Since its foundation, Baltur has always set ambitious goals and reaching milestones like 70 years of business truly confirms the company’s strong position in the heating, air conditioning and climate technologies sector.

Our story began in 1950, when Ballanti and Tura founded Baltur Srl for the production of burners for domestic use. In 1960, the Fava family joined the company and went on to run the company for three generations.

Since then, we have expanded our product range and increased our offered services – striving towards creating a ‘one stop shop’ experience for customers that also achieves the best balance between performance and savings, comfort and sustainability, reliability and safety. In 2000 we consolidated our global presence with a new representative office in Shanghai, whilst still maintaining the quality of relationships and services typical of a local company – we love to call ourselves “a family that speaks all languages.”

Since 2007 we have made a number of other changes to optimise and perfect our production, reduce waste, and improve the performance of processes and services in order to manage energy in a way that is increasingly rational and effective – respecting both man and the environment around us.

Thanks to this process, with constant efforts and investments into bettering our research and development, in 2015 we made the largest test tube for burners in the world (EN 267 – 676 standard) and, in 2019, we installed the new R&D laboratory and the new Automated line for large burners.

Today, we are proud to say that we are able to satisfy both industry and the private sector through a complete range of products for comfort and air conditioning, low emission burners and the latest generation thermal systems, powered by clean energy. Baltur has been able to bring the originality of Italian style into its industrial and residential solutions, combining high-quality technology and design.

#WeAreBaltur #WeAreBaltur70

Visit our vast range of products on our website here!

 

The must-have nozzle calculator app from EOGB Energy Products Ltd is newly updated and ready to go!

Updated to work with the latest Android and Apple devices, the app is now available for purchase and download from the Google Play store and Apple store. With many added features providing extra information and support for engineers, the app also now incorporates both Danfoss and Delavan nozzle types.

It calculates burner and boiler outputs in kW based on pump pressure, nozzle size and boiler efficiency inputs, and all of the app functions can be made available offline – making it an essential tool for any oil engineer!

Martin Cooke, Technical Director at EOGB said: “We’re really happy to announce the update of our popular nozzle calculator app. It continues to be an essential tool for oil engineers and now we’ve been able to include Danfoss and Delavan type nozzles. Ultimately, we wanted to provide a solution to manual calculations and guesswork, saving engineers time and money.”

You can find the nozzle calculator app via these links:

Apple store: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/oil-nozzle-output-calculator/id496184302

Google Play store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.oilnozzle&hl=en_GB

Keep up to date with all of EOGB’s updates and offers by subscribing to our newsletters via the following link:

http://eepurl.com/gpvG31

Or, if you aren’t already, by following our social media channels:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EOGBburners

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EOGBtraining/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/eogb-energy-products-ltd/

2018 was a great year for gas safety awareness – with a BBC Watchdog episode that focused on exposing a ‘rogue trader’ who had been carrying out illegal gas work, and the profound advertising campaign later in the year that reminded consumers not to ‘cut corners’ when it comes to gas safety. Both of which drew important attention to the cause and spread vital advice for all.

Where are we on this issue in 2019? Well, it’s currently Gas Safety Awareness Week (16^th – 22^nd September) and various social media channels, websites and print media are sharing graphics, tips and further information to promote the cause for consumers and installers alike. Some of the key focuses for 2019 have been: the specific symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning (e.g. headaches, nausea, breathlessness, dizziness & loss of consciousness), and looking out for those that might be more vulnerable and need reminding of gas safety measures.

By law, all gas engineers must be on the Gas Safe Register (the official list of engineers and businesses who are legally approved to work on gas appliances. This list works towards preventing unsafe gas work, which can result in carbon monoxide poisoning, gas leaks, fires and explosions.

Make sure you’re following our social media pages to receive all of the latest tips and information for gas safety:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EOGBburners

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EOGBtraining/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/eogb-energy-products-ltd/

If you’re looking to learn more about what it takes to become a Gas Safe registered engineer, feel free to get in touch with our training team on 01480 477066 or via email at training@eogb.co.uk!

You can even sign up for our monthly Training newsletter, packed full of our latest course dates, relevant industry topics and even the odd dog picture! Subscribe here: http://eepurl.com/gpvG31

In the meantime, keep yourself and your customers safe by maintaining the most up to date knowledge and providing any useful resources via the Gas Safe Register website: https://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/

The standard came into effect on 30^th June 2019 and it sets a new scope, now solely for domestic applications with an output not exceeding 70kW and oil storage that does not exceed 3500 litres. The standard is to be applied to existing as well as new and replacement installations and calls for customers to be formally notified of any deficiencies found.

