Uponor divests its German OEM unit</h1> <article> <h1>Uponor divests its German OEM unit</h1> <p>Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:00:00 GMT</p> <p>Uponor has signed a contract to divest the entire share capital of Hewing GmbH, Uponor’s non-core OEM unit based in Ochtrup, Germany. The buyer is Rettig Germany GmbH, a member of the Finnish heating technology manufacturer Rettig Group. <br /><br />The closing of the deal is expected to take place in March-April 2012. <br /><br />Operating under its own brand name, Hewing has served as an OEM pipe manufacturer to various central European underfloor heating and plumbing system brands. Hewing’s PEXc pipe technology has been non-core for Uponor after the global brand realignment in 2006, resulting in a stronger focus on the Uponor multi-layer composite and PEXa pipe technologies in building solutions. <br /><br />Uponor will continue to have a presence in the Ochtrup region where it has some warehousing, administration and marketing services related to the PEXa technology-based business under the Uponor brand. <br /><br />Uponor acquired Hewing GmbH in early 1988 as its first step in the strategy to enter the growing market of hot water pipe systems for buildings. Hewing’s advanced know-how of cross-linked polyethylene pipe (PEXc) technology and its access to new customer segments in Germany have played a key role in Uponor’s journey towards its leading international position as a supplier of building solutions in Europe and North America. <br /></p> <p> </p> </article> <article> <h1>Efficient supply systems</h1> <p>Tue, 24 Jan 2012 06:00:00 GMT</p> <p> <strong>Uponor Ecoflex provides greater flexibility</strong> <br /><br />Underground pipe systems supplying heating, cooling, and drinking water are expected to operate for decades. <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=6C50D68983954CCA9A908FC369A8DF0A&_z=z">Pre-insulated Ecoflex pipe systems from Uponor</a> are well suited for this. The <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=E23AFB3FB0284C089E4BD65F3450FE22&_z=z">Thermo</a>, <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=F5BC4ABF476B48C1A2447C0C499A7FA0&_z=z">Aqua</a>, <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=79B3408DF2D34BB894713404B55BC01D&_z=z">Quattro</a>, and <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=41D1B9202B3042FCB10E6DDE98D06E82&_z=z">Supra</a> systems are especially robust and flexible. Moreover, due to continuous product development, Uponor further improved the thermal insulation of the Ecoflex pipes by up to 12 %. This makes them especially suitable for the transport of heating, cooling, or drinking water. <br /><br />The secret of these Uponor innovations is a sturdy but flexible jacket pipe combined with a service pipe made of cross-linked polyethylene (PE-Xa) surrounded by multiple layers of polyethylene foam insulation. Thanks to their special geometry, the jacket pipes made of im-pact-proof polyethylene (PE-HD) have the necessary ring stiffness, but can still be given small bending radii. Thus they can be quickly laid around corners and obstacles. The PE-Xa service pipe is especially robust, temperature- and corrosion-proof. It is also resistant to incrustations, stress cracks, and point loads. The PE-Xa material can even withstand aggressive media, which makes the pipes durable and in turn, very economical. The insulation material is not only very effective, it is also highly resistant to moisture. <br /><br />The pipe can be laid in lengths of up to 200 metres without intermediate joints. Its self-compensating structure makes expansion compensators unnecessary. Ecoflex pipes are of lightweight, which makes them especially easy to handle. Uponor offers a full range of accessories for its pipe systems, allowing for almost any kind of use. Special tools and laborious welding are unnecessary. <br /><br /><a href="~/link.aspx?_id=E23AFB3FB0284C089E4BD65F3450FE22&_z=z">The Uponor Ecoflex Thermo pipe system</a> is ideal for transporting heating water. It has excellent thermal in-sulation and transports heating media of up to 95 °C at 6 bar. The pipe has a lifetime of at least 30 years, and is especially well suited for local heat supply networks, where it can operate economically over long periods. There are three variants, each suited to a different building connection. Ecoflex Thermo is best for supplying heating water to structures like greenhouses. For single building connections Uponor Ecoflex Thermo Single is ideal. Lastly, Uponor Ecoflex Thermo Twin combines the supply and return of heating water. <br /><br /><a href="~/link.aspx?_id=F5BC4ABF476B48C1A2447C0C499A7FA0&_z=z">Uponor Ecoflex Aqua</a> is designed for transporting hot tap water at temperatures of up to 95 °C at 10 bar. Uponor Ecoflex Aqua Single supplies hot water through one service pipe, whereas Uponor Ecoflex Aqua Twin permits circulation of hot tap water by means of an additional integrated circulation pipe. <br /><br /><a href="~/link.aspx?_id=79B3408DF2D34BB894713404B55BC01D&_z=z">Uponor Ecoflex Quattro</a> is designed for supplying heating water and circulating hot tap water. The system is comprised of four PE-Xa service pipes. It can be effi-ciently connected to single buildings as well as building complexes. <br /><br /><a href="~/link.aspx?_id=41D1B9202B3042FCB10E6DDE98D06E82&_z=z">The Uponor Ecoflex Supra</a> pipe system is perfect for transporting cooling and cold drinking water of up to 20 °C at 16 bar. With an optional self-regulating trace heating cable, the system can transport water with low outdoor temperatures without the risk of freezing. This system is recommended for swimming pools, hotels, and industrial facilities. <br /></p> <p> </p> <p> <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=6C50D68983954CCA9A908FC369A8DF0A&_z=z">The pre-insulated Ecoflex pipes</a> are especially durable, flexible, and have an excellent thermal insulation. The pipes can be quickly installed without special tools.</p> </article> <article> <h1>Sustainable building complex</h1> <p>Tue, 17 Jan 2012 06:00:00 GMT</p> <p> <strong>Green Building AURON with Uponor Contec ON</strong> <br /><br />Efficient, quiet, and draught-free heating and cooling – all are advantages that Uponor Contec ON concrete surface activation offers to the AURON office building complex in Munich. Along with high heating and cooling performance, fast response times and the use of renewable energy sources, the system also has advantages for a design that makes additional radiators in rooms unnecessary. The system allows for unlimited interior architectural design, based on the concepts of feng shui. <br /><br />The first construction phase of the AURON office building has been certified in gold as a Green Building based on the standards of the DGNB, the German Sustainable Building Council. The concrete surface activation Uponor Contec ON heats and cools the 39,000 m2 of usable floor space with especially high energy efficiency, all while using renewable energy sources. The system therefore meets the demands for both sustainability and high capacities for heating and cooling. <br /><br />In addition, the possibility of installing Uponor Contec ON as a monovalent system has made a strong impression on the owner, Employrion Immobilien GmbH & Co. KG, a project company of Accumulata Immo-bilien Development GmbH and LBBW Immobilien GmbH. <br /><br />A heat pump for thermal groundwater use and a dis-trict heating system supplies heat to the Contec ON concrete surface activation system. For heating, a supply temperature of 32 °C and a return temperature of 28 °C were selected. The thermally active ceiling has a heating capacity of 60 W/m² and 53 W/m² in safe drilling areas. For cooling, refrigerating machines are used together with the well water to attain a cooling capacity of 70 W/m² and, in safe drilling areas, 63 W/m². <br /><br />Since Contec ON is installed close to the surface, the system has the advantage of a fast response time over conventional concrete core activation. This makes it possible to regulate each of the 200 to 400 m² units individually. <br /><br />For the upper floors of the seven-storey building, the Contec ON modules were installed in two material qualities: on tried and tested plastic mats and on spe-cial metal mats. The grid width required for the ele-ments were prefabricated to ensure the desired heat-ing and cooling capacity as well as quick construction, and the precise vertical location of the heating and cooling pipes were already guaranteed during installa-tion. For the Contec ON modules with metal mats, a distance of only 10 cm between pipes was chosen. The Contec ON mats were placed directly on the formwork panels. Additionally, the manifolds were laid axially with spacing, which in turn enabled the installation of optional partitions in the interstices. <br /><br />In areas near the façade, Contec ON was laid with a distance of approximately 20 mm from the bottom level of the ceiling with a distance of 85 mm between the pipes. This enabled the quick feeding and removal of heating and cooling loads, which led to rapid and efficient temperature control. About 50 % of the planned heating and cooling capacities is reached after 30 minutes. Inside the office areas and the floor side of the hall, the system was installed with a safe drilling distance of 60 mm from the bottom level of the ceiling, with the pipes being laid 100 mm apart. In these safe drilling areas, 50 % of the heating and cooling capacities is reached after about 60 minutes. <br /><br />In rooms with special requirements such as corner rooms, cooling elements supplement the Contec ON capacities. The elements are connected by means of additional Uponor thermal sockets. </p> <p> </p> <p>The first construction phase of the AURON office building has been certified in gold as a Green Building based on the standards of DGNB.</p> <p> </p> <p>Since additional radiators in rooms are unnecessary, Uponor Contec ON allows for unlimited interior archi-tectural design.</p> <p> </p> <p>Efficient, quiet, and draught-free heating and cooling – all are advantages that Uponor Contec ON concrete surface activation offers to the AURON office building complex.<br /></p> </article> <article> <h1>Send your Season's greetings with our Uponor E-card service</h1> <p>Wed, 07 Dec 2011 07:27:00 GMT</p> <p>Uponor has developed an e-card for Season's greetings using a nice winter motive.</p> <p>Our Uponor E-card service allows you to send Season's greetings to your business partners, family, colleagues and friends. Of course you can include a personal text message and your addressee details individually.</p> <p>Send as many Christmas greetings as you like. This service is of course free of charge.</p> <p>Just do it now and <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=34905167599A45479A717C6A28E3C9E1&_z=z">click here to start!</a> After New Year it is too late.</p> <p>Uponor wishes all business partners A Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year 2012!</p> <p>Your Uponor partners.</p> </article> <article> <h1>Efficient fitting of Uponor gypsum panels</h1> <p>Tue, 06 Dec 2011 06:00:00 GMT</p> <p> <strong>Fast installation </strong> </p> <p>Public and industrial buildings accommodate many people working in a more or less limited space. Therefore effective heating and cooling is crucial to ensure their comfort. The chosen system must be easy to install, economically efficient, and adaptable to the building’s demands - especially when it comes to renovation. Uponor gypsum panels combine the advantages of easy installation and radiant heating control allowing the system to heat and cool noise- and draught-free. <br /><br />Uponor gypsum panels are made of fibre-reinforced, fire-resistant gypsum board with a thickness of 15 mm. A 27 mm insulation layer of expanded polystyrene on top improves the performance of the panel. <br />The system consists of active and passive panels. The active panels have integrated Uponor PE-Xa pipes with dimensions of 9.9 mm x 1.1 mm. Available sizes range from 500 mm x 1,200 mm; 1,000 mm x 1,200 mm; and 2,000 mm x 1,200 mm. <br /><br />The passive panels, which do not have integrated PE-Xa pipes, are available in dimensions of 2,000 mm x 1,200 mm. These elements can be easily cut to size and adapted to any given space. <br /><br />The panels can be handled like conventional plaster-board and mounted directly onto walls and ceilings, which will allow the system to be installed quickly. In the end, valuable work time is saved. <br /><br />Uponor gypsum panels are screwed right onto the furring. Depending on the capacity, areas from 15 m² to 25 m² can be heated or cooled. The panels are con-nected to 20 mm distribution pipes in a Tichelmann system. <br /><br />The system has only a thin plaster covering, permitting a high level of thermal transfer. Thus the panels can achieve a heating capacity of up to 90 W/m² and a cooling capacity down to 60 W/m². <br /><br />The fittings and pipes are connected using the Uponor Quick & Easy fitting system. Hidden behind the panels, all connections remain unseen. Additional technical equipment such as fire protection elements, ventilation, and lighting can also be integrated. </p> <p> </p> <p>Uponor gypsum panels combine the advantages of easy installation and radiant heating control.</p> <p> </p> <p>The panels can be handled like conventional plaster-board and mounted directly onto walls and ceilings.