Kempston Controls News Archives - Kempston News | Specialist electrical and electronic components news

Kempston Controls Manufacturing celebrates being granted Made in Britain membership

Posted on January 14, 2022 by Joe Shipton

Kempston Controls Manufacturing has been accredited as a member of Made in Britain. Kempston Controls Manufacturing’s adoption of the official, protected mark will help buyers recognise its products as good quality, great value and British-made.

The mark also lets customers know that Kempston Controls Manufacturing is a trusted company that values transparency, sustainability and ethical business practices. Consumers are increasingly recognising the Made in Britain mark as a mark of confidence.

The ‘Made in Britain’ organisation brings with it the pride it implies, from a time when British products were revered the world over, we want this traditional way of thinking to continue and make people proud to purchase these products which in turn support the local economy and see it flourish.

John Pearce, chief executive of Made in Britain said: “We’re delighted that Kempston Controls Manufacturing has joined the community of more than 1200 British manufacturers. The more the mark is used and seen, the more it is recognised as a mark of quality. In addition to getting access to the official protected mark, Kempston Controls Manufacturing will also start to enjoy the many other benefits membership to Made in Britain brings, including support in sales, marketing, PR/comms and export. We look forward to watching Kempston Controls Manufacturing grow with our help and support.”

View our Made In Britain profile here.

Learn more about MEM here.

Learn more about our acquisition of MEM here.

Kempston Controls Completes Acquisition of MEM from Eaton Electrical

Posted on December 15, 2021 by Joe Shipton

Kempston Controls is pleased to announce a classic British brand will return to UK ownership with our acquisition of MEM (Midland Electrical Manufacturing). The deal, completed on the 1^st December 2021 includes Eaton’s MEM MEMSHIELD 1 & 2 and Cranes range. The aim is to continue MEM’s history of innovation by developing, manufacturing, and selling these dependable product ranges for years to come.

Richard Regan, Group Managing Director of Kempston Controls, said: “This is a great acquisition for Kempston Controls & we’re very excited to continue the development of MEM as a leading UK manufacturer.”

About MEM (Midland Electrical Manufacturing)

Founded in Birmingham 1908 by Walter Barber, MEM initially found success designing and manufacturing switch & fuse gear and in 1927 began to produce products such as the ‘Ironclad’ switch range and fuse gear to meet the demands of a rapidly modernising industry.

Constantly innovating, MEM was one of the first companies to introduce cartridge fuses, and by the early 1960s, their range of products included switches, fuses, motor control gear, electric fires, and convectors. In the early 60s, MEM opened a new factory in Holyhead, Anglesey, and announced their first range of Miniature Circuit Breakers, a product line that they would become famous for.

In 1971, Delta Metal Co. acquired MEM and consolidated several divisions under the MEM brand, during the early noughties the electrical division of Delta, including MEM, was acquired by the Eaton Corporation who continued with the company’s tradition of providing world-leading products.

Going Forward

With the support of Kempston Controls’ technical department and sales teams, MEM will continue to innovate, manufacture, and sell products for many years to come, catering to the needs of an ever-growing industrial and commercial marketplace that demands quality products at the best possible price.

The acquisition of MEM creates Kempston Controls (Manufacturing), a new division in the Midland Automation Group that will focus on the development of new & innovative products.

Learn More About MEM Learn More About Cranes

Why we don’t do Black Friday sales

Posted on November 19, 2021 by Joe Shipton

With Black Friday a few days away & Cyber Monday a few days later, we won’t be having a sale on either day.

Each year we see more and more brands taking advantage of the event, with most turning it from a single day to a full week of discounts and sales. But trust us, despite the flood of emails that you’ll get, 99% of the “deals” aren’t worth it.

So, no, this year we won’t be creating deals that create the illusion of savings to trick you into buying.

But why?

With Kempston Controls, you get the best price on the day, any day.

Here at Kempston Controls you, our customers, are at the heart of everything we do and with that in mind, we want to offer you the best deal all year round. The nature of our business is so varying that you could be buying for a new project, or simply replacing a part – you can’t decide when a part will break down, so why should we decide when you can get the best price we can offer.

We’re not out there to trick you.

A WHICH review in 2019 found that 85% of prices were the same price or cheaper before Black Friday¹. The last thing we want to do is say that all brands are doing the same things, but it would go against our brand values to undermine you, our customers, like that. You can shop with us all 24 hours a day, 365 days a year with the confidence that you’re getting the best price we can offer.

Staff Burnout

Our last reason actually isn’t to do with our customers, it’s to do with us. The amount of pressure that a large sale event like Black Friday creates is astonishing! From the creative teams piecing together the marketing jigsaw to the IT teams preparing and maintaining the systems all the way to the guys on the front line processing your orders and queries non-stop – it’s honestly exhausting.

So, to take a massive weight off of the team’s shoulders, Black Friday once again won’t feature in the Kempston Controls ecosystem.

Is there an alternative?