Non-domestic installations and installations at domestic premises in excess of 70kW should refer to BS 5410 Part 2 2018.

The BS 5410 Part 1 2019 also covers installations combusting liquid fuels for domestic heating and hot water purposes including kerosene, bio-liquids and kerosene/ bio-liquid blends such as OFTEC’s B30K. Below are some of key points of importance in the newly published standard:

• Clarifies the responsibilities of those installing appliances and systems as well as those undertaking service and commissioning works
• Clarifies what and how engineers are to advise domestic householders when problems are found or arise
• Recommends the fitting of CO detector alarms, including for existing installations
• Recommends HHIC guidance on condensate disposal pipework
• Recommends that installers should only fit integrally bunded oil storage tanks which are designed to permanently vent the bund to atmosphere
• Those oil tanks should have a minimum of 300mm clearance for visual inspection and 600mm for physical access
• All oil storage tanks should have secondary containment and where they do not, they should be identified as either a potential or immediate risk as appropriate. The customer should be formally notified, and a warning sticker affixed
• Oil supply lines should not contain plastic ancillary equipment such as filter bowls or deaerators
• Where oil supply lines are inaccessible or hidden, preventing visual inspection, they should be pressure tested at least once every 5 years
• The standard calls for service and commissioning engineers to have undergone manufacturer’s product type training before working on new technologies e.g. blue flame, two stage and modulating burners etc.
• It also calls for all engineers to be registered with an approved oil registration scheme, such as OFTEC.

Due to such significant and detailed changes to this new industry standard, we strongly recommend that those involved in the manufacturing, specification, design, installation, service and commissioning of oil-fired equipment should obtain a copy and review it against the products, goods and services they offer without delay.

This is the standard against which we in our industry are all measured and judged in the event of civil action or claim against us. The standard can be obtained from the BSI shop, follow the direct link here: https://shop.bsigroup.com/ProductDetail/?pid=000000000030359026

As a consequence of the publication of this new standard, EOGB have reviewed and included additional information and updates regarding BS 5410 to its OFTEC oil training courses. Additionally, and in response to engineers’ requests, EOGB have taken the unprecedented step of writing a dedicated new vaporising training package – increasing the training time available for the OFTEC 101 & 102 (W/D) vaporising course to enable more details to be covered.

This will also be available as a specific standalone training and assessment package for engineers who want to be up to date and do the best job they can for themselves and their customers.

To find out more, call us on 01480 477066 or email training@eogb.co.uk!

In order to comply with the RoHs (Regulation of hazardous substances) 2/3 directive, EOGB have re-designed their staple product – the X Series range (X400, X500 & X600) of burners. The new directive specifies amended maximum levels for the following 10 substances:

• Cadmium
• Lead
• Mercury
• Hexavalent Chromium
• Polybrominated Biphenyls 
• Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers
• Bis(2-Ethyllhexyl) phthalate
• Benzyl butyl phthalate
• Dibutyl phthalate 
• Diisobutyl phthalate 

EOGB have amended the production of their X Series burner to remove the use of Cadmium – primarily affecting the Photocell flame detector. All EOGB X Series burners will now have a Danfoss OBC control box and a Cadmium-free flame sensor. New manuals are now uploaded to our website for further technical details.    

What does this mean for manufacturers and distributors?

RoHs applies to the entire supply chain (including distributors and “all retailers”) and the notice period commenced on 15th November 2017 and would appear to cease at midnight on 21st July 2019. Manufacturers and distributors have a duty of care to ensure that any equipment they are supplying is fully compliant with RoHs legislation.

The deadline for compliance is 22nd July 2019, so all manufacturers need to ensure that all of their products adhere to the updated maximum levels. 

What does this mean for installers?

It’s worth being aware of this update, to ensure that the products that you’re installing comply with the new RoHs directive – not only to protect the accountability of your business but also to provide your customers with an informed service and the appropriate products. For further information, contact EOGB directly on 01480 477066.

Andrew Cooke, Trainee Technical Engineer at EOGB, looks back over the second year of his apprenticeship…

What particular skills and experience have you gained in your second year?

I have built on the skills established in my first year and added to my experience of working on different appliances in our R&D area, whilst also undertaking various training courses and shadowing colleagues on site visits.

One particularly enjoyable site visit, in Manchester, allowed me to work alongside the TGB 210 ME burners, with the ‘O2 and CO trim’, which reduces the amount of excess air and increases the overall combustion efficiency. It was great to see this technology in use as I had only ever worked on it during the Baltur training course in Bologna, Italy.

