IAC has experienced a buoyant year so far with our Anechoic Chamber business in particular going great guns with a Chamber for Volvo completed, and our new agent in India taking us to the top in India in just a few months. We’ve formed a new company in China to cope with heavy fabrication demands from our global power business and the UK, too, is coping well with the credit crunch.

In any credit crunch scenario valuing one’s customers is paramount – keeping up quality and building long-term relationships. We have built an enviable customer base over the years, and your business is very much valued. Thank you.

This e-bulletin gives you a flavour of the last few months at IAC.

Brian Quarendon
Group President and CEO

IAC INVESTS £0.5M IN LASER CUTTING TECHNOLOGY

IAC’s European manufacturing facility in Winchester, UK has invested £0.5M in state-of-the-art laser cutting technology following a steep rise in business generated from the power business unit managed from our Colchester office.

The manufacture of enclosures and balance of plant for diesel gensets and gas turbines requires to be constructed from heavy gauge 5mm and 6mm steel sheeting. This was proving hard work for the punch machines used for other IAC products.

The new CNC Laser was ordered from Swiss manufacturer Bystronic. The Byspeed 3015 laser consists of a 4.4Kw resonator that can cut mild steel up to 25mm thick and the Bytrans material handling system was also purchased as part of the package allowing materials change within 35 seconds. The ability of the laser to etch the part numbers of cut components on the material surface, means the machine can now be run ‘lights out’ improving productivity significantly. The Bytrans material handling system, a new product for Bystronic, was only the second one to be installed in the UK.

Mike Campbell, Group Operations Director said ”The new Laser has made a huge difference, and since its introduction we have benefited in many other parts of the factory. Products are cut without a burr, removing the need to deburr materials before fabrication, and improving health and safety for the Operations teams. With the ability to etch components, we are also experimenting with marking locations on materials for placement of brackets etc., removing the need for the fabrication teams to measure and mark out. Another hidden benefit is an increase in revenue from disposal of laser cut skeletons, a benefit realised only by our subcontractors previously.

A huge effort was put in by both the Winchester Machine Shop, and the Manufacturing Engineering team to get the area needed ready in time. Due to everyone’s efforts, we had a good week to spare!

Contact: Mike Campbell, Group Operations Director mikec@iacl.co.uk 01962 873000

IAC NORDIC REFURBISHES ANECHOIC CHAMBER FOR VOLVO, SWEDEN

With automotive engines improving all the time and needing to be quieter and quieter in line with noise control legislation, Volvo CAR in Gothenberg in Sweden opted for a facility upgrade with IAC. This was Volvo’s second IAC facility.

The main requirements were to install a new engine dynamometer for today’s higher performing engines; improve the test cell acoustics; and not least the creation of a modern functional environment- aesthetically-pleasing as well as practical.

Prior to the refurb the facility had essentially free field acoustical properties, due to a deep layer of mineral wool on the ceiling and walls. Sound data was obtained by using a pre-defined, standardised cluster of microphones. Now, IAC’s patented metal-clad Metadyne® wedges line the chamber providing a bright, pleasant environment. They are easy to clean should oil spills occur and maintain their acoustical performance as well as their appearance for 20 years or more. This test cell provides an acoustical environment that is certified to ISO 3745 with a 100 Hz cut off frequency.

“The ability to measure low sound levels at the engine was part of the requirement,” says Philip White, IAC Nordic’s Business Manager, “so we had to reduce noise from the dynamometer machinery and controls in the adjoining room. We installed a soundproof partition wall with a specially-designed wall wedge with silenced shaft penetration. Inside the test chamber, a dynamometer shaft cover with anechoic properties was installed in order to maintain free-field properties near the engine and measurement microphones.”

Contact Graham Dale Global Test Facilities Manager grahamd@iacl.co.uk 01962 873024

IAC FORMS NEW COMPANY IN CHINA

Joint venture company IAC China Holdings Company Limited has been established to enhance our heavy manufacturing capability, for noise control products principally for the global power markets.

Our European manufacturing capabilities have been exceeded due to an upsurge in demand from the power market, worldwide, principally for GE which is rapidly expanding its diesel and gas turbine operations on 5 continents.