Now don’t worry, all our products and services are still available all day, every day and we’ll still offer you the best price we can. Our friendly team is around to answer all your questions and our website is available so you can access live-stock 24/7.

But in case you’re looking for another way to view Black Friday, take a look at Giving Tuesday where you can donate money for a purpose, not just spend money on more junk.

¹ https://www.which.co.uk/news/2020/11/85-of-black-friday-products-arent-the-cheapest-theyve-ever-been/

In Control – The Kempston HVAC & Process Control Team

Posted on June 21, 2021 by Rick Morgan

Kempston Controls has an enviable reputation amongst it peers for the provision of high-quality products from world leading brands at the best possible prices, all with expedited delivery.

Controlling the Process

To add yet more strings to our bow the newly created HVAC & Process Control Team brings decades of relevant industrial expertise to help provide you with technical product solutions for your next installation or retrofitting project.

Knowing What Works

With Kempston Controls extensive HVAC and control product offering this experienced team knows what works and backed with competitive pricing, exceptional stock levels and exemplary service they have the foundation to help serve you better.

Continually updated and trained by leading manufacturers in the latest design and product innovations, the Process Control Team can source top brand products along with the best value alternatives to suit your needs and pricing requirements.

Extensive HVAC Product Knowledge

The HVAC & Process Controls Team are here to help you choose the right product from a vast range of stocked items including:

Sensors
Metering
Valves and actuators
Level Detection devices
Pressure Sensors and Switches
Thermostats
Heating Controls
Flow Devices

Supplied from a breadth of leading manufacturers including – ABB, BURKERT, Danfoss, Danfoss Heating, Endress & Hauser, Gems, Honeywell, Honeywell FEMA, Schneider Process, SICK and Siemens.

This dedicated team can provide Service and Facilities Management companies with commercial spares as well as Building Controls and BMS peripheral equipment to System Integrators and Mechanical Contractors.

Enquire Now

Meet the HVAC and Process Control Team!

Sandeep Sarpal

Sandeep became involved in the HVAC industry back in 2008, when he joined a leading manufacturer of gas valves, pressure switches, flow sensors, valve actuators, building controls and other control products. Rising rapidly through the ranks from Technical Sales to Sales Manager and Product Champion, he joined Kempston Controls in 2020 as a Commercial Manager of the Process Division.

Paul Earl

Paul’s career began a few decades ago with a 4-year Electronics Apprenticeship which then led to 20 years of service in various roles in the electronics and radio & satellite communications industry. A change of pace led to Paul working as an electrician for a small local building company for a while and then on to Danfoss, joining their heating technical support team for a number of years. Paul has been with Kempton Controls since 2018 working within the technical team.

Luciano Piccini

With an Electrical Engineering BSc degree, Luciano has been engaged with the industrial sector his whole career in a variety of roles and functions: Account, Regional, National and Product, Project, Plant & Production Manager and Sales and Marketing Consultant roles. Providing technical and commercial support for a range of products including Process industries field instrumentation; Control (DCS/PLC), Scada, F&G, ESD, EMS systems; Analytical systems, VSDs, Power Houses (Engineered packaged solutions). At the beginning of his career Luciano was involved with electronic components, ERP systems and embedded electronic system design (HW+SW).

Comprehensive Support
All of this backed up with comprehensive technical support before during and after the installation process to help you easily integrate your chosen HVAC & Process Control hardware into your system and for any upgrades you might need! Call them today on +44 (0) 1933 411 411, email them at process@kempstoncontrols.co.uk or use the enquiry from to discuss your requirements.

Have you seen this?

Thermal Solutions Team

Thermal Solutions – the Team with the Answers to your Thermal Installation Issues

Posted on January 26, 2021 by Rick Morgan

Kempston Controls, one of the United Kingdom’s leading supplier of Industrial Automation and Control Products, has expanded its dedicated customer service technical teams even further!

Say hello to the new Thermal Solutions team!
This new team consists of highly skilled engineers with decades of Industrial Process Heating and Thermal Control installation experience behind them. Versatile, they provide problem-solving solutions, system integration for all manner of industrial and commercial applications. Innovative burner system solutions and product sourcing for obsolete products are just some of the services on offer. This team has done it all and was conceived to help Industrial and Commercial customers source the perfect heating and cooling products for their latest or existing installation.

Ideal Thermal Solutions

The Thermal Solution team has all the answers to your Thermal Product conundrums. They can perform site surveys to identify what products are needed and to help you improve the efficiency and operation of your existing or pending installations. But that’s not all; this team can also help with equipment configuration, set-up and programming and can even coordinate the site installation of the new hardware.

• Site Survey to identify & supply critical burner spares.
• Identification of obsolete / non-compliant hardware.
• Selection/Configuration & programming of new hardware
• Identify opportunities for heat recovery and efficiency improvements
• Supply replacement burners to meet the required regulations (e.g. EN746-2 / NFPA-86)
• Coordinate the site installation of new hardware

They can help you choose the right Burner from all the leading brands including Eclipse, Maxon, Hauck and more. What components are the best for your installation based upon your application and criteria? They can specify isolation valves, filters, shut-off valves, pressure switches and more. A team to rely on, the Thermal Solutions team can also provide customers with a fully prepared fuel and air control scheme, complete with a cross-referenced parts list and quotation.