<br /></p> </article> <article> <h1>Audi Centre in Berlin with Uponor</h1> <p>Tue, 29 Nov 2011 06:00:00 GMT</p> <p>“Efficiency: a standard feature” is what the Audi Centre in Berlin can count on. The inte-grated used car centre has an efficient Uponor industrial radiant heating system plus concrete core activation with <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=7030EA8D8CEC420F9BFC7C3C189AE794&_z=z">Uponor TAB System</a> in two floor slabs for heating and cooling. <br /><br />The Uponor temperature control system allows for savings of up to 50 % compared to conventional air/air climate control systems. But for the cus-tomer, lower operating costs were just one thing to consider — appearance was important as well. Moreover, the construction time was considerably reduced by using air-handling ceilings, manufactured by <a href="http://www.elbe-decken.de/" target="_blank">Elbe Spannbetonwerk</a>, that were pre-fitted at the factory with Uponor modules. <br /><br />With an extensive glass area, the used car centre covers about 1,600 m² of floor space. The planning specifications called for an economical design with low costs for temperature control. An additional requirement was an eye-pleasing interior. The building’s temperature control system uses energy-efficient sources for heating and cooling. <br /><br />Studies of the building’s usage carried out by Volkswagen Group Real Estate revealed peaks in energy demand only during a short timeframe and only in certain areas of the building. Under base load conditions, heating is required at temperatures below 15 °C and cooling at temperatures above 26 °C. <br /><br />The following system temperatures and require-ments were calculated from the building’s usage profile for underfloor heating in combination with the two 1,000 m² floor slabs: 40 °C (supply) for heating and 16/20 °C (supply/return) for cooling. This means a capacity of 25-35 W/m² for heating and 25-30 W/m² for cooling. The two systems must also have safety reserves. <br /><br />Elbe Spannbetonwerk supplied a total of 133 prestressed concrete ceiling elements for two core-activated concrete ceilings, each with an area of 1,000 m². Prefabricated Uponor modules were integrated into the hollow concrete elements, each 35 cm thick, 120 cm wide, and 12 m long. They were attached to a special support mat on the prestressed concrete structure at a height of about 8 cm above the prestressing strands, and embedded in concrete. <br /><br />The thermally active ceiling on the ground floor of the centre has a heating capacity of approximately 37 W/m² downward and approximately 30 W/m² upward. This is enough to maintain a setpoint temperature of 15 °C. To meet the high demand — especially in the separate offices — additional split air-conditioning units and flat convectors were installed. <br /><br />The second major component is the Uponor industrial radiant heating system, which covers an area of 1,240 m². In all, 8,270 m of Uponor PE-Xa water pipes measuring 25 mm x 2.3 mm were installed at a spacing distance of 15 cm. <br /><br />For heating, the system requires a supply and re-turn of 40/35 °C in order to ensure an indoor tem-perature of 15 °C. Additional savings can be achieved by using district heating in Berlin.For cooling in the summer, the system is designed for outdoor temperatures of up to 30 °C, in which case it operates with a supply and return of 16/19 °C. <br /><br />The heating system is fed via a district heating transfer station in the terminal building. As for cooling, a water chiller on the roof with a rated capacity of 90 kW is used. <br /><br />Therefore, by combining an industrial radiant heating and cooling system (concrete core activation), energy consumption can be reduced by up to 80 to 90 % when compared to conventional cooling systems. <br /><br /><br /><br />Energy-efficient Uponor temperature control systems were installed in the new Audi Centre in Berlin. <br />Picture: Volkswagen Group Real Estate <br /><br /><br />The TAB System modules were integrated at the factory into prestressed concrete ceiling elements, permitting heating or cooling of the thermal mass. <br /></p> <p> </p> <p>Positioning of the 12-metre-long prestressed con-crete elements (air-handling ceilings manufactured by Elbe Spannbetonwerk) supports the ceiling and cross beams of the ground floor. <br /></p> </article> <article> <h1>World Sustainable Building Conference</h1> <p>Tue, 08 Nov 2011 06:00:00 GMT</p> <p> <strong>Uponor is the main sponsor of SB11 <br /><br />The World Sustainable Building Conference 2011 (SB11) held in Finland’s capital, Helsinki, recently hosted some 1,100 leading experts in sustainable building. Uponor was the main sponsor of the event. And through its sponsor-ship the company underlined its commitment to sustainability and enhanced an open dialogue between research and practice. The participants discussed new ways in which intelligent build-ings can contribute to sustainable living and working. <br /><br /></strong>“Our energy-efficient <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=10CDED80C2F1481DAD853484D813EFE4&_z=z">heating and cooling solutions</a> create a pleasant climate for living and working,” said Heiko Folgmann, Uponor’s board member responsible for Central and Eastern Europe. “Our business units set standards in the development and manufacture of sustainable products and system solutions.” <br /><br />SB11 provided a comprehensive overview of recent developments and new technologies in the field of eco-friendly building and land use, which are the basis for sustainable living and working. The topics discussed included responsible use of the world’s energy resources and raw materials, improvement in the quality of life of urban developments, sustainable building in developing countries, and advances in eco-friendly technologies. The participants were able to gather information and share ideas in talks, work-shops, and excursions. <br /><br />Uponor put together a conference programme with selected events for its guests. The guests were greeted by Jyri Luomakoski, President and CEO of Uponor Corporation. Then, in technical sessions, the company presented efficient solutions for temperature control in low-energy houses and cooling of commercial buildings. In addition, the sessions further detailed how plastic pipe systems can contribute to building sustainability. <br /><br />Uponor works continuously on products and solutions that minimize adverse effects on the environment. Together with its partners, the company is committed to a future in which sustainable building assumes greater importance. For this reason, the company promotes close cooperation between research and in-dustry, and supports the efforts of its customers and partners to make buildings more environmentally friendly. <br /></p> <p>The World Sustainable Building Conference in Helsinki was the meeting place for some 1,100 leading experts.</p> <p>Uponor was the main sponsor of the event, and through its sponsorship the company underlined its commitment to sustainability. </p> </article> <article> <h1>Uponor promotes sustainability as main sponsor of global building conference in Helsinki</h1> <p>Tue, 18 Oct 2011 05:00:00 GMT</p> <p> <strong>The world conference Sustainable Building 2011 (SB11) will take place on 18-21 October in Helsinki, Finland. The event will bring together 1,100 leading experts in sustainability of the built environment. It will provide an excellent overview of innovation and new technologies in the fields of environmentally sound construction, land use and sustainable communities. <br /><br /></strong>Uponor is proud to be the main sponsor of the <a href="http://www.sb11.org/" target="_blank">SB11</a> conference. This role reflects Uponor’s commitment to sustainability, both in its own operations and in supporting its customers’ and partners’ endeavours to improve the environmental performance of buildings and their associated infrastructure. <br /><br />Uponor is continuously working to reduce its environmental footprint through its innovative and sustainable solutions. The company wants to enhance open dialogue between research and practice, and work together with its partners in the joint pursuit of more sustainable built environments in the future. <br /><br />“A more sustainable future is within the reach of businesses and the people of the world, but this requires a roadmap and concrete actions. Uponor is focussing on two global issues – environmental impacts of energy use and the demand of clean water, and acting on the related opportunities. Because SB11 attracts leading experts in the field, it is the perfect setting for active interaction and technology transfer,” explains Ilari Aho, Vice President, Indoor Climate Business Group at Uponor Corporation. </p> <p> </p> </article> <article> <h1>Sealed pipe joints in seconds</h1> <p>Tue, 27 Sep 2011 05:00:00 GMT</p> <p> </p> <strong>New Milwaukee Quick & Easy Expander Tools <br /><br />Tight pipe connections are required to provide durable quality of plumbing systems. Installing such sealed joints can be very time consuming. <br />Uponor and Milwaukee therefore developed a reliable and efficient solution for pipe-joint installation process. The new Uponor Milwaukee Quick & Easy Expander Tools M12 and M18 increase the productivity to installers. These tools are designed for Uponor Quick & Easy fitting solution and allow for durable joints in less than 10 seconds.</strong> <br /><br />The Uponor Quick & Easy jointing technology utilize the memory effect of <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=0919A7A7AC334EB89556CD47F6798A70&_z=z">PE-Xa pipes</a>. Once the pipe and the locking ring are expanded and pushed on the fitting, the material shrinks back to its original state, providing a tight and durable connection. <br /><br />Previously, installers using manual and cordless tools to expand the PE-Xa pipes by operating the Expander Tool and slightly rotating the head segments manually. This could turn out to be difficult and time-consuming process when installing Quick & Easy in hard reachable locations. <br /><br />The new Uponor Milwaukee Expander Tools M12 and M18 provide auto-rotating Expansion Heads, allowing the Quick & Easy connections to be installed four times faster than with manual and cordless tools. <br /><br />The auto-rotating head of M12 and M18 allows for accurate expansion with one hand and, due to the Quick Cam Mechanism, the tools can be handled with a single pull and provide continuous actuation. The tools are suitable for tough onsite conditions as they contain steel gears and an integrated metal frame. The LED work light allows for the easy installation of Quick & Easy fittings in dark locations. <br /><br />Made for practice, the right-angled design of M12 allows for the installation of fittings even in confined locations. The tool accepts 14 mm stroke length heads from 12 mm up to 32 mm diameter. The M18 tool provides a D-handle design for onsite durability and accepts 14 and 25 mm stroke length heads from 12 mm up to 40 mm diameter. <br /><br />The M12 standard tool kit includes 16, 20, and 25 mm diameter heads, while the M18 standard tool kit includes 20, 25, and 32 mm diameter heads. The heads are colour coded for each dimension and can be changed without additional equipment. The Milwaukee tools are also compatible with all existing Uponor Expansion Heads, so installers don’t need to restock their inventory. Since the current Uponor heads will not auto-rotate, the installer needs to apply some grease on the backside of the Uponor head and rotate the tool manually. <br /><br />The new Uponor Milwaukee Expander Tools allow for pipe-joint installation with all Quick & Easy fittings. Uponor offers a range of PPSU Quick & Easy fittings that provide high pressure and temperature resistance, and additionally dezincification resistant (DR) brass fittings that are suitable to withstand extremely aggressive water conditions. <br /> </article> <article> <h1>Conducting Cooling Seminars in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore</h1> <p>Tue, 13 Sep 2011 05:00:00 GMT</p> <p>Together with our local partner Seng Choon Engineering, the Uponor International Sales Team organized three IC seminars in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore (July 27th and 28th). The seminars were held by Prof. Bjarne Olesen and Dietmar Hennig. The main topic was the application of <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=1248153874B54249A943F26B7964A06E&_z=z">UFC</a> and <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=7030EA8D8CEC420F9BFC7C3C189AE794&_z=z">TABS</a> in South East Asia. </p> <p>Both seminars were met with a lot of interest by architects, consultants and specifiers from companies such as Parsons Brinckerhoff Pte Ltd, Shimizu Corporation or Putrajaya Holdings Sdn Bhd. All in all we introduced our systems to more than 250 selected persons. The participants are mainly active in designing office and administration buildings as well as public buildings and were eager to learn more about the Uponor solutions. </p> <p>One immediate positive result was the interest of Putrajaya Holdings Sdn Bhd who is currently planning 11 office towers in Putrajaya, the new governmental area in Malaysia. <br /></p> </article> <article> <h1>Cooling and heating economically</h1> <p>Tue, 23 Aug 2011 05:00:00 GMT</p> <p> <strong>Saving up to 50 % with Uponor Thermally -Active Building Systems</strong> </p> <p>With increasing energy costs and the requirements being made of indoor climates, concepts for building services engineering, which minimise the heating and cooling requirements while allowing for a high degree of architectural freedom are in demand. <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=7030EA8D8CEC420F9BFC7C3C189AE794&_z=z">Thermally active building systems (TABS)</a> meet these needs to a very particular degree. The concrete core activation using Uponor TABS therefore utilises renewable energies. And when compared to conventional air-conditioning systems – without annoying blowers or ventilation conduits – <strong>saves</strong> in terms of investment costs and operating <strong>costs of up to 50 %</strong>. <br /><br />Traditional air-conditioning systems are based on air circulation, which is distributed unevenly, moves quickly around the area, and possesses relatively low humidity and temperature. Such air can aggravate ones eyes and upper respiratory system. Because of the air’s low heat capacity, air-conditioning systems require large ventilation ducts, which take up a significant amount of space in the building. Those ducts can quickly become dirty and in the end cause serious health issues. <br /><br />In contrast, <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=7030EA8D8CEC420F9BFC7C3C189AE794&_z=z">Uponor TABS</a> is more efficient and more hygienic. With its largely maintenance-free components, the system provides a concrete ceiling with night air – respectively, ground cooling energy or low-temperature heating energy by means of water-containing pipes. The ceilings activated on the basis of the aforementioned, absorb the heat accumulated during the day in order to cool rooms. At night, the water circulating throughout the system emits the heat. In optimally adjusted buildings, such concrete core activation covers the entire cooling and heating requirements, and furthermore provides for noise- and draught-free temperature control. <br /><br />Regarding <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=7030EA8D8CEC420F9BFC7C3C189AE794&_z=z">Uponor TABS</a>, the high-pressure <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=2A8F9A638701427481396CE293EACB2F&_z=z">cross-linked PE-Xa pipe</a> manufactured with the Engel method is mainly used. Alternatively a specifically developed multi-layer composite pipe can be installed, which connects the advantages of a plastic pipe with the advantages of a metal pipe. <br /><br />In addition to the product solutions, Uponor offers consultations during every phase of the construction procedure – from the design over the planning through to the execution phase. <br /></p> </article> <article> <h1>Building services at the peak</h1> <p>Tue, 09 Aug 2011 05:00:00 GMT</p> <p> <strong>Uponor TAB System heats and cools modern architecture <br /><br />The Ericusspitze, located at the eastern end of Hamburg's HafenCity, is surrounded by water on three sides and is an ideal location for such an extraordinary construction project. In direct proximity to the historic warehouse district, two buildings are being constructed with approximately 50.000 m² of office space. <br /><br /></strong>HafenCity Hamburg is one of Europe’s largest rebuilding projects. Maritime vibes, modern architecture and a lively cooperation of living and working characterise the new area close to Hamburg. The aim is to turn the old harbour quarters into a residential area with offices, hotels, shops, and public buildings. Set to finish in 2030, the area will be home to 12.000 residents and offer a workplace for 40.000 people. <br /><br />Uponor indoor climate systems were already integrated in the finished office building called <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=ACAF3566550F427A8F32500E5C6DF1FA&_z=z">SKAI in HafenCity</a>. In the future, the Spiegel Group—publisher of one of Germany's most widely circulated news magazines—will be using the northern building on the Ericusspitze constructed by <a href="http://www.robertvogel.de/1-0-Robert-Vogel.html" target="_blank">Robert Vogel GmbH & Co. KG</a> in the role of investor and landlord. Both investors and tenants depend on a high level of ecological sustainability. The buildings designed by the Danish firm Henning Larsen Architects have primary energy demands of 100 kWh per m² per year, and was awarded the HafenCity Ecolabel in gold, where efficient <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=10CDED80C2F1481DAD853484D813EFE4&_z=z">Uponor indoor climate systems</a> were also installed. </p> <p>An essential component of the energy concept — for example, the <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=7030EA8D8CEC420F9BFC7C3C189AE794&_z=z">Uponor TAB System</a> concrete core activation with 1.000 thermal sockets for the simple installation of radiant ceiling panels and the support elements for heating and cooling the surfaces — are <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=1248153874B54249A943F26B7964A06E&_z=z">solutions</a> from Uponor. </p> <p>"We've carried out complex planning of the technical building equipment in order to fulfil all of the ecological and economic demands of the Spiegel Group's new headquarters, as well as geothermal energy for the energy concept. The use of district heating for accommodating actual peak demands has also been taken into account during planning of the panel-based temperature control in floors and ceilings," says planning specialist Ralph Valtinke from DS-Plan Ingenieurgesellschaft, describing the challenges in Hamburg HafenCity. <br /><br /><a href="~/link.aspx?