In terms of the training courses, my second year has involved gaining all of my OFTEC qualifications (101, 102, 105E, 600A), and the OFTEC 201 multi-stage commercial burner course. All of which were very thorough and beneficial to my work, and well-designed for people just starting out in the industry and engineers of all experience levels.

Check out EOGB’s diverse range of courses here!

How would you say each year has compared? Any major differences?

I’ve found my second year particularly enjoyable, as I’ve been able to get the most out of every opportunity and learning experience with my better understanding of products, processes and improved industry knowledge. I’ve been able to draw value from every aspect of the apprenticeship through self-study, R&D projects, site visits and the training courses too.

Any highlights? Things you really enjoyed?

I really enjoyed working on our fully modulating blue flame burner; testing it on different fuels, on different heat exchangers and testing various modifications on the burner. It was also great being able to test different OpenTherm controls – one of the key features on the Sapphire burner, and a defining feature for the future of the domestic heating industry. I have also been able to test different variants of heat exchangers ranging from 7 to 32 kW.

Has anything surprised you or exceeded expectation?

It’s been particularly great to work with EOGB’s versatile products – ranging from burners for domestic use, through to commercial, industrial and bespoke options like 12v or 24v versions of our X Series, made for specialist applications like road marking vehicles.

Want to see an example of our specialist work? Read the Hofmann Case Study here!

What’s next for you?

I’m going to be moving onto my Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Engineering Technical Support, which will involve working on SolidWorks, producing technical sales materials and moving on to complete all relevant ACS gas qualifications.

Any final advice for anyone thinking about an apprenticeship?

Attend as much training as possible, make the most of every learning opportunity and take the time to consider who you’re going to train with. Completing my apprenticeship with EOGB has given me an unique experience, working with a variety of innovative burners and incredibly knowledgeable people, that I wouldn’t have had access to elsewhere.

If you are a heating engineer looking to add another string to your bow, it’s worthwhile to consider working towards a Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) qualification.

With over four million homes in the UK currently classed as off-grid (according to statistics from the Office of Fair Trading), becoming LPG-qualified opens up a vast new market for qualified installers to tap into.

What’s more, LPG is a common choice for heating in residential park homes and caravans, providing a lucrative opportunity for engineers based in tourism-rich rural and coastal areas.

Once training is complete and you have successfully passed your assessment, you will be able to start offering your customers all the benefits of LPG straight away.

The major benefits of LPG extend to installers too. New or replacement LPG boilers are often simple to install, saving you valuable time on the job. Furthermore, many modern condensing gas boilers can simply be converted to LPG by using an inexpensive conversion kit.

At EOGB, we offer a range of bespoke training courses, including our popular CONGLP1 natural gas to LPG changeover course.

Suitable for engineers who already hold their domestic natural gas ACS qualification (CCN1), the three-day course comprises of practical tasks and assessments and covers installation and repair of domestic appliances, residential park homes and leisure accommodation vehicles.

Despite the benefits that LPG brings, it is still an area that is often overlooked by heating engineers. This provides a gap in the market for those engineers wishing to stay ahead of the curve.

If you are interested in developing your career with EOGB, call 01480 477066 (opt 3) or email training@eogb.co.uk.

EOGB Energy Products Ltd has announced the introduction of an extended warranty on its range of biogreen long-life flexible oil hoses for domestic oil burners.

Initially launched in 2009, the range has recently been refreshed with the introduction of new materials to further increase durability and future-proof the hoses against new and emerging trends in worldwide oil supply.

In line with the new and enhanced product properties, EOGB has increased the warranty from two to three years for all hoses purchased after 1^st April 2019.

The hoses are available in a range of sizes and are fully-compatible with all FAME based biofuel blends up to B100 (100%). They are also suitable for use with other rapeseed-based fuels as well as standard oils.

Martin Cooke, Technical Director at EOGB, said: “We have supplied over half a million biogreen flexible oil hoses to the industry since they were launched 10 years ago, and they have become the product of choice for many heating engineers due to their performance and reliability. We are so confident in the quality of the product, that we’re proud to extend the warranty to three years. This will add significant value for both installers and homeowners and, with the use of biofuel expected to increase, provide a future-proof solution.”

As well as bio-compatible hoses, EOGB also manufactures the popular X Series domestic oil burner range, which is suitable for use with kerosene, gas oil and FAME based biofuel blends up to B10 as standard.

