace the previous block which dated back to the 1980s and will ensure that the offices are as state-of-the-art as the production facilities.

The new building will be officially opened in early April 2020.

 

Long Service Awards

However despite the site’s growth in terms of size and technology, some things have stayed the same, the most notable being the loyalty and commitment of the Kelso staff.

In a case of shared golden anniversaries, one employee John Wight who started on 20 April 1970 will be retiring this year after nearly 50 years of service. The next longest serving employee, Frank Livingstone, joined in 1973.

Back in July a team of Forbes employee’s from both our Crimplesham head office and our Kelso manufacturing facility, took on the national 3 Peaks Challenge. This is a challenge which sees participants scale the 3 tallest peaks in the UK, Ben Nevis, Snowdon and Scafell Pike, and driving in between them, within 24 hours.

The event was a huge success, raising in excess of £ 5000.00, split between two charities, and with this comes a huge thanks to all customers, suppliers, friends, colleagues and family who very generously donated to enable us to raise such funds for these charities. The chosen charities were The YoungMinds Trust, in memory of a good friend and colleague Oliver Crockford, and the second being a charity local to our Kelso manufacturing facility, The Margaret Kerr Unit, at the Borders General Hospital.

The challenge itself was exceptionally tough, more so than the majority had imagined, despite many hours of training in the months leading up to the event. After completing the first two peaks, Ben Nevis and Scafell Pike in good times, trekking up and down Scafell Pike through the night, all was left to play for as the team set foot on Snowdon. Unfortunately, the weather took a turn for the worst part way up Snowdon, with visibility reduced to little more than a couple of metres in front, and bitter cold winds that at times were strong enough to knock you off balance – Far from ideal when walking along narrow paths with sheer drops one side! As a result, after reaching the peak, the team resorted to returning down a safer but much longer route on Snowdon. This unfortunately meant the challenge was completed a little over an hour outside the target of 24 hours, however all heads were held very high, as little more could’ve been done given the conditions.

Choosing a date to complete the challenge in the midst of one of the hottest summers many of participants had ever experienced, sunburn and heat stroke was more the concern leading up to the weekend, however this couldn’t have been further from reality.

A huge thank you again to those of you who donated!

Forbes Technologies Limited are proud to announce the successful transition to the new BSI standard: ISO 9001:2015, Forbes operate a Quality Management System accredited to this Standard.

Forbes were the first major manufacturer in their field to achieve registration of their Quality Management System to BS5750 Part 1 and, in 1994, and successfully made the transition to BS EN ISO 9001:1994 followed by BS EN ISO 9001:2008.

ISO 9001 is based on the idea of continual improvement. The most obvious benefit of the standard is being quality aware, however, our compliance with the standard also shows our customers that the products and services we provide repeatedly meet expectations. The new standard has a strong customer focus which helps to ensure customers get consistent, good quality products and services and that we are also meeting the necessary statutory and regulatory requirements.

We all strive towards continual company improvement and aspire to provide standards of excellence, efficiency and service that make Forbes a comfortable organisation to deal with.

A team from our manufacturing facility in Kelso will also being joining the team from our Crimplesham offices, in attempting to complete the 3 Peaks Challenge on 28^th July.

The team from Kelso will be raising money for the Margaret Kerr Unit at Borders General Hospital, which is an exceptionally good cause close to home. Over the years they have cared for many friends, family and colleagues of ours and are always there when called upon.

If you’d like to donate to this very good cause please visit the Just Giving donations page:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/gary-dempster2

They’d be very grateful for any donations you can make towards this cause! Check back for updates to see how they got on.

In memory of a good friend and colleague a team of Forbes employees will be taking on the national 3 Peaks challenge at the end of July. Yes, this is the dash up and down the 3 tallest peaks in the UK (Ben Nevis, Snowdon and Scaffel Pike) within 24 hours.

In doing so, they’ll be raising money for an excellent charity ‘The Young Minds Trust’. The Young Minds Trust aim is to help children and adolescents cope with mental health issues and support them whatever the challenges they may face. More children and young people than ever before are reaching out for help with their mental health, but for those who take that brave step, help is much too hard to find. The Trusts aim is to help change this.

If you’d like to donate to this very good cause please visit the Just Giving donations page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/forbes3peakschallenge
They’d be very grateful for any donations you can make towards this cause, and as a thankyou to our largest sponsor will proudly be displaying their company logo on a large flag at the top of each of the 3 peaks!

Check back for updates at the end of the July to see how they got on!

It is with deepest regret that we must announce the recent passing of much loved chairman and ‘father of the Forbes family’, Lee Forbes.

Well known to many as a passionate pioneer of plastics in the industry; Lee’s loss is felt deeply by many, including those who have worked with and for Forbes, and many customers and suppliers alike.

Lee’s battle with illness, although short, was time enough for him to prepare the company for his departure, and he was keen to impress a positive attitude upon friends and fellow directors, giving a clear instruction that it should be ‘business as usual’ at Forbes.

Not only was this typical of Lee’s stalwart approach – demonstrating the resilience earned in over 50 years at the helm – but when remembered along with his friendly, knowing smile, it is an instruction to carry on with pride, that brings comfort to the whole team, and will no doubt continue to do so for many years to come.