_id=C425D2765B8148EBA0525D10BA954605&_z=z">Read more</a></p> </article> <article> <h1>Draught-free ceiling cooling solution</h1> <p>Tue, 26 Jul 2011 05:00:00 GMT</p> <p> <strong>Cost-efficient cooling with the Uponor Comfort Panel <br /></strong> <br />Public buildings accommodate many people working in a more or less limited space. Hence all people shall live and feel well, air cooling is an important issue. In order to not disturb the everyday work, the used system should be easily installable, economically-efficient and hygienic. Especially for renovations it also has to be flexible to match with the demands of the building. </p> <p>Therefore Uponor presents a hygienic and cost-effective solution, <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=05E5EE4257C143B4B1492C8E1CB815EF&_z=z">the Comfort Panel</a>. This ceiling cooling system offers draught-free and silent cooling, especially for installation in existing suspended ceilings. </p> <p>For further information please click <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=4A169895A04942198DB9CAB1A006A2B2&_z=z">here<br /></a></p> </article> <article> <h1>Three thermostats and a new timer to add to the existing Uponor Control System Wired 24V</h1> <p>Tue, 19 Jul 2011 05:00:00 GMT</p> <p>After one and a half years of R&D work Uponor is ready to present new thermostats and a new timer for underfloor heating and cooling systems. Adding auto-balancing, digital displays and in-wall-mounted thermostats to the wired system will bring even more market advantages. </p> <ul> <li>Uponor Thermostat Flush T-34 Wired </li> <li>Uponor Digital Thermostat T-36 Wired </li> <li>Uponor Programmable Digital Thermostat T-38 Wired </li> <li>Uponor Timer I-36 for C-35</li> </ul> <p>For more details please click <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=A5A65B32BAD24DEE94029D067B6F9398&_z=z">here</a> !</p> <p> </p> </article> <article> <h1>New climate controller Uponor C-46: comfortable climate for every room</h1> <p>Tue, 19 Jul 2011 05:00:00 GMT</p> <p> <strong>Uponor introduced the new climate controller C-46. This intelligent device can adjust the temperature of under-floor heating or cooling system based on the outdoor and in-house temperature change. <br /><br /></strong>Uponor constantly develops products and technologies that improve comfort level of human environment in homes or offices. The main function of the new climate controller is temperature regulation of water in the <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=4BDAC05D0EFA40708A0EBFB239117058&_z=z">radiant heating</a> and <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=1248153874B54249A943F26B7964A06E&_z=z">cooling systems</a> with the help of intelligent and precise control of the mixing valve. C-46 allows controlling the microclimate efficiently in the rooms of any buildings — residential or commercial. </p> <p> <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=AC40D633DD614DD1AB61FDD8BE3B3C1F&_z=z">Find out more</a> </p> <p> <br /> </p> </article> <article> <h1>New fitting system with RTM technology and Tool-Insight Concept for multi layer composite pipes</h1> <p>Mon, 11 Jul 2011 05:00:00 GMT</p> <p> <strong>Reliability comes first</strong> </p> <p>Simple, quick and primarily safe – these are the requirements that installers and designers have towards a jointing technique for plumbing systems. The new RTM Technology (Ring with tension memory) connects pipes without the need for pressing tools – quick and safe through the integrated press function. <br /><br />The high-tech-fitting is applicable for installations in refurbishment and new buildings and allows a quick and safe press connection even at difficult accessible locations. RTM Technology supplements the successful Uponor multi layer composite pipe system. Furthermore, the innovation convinces with the tried and tested advantages of colour coding and pressing indication. <br /><br />The new fittings with RTM Technology and Tool-Insight concept are certified for drinking water installations by the German DVGW with Uponor multi layer composite pipes of diameters 16, 20, 25 and 32 mm. Comprehensive tests have shown that the high-tech fitting sustains successfully high forces such as hydraulic shocks and extensions of the pipe during temperature cycling tests. <br /><br />The high technology material used in the fitting combines the lightest engineered plastic PPSU (polyphenylsulfone) material with the best me-chanical features of metal. Core of this fitting is the so called press ring. It is made of high carbon steel, which is pre-tensioned with a locking pin. <br /><br />Just as the press fittings the new locking pin is also colour coded. The colour of the locking pin indicates the diameter of the pipe. This time saving and safety creating element is immediately visible through the transparent 360° inspection window. <br /><br />With only three steps the pipe is connected to the fitting: Cut, calibrate and press. When you insert the MLC pipe the locking pin will be released and the pipe and fitting are then pressed together. Installers will realize it when they hear a “click”. Together with the pressing indication this indicates that the pipe and the fitting have been successfully connected. The detached locking pin is recognizable thanks to the 360° inspection window. <br /><br />The memory effect of the press ring reacts thereby as an integrated pressing tool. The pressing capacity of two tons acts consistently on the pipe. The press ring pin absorbs temperature fluctuations in the pipe due to its material properties. An additional locking pin secures the connection between pipe and fitting even at outstanding loads. <br /><br />Uponor offers a complete range of 61 different fit-tings for diameters from 16 to 32 mm. Fittings from 16 to 25 mm are made of highly advanced PPSU plastic material. Fittings of diameter 32mm and with male and female threads are produced from tin plated brass. The assortment comprises all items which are needed for an entire plumbing installation. <br /></p> </article> <article> <h1>Uponor signs the ENCORD sustainable development charter</h1> <p>Fri, 08 Jul 2011 05:00:00 GMT</p> <strong>The European Network of Construction Companies for Research and Development (ENCORD) is Europe’s forum for industry-led research, development and innovation in the construction sector. Members are leading construction companies and suppliers from all over Europe. <br /><br /></strong>Over recent years, ENCORD has recognised the need to build infrastructure and living environments which will provide for a sustainable future. ENCORD’s Sustainable Development Charter is the culmination of the work by its members to pull together the key principles under which member companies commit to develop their businesses and operations for the future. <br /><br />As a member of ENCORD, Uponor contributed to the preparation of the charter in close alignment with its own sustainability development. In particular, the Charter recognises the key role that Research, Development and Innovation has in the construction sector, and how this will support quality and greater added value in the built environment. The Charter incorporates such fundamental principles as lifecycle development, social responsibility in local communities, ethical working standards, caring for our employees and engaging our stakeholders. <br /><br />The ENCORD Sustainable Development Charter was ratified by Executives of the member companies at a meeting held 21 June 2011 in the Netherlands. <br /><br /> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> <td> <br />Jyri Luomakoski, President and CEO of Uponor signed the Sustainable Development Charter. “This is a milestone in Uponor’s sustainability journey. It is a clear statement of our commitment to work in close partnership with the construction industry, applying shared principles to underpin our future development of a sustainable society. The solutions Uponor is developing and introducing for the built environment, and our focus to operate with minimum environmental impact, are vital to this commitment,” Luomakoski said. <br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Also attending the event, Uponor’s Ilari Aho, VP Indoor Climate and member of the ENCORD Council, remarked: “Sustainability is a key driver in our industry and will grow in importance in the future. Our involvement in ENCORD and its sustainability work gives us an opportunity to gain and share insight and knowledge within the construction industry. It is an excellent learning experience and a possibility to align our activities with those of our customers.” <br /> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td> Participating in ENCORD’s working group on sustainability, David Harget Uponor VP Sustainability, Standardisation & Legislation commented: “The work will now move forward through ENCORD and its member company activities to demonstrate that we can really make a difference. It fits perfectly with Uponor’s emphasis on developing and providing innovative solutions for the built environments.” <br /></td> <td> </td></tr></tbody></table><br />Founded in 1989, ENCORD (<a href="http://www.encord.org/" target="_blank">www.encord.org</a>) is an innovation network of leading European companies active in the construction sector. It has 20 members with head offices in 9 European countries and operations worldwide. All members are major European contractors or suppliers of construction materials and are strongly devoted to research, development and innovation (R, D & I) for increased competitiveness and growth.<br />Please find attached the <a href="~/media/5C4F944618A74B5B8E004E13F67D4A18.ashx">ENCORD-Sustainable-Development-Charter</a>. </article> <article> <h1>HafenCity - from an old harbour to a lively neighbourhood</h1> <p>Tue, 21 Jun 2011 05:00:00 GMT</p> <p>HafenCity Hamburg is one of Europe’s largest rebuilding projects. Maritime vibes, modern architecture and a lively cooperation of living and working characterize the new area close to Hamburg City. The aim is to turn the old harbour quarters into a residential area with offices, hotels, shops and public buildings. Once finished in 2030, the area will be home to 12,000 residents and offer a workplace for 40,000 people. <br /><br />One of the buildings already finished – an office building called <a href="http://www.s-kai.de/" target="_blank">SKAI</a> – impresses with its metal and glass facade and high standards of heating and cooling. Uponor <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=10CDED80C2F1481DAD853484D813EFE4&_z=z">indoor climate systems</a> were a natural choice for our partner. </p> <p>“Cooperation in this project was very successful, partly because we managed to involve the technology provider, Uponor, in planning from the earliest stages. The technical knowhow and support they provided during implementation was highly professional. Uponor’s experts inspected the entire cooling system and documented the results,” comments Bernhard Steinkopf, technical manager, <a href="http://www.dwi-grundbesitz.de/" target="_blank">DWI Grundbesitz</a>. <br /><br />“Continuous collaboration with trusted partners is important to <a href="http://www.dwi-grundbesitz.de/">DWI</a>, since it helps people understand what to expect from each other. The true measure of success is being asked to take part in the next project,” tells Thorsten Wolf, manager, industry segment, Uponor GmbH. <br /></p> </article> <article> <h1>American Environmental Scientist Named the 2011 Stockholm Water Prize Laureate</h1> <p>Mon, 16 May 2011 09:34:57 GMT</p> <p> <a href="http://www.siwi.org/" target="_blank">Stockholm International Water Institute</a> has today announced the 2011 Stockholm Water Prize Laureate. The winner is <a href="http://www.zoology.wisc.edu/faculty/Car/Car.html" target="_blank">Stephen R. Carpenter</a>, Professor of Zoology and Limnology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA. </p> <p>Professor Carpenter’s groundbreaking research has shown how lake ecosystems are affected by the surrounding landscape and by human activities. His findings have formed the basis for concrete solutions on how to manage lakes. Professor Carpenter, 59, is recognised as one of the world’s most influential environmental scientists in the field of ecology. By combining theoretical models and large-scale lake experiments he has reframed our understanding of freshwater environments and how lake ecosystems are impacted by humans and the surrounding landscape. <br /><br />H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden will present Prof. Carpenter with the 2011 Stockholm Water Prize at an Award Ceremony in Stockholm City Hall followed by a Royal Banquet on Thursday, 25 August 2011.