?November 2010

New chief executive welcomed by AIS

At the end of August AIS appointed David Frise as its new chief executive. David is responsible for the development and implementation of the association's long and short term strategies for both members and industry, maintaining high profile representation and lobbying key stakeholders both outside and within the membership. Now in his third month, David is thoroughly enjoying his new role. 'I have been really impressed with the high standards of design and quality of workmanship I have seen from member companies,' he comments. 'Although times are very tough, members are clearly resourceful and professional in their approach to finding new markets and clients. Our aim at AIS is to continue to promote these high standards, so that the AIS logo is recognised as a mark of competence and quality by as many clients and specifiers as possible. At the same time we will be ensuring that we continue to fight for fair payment and the end to retentions.' David began his career in the Royal Navy, joining the submarine service after graduating from naval college. After leaving

Swift Horsman wins AIS Best Practice Awards

AIS contractor member Swift Horsman triumphed at this years AIS Best Practice Awards, winning both the AIS Eco Innovation and Product Innovation Award for its Mediwall panel - an engineered, structurally self supporting wall panel made from recycled plastics sourced from the consumer waste stream. The AIS Best Practice Awards are judged by a panel of experts from relevant industry fields who looked for examples of successful implementation of innovative environmental solutions, new products, technologies, or techniques. Darren Ross-Dreher, technical director at Gensler's Work Studio and lead judge of the Product Innovation Award panel, presented the awards at the AIS Conference in Liverpool on 16 October. Commenting on Mediwall Darren said: 'This high quality submission puts Swift Horsman at the forefront of innovative offsite manufacturing processes. It reduces raw material consumption, improves quality, and has beneficial programme implications.' the services, he founded and ran for 20 years a group of companies including a specialist contractor, a building services consultancy and a renewable energy specialist. He went on to be general manager for Bailey Energy when his company was bought by NG Bailey. In June this year David took up a role as board member for Summit Skills, the Sector Skills Council for building services engineering. He is a regular speaker on Speaking specifically about its environmental credentials, Peter Thomas of PT Environmental, who headed the Eco Innovation Award panel said: 'Designing the product to use recycled materials and producing a product that can itself be recycled at the end of its life has enhanced its resource efficiency. This is further improved by the use of offsite assembly which minimises waste and time. The use of water saving technologies and the production of units with easily cleaned surfaces addresses the issue of resource consumption during the use phase. 'In addition, the product addresses the social aspect of sustainability as it is designed to be sustainability issues, and has been a member of the Strategic Forum for Construction SME Group. He was founding chairman of the M&E Sustainability initiative between the Electrical Contractors Association (ECA) and Heating and Ventilating Contractors© Association (HVCA). David lives in London. He has an MBA from Bath university and is a member of the Chartered Management Institute. www.ais-interiors.org.uk installed and demounted by semi skilled labour, providing employment locally to the construction site and avoiding the need for skilled labour to be transported into the area.' Matthew Roberts (pictured left), business development director at Swift Horsman, said: 'Receiving both awards really was both a surprise and a pleasure. What makes these awards so very special is that they are from our industry peer group. It is true recognition that the investment in this product and other eco / offsite products and technology is recognised and embraced. We would like to thank everyone involved and hope that we have the same success next year.' In the Product Innovation category the judges also highly commended Astec Projects' mobile glass installer. Affectionately known as MOGLI, this product was designed to minimise the handling of large panes of glass. Darren said: 'This product was borne out of necessity, in response to a desire by the design team to achieve the optimum glazed solution for the shop fronts. It brings together known technology in a smart and compact piece of machinery and is a perfect example of a product whose whole is greater than the sum of its parts.' www.swifthorsman.co.uk MEMCOM © NEWSLETTER OF THE YEAR© 2010

ASSOCIATION OF INTERIOR SPECIALISTS

AIS at Surface Design

AIS is collaborating with RIBA London to deliver a CPD session focusing on acoustics, and in particular material and behavioural considerations, at the Surface Design Show next year. The event, which is now in its eighth year, will be held on 15 to 17 February at the Business Design Centre in north London and provides exterior and interior design solutions to building design. AIS will also be exhibiting, presenting its RIBA approved CPD 'A Guide to Partitions' and previewing its new guide to office acoustics, which is currently in production. www.surfacedesignshow.com FEATURING If it moves, deduct it! AIS Conference Reviewing opportunities Can we fix it? Yes, we can! ...and more!x www.ais-interiors.org.uk

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