Fifty-percent owned by IAC, and fifty percent by IAC’s previous Hong-Kong based company, IAC China Holdings will operate from a new factory in Dongguan in Guangdong Province, in South China. Dongguan is one of the world's fastest growing cities with 6.5 million inhabitants. It is the home to over 15,000 international companies.

IAC’s workforce at the new factory is set to more than double from 110 to over 250 and the old factory will be complemented by a new 4,500 sq m facility.

Olivier Darrieus, General Manager of IAC Boet Stopson is Chairman of the new company, assisted by Fred Zhang – a Chinese national – as General Manager and Vic Fang as Sales and Engineering Director.

Brian Quarendon said: “This new development is hugely exciting enabling us to maintain our lead supplier position with GE globally and to court additional business in Asia and the Pacific Rim. The new factory will be fitted with the latest machine tooling and our training programmes will result in a workforce second-to-none. We anticipate considerable growth in global business as a result of this new company formation.”

‘RACING POST’’S NEW BROADCASTING STUDIO GETS IAC TREATMENT

The ‘Racing Post’ newspaper – beloved of horse racing enthusiasts UK-wide - is entering the internet broadcasting arena. Their new in-office studio suite will benefit from IAC acoustic doors and windows to create an optimum broadcasting environment.

Racing Post – part of the Mirror Group empire - occupies the 23rd floor of Canada Square in Canary Wharf. Their open plan office accommodates over 150 employees with the new studio being created in one corner.

LMP Installations are undertaking the studio fit out along with an office redesign. IAC advised both on the layout of the new studio and the best options for acoustic doors and windows.

The new traditional-build studio suite comprises a larger live studio space, a smaller studio for voiceovers and production of radio commercials, and a Control Room. The studios will benefit from 3 stock IAC acoustic doors and 3 custom acoustic windows. The suite will be used initially for radio and internet broadcasting with a view to moving into TV broadcasting at a later date.

Contact Kane Watkinson kanew@iacl.co.uk 01962 873000

IAC GMBH BUILDS “ONE OF THE BEST ANECHOIC CHAMBERS IN EUROPE”

The 7.7m high Semi-Anechoic Chamber built by IAC Germany for the country’s top testing institutes, the VDE, has been described as ‘one of the best Anechoic Chambers in Europe”.

The VDE, Association for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies, was founded in 1893 and has evolved into one of the largest technical and scientific associations in Europe. They currently have over 34,000 members, including a broad spectrum of engineers, scientists, technicians and some 5,000 students.

The new Semi Anechoic Chamber (SAS) is part of the VDE’s new EMC and acoustic test centre. It is one of the best known testing and certifying institutions in Europe.

The Chamber has a cut off frequency of less than 80 Hz. It was built using a double wall panel construction yielding an ambient noise level of below 12 dB(A).

IAC supplied the whole turnkey project. This included the vibration insulation of the inner shell which is mounted on springs. The floor is a concrete plate which also forms the base for the inner shell while the outer shell rests on the building’s foundation. The overall size of the chamber is 15.5m x 13.5m x 7.7m high with the interior lined with IAC’s patented metal coated Metadyne wedges.

Volker Horchens is General Manager of IAC Germany: “VDE chose IAC because of our good support in the planning phase and the technical solution we proposed. We were delighted when following the testing and approval of the chamber by the PTB - the Physikalisch Technische Bundesanstalt - they described it as "one of the best Anechoic Chambers in Europe”.

The photographs were taken at the Grand Opening of the facility and show the various testing capabilities.

Contact: Graham Dale, Global Testing Facilities Manager grahamd@iacl.co.uk 01962 873024

IAC ENGINEERS MAKE A NOISE AT EURONOISE 08

IAC engineers from across the world converged on Acoustics’08 Paris, incorporating Euronoise – Europe’s leading Conference on Noise Control, in Paris from 29 June to 4 July.

More than 4,000 participants attended the event which was jointly organised by the Acoustical Society of America, the European Acoustics Association and the Société Française d’Acoustique.

Geoff Crowhurst, Director European Acoustic Division said: “This was a great opportunity for our own engineers from around the globe to get together and exchange views. It was good to have an opportunity to meet our peers in noise control from around the world.”