</p> <p> <b>About the Stockholm Water Prize<br /><br /></b>First presented in 1991, the Stockholm Water Prize is the world’s most prestigious prize for outstanding achievement in water-related activities. The annual prize, which includes a USD 150,000 award and a crystal sculpture specially designed and created by Orrefors, honours individuals, institutions or organisations whose work contributes broadly to the conservation and protection of water resources and to improved health of the planet’s inhabitants and ecosystems. The Prize is administered by the Stockholm International Water Institute. <br /><br />Uponor is a Founder member of the <a href="http://www.siwi.org/sa/node.asp?node=53" target="_blank">Stockholm Water Prize </a>since 1995. <br /></p> </article> <article> <h1>Uponor opens sustainable office and training centre in Spain</h1> <p>Tue, 05 Apr 2011 05:00:00 GMT</p> <p> <strong>Uponor has opened new South-West European facilities, housing a new training centre, a distribution centre and the local headquarters. The opening ceremony was held in the presence of more than 200 customers and prestigious guests, including Ms Beatriz Corredor, the Spanish Secretary of State for Housing and Mr Jan Vapaavuori, Finland’s Minister of Housing. <br /></strong> <br />Uponor, a leading international plumbing and indoor climate solutions provider, officially opened its new facilities on 22 March. Located in Móstoles, near Madrid, they provide a good example of energy efficient and sustainable building, while acting as a showroom for the company’s own products. <br /><br /><strong>Mr Fernando Roses</strong>, Uponor’s EVP South-West Europe, highlighted the efforts made by the Central Government and the Secretary of State for Housing to modernise the Technical Building Code and the related regulations, aiming at improved energy efficiency of buildings. <br /><br />Highlighting the Government’s support for energy efficiency, <strong>Ms Beatriz Corredor</strong>, Secretary of State for Housing, emphasised the use of renewable energies, in both new buildings and existing building stock, as fundamental to optimising the urban environment. <br /><br /><strong>Mr Jyri Luomakoski</strong>, Uponor’s President and CEO, noted that Uponor has deep roots in Spain, having had its own production there for almost three decades, since 1984. The inauguration confirms Uponor’s continued commitment to growing there and helping to contribute to a more sustainable building industry, in partnership with various Spanish institutions. <br /><br />In conclusion, Finland’s Minister of Housing, <strong>Mr Jan Vapaavuori</strong>, classified Uponor’s new facilities as an excellent example of how sustainable building solutions can be used for non-residential construction purposes. By applying these solutions to an office and industrial environment, Uponor is not only able to make major energy savings, but also to improve the working conditions of local staff. <br /><br />The new office and training centre comprise a total area of 2,690 m2, while the logistics centre and warehouse have a total of 9,482 m2. The building features the following Uponor solutions: <br />• Radiant heating and cooling systems in ceilings and floors in the office area <br />• Thermally Active Building System (TABS) <br />• Pre-insulated pipe system for local heat distribution <br />• Geothermal energy <br />• Solar absorption cooling <br />• Industrial underfloor heating and cooling system <br /><br />Uponor’s indoor climate solutions stand out in the Spanish market for their level of comfort and considerable energy savings, especially when used in combination with renewable energy sources. </p> <p> <em>Picture (01): <br />Mr Jan Vapaavuori, Finland’s Minister of Housing, Ms Beatriz Corredor, Secretary of State for Housing in Spain, Mr Jyri Luomakoski, President and CEO of Uponor Corporation, Mr Fernando Roses, Executive Vice President for North, South and West Europe of Uponor Corporation, together with Mr Esteban Parro del Prado, Mayor of Móstoles. <br /><br /><br />Picture (02): <br />Mr Fernando Roses, Executive Vice President for North, South and West Europe of Uponor Corporation, Ms Beatriz Corredor, Secretary of State for Housing in Spain, Mr Jyri Luomakoski, President and CEO of Uponor Corporation, Mr Jan Vapaavuori, Finland’s Minister of Housing, on a tour in the new distribution centre. <br /><br /></em> </p> <p>Uponor Corporation, Group Communications <br />Tel. +358 20 129 2841 <br /></p> </article> <article> <h1>Uponor will launch the new MLCP colour coded fittings dim. 40-50</h1> <p>Wed, 16 Mar 2011 05:00:00 GMT</p> Uponor has developed the colour code fitting MLCP system also for dim. 40 and 50. The press sleeve is made of stainless steel with a coloured stop ring which does not fall out after pressing. The fittings are characterized by their less weight and an easy handling due to flexible press sleeve fixation and the new fitting profile design. As a result of the optimized fitting profile you get a safe connection. Due to the fact that the O-rings are inside the inner sleeve there is no risk to damage the O-rings. <br /><br />All brass press fittings up to dim. 50 have the colour code test safety function which means you are not able to forget pressing. Contrary to dim 14-32 bevelling <strong>is necessary</strong> because of the sharp-edged cutting and an easier handling. The MLCP colour code fittings dim. 40-50 are compatible to existing MLC pipes and tools. <br /> </article> <article> <h1>The new self attaching system with PE-Xa or composite pipes</h1> <p>Tue, 15 Mar 2011 05:00:00 GMT</p> <p>The innovative self-attaching system for heating and cooling will be introduced as an interesting new panel solution. Uponor offers this innovative pipe laying system for underfloor heating and cooling pipes now also on the international markets. <br />For more than three years it has already impressed customers in Germany and has proven that it is a perfect solution even for tough onsite conditions. <br /><br /><strong>Convincing alternative<br /><br /></strong>The system consists of a pipe on which at the factory, hook fasting tape is wound around the oxygen diffusion tight pipes. The system in-sulation panel is completely covered with the matching laminated loop foil. The pipe can be reeled off and laid on the floor. <br />Uponor offers this system with one PE-Xa pipe with a red stripe or a red coloured MLC pipe. Both are at the factory covered with spirally wrapped self attaching tape. <br /><br /><strong>The Uponor self-attaching system with Uponor PE-Xa and Uponor MLC pipes <br /><br /></strong>The new Uponor PE-Xa pipe has an oxygen diffusion tight eval layer and can also be installed at lower outside temperatures. Additional advantages are that the pipe has a high impact and chemical resistance. <br /><br />Max. operating temperature: 70°C <br />Max. operating pressure: 6 bar <br />Dimension 14 x 2 and 16 x 1.8 mm <br />Pipe coils of 240 or 640 m lengths <br /><br /><br />The MLCP red self attaching composite pipe is another alternative for underfloor heating application for easy and fast installation. It com-bines the advantages of modern composite pipes with an aluminium metal and a plastic layer for highest flexibility when laying the pipes. <br />The flexible self attaching pipe can be easily bent by hand and in-stalled. It is even form stable afterwards. <br /><br />Max. operating temperature: 60°C <br />Max. operating pressure: 4 bar <br />Dimension 16 x 2 mm <br />Pipe coils of 200 or 500 m lengths <br /><br /><strong>1.000 fold interlocked for 100% foothold <br /></strong><br />Both pipes are securely connected with the fully bonded adhesive film of the system insulation panel by merely pressing on it. The system panels are available in various thicknesses. Typical for the self-attaching system: Any necessary corrections can be quickly and easily carried out. Even after positional correction, the self-attaching pipe and adhesive film continue to impress with their consistently high holding force. They are made for practice – optimum adhesion also on dirty surfaces. <br /><br />The adhesive film is already fully bonded on and when pressed onto the pipes, it interlocks with their self-attaching tape. This ensures maximum holding power. To match the pipe quality, the system is de-signed for possible positional corrections and impresses with its stabil-ity during insulation and insulating layer cover. This means the path is clear for flexible pipe laying. <br /><br />Whether the PE-Xa or composite pipes are used with the self-attaching system, in future the decision lies with the installer what kind of pipes he prefers for the underfloor heating and cooling installation. <br /><br />The advantages of the self-attaching system are: <br />• Easy pipe laying without any tools <br />• Cost-efficient one-man installation <br />• Installed pipes can be repositioned at any time <br />• Ideal for flexible pipe spacing in rooms of any shape </p> <p> <strong>Self-attaching with red MLC pipe:</strong> </p> <p>For any spatial geometry, with economic high dimensional stability and bending flexibility: the combination of MLC red composite pipe and the self-attaching system. <br /><br /></p> </article> <article> <h1>Feeling comfortable is so simple with Uponor</h1> <p>Mon, 14 Mar 2011 05:00:00 GMT</p> <p> <strong>Uponor offers now a complete portfolio of wireless control systems which can be used for heating and cooling at the same time including the revolutionary Dynamic Energy Management (DEM). The control system can be used for single family houses up to large-scale office buildings and creates a comfortable climate all-year-round. </strong> </p> <p> <strong> <br />Radio control for individual rooms with new features</strong> </p> <p>The new individual radio room control with Dynamic Energy Management (DEM) and its revolutionary technology is the latest innovation for radiant heating and cooling. <br />With the revolutionary DEM technology you can save up to 12% in energy costs due to the higher efficiency. That has been confirmed in technical tests at the Technical University of Dresden/Germany. <br />The result is a unique new product which installers, specifiers and home owners alike can benefit from in a variety of ways, in new construction as well as renovation and restoration. <br />Uponor DEM requires no manual hydraulic balancing of the radiant heating system at the manifold. <br />And best of all - compared to other renovation activities such as building insulation, complete refurbishment or adding a solar energy hot water boiler, investing in an Uponor radio control system for individual room temperature with Dynamic Energy Management means that you can expect to amortize your costs up to three times quicker! <br /><br /><strong>Uponor control centre for supply temperature – ideal for both heating and cooling <br /><br /></strong>Individual room temperature control can only be reliably guaranteed if the required hot or cold water temperatures are available at all times. The Uponor supply temperature control with new C-46 heating/cooling controller takes care of this by sensing atmospheric conditions. Equipped with a variety of features it is the perfect supply temperature controller! Uponor supply temperature control offers a solution to suit every application - for heating, cooling or keeping outdoor areas free of snow and ice. Choose between individual components, or a complete central control station ready to plug-and-play, or a control station on every floor integrating perfectly into the manifold cabinet. <br />With the new DEM technology the response time of the control system is up to 25% faster which means also much faster temperature adjustments. Also an automatic supply analysis for fast diagnosis and easy error detection is included. The mobile thermostats have an integrated room check function for easy assignment of each room thermostat to the correct room. Energy efficiency means also to activate the system when it is needed, so Uponor has included a remote adjustment and monitoring via optional SMS coupler. The Uponor control system can be used for single family houses but also for large-scale buildings such as office buildings. In the majority office buildings work with a building automation system. Uponor has also considered this and has included an optional KNX media coupler which allows easy connection to the building’s system engineering. <br /><br /><strong>Wired individual room control with 24V – ideally for underfloor heating and cooling of new buildings <br /><br /></strong>The secure wiring with 24V low voltage engineering includes the possibility to use it for underfloor heating and cooling. No electrician is needed for the installation. This wired system includes also a single room based auto balancing function. <br /><br /><strong>Wired individual room control with 230 V – the ideal minimalist solution <br /></strong><br />The Uponor 230 V individual room control comprises just a few components and can only be used for the individual room control of underfloor heated rooms. It cannot be used for underfloor or ceiling cooling. It provides the maximum ease of control with the minimum of efforts. In most of the countries the installation of the 230V controls has to be carried out by an electrician. The balancing at the manifolds has to be carried out manually. <br /></p> </article> <article> <h1>The new high-quality PE-Xa plastic system with fittings, tools and accessories</h1> <p>Tue, 08 Mar 2011 06:00:00 GMT</p> <p> <strong>Uponor offers now a full plastic solution for plumbing systems comprising of pipes, fittings, manifolds and accessories. For countries where the standards still require metal fittings we have now developed a line of dezincification resistant (DR) brass fittings which withstand extremely aggressive water conditions. </strong> </p> <p> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td><p><strong>Brass fittings resistant to salty substances </strong></p><p align="left">The new Uponor DR brass fittings have been developed to withstand toughest conditions in areas where desalinated water is used or where fittings are exposed to aggressive outside conditions, for example close to the seashores. <br />Desalinated water usually contains higher levels of salt and other aggressive substances compared to normal fresh water. Therefore in the long run, normal brass fittings could be affected. The new Uponor dezincification resistant brass material can cope even with highly aggressive water and ambient conditions. <br /><br />In line with this development Uponor has taken the decision to replace normal brass fittings with new dezincification resistant (DR) fittings. Another advantage of these new Quick & Easy fittings is, that they can be used for 6 and 10 bar pipes at the same time. In practice that means one and the same fitting can be installed for plumbing as well as heating/cooling applications. <br />In the past, two different metal fittings for different applications had to be considered and confusions could occur in the warehouse as well as on the building site. <br />The benefit of our new innovation implies also the reduction of the number of stocked items. </p></td> <td><p></p><p>The new dezincification resistant brass metal fitting range</p></td></tr></tbody></table></p> <p> <strong>Uponor PE-Xa plumbing range now completed for the use as full plastic system</strong> </p> <p align="left">As an alternative for DR brass fittings for aggressive water conditions we now have a full plastic system consisting of the well-known Uponor PE-Xa pipes, a complete range of PPSU Quick & Easy fittings, PPSU plastic modular manifolds and tap water accessories also made of PPSU. PPSU (Polyphenylsulfone) is a highly advanced plastic material which is normally used for keeping disinfection fluids of medical devices and equipments at high temperatures. This high performance plastic material PPSU cannot be compared to ordinary materials for example PPr (polypropylene). Its significantly higher pressure and temperature resistance characteristics outperform all other plastic materials by far. <br />To complement the full plastic range Uponor has also developed a new termination box for Quick & Easy PPSU female elbows 16 x Rp ½” for easy connection of the pipe to the tap. <br />To perfect the system, Uponor introduces a new manifold made of PPSU with new connection technique, flexible outlets and a modular technique. The manifold based on ISO dimensions, fits to either Quick & Easy or compression fittings. <br />The modular plastic plumbing manifold is available with Quick & Easy 16 mm and with 2, 3 and 4 outlets plus ½ inch and ¾ inch connections. </p> <p align="left">New modular PPSU manifolds with dozens of connections possibilities</p> <p align="left"> </p> <p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"> <b>Easy installation easy with tools assortment</b> </p> <p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"> </p> <p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Last but not least Uponor offers now a new Quick & Easy tool generation – developed in cooperation with the tool manufacturer Milwaukee - with handy design up to dimension 25 in the first phase. Tools for bigger dimensions will follow step by step. The advantages of the new M12 Uponor Quick & Easy tool are the auto-rotating head for accurate one-hand expansion. The Quick & Easy fittings can now be installed 4 times faster due to the Quick Cam Mechanism for single pull and continuous action. The tool is more durable and suitable for tough onsite conditions as it contains steel gears and an integrated metal frame.