Gate 7 staff keep their cool

Sep 14 2007 By The Journal

AS one of the North-East’s leading exporters, Queen’s Award winners and the current NECC Export Business of the Year, business life couldn’t look much better for Gateshead-based manufacturing company Gate 7.

However, when the company employed a specialist heating, cooling and ventilating company to solve its temperature issues, life for its employees has improved even more recently.

A lack of cooling system and the necessity to keep factory doors open to enable ventilation at the company’s Team Valley manufacturing plant had meant that production staff members were subjected to unstable temperatures and regular influxes of dust and debris from outside.

As a manufacturer of decals for industrial machinery, a dust-free, temperature controlled environment is important to the company to ensure the products the company produces are of top quality.

The company prides itself on the quality of its products as well as its commitment to reducing carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere.

Keith Wickham, managing director, said: “As a responsible company, the Gate 7 management team is committed to reducing the amount of CO2 we contribute to overall emissions.

"The company needed an efficient, environmentally friendly and cost-effective cooling system to enable the production staff to control the heat and humidity of the factory
area – both for their own working environment and for the quality of the products.”

Enright Engineering Services is a leading provider of energy efficient heating, cooling and ventilation solutions to industrial and commercial customers in the North-East.

As specialists in energy efficient systems Enright Engineering Services recognised that an evaporative cooling system was the ideal solution for the temperature control problems.

“This system has a very economic operating base, using just one tenth of the energy
necessary for traditional air conditioning systems,” said Jason Enright of Enright
Engineering Services.

“This means that the system, while being incredibly effective at managing temperature levels, also produces 90% less CO2 emissions than other systems – cost-effective and energy-efficient.”

Since installing the evaporative cooling system during May 2007, Gate 7 has experienced a dramatic change in the working environment for factory workers. In addition, overseas customers visiting the factory on Princes Way have been impressed by the company’s commitment to employee welfare and product quality.

“We are absolutely delighted with the new cooling system and with Enright Engineering’s handling of the installation,” said Mr Wickham.

“Despite the major nature of the installation there was almost no disruption to our
production. As Enright Engineering Services also installed and continue to maintain the factory’s heating system the production staff members now have total heat, humidity and cooling control and are experiencing a much improved working environment.”