IAC TAKES POLE POSITION FOR ANECHOIC CHAMBERS IN INDIAN SUBCONTINENT

IAC’s new distribution agreement with Welan Technologies in Pune, has taken us straight to pole position as lead supplier of Anechoic Chambers to the Indian automotive industry.

Welan Technologies approached IAC following our design input for a leading test house last year. IAC assisted the lead consultant to NATRIP – the Indian government department – in the development of seven centres of automotive excellence across India.

The new trading agreement with Welan Technologies has resulted in a wave of interest from fast-growing automotive manufacturers all keen to exploit IAC’s technical expertise.

Nitin Welanker BSc MSc PGDMM MDFT is CEO of Welan Technologies. He has over 24 years’ experience in the automotive sector, and formerly representing B&K the name in noise control instrumentation. He said: “I first contacted IAC in late 2007 recognising that IAC technology is simply the best in the world today. With my extensive knowledge of market and personal contacts at senior levels throughout the industry, and IAC’s excellent products, I look forward to a long and mutually-rewarding relationship in the years to come. India is almost a virgin market for the chamber business and together with IAC we would like to fully exploit it.”

Graham Dale, Global Test Facilities Manager said: “Welan Technologies is an ideal trading partner for IAC. In just 6 months we have secured two major contracts with many more on the horizon.”

Welan will be showcasing IAC at SIAT testing expo in January 2009.

IAC AMERICA’S LAB TESTS ‘FOR FUN AND PROFIT’

IAC America’s Aero-Acoustic Laboratory has been measuring the absorption of theater seats – an example cited whilst carrying out their ‘for fun and profit’ promotional campaign.

For many years IAC America’s Aero-Acoustic Laboratory has been -and still is - used to develop the many products we are familiar with. They have recently been promoting the use of their aero-acoustic laboratory to test products ‘for fun and profit’.

Architects and acoustical engineers often need to know the sound absorption properties of materials used in theatres to determine acoustical quality of the performance space. Items such as carpet, curtains and chairs significantly affect the parameters such as reverberation time, diffusivity and first reflection time.

Supporting a renovation at a music centre in the city, a local acoustical consultant asked them to measure the absorption characteristics of the existing theatre seats as well as those of the new seats that were to be used for the renovation.

IAC America’s lab testing service not only allows them opportunities to cultivate good relationships with acoustic consultants but it also helps them to keep their ears to the ground regarding the events and developments in the acoustical world.

WATCHING ‘HARLEY STREET’ THROUGH IAC ACOUSTIC WINDOWS

A large private hospital in London’s Harley Street has commissioned IAC acoustic windows as part of a major refurbishment of the 5-storey Georgian building on the site which fronts a much larger modern wing to the rear.

Kane Watkinson is Business Manager Doors: “Harley Street is known the world over for its luxurious private medical clinics – it is even the subject of a popular TV series at the moment. 114-120 Harley Street is no exception - it’s very grand. The Pathology department occupies the whole of one floor and has been reconfigured by architects Floyd Slaski who have specified our windows. Being busy London architects this bodes well for the future.”

The six 55dB windows are to be installed to secretaries’ and consultants’ offices which are grouped together in the department’s central hub. Triple glazed for maximum noise reduction, their internal Venetian blinds can be tilted for further privacy using a turn button integrated into the frame.

Roger Simpson is Partner with Floyd Slaski: “Our research revealed that IAC had the in-depth specialist experience to help us tackle the challenge we faced at Harley Street. We needed to channel natural light from atrium rooflights effectively into the secretaries and consultants’ suite deep in the hub of the building. They wanted natural light and privacy – both acoustic and visual. IAC were able to design acoustic glass screens with excellent acoustic insulation to match the acoustic doors, along with great visibility. Integrated venetian blinds between the panes give the desired privacy as required. We are delighted with the resulting design.”

Mansell Construction is the main contractor and will receive delivery of the windows in September.

Contact Kane Watkinson is Product Manager, Doors kanew@iacl.co.uk 01962 873000

Contact Us

If you have any comments or suggestions concerning either this newsletter or our website, please contact Susan Ramsden on +44 (0)1962 873050 or, to send her an e-mail, click here. If you wish to unsubscribe from this newsletter please click here