</p> <p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Also made for practice is the right angled design with LED light implemented to easily install Quick & Easy fittings also in dark locations. Of course the tool is compatible to all existing and new expansion heads. Last but not least all Quick & Easy tools are changing over to Li-ion batteries. The advantages are, for example, that there is no memory effect and the short charging time. </p> <p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"> </p> <p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"> </p> <p align="left">Uponor simply more <br /></p> </article> <article> <h1>Uponor acquires a majority stake in German indoor climate specialist</h1> <p>Fri, 04 Mar 2011 06:00:00 GMT</p> <p>Uponor has acquired a majority shareholding in the German company Zent-Frenger, which develops, manufactures, and markets heating, cooling and geothermal technology solutions for public and commercial building. The company is one of the German market leaders in its field. <br /><br />Zent-Frenger has its main offices in Heppenheim, roughly 70 km south of Frankfurt. It employs a staff of 100 and has an extensive network of co-operation partners, throughout Europe. <br /><br />Uponor’s aim is to strengthen its position within the commercial and public building sectors in Germany, the company’s single most significant market. The demand for radiant cooling, in particular, is mounting in building construction, simultaneously with increasing demands set for air quality in both residential and non-residential indoor environments. <br /><br />The Zent-Frenger deal will bring onboard new technology and new expertise, meeting Uponor’s strategic needs, as well as a new range of product offerings – for instance, for renovation and refurbishment. <br /><br />The closing of the transaction is still subject to the approval of the German competition office. It has been agreed that Uponor can purchase the remainder of the company’s shares in 2012. <br /></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> </article> <article> <h1>Innovation from Uponor for energy saving</h1> <p>Tue, 01 Mar 2011 06:00:00 GMT</p> <p> <strong>Good news for users of energy recovery devices, particularly in biogas or landfill gas processing plants, hot water supply under external frost conditions. <br /></strong> <br />Uponor continues to develop new technologies for energy saving and introduces the innovative heat insulation from polyethylene to minimize heat loss and improve operating efficiency of <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=6C50D68983954CCA9A908FC369A8DF0A&_z=z">Uponor’s heat-insulated pipes</a>. <br /><br />Reliable heat insulation for hot water supply pipes is an operating efficiency criterion of the same importance as durability and service life. Modified insulation layer from a cross-linked polymer, which is currently used in all heat-insulated pipes of Uponor, enables reduction in heat loss by 12% compared to the former material being used and has better strength and flexibility at that. <br />Innovative insulation material safely prevents heat loss, ensuring better economic efficiency of operation for pre-insulated pipes. Therefore, they are optimal for use in facilities, where energy recovery devices are installed, particularly in biogas or landfill gas processing plants, and are the best solution for hot water supply under eternal frost conditions. <br /><br />Flexible Uponor pre-insulated pipe is the proven name for the innovative piping system, previously manufactured under Ecoflex brand. The main application is to transport a variety of liquids both inside and outside of buildings. The system also comprises <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=6C50D68983954CCA9A908FC369A8DF0A&_z=z">a complete range of products for heating hot and cold water supplies</a>. Its material properties give long service life and as the pipes have low-weight and are highly flexible, they can be installed easily and quickly, even over trees and round corners. Uponor pre-insulated pipe fully comply with DIN EN 15632-3. </p> <p> </p> <p> <strong>Flexibility is our strengths in installation and in use.<br /></strong> </p> </article> <article> <h1>Uponor financial statements 2010</h1> <p>Thu, 10 Feb 2011 14:00:00 GMT</p> <p> <strong>Uponor boosts performance in Europe</strong> </p> <p>A clear change in demand was seen in the building construction market in 2010, compared to 2009, and in some markets, including large parts of the Nordic region, demand took a strong upward turn. Slight buoyancy was reported in Central Europe, while in many other key markets, the weak economic situation continued to impact demand development. <br /><br />For Uponor's building solutions, the development of the new residential building market in 2010 reflected the overall development of the construction market described above. The same is true for commercial and public building, whose current cycle is following residential building with a slight delay. Renovation and modernisation projects remained at a relatively healthy level in many markets. <br /><br />Demand for infrastructure solutions was affected by the severe winter conditions in early 2010 and toward the end of the year, and the lack of funding in the public sector further contributed to this situation. <br /><br />Uponor managed to grow its net sales to €749.2 million, up 2.0% year on year, while operating profit increased to €52.4 million, up 27.0% year on year. <br /><br />President and CEO <strong>Jyri Luomakoski </strong>commented: “I am delighted with our improved performance in the European Building Solutions business and the positive results of our business integration and organisational development. The biggest disappointments have been subdued demand for building solutions in North America and the development of Infrastructure Solutions, which – in addition to intense competition – was affected by rising raw material prices. In 2011, we are planning sales price increases, in addition to those already announced or implemented, to compensate for higher material costs.” <br /><br />The comprehensive financial statements bulletin is available on <a href="http://investors.uponor.com/irmaterial/irmaterial_4.html?Id=hex_520821.html" target="_blank">the company’s investor website</a>. <br /></p> </article> <article> <h1>Uponor on the ISH 2011</h1> <p>Tue, 01 Feb 2011 06:00:00 GMT</p> <p> <strong>Uponor on the ISH from 15th – 19th of March in Germany <br /></strong> <br />The ISH provides the world's biggest showcase for innovative bathroom design, energy efficient heating and cooling technology and also renewable energies. <br />Frankfurt am Main in Germany will be the international meeting place for the industry in March 2011. <br /><br />Uponor's mission and vision will be the key topic. We will of course present Uponor's unique range of solutions. Come to the <strong>Uponor Booth No C30/D30 in Hall 6.0</strong> and see what unique experience with our portfolio and latest innovations we have to offer.</p> <p>More information can be found on a regular basis on our website or directly from the organisers of the <a href="http://ish.messefrankfurt.com/frankfurt/en/besucher/willkommen.html" target="_blank">ISH fair 2011 </a></p> <p>If you have furthermore questions please <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=758CC60B9DEC429CAFFB459E9148CF92&_z=z">contact us!</a> </p> </article> <article> <h1>Partnering with Uponor and how it worked out for the Cape town stadium</h1> <p>Tue, 14 Dec 2010 06:00:00 GMT</p> <p>When the Cape Town Stadium project for the FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa started in 2007, cost control was one of the main arguments in favour of Uponor, along with the perfect performance and the safety of the pipe. This project is the best example how a successful Uponor partnership works. Enjoy the interview with our local Uponor partner Sebastiaan Jacobsz from Afripex.</p> <p> </p> <p><table> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> <td><strong>Sebastiaan, give us a short description of the project? </strong></td></tr> <tr> <td> SJ:</td> <td>The project was custom built specifically for the 2010 FIFA World Cup as per specifications and requirement of FIFA. The goal was firstly to deliver the project within the deadline and then secondly for the potable water distribution system to deliver 7 successful World Cup games.</td></tr> <tr> <td> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td> </td> <td><strong>Who was your partner and was this the first project where you worked together?</strong></td></tr> <tr> <td> SJ: </td> <td>Wet Services Consulting Engineers on the project was WSP Cape Town. We have worked with them on numerous other commercial projects where they have specified Uponor Pex. WSP International is an international based Engineering Consulting Firm which specializes in various engineering disciplines. WSP has a well established presence in South Africa with offices in all major cities across the country.</td></tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td></tr> <tr> <td><strong></strong></td> <td><strong>How did you get the project? Why was Uponor chosen as the system provider?</strong></td></tr> <tr> <td>SJ:</td> <td>The initial product specification called for a PPR piping system but PE-Xa soon proved to be the optimum piping solution due to the oval shape of the stadium and therefore the fact that PE-Xa is a flexible system which comes in 50-100 m lengths. This proved to be a major time saving factor with regards to installation of the Uponor PE-Xa system compared to fusing 6m lengths of rigid piping and offsetting it at 25 degree angles.</td></tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td></tr> <tr> <td></td> <td><strong>Was this a basic project or were there characteristics that made the project more demanding than usual? </strong></td></tr> <tr> <td>SJ:</td> <td>From a wet services engineering point of view the project was very specialised and had very special demands with regards to peak flows during half time breaks. Special care had to be taken with sizing the piping distribution network. Flexibility of the Uponor PE-Xa system proved to have a significant benefit in terms of the functioning of the network due to the fact that very little elbows were used compared to a conventional rigid piping system.</td></tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td></tr> <tr> <td></td> <td><strong>How was it to work together as partners?</strong></td></tr> <tr> <td> SJ:</td> <td>Being associated with Uponor as a partner has been of great help not only technically but also purely by association. The project in totality has successfully delivered 7 FIFA World Cup Games which can be considered a success indeed.</td></tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td></tr> <tr> <td></td> <td><strong>What were the special requirements for Uponor/Afripex?</strong></td></tr> <tr> <td>SJ:</td> <td>Other than being able to bring the appropriate piping solution to the project, there were special technical engineering input required on the project. These special inputs were dealt with appropriately by both partners.</td></tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td></tr> <tr> <td></td> <td><strong>Did you learn something?</strong></td></tr> <tr> <td>SJ:</td> <td>Yes, we learned a lot about the project and the specific requirements. We also gained experience in testing the true ability of Uponor products when tested under stringent conditions.</td></tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td></tr> <tr> <td></td> <td><strong>Why did your partner WSP choose Uponor solutions for this project?</strong></td></tr> <tr> <td>SJ:</td> <td>Primarily due to the flexibility of the pipe, the piping coil lengths of 50-100 m and the low theft value of polymer piping compared to copper.</td></tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td></tr> <tr> <td></td> <td><strong>On what matters did your partner work together with Afripex/Uponor?</strong></td></tr> <tr> <td>SJ:</td> <td>The matters worked on together were technical related and cooperation between various entities in this regard was successful.</td></tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td></tr> <tr> <td><strong></strong></td> <td><strong>What went well? Was there room for improvement? </strong></td></tr> <tr> <td>SJ: </td> <td>The installation time of the Uponor piping system went very quick and saved both time and money, other than that there seem to be not much room for improvement from a product offering point of view.</td></tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td></tr> <tr> <td></td> <td><strong>What kind of support did your partner receive from Afripex/Uponor during the project? Did the cooperation bring any added value?</strong></td></tr> <tr> <td>SJ:</td> <td>Support offered was primarily technical of nature which included engineering from the planning phase as well as site support and training offered to the contracting team. The value that was added in this regard again proved the significance of being able to offer support in various aspects of a project when supplying product which is to perform a specific technical duty of considerable significance.</td></tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td></tr> <tr> <td><strong></strong></td> <td><strong>Thank you very much for the interview!