Ian Fleming, Gas Technical Trainer at EOGB, tells us about his experience in the industry throughout the years…

So where did it all begin?

Throughout my childhood, I always approached everything with a technical mind. I was inclined to pull apart, inspect and attempt to fix every faulty electronic item in the house.

In 1993, I left school and immediately started a gas apprenticeship with British Gas, where both my parents had worked. I gained all my qualifications and have worked in the industry ever since!

How did you become a gas trainer?

In 2002, after working in the industry for many years, I felt it was time to give back and begin training the next generation of engineers. In 2013 I met Martin Cooke, Technical Director at EOGB. I subsequently helped setup the company’s flagship gas training and assessment centre and have been working with EOGB ever since.

Alongside working as a gas trainer, I also work as an on-site gas safety auditor and an incident investigator, which keeps me very busy.

What’s the best advice you have been given throughout your career?

The best advice I’ve ever been given is simply to never stop learning. The day you wake up and don’t learn anything is the day you should start to think about new career options.

Luckily for me, the gas industry is always evolving, so there’s always more to learn. I’m currently completing a master’s degree in engineering with the Open University, which I am really enjoying.

What advice would you give to those thinking about a career in gas?

My advice would be to enrol onto a course and get stuck in, you definitely won’t regret it. Gaining qualifications will open the door to a variety of work environments and roles, so you’ll never have to settle for just one job.

What’s more, the industry offers plenty of opportunities for professional development and diversification, making it a lucrative career choice.

How do you relax after a hard day at work?

When I’m not studying for my master’s degree, you’ll find me in my workshop at home, where I am currently renovating a 1940’s gas iron.

I’m also a corporate sponsor of the British School’s Museum in Hitchin, which is home to the last Monitorial schoolroom in the world. In the near future, I hope to donate my renovated gas iron to the museum for display.

One final question, what’s your favourite book?

Believe it or not, I’ve never read a fiction novel in my life. However, I do enjoy reading technical manuals and guides, particularly the Haynes car manuals.

I remember reading my first Haynes manual back in the 1990s, when I passed my driving test and bought my first car – a Volkswagen Golf.

Boilers and burners play a key role in providing heating and hot water for commercial buildings, as well as being a critical component of  industrial process applications. However, managing sequencing and varying operating modes can present complex challenges.

Therefore, Programmable logic controllers (PLCs) are often used in heat applications to improve efficiency and lower operating costs.

Although first introduced in the 1960’s, PLC systems have evolved rapidly over the years to offer improved features such as greater programming flexibility, smaller sized units and integrated wireless operation.

With PLCs continuing to develop at a rapid pace, and being combined with technology such as The Internet of Things (IoT), Radio-frequency identification (RFID) and Augmented Reality (AR), we take a look at what a ‘heating system of the future’ could look like…

The Internet of Things (IoT)

The IoT is the collective term for equipment, gadgets and components that produce data whilst connected to the internet and share this data with other devices (or humans) in real-time.

Increasingly many domestic, commercial and industrial components are connected via the internet or closed ‘intranet’. Systems such as Genius Hub can replace traditional heating control devices such as thermostats and radiator valves via a wireless connection, gathering data and saving energy in the process.

Radio-frequency identification (RFID)

RFID is the use of radio waves to identify, track and interact with information stored on a tag. An RFID tag can be assigned to items in a wide range of applications including retail supply chains and banking such as contactless payment cards.

For heating, a typical application is on the production of components for HVAC equipment. The tag stores the history of the job materials and equipment in addition to spare part numbers, maintenance and troubleshooting information.

Augmented Reality

Augmented Reality (AR) is the integration of visual based graphics over real-world data.

AR, in conjunction with RFID, can be used to superimpose boiler plant components over a live camera image on a tablet or smartphone. By touching any superimposed graphic, more detailed information can be displayed such as part identification, service history, troubleshooting and much more.

Benefits of new technology

By using cutting-edge technology, we can eliminate many of the system components of a typical PLC system and instead collect physical data and send commands over the internet, significantly reducing wiring and equipment.

The technology also makes human interface operation much easier as programmers can be in a remote location to access secure data on IOT connected devices.

Looking to the future

New technology offered by PLC systems combined with other advanced technologies provides a great opportunity for commercial and industrial applications to improve efficiency, flexibility and reliability.

Technologies such as the ones described are set to dramatically change the face of our industry and EOGB is proud to be at the leading edge of this new revolution in the heating sector.

To speak to a member of our technical team about developing bespoke PLC controls to improve the efficiency of your heating process, email technical@eogb.co.uk or call 01480 477066.