• Burner selection for all applications (Eclipse / Maxon / Hauck / Kromschröder)
• Component selection based on application & operating criteria (Isolation Valves, Filters, Pressure Regulators, Safety Shut-off valves, Control Valves, Pressure Switches)
• Preparation of a Fuel & Air control scheme with cross-referenced parts list & quotation.
• Selection of the latest Flame Monitoring & Burner Control Units (Kromschröder/Honeywell/Siemens/Karl Dungs)
• Selection of heat recovery equipment: Recuperators / Air-Air Heat Exchangers / Self-Recuperative Burners

Outstanding Brand Access
With Kempston Controls comprehensive product portfolio providing the Thermal Solutions team with access to just about every possible product combination from all the World’s leading brands, they can source it all.

Brands Include:
• ASCO
• DUNGS
• HONEYWELL KROMSCHRODER
• HONEYWELL ECLIPSE
• HONEYWELL HAUCK
• HONEYWELL MAXON
• MSA SAFETY
• THERMOCOAX – ISOPAD
• SIEMENS BURNER PRODUCTS

Kempston Controls is here to support you every step of the way through your Thermal Solution installation, from inception to installation. Give us a call on +44 (0) 1933 411 411 or email the team directly at thermalsolutions@kempstoncontrols.co.uk today! We look forward to hearing from you!

Have you Seen These Blogs?

Meet the new team!

HVAC Sensor Solutions

Avro Vulcan & Kempston Controls Take To The Sky

Posted on November 11, 2020 by Joe Shipton

At the start of the year, Kempston Controls partnered with Eaton to provide the Vulcan to the Sky Trust with a donation of rare fuses which are essential to keep Vulcan XH558 airworthy. The Bussmann 059-0125 and 011-9127 fuses are used in the flying control motor circuits and are susceptible to fatigue due to the cycling of the motors driving the hydraulic pumps that drive the flying control surfaces.

About the Vulcan To The Sky Trust

Vulcan To The Sky Trust is a charitable organisation who in 2005 began to restore the retired Vulcan XH558 delta-winged bomber, and in 2007, after more than 14 years of being grounded, completed three successful test flights. In 2008, after another successful test flight, the Civil Aviation Authority granted permission for Vulcan XH558 to perform at the RAF Waddington Air show.

In early 2015 the trust announced that the current 2015 flying season would be it’s last. Although the goal was to keep the Vulcan flying for a few more years, at the start of 2015 the ‘technical authorities’ (BAE Systems, Marshall Aerospace & Defence Group and Rolls-Royce) legally required to support the airworthiness of the Vulcan announced the withdrawal of their support – XH558 was forced to cease flying in October 2015. Although the aircraft was safe to fly, the structure and systems were then more than 10% beyond the flying hours of any other Vulcan and the knowledge base of Vulcan-era technologies within the technical authorities was deemed to have fallen too far to support the aircraft.

Since grounding Vulcan XH558 the Trust has established an education programme which works closely with schools, colleges and other organisations. While still being kept airworthy and capable of accelerating dramatically along the runway, the Vulcan XH558 is being used to inspire and educate new generations of young people.

About the Avro Vulcan XH558

Vulcan XH558 is a jet-powered delta-winged strategic nuclear bomber operated, when in service, by the Royal Air Force during the Cold War. An iconic example of British engineering with XH558 being the last Vulcan in service until 1984 when it was retired. With an impressive list of technical achievements including being the first successful large delta wing aircraft, leading directly to Concorde and the Space Shuttle, XH588 could deliver performance and agility so close to a jet fighter’s that it was given a fighter-style control column.

The XH558 first flew in 1960, and was one of the few Vulcan models converted for a maritime reconnaissance role in 1973, and then as an air-to-air refuelling tanker in 1982. In 1984, once withdrawn, it continued with the RAF’s Vulcan Display Flight, performing until 1992.

In 1993 it was sold to C Walton Ltd who used it for ground-based displays at their Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome in Leicestershire until 1999. Through a combination of public donations and lottery funding, it was restored to fully functional condition by the Vulcan To The Sky Trust, who returned it to flight on 18 October 2007.

To learn more about Avro Vulcan XH558 & their current project, Operation Safeguard to build a hanger and exhibition hall, head to their website: vulcantothesky.org.

Kempston Controls is a leading distributor of electrical process control and automation products and electronic components with a world-leading reputation for stock, service, competitive pricing and next-day delivery. Our diverse product portfolio includes; proximity and motion sensors, humidity and temperature sensor data loggers, fuses, light curtains, electrical connectors, actuators, safety relays, panel meters, emergency stops and much more.

Category: Kempston Controls News