</strong></td></tr></tbody></table></p> <p> </p> <p>For further information please check our reference report <a href="http://www.uponor.com/references.aspx?referenceId=968/2" target="_blank">here</a>! </p> <p> <br /> </p> </article> <article> <h1>Uponor makes steady progress and improves profitability</h1> <p>Tue, 26 Oct 2010 05:00:00 GMT</p> The construction markets showed relatively stable development in July-September and demand picked up compared to last year's third quarter. Growth was mainly defined by the recovery in organic growth following a lengthy recession, as consumers regained their confidence in the economy. Growth generated by fiscal stimulus measures could also be witnessed. <br /><br />Uponor Corporation's net sales grew by 5.2 per cent totalling EUR 205.5 (195.4) million for July-September. The effect of exchange rates was EUR 6.6 million, year on year. Net sales clearly increased mainly in Building Solutions - Europe. <br /><br />President and CEO <strong>Jyri Luomakoski </strong>commented on Uponor’s performance: <br />“We are confident that the residential construction markets will continue their slow but steady recovery, with clear regional differences likely. Although the public and commercial building sector is likely to touch bottom soon, an upturn depends on the overall economic situation”. <br /><br />The comprehensive interim report is available in <a href="http://investors.uponor.com/irmaterial/irmaterial_4.html?Id=hex_511174.html" target="_blank">the investor section </a>of the website. <br /> </article> <article> <h1>Uponor promotes underfloor heating and cooling in future low-energy homes</h1> <p>Tue, 19 Oct 2010 05:00:00 GMT</p> <strong>On 7-8 October, more than 350 participants gathered at the <a href="http://www.passivhusnorden.org/" target="_blank">3rd Nordic Passive House Conference in Aalborg, Denmark</a>. The conference focussed on the latest knowledge of sustainable building and refurbishment. The event gathered building owners, designers, contractors, policy makers, authorities and manufacturers within sustainable construction from all over Scandinavia and Europe. <br /></strong> <br />Uponor was present to showcase our latest research on the performance of <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=10CDED80C2F1481DAD853484D813EFE4&_z=z" target="_blank">radiant heating and cooling </a>in low-energy single-family homes. “The key question is what role water-based heating and cooling systems will have in super-insulated houses built in accordance with the new low-energy standards – the so-called low-energy and passive houses,” says marketing manager Lars Nielsen from the Indoor Climate business group. <br />“Based on our research we can conclude that <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=4BDAC05D0EFA40708A0EBFB239117058&_z=z" target="_blank">underfloor heating </a>and <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=1248153874B54249A943F26B7964A06E&_z=z" target="_blank">cooling </a>(UFHC) is performing better than air heating both in terms of energy efficiency and comfort. Particularly in combination with heat pumps underfloor heating has superior energy efficiency. Another important aspect for <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=10CDED80C2F1481DAD853484D813EFE4&_z=z" target="_blank">UFHC solutions </a>is that well insulated houses will have a large need for cooling during spring, summer and autumn. With ground coupled underfloor cooling we can provide the needed cooling in a cost and energy-efficient manner,” Lars continues. <br /><br />“Real-life experiences now confirm our results. After a two-year trial period where 10 different types of low-energy houses where tested by families living in them, one of the clear conclusions has been that the users request the comfort provided by a water-based heating system. Also the energy costs of air heating systems have been higher than predicted,” says Carsten Engelsfeldt, business development manager from the Indoor Climate business group. <br /><br />“But still we have a job in the market place to convince builders, owners and specifiers that using only ventilation for heating is not sufficient to create a satisfactory <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=10CDED80C2F1481DAD853484D813EFE4&_z=z">indoor climate</a>. There is a perception in the market that a water-based heating/cooling system will not be needed in future passive houses because of the reduced heat load. We have the arguments on our side and we need to bring all the convincing facts to the market,” Carsten says. <br /><br />“The conference provided great opportunities to discuss with different experts and practitioners. We have some interesting and sometimes heated debates, but I believe we managed to convey our message about low-temperature water-based systems,” Lars adds. <br /><br />The next Nordic passive house conference will be in Finland in 2011. We hope to be back with more updated knowledge on comfort, efficiency and performance radiant systems in tomorrow’s single-family home on that occasion! <br /> </article> <article> <h1>15 years of innovation with Quick and Easy technology from Uponor</h1> <p>Tue, 07 Sep 2010 05:00:00 GMT</p> <p> <strong>Quick & Easy fitting technology – reliable for the past 15 years<br /></strong> <br /> <br /> <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=2A8F9A638701427481396CE293EACB2F&_z=z">Uponor PE-Xa pipes</a> are produced for more than 35 years now. The system consists of in-house produced <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=0919A7A7AC334EB89556CD47F6798A70&_z=z">PE-Xa pipes and fittings</a> that fit perfectly together. The system is complemented by the necessary <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=606E4C4CB0F44867B167680D59BBFDB0&_z=z">accessories and a sophisticated tools </a>program – everything out of one hand to ensure reliable tap water and radiator connection installation. <br />15 years ago Uponor has developed the simple but ingenious <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=A8F57150EBFC46A9AADF7D4476E52415&_z=z">Quick and Easy connection system </a>which produces pressure-sealed, durable joints in just 25 seconds. The innovation made use of the shrinking back effect, which only works with crosslinked PE-Xa pipes produced by Uponor. The result is a long-term seal between the pipe and the fitting. In the beginning the fittings were made of special brass alloys, nowadays we offer the fittings made of the highly advanced polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) material. Also fittings with male and female thread as well as the manifolds are made of PPSU. The actual PPSU fitting range is available from dimension 16 up to 63 mm. <br /><br />For the installation of the system only 3 steps are needed: <br />1. Place the Quick & Easy ring on the pipe <br />2. Widen the pipe end with the expander tool <br />3. Push the pipe onto the PPSU fitting – done! <br /><br />Uponor always provides an entire system. For the Uponor PE-Xa system consisting of the Uponor PE-Xa pipe, the Uponor PPSU fittings, Uponor Quick & Easy rings for double-safety and the Uponor PPSU manifolds for reliable and safe results. This system is certified from several European standard institutes. The result is a hygienic system which does not affect the water quality at an expected life-time of 50 years. <br />Continuous development is a main target for this system to make it more user-friendly and reliable. Examples are the stop edges for the Quick & Easy rings and the newly developed self rotating expander head. Both innovations allow an even easier, faster and safer installation then before. <br />And Uponor will continue in this direction. <br /><br />3 billion metres of produced Uponor PE-Xa pipes since 1972 and 200 million PPSU fittings in the past years show the expertise and competence. <br />Pipes, fittings and system technology – Uponor offers the complete programme: certified safety and guaranteed reliability, a comprehensive worldwide network of local Uponor companies and distributors in more than 80 countries. </p> <p>Uponor simply more. <br /></p> </article> <article> <h1>Better insulation for Uponor pre-insulated pipe systems</h1> <p>Tue, 24 Aug 2010 05:00:00 GMT</p> <strong>Decades of tried and tested functionality alone are not enough to meet Uponor's quality criteria: for the manufacturer of the flexible, pre-insulated Ecoflex pipe system, the key issues are innovation and continuous product optimisation. For our latest Ecoflex products, this means a notable increase in efficiency. By further reducing the lambda value of these pre-insulated pipes, their insulating performance was improved by up to 12 per cent. <br /></strong> <br />This makes the flexible, <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=6C50D68983954CCA9A908FC369A8DF0A&_z=z">pre-insulated pipe system</a>, formerly known as Ecoflex, ideal for long-term use in local heating systems as defined by the DIN EN 15632-3 standard. In addition, the <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=E23AFB3FB0284C089E4BD65F3450FE22&_z=z">Ecoflex Thermo pipe</a> for heating water supply, offers the proven quality of a Kiwa Komo BRL 5609 certified pipe system. <br /><br /><strong>Staying ahead </strong><br />Practical qualities such as sturdiness and longevity are decisive when choosing pipes for subsoil installations. For a hot water pipe with a planned service life of several decades, however, proper and reliable insulation is just as important. This prevents heat loss and thereby ensures long-term economic efficiency. From now on, all <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=6C50D68983954CCA9A908FC369A8DF0A&_z=z">Uponor Ecoflex pipes </a>will be equipped with <strong>a modified crosslinked polyethylene insulant.</strong> Such an insulant has outstanding flexibility and durability, while <strong>reducing thermal losses to a minimum</strong>. This material is well suited to regenerative energy applications such as biogas and landfill gas plants, which use <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=6C50D68983954CCA9A908FC369A8DF0A&_z=z">pre-insulated pipe systems </a>such as <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=E23AFB3FB0284C089E4BD65F3450FE22&_z=z">Ecoflex Thermo</a> for heat distribution. <br /><br /><strong>More value <br /></strong>The innovative and improved polyethylene insulation is not the only benefit to come with the <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=6C50D68983954CCA9A908FC369A8DF0A&_z=z">pre-insulated pipe system</a>. As a specialised system manufacturer, Uponor not only guarantees certified quality but also offers a full range of additional services – from its free cut-to-size service to on-site training by one of our experts. Sustainability is the common denominator of all Uponor products and services. In new installations, for example, the combination of highly developed plumbing skills and quality pipes manufactured from best materials is crucial in ensuring the long-term cost efficiency of a construction project. </article> <article> <h1>Revived demand boosted Uponor’s profitability</h1> <p>Fri, 20 Aug 2010 05:00:00 GMT</p> <p>Uponor’s consolidated net sales in April-June totalled EUR 204.6 (193.3) million, up by 5.9 per cent on a year earlier. Net sales improved in the building solutions segments, with the North American segment experiencing the fastest relative growth. Uponor’s operating profit ended up at EUR 18.8 million, showing an improvement of 51.4% <br /><br />President and CEO <strong>Jyri Luomakoski </strong>commented on Uponor’s performance: “Overall, demand in the second quarter did not meet the expectations generated by market sentiment that had improved after the winter. Although many countries have seen numerous signs of recovery in residential construction, we are not yet expecting a sustained steady growth in demand. Staying alert and prepared for a wide range of challenges continues to be justified”. <br /><br />Uponor saw the confidence in the recovery of the building sector somewhat strengthen in April-June. However, this improvement was subject to major fluctuations and differences between countries. Unexpected disturbances in the global financial markets during spring and early summer, combined with withdrawals of public revitalisation measures, weakened business and consumer confidence in the future. <br /></p> <p>The comprehensive interim report is available on the <a href="http://investors.uponor.com/irmaterial/irmaterial_4.html?Id=hex_498820.html" target="_blank">company’s investor website</a>. <br /></p> </article> <article> <h1>Uponor Germany honoured as TOP 100 company</h1> <p>Wed, 14 Jul 2010 05:00:00 GMT</p> <p>In the course of a top-class gala event in Rostock-Warnemuende the 100 most innovative German companies were awarded for the TOP 100 honour. After "Germany's customer champions" award in May this year, Uponor received a second prestigious award on 1st July 2010. Lothar Spaeth, former Prime Minister of the federal state of Baden-Wuerttemberg and successful entrepreneur, handed over the TOP 100 award to Thomas Gillig and Michaela Hetzel from Uponor.</p> <p>The Vienna University of Economics and Business conducted a study for several months on the innovation behaviour of approx. 250 German small and medium-sized companies. The TOP 100, including Uponor, will bear the <a href="~/media/BD92CD8D815B4AD0A6805C3DD40D6AB8.ashx">quality seal </a>for one year. </p> <p>Uponor impressed the international economic expert jury by innovative products, such as <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=0065047D4F4A494481EE3660AA8F1787&_z=z">DEM</a>, as well as traditional products like the <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=25D5861507874672B7AADC870AA4834D&_z=z">multilayer pipe system</a> which has been constantly developed since its introduction 20 years ago. The jury was convinced that Uponor‘s systematic development is close to the market. The underlying processes like innovation management, innovation marketing and innovation promotion are top class among German SMEs. </p> <p>"Good ideas which are successful on the market will not arise automatically. We keep working on that day by day. We are very pleased that our commitment has been recognized and shows us that we are on the right track. It also demonstrates that we are going to rely on our good ideas in the future," concluded Thomas Gillig.</p> <p>Convincing solutions and services create satisfied customers. Therefore quality managment and review of the performance are important topics at Uponor.</p> </article> <article> <h1>Uponor on the Designbuild fair in Melbourne</h1> <p>Tue, 29 Jun 2010 05:00:00 GMT</p> <p> <strong>Designbuild in Melbourne as the starting point for intensified sales and marketing activities in Australia <br /><br /></strong>From 23 – 25th of June 2010 the main nationwide building fair has been held in Melbourne, Australia. <br />The Melbourne exhibition centre was the meeting point of domestic and international companies active in the building industry. Uponor together with its local partner <a href="http://www.huntheat.com.au/" target="_blank">Hunt heating </a>have shown the great variety of Uponor’s portfolio on the fair on a 36 m² big booth. </p> <p>For more information, <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=407F52BF326B4BE1920FA508AC356709&_z=z">please click here</a>.</p> </article> <article> <h1>Uponor introduces new showroom concept for wholesalers business</h1> <p>Tue, 22 Jun 2010 05:00:00 GMT</p> <strong>Uponor introduces new showroom concept for wholesales business </strong> <br /> <br />We have developed a totally new concept for presentation of Uponor solutions at showrooms of wholesalers, distributors and retailers. This concept includes different elements such as roll ups (1 x 2 meters), A2 posters, ceiling banners, floor graphics and counter displays. The reasons for the development were the following: <br /><br />1. Maximum attention at the point of sale <br />2. Standing out from the advertising material of the competitors <br />3. Rising the awareness of the Brand “Uponor” <br /><br />Thus we have developed a new key visual “the blue Uponor hand”. <br />We have chosen the blue hand as this implements different positive advantages <br /><br /><strong>- Maximum Awareness <br />- The human touch of the hand <br />- The “helping hand” from Uponor <br />- We have solutions which make it easier for the plumber </strong><br /><br />Even if the recipient doesn’t remember Uponor immediately, he will have the blue hand in mind. <br />Attached please find a <a href="~/media/18A79E60564C4E5BA1DCD3369AF090C3.ashx">presentation of the full concept</a>. <br /><br />Please give us your feedback on the concept to <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=8B1153F8416046EFB1D0FC9290A0E226&_z=z"></a><a href="~/link.aspx?_id=8B1153F8416046EFB1D0FC9290A0E226&_z=z">Marketing Manager Uponor International Sales</a>.<br />We will inform you in due time on item nos and information on ordering. <br /> </article> <article> <h1>Cape Town Stadium in South Africa equipped with Uponor solutions</h1> <p>Thu, 03 Jun 2010 05:00:00 GMT</p> <strong>Tap water installation for 68,000 people in Capetown´s new football stadium <br /></strong> <br />How do you economically sound fit the circular shape of a football stadium with tap water installation? The answer to that question is easy: use the flexible Uponor PE-Xa pipe system. When the <a href="http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/FIFA2010/Pages/defaultNew.aspx" target="_blank">Cape Town Stadium </a>project for the FIFA World Cup 2010 started in 2007, cost control was one of the main arguments in favour of Uponor, along with the perfect performance and the safety of the pipe. <br /><br /><strong>9,300 metres of Uponor pipes troughout the stadium </strong><br />Uponor has literally done any kind of tap water installation all over the place. A total amount of 9,300 metres of <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=2A8F9A638701427481396CE293EACB2F&_z=z">Uponor PE-Xa pipes </a>has been installed, thereby covering a huge range of dimensions from 16 up to 110 mm sized pipes are to be found in the complete drinking water supply. Also the high advanced <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=A8F57150EBFC46A9AADF7D4476E52415&_z=z">Uponor PPSU Quick & Easy fittings</a> have been installed. More than 400 spectator toilets, urinals, players´ changing rooms, bathrooms for VIPs, and the media and water supply for the kiosks in the stadium are supplied with Uponor pipes. <br /><br /><strong>PE-Xa outmatches PPr </strong><br />Originally, the stadium had been planned with PPr pipes. But those did not only run short due to their only recent introduction to South Africa. Even more problematic was the danger of leaks due to the critical material properties of PPr in combination with the circular shape of the stadium. The connections were under stress and caused leaks. Not only a damage, but time-consuming, too, because of high welding-efforts. With Uponor´s PE-Xa system, these troubles could be banned. <br /><br /><strong>A joint venture became an overall success<br /></strong>The job at the Cape Town Stadium was a cooperation of several partners. <a href="http://www.construction.murrob.com/cap_overview.asp" target="_blank">WBHO and Murray and Roberts </a>were the main contractors. Uponor’ s local partner <a href="http://www.afripex.com/" target="_blank">Afripex</a> assisted the Mechanical consultants <a href="http://www.wspgroup.com/en/Welcome-to-WSP-Africa/Sectors-Africa/All/Green-Point-Stadium-Cape-Town/" target="_blank">WSP-Cape Town </a>with the tap water supply design and layout, as well as with technical on-site support and training. Thus, the stadium could be finalised in early 2010, all sides being pleased with Uponor´s PE-Xa tap water system. <br /><br /> </article> <article> <h1>Green Building Council established in Finland</h1> <p>Mon, 31 May 2010 05:00:00 GMT</p> <p>The newly-founded Green Building Council Finland (FIGBC) aims to promote sustainable practices related to the built environment. In co-operation with other founding members, Uponor seeks to participate in communicating information and knowhow, while activating discussion on sustainable development within the construction industry. <br /><br />All operators in the industry, be they owners, investors, users, builders or designers of the built environment, view energy and environmental efficiency as important. FIGBC’s goal is to introduce the sustainable development perspective as a natural part of all building and construction activities. Its operations cover the entire built environment and its life cycle. <br /><br />Sustainable construction comprises many factors. Core issues include understanding the interaction between various aspects and the overall optimisation of buildings; in this respect, simultaneous decisions must be made within a range of sectors and the co-operation of several parties is required. As a member of the Green Building Council Finland, this is precisely the kind of co-operation that Uponor wishes to promote. <br /><br />National Green Building Councils are non-profit making associations that aim to promote sustainable building and construction industry practices. These associations are part of the global Green Building Council network. <br />The www.figbc.fi site will open soon. <br /><br /><strong>Juha Olkinuora </strong>of Nordea is the Chairman of the Board of the Green Building Council Finland, with Uponor’s <strong>Ilari Aho</strong> acting as Vice Chairman. <br /></p> <p> </p> </article> <article> <h1>Severe winter slowed down business in the first quarter</h1> <p>Wed, 12 May 2010 05:00:00 GMT</p> <p>Construction markets slowly recovering from the international economic crisis were hit hard by the severe winter in most of the northern hemisphere. As a result, development in building and construction was weaker than expected. <br /><br />According to Uponor’s interim report, its net sales in the first quarter were EUR 157.4 million, down by 8.0 per cent on a year earlier. Despite the fall in net sales, the company achieved a positive operating profit at EUR 1.5 million. <br /><br />President and CEO Jyri Luomakoski commented: “Despite the additional challenges caused by the severe winter, Uponor’s financial performance shows that last year’s savings and streamlining measures have been successful. We have strengthened our competitiveness in various ways, and are well positioned to respond to future challenges. The importance of building technology is becoming increasingly pronounced in green building and green living and Uponor can offer ecological solutions which create cost savings over their life cycle. <br /><br />The comprehensive interim report is available on <a href="http://investors.uponor.com/irmaterial/irmaterial_4.html?Id=hex_474074.html" target="_blank">the company’s investor website</a>. <br /></p> <p> </p> </article> <article> <h1>Uponor amongst Germany's customer champions 2010</h1> <p>Fri, 07 May 2010 05:00:00 GMT</p> 50 German enterprises with the best customer relationships have been honoured during a top-class gala event at the Palace of the Counts Elector in Mainz on Monday evening, 3rd May 2010. The prestigious award "Deutschlands Kundenchampions" (Germany's customer champions) has been awarded annually since 2008 by the forum “Market research Ltd. “ and the “German association for quality” to enterprises with exemplary customer relationship management, irrespective of the sector of the industry. <br /><br />"Customers welcome enterprises which consistently think from the customer's point of view and develop all processes in this sense. This pays off in the end," concluded co-initiator Dr. Wolfgang Kaerkes, executive member of the board of the German association for quality, positively. "In successful enterprises the focus of all considerations is on the customer, which has been impressively documented again at this year's competition." <br /><br />This year, Uponor Germany participated in the competition for the first time which included a comprehensive self-assessment and the presentation of customer processes. In addition a customer survey including approximately 100 of our German customers was conducted with regard to their opinion on Uponor. The analyses by the independent institutes have resulted in the nomination of Uponor Germany under the best 50 German companies with regard to customer relationship. <br /><br />And they have confirmed: For Uponor, partnership is not just a ingenious marketing idea, but a corporate philosophy followed by the entire company. <br /><br /><br />Picture caption: <br />Representatives of Uponor Germany, Michaela Hetzel, communications manager Uponor Central Europe (2nd from left) and Tanja Schamberger-Ruppert, manager sales division installers (standing in the middle), were happy to receive the award on Monday at the gala event in the city of Mainz. </article> <article> <h1>Uponor successful on the Mostra Convegno fair 2010 in Italy</h1> <p>Thu, 01 Apr 2010 05:00:00 GMT</p> <p> <strong>Milano was the meeting point for customers from over the globe</strong> </p> <p>Uponor was successfully attending the Mostra Convegno Expocomfort 2010.<br />The colleagues from Uponor Italy have reported 20% more customers registered at the Uponor booth compared to 2008. The booth was always fully crowded with visitors. The demo counter at which life demonstrations of the advanced Uponor plumbing solutions have been undertaken, was a real visitor magnet. The concept of installations of Uponor solutions in bathroom, bedroom, living room and an office was highly welcomed by the visitors.<br />These rooms were all equiped with Uponor indoor climate and plumbing solutions and the latest product innovations from Uponor.</p> <p>The new individual radio room control with its intelligent functions was a clear "number one highlight" on the fair. </p> <p> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> <td>The successful Italian exhibition team<br />infront of the Uponor tower </td></tr></tbody></table></p> <p> <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=3445329DDC864DC9AC2F62BF27A9507D&_z=z"> <strong>Please click here to receive further information on the highlights on the fair.</strong> </a> <strong> </strong> </p> <p> </p> </article> <article> <h1>Uponor introduced new solutions at ISH China</h1> <p>Thu, 18 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMT</p> <p> <strong>Uponor present with own legal entity in China and on the ISH 2010 in Beijing, China </strong> <br /> <br />Uponor recently achieved a major step for its business by registering its new entity, Uponor Trading (Beijing) Co., Ltd. in February 2010. It is Uponor’s first legal entity in Asia, and it is stressing the importance of the whole region and China in particular. <br />As an internationally leading solutions provider, Uponor was also present in the ISH exhibition, held in Beijing, China's most important marketing platform for the bathroom products, heating, energy and air conditioning technologies made its opening ceremony on 10 March 2010. During the ISH exhibition, Uponor successfully held a product technology seminar. <br /><br />The core topics of the seminar were: “Energy saving, high efficiency and high comfort concept”. The task was to focus on solutions with energy-efficient technologies and how Uponor can provide the different building types with reliable solutions which increase also the comfort level.</p> <p>During the seminar, Uponor's President and CEO Mr. Jyri Luomakoski and General Manager of Uponor Trading (Beijing) Co., Ltd Mr. Robert Cubick gave speeches. Professional experts, dealers and existing and potential customers attended the seminar. Uponor Indoor Climate Application Manager Mr. Zhang Xueming introduced the Dynamic Energy Management (DEM) and Comfort Panel operating principles, product advantages and installation methods. The innovative Uponor products apply for both building renovation and new building construction and target the professional designers, contractors and owners who will benefit from our advanced product solutions. <br /><br />Uponor’s innovative stand design attracted many customers. Uponor exhibited the following solutions: radiant heating, wall heating, tap water and radiator connection, as well as industrial heating. Many media representatives reported on the advanced Uponor technology. During the ISH exhibition, Uponor launched the following new products: Individual Radio Room Control with the Dynamic Energy Management and Comfort Panel for heating and cooling application. <br /><br /></p> </article> <article> <h1>Uponor on Tour at the Mostra Convegno Expocomfort fair in Italy</h1> <p>Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMT</p> <p>From 23rd - 27th of March the Mostra Convegno Expocomfort fair will open its doors in Milano, Italy. </p> <p>Uponor is offering to the market the idea of innovative high quality solutions on the fair with a clear focus on presenting solutions for private homes, offices and industrial buildings. In order to show the Uponor solutions - a comfortable living environment has been created with a real bathroom, bedroom, living room and an office. All equiped with Uponor indoor climate and plumbing solutions.</p> <p>Additionally new product highlights will also be presented. </p> <p> <strong>1. Dynamic Energy Management</strong> <br />The new individual radio room control with <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=0065047D4F4A494481EE3660AA8F1787&_z=z">Dynamic Energy Management (DEM) </a>and its revolutionary technology offers many advantages by offering a variety of new functions. And the best of all: Compared to other renovation measures such as building insulation, total renovation or solar heating system, the investment into the Uponor radio control with DEM pays off up to three times as fast! With a more accurate and faster control, the reaction time is up to 25% faster. Thus with the revolutionary DEM technology customers can save up to 12% in energy costs due to the higher efficiency. That has been confirmed in technical tests at the Technical University of Dresden/Germany. The result is a unique innovation from which installers, specifiers, and home owners will benefit in many ways, in new buildings as well as in renovation. Uponor DEM combines the efficient use of energy with a highest degree of comfort. <br /></p> <p> <strong>2. Uponor MLCP pipe system</strong> <br />Uponor is the pioneer of <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=93D90269FA4645B89B843DE47A89B01A&_z=z">multi layer composite pipe (MLCP) systems </a>with a number of 650 million metres of pipes produced since 1990 at the Uponor plant in Zella-Mehlis, Germany. We have widened our range of fittings by offering <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=3BA79F4C01894186B90329EA64D67BB4&_z=z">composite pipe fittings </a>made of the advanced PPSU (Polyphenylsulfone) plastic material up to dimension 50 mm. Elbows, tees and couplings for dimension 40 and 50 mm have now been added. For the outer dimensions from <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=E0AEF6EDF42C4433A3FE9C5FBE6BD1C1&_z=z">63 to 110 mm </a>the modular fitting system for risers has been completed with new spacer items. They allow to build up easy distribution lines and manifolds in a fast and secure way without the need of additional pipes and connection fittings. </p> <p> <strong>3. Uponor PE-Xa pipe system<br /></strong> <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=A8F57150EBFC46A9AADF7D4476E52415&_z=z">New Wipex and Quick & Easy fittings </a>for the connection to the MLCP Riser system as well as the PPSU fittings up to dimension 63 mm will be shown. </p> <p> <strong>4. Solutions for cooling</strong> <br />The importance of silent cooling is rising. Uponor offers for this future market segment innovative ceiling and <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=0205D339CA5F4EA1B2019E8752ED5231&_z=z">underfloor cooling solutions</a>. They are the ideally combination for cooling of green buildings and support the idea of sustainability and reduction of carbon dioxide for cooling purposes. <br /><br />These are only a few highlights to be pointed out.</p> <p> <strong>Come and see what we have to offer on the exhibition centre Rho, <br />hall 1, stand no. E11 F13.<br /></strong> <strong> <br />Ciao in Milano!<br /></strong> </p> </article> <article> <h1>Uponor financial statements 2009</h1> <p>Wed, 24 Feb 2010 06:00:00 GMT</p> <p> <strong>Uponor’s profitability improved in declining markets </strong> <br /> <br />The year 2009 turned out to be a difficult one, with the decline in construction continuing from the previous year. Demand in the construction markets throughout Uponor's main markets reached a historical low, except for Germany, where the markets also weakened but remained at a reasonable level. <br /><br />As a result, Uponor's net sales from continuing operations fell to EUR 734.1 million, a fall of 22.7% year on year. Despite the decreased net sales, the gross profit margin improved from the previous year. <br /><br />President and CEO <strong>Jyri Luomakoski </strong>commented on the performance: “The year 2009 was a challenging time for all of us due to construction activity slowing down and the demand for our products and services declining. Thus, Uponor’s main focus was to manage costs, maintain a steady cash flow and improve our efficiency, which yielded some good results.” <br /><br />In 2009, all of Uponor’s major end markets – residential new building, public and commercial construction, and infrastructure solutions - were characterised by low activity levels. An increase in renovation and modernisation projects was seen in countries where recovery initiatives were targeted at consumers. This stimulated demand for certain product groups. <br /><br />Uponor carried out savings, cost-efficiency and development projects to secure control over its cost development. The Group’s ongoing integration process progressed successfully and the new organisational structure introduced in the autumn of 2008 contributed to the significantly improved performance of Uponor’s supply chain, in particular. <br /><br />Uponor does not expect the external business environment to show clearly more favourable developments in 2010. <br /><br />The comprehensive financial statements bulletin is available on <a href="http://investors.uponor.com/irmaterial/irmaterial_4.html?Id=hex_201002100000461120.html" target="_blank">the company’s investor website</a>. <br /></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> </article> <article> <h1>650 million metres of experience on multi layer composite pipes</h1> <p>Wed, 03 Feb 2010 06:00:00 GMT</p> <p> <strong>The Original – the multi layer composite pipe system from Uponor</strong> </p> <p> <strong> <u>20 years of experience on multi layer composite pipes</u> <br /> </strong>Uponor knows exactly, how a really good multi layer composite pipe system should perform. Uponor stands for more than 20 years of unique customer proximity and innovation leadership. Pipes, fittings and system technology – Uponor offers the complete programme: certified safety and guaranteed reliability, a comprehensive worldwide network of local Uponor companies and distributors in more than 80 countries. <br />Since 1990 Uponor has produced multi layer composite pipes in Germany. Our pipe production in Zella-Mehlis has produced more than 650 Million metres of pipes in all these years – experience at a glance!</p> <p> <u> <strong>An all-around system </strong> </u> <br />The Uponor multi layer composite pipe provides complete potable water installation – from house connection up to the latest tap, as single connections via manifolds, tee connection or loop system. The stable and incrustation free pipe is easy and safe to install and has an authentic protection for drinking water. The used brass material for the system fittings meets all demands of the new German drinking water regulations. It can be used without restriction for all water qualities, which correspond to the potable water regulations. With the Uponor multi layer composite pipe you can easily and energy-efficient install complete heating systems without any problems. Using high quality Uponor multi layer composite pipes as well as corresponding system components - press and threaded fittings - the system can be connected to all standard heating components and radiators.</p> <p> <u> <strong>Comprehensive programme from one source </strong> </u> <br />Uponor is also showing competence in the construction and development of an exactly to the pipe verified fitting concept. The fitting programme with couplings, elbows, tees and a variety of practice-oriented system components leave nothing to be desired: pressing or screwing – both methods are possible and assure everlasting water-proof connections.</p> <p> <u> <strong>Always Innovative<br /></strong> </u>At the ISH fair in March 2009 we presented the latest innovations. On the one hand the new fitting generation for the multi-layer composite pipe for the distributor and riser system for big dimensions until 110 mm. The Uponor multi-layer composite pipe enables to work in a relaxed, comfortable manner at the workbench when pressing the connecting components to the pipes.<br />On the other hand the innovation for the dimensions 14 – 32 mm: no calibration – no deburring is needed. That means less tools and time saving of about 30 % with the press connection.</p> <p>Uponor is and will be innovative. <br /><br /><u><strong>Convince yourself<br /></strong></u>Please find here detailed information on <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=93D90269FA4645B89B843DE47A89B01A&_z=z">Uponor multi-layer composite pipes and fittings</a>.</p> <p> </p> </article> <article> <h1>Uponor presents energy-efficient solutions during the UN Climate Change summit in Copenhagen</h1> <p>Mon, 21 Dec 2009 06:00:00 GMT</p> About 15,000 people visited the BrightGreen exhibition (12-13th of december) that was organised in connection with the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) in Copenhagen, Denmark. The objective of the exhibition was to demonstrate available technologies to combat climate change, and the Uponor crew was present to spread knowledge about their energy-efficient heating and cooling solutions. <br /><br />Uponor’s integrated heating and cooling systems help utilise renewable energy, thus reducing fossil energy consumption and carbon emissions, and bringing significant savings in the energy bill. The company exhibits its innovative low-energy solutions in the Bright Green event in Forum, downtown Copenhagen, on 12-13th of december. <br /><br />Uponor presented its new Dynamic Energy Management (DEM), an innovative automatic control system for underfloor heating both in new and existing buildings. The system utilises a new pulsed supply in the heat distribution, which means faster response times and more accurate temperature levels, increasing indoor comfort and lowering energy consumption. A self-learning system, the DEM system gradually optimises its operation by adapting to the specific building conditions. The system has been proven to give additional energy savings of up to 8-10%. <br /><br />Uponor’s low-energy solutions combine energy savings with superior indoor comfort. This is possible through the use of water-circulating systems that can utilise temperatures close to the ideal indoor environment. Uponor’s product range encompasses a variety of solutions, e.g. underfloor heating systems, ceiling cooling panels and thermo-active constructions that use the building’s thermal mass for energy optimisation. They use energy cost-efficiently and can integrate solar energy, ground heat, heat pumps, biomass, or other renewable energy sources. Compared to traditional heating and cooling systems, they can bring savings of 25-40%. <br /><br />In the European Union, buildings account for approximately 40% of the total energy consumption, and the majority of this energy is used to maintain adequate indoor climate conditions through heating, cooling, and ventilation. Consequently, improved technical systems and thermal insulation offer great savings potential with short payback times. <br /><br />As an additional advantage, water-circulating building systems are ideally suited for low or zero-energy cooling. The need for cooling in buildings is constantly increasing, partly due to more extreme weather types but also due to changes in building codes and indoor climate requirements. Choosing Uponor’s heating/cooling systems for a building means that free cooling sources, e.g. in the form of a ground heat exchanger, can be utilised. Such solutions are ideal for office buildings where they can help eliminate power consumption for air conditioning and thus give savings on the cooling bill of up to 90%. <br /> </article> <article> <h1>Uponor on tour at the BIG 5 Show in Dubai</h1> <p>Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:00:00 GMT</p> In the last week of November, Dubai was the meeting place for all companies involved in the construction and building industry in the region. It is still the key driver industry in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar even if the city of Dubai is lacking. Moreover the BIG 5 Show is the region’s largest and leading building and construction exhibition for the Middle Eastern countries. <br />The BIG 5 brings together architects, engineers, contractors and developers from the public and private sectors to network, source and specify the latest building and construction products and services. It lines up the most comprehensive product offering with the support of national pavilions from all major exporting countries of the world. The show covers seven core industry segments: building and construction, water technology and environment, air-conditioning and refrigeration, cleaning and maintenance, glass and metal, bathrooms and ceramics, and marble and stone. <br />The main topic for this year has been the commitment to encouraging green products and sustainable building construction. <br />Therefore it has been the ideal place to exhibit the Uponor building solutions on a 36 m² sized booth. <br />Especially with our solutions in sustainable building technologies such as underfloor cooling we offer high comfort for building solutions that ensures low energy consumption and reduced CO2 emissions compared to conventional air conditioning systems. Uponor International Sales has intensively promoted the solutions and participation in the fair via online and print media initiatives plus public relations and invitations before and during the fair. <br />Uponor therefore attracted many visitors with the underfloor cooling concept which is covered by an entire project engineering services for the whole project cycle. Many new potential contacts have been made which we will follow up in the coming weeks to ensure that they will end up in new projects in this encouraging region. <br /><br />To the surprise of some officials the number of exhibitors and visitors has reached a new high-level. Some figures to underline the strength of the BIG 5 exhibition: <br />29,396 visitors from the United Arab Emirates <br />58,040 visitors <br />2,833 exhibitors <br />38,500 m² exhibition floor <br /><br /> </article> <article> <h1>Videos are now available on the Uponor solution pages</h1> <p>Mon, 30 Nov 2009 06:00:00 GMT</p> <p align="left">The Uponor webpages will be permanently updated with new content but also as part of the international new website strategy also with new features.</p> <p align="left">The latest update are now videos on Uponor solutions which have been included on the Uponor building solution pages. Customers can easily find out the outstanding advantages of our easy and fast to install systems.</p> <p align="left">Please click here to watch the video on the <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=3BA79F4C01894186B90329EA64D67BB4&_z=z">no bevel features of the Uponor MLCP plumbing system<strong> </strong></a>for dimension 14 - 32 mm.</p> <p align="left">Please click here to watch the video on the easiness of the installation of the <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=E0AEF6EDF42C4433A3FE9C5FBE6BD1C1&_z=z">Uponor MLCP riser system</a> for the bigger dimensions up to 110 mm.</p> <p align="left">We will assure you that our services will also be updated in the near future. Our webpage with the wide range of Uponor building solutions is only one click away.</p> </article> <article> <h1>Comfortable indoor climate enabled in Italian Palazzo Ferrazzi from 1800s</h1> <p>Tue, 27 Oct 2009 05:00:00 GMT</p> Uponor high performance panel has been selected as the best solution <br /><br />Uponor brings the comfort of its Indoor Climate solutions to a prestigious renovation project transforming a 1800s palace into comfortable offices. The beautiful and historical palace is situated in Brescia (Lombardia), a city in Northern Italy, which dates back to the Roman times. The city, known also as the “Lioness of Italy”, is internationally famous for it is the starting and ending point of the historical car race "Millemiglia". <br /><br />“This renovation was an important restoration project, with the aim to preserve and renew the typical features of the 1800s style. The main challenge was to preserve the building’s architecture, while installing a high performance system featuring fast reaction time that could satisfy the high demands coming from the daily use of office space” says Fabio Bresciani, Uponor Italy’s Technical and Project Manager. <br /><br />The traditional heating system could not meet the needed demand, and therefore the perfect choice was Uponor high performance panel with Uponor PE-Xa pipes of 9.9 x 1.1 mm. <br /><br />“Uponor high performance panel is only 1.5 cm thick and this was the right feature to match the very low available depths, due to the original marble floors, that were removed and then laid back in order to install the underfloor heating and cooling system. We also installed Uponor climate controls to manage the system for both heating and cooling. The system was completed with dehumidifiers to control the relative humidity during summer and, if necessary, for cooling integration”, explains Fabio Bresciani. <br /><br />A total of 23,000 meters of Uponor PE-Xa pipes, 1370 m² of panels, 38 manifolds and Uponor control system have been installed for this outstanding project. <br /> </article> <article> <h1>Modern architecture meets engineering of the future</h1> <p>Mon, 21 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT</p> <p>New Cologne, Germany landmark</p> <p>In 2009, three office buildings will be completed in Cologne, Germany, boasting impressive architecture inspired by quay cranes of the past. The 15-story buildings are considered to be somewhat of a new landmark for the modern, future-oriented Cologne. The buildings are designed by the Hamburg architecture office Bothe Richter Teherani. The southernmost of these buildings, Kranhaus Plus, houses a comprehensive solution in which well water is utilised for both heating and cooling purposes. The geographical and geothermal characteristics of the site, located on the bank of the Rhine, have been exploited in the design of the building. <br />The building is equipped with a system based on the thermal activation of its concrete structures. This prevents unpleasant fluctuations in temperature in these light, glass-walled offices, also during long periods of hot weather. The silent cooling system developed by Uponor stores room heat and operates invisibly, without generating any feeling of draught. <br />The Kranhaus 1 building took first prize in the business centre category at the MIPIM international real estate trade show in Cannes last March being the "office building of the year 2009". <br /></p> </article> <article> <h1>New Quick and Easy rings for PE-Xa system for larger dimensions</h1> <p>Fri, 18 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT</p> <p>For the Uponor PE-Xa pipe system new Quick and Easy rings for pipe dimensions 32, 40, 50, 63 are available from now on. They will include also the innovative stop edge. The new design prevents the ring from slipping down the pipe when expanding. This will facilitate the work for the installer and always makes sure that the ring will be correctly positioned on the pipe.</p> </article> <article> <h1>Uponor Academy with extensive training program</h1> <p>Wed, 22 Jul 2009 05:00:00 GMT</p> <p> <strong>Successful knowledge transfer to Uponor partners</strong> </p> <p align="justify">Training programmes for our Uponor partners are the key factor to transfer knowledge and to increase service level in countries where Uponor is not active with own offices. </p> <p align="justify">Only in 2008 we have trained at Uponor International Sales nearly 1,000 participants. Counting all Uponor Academy locations then some 10,000 participants have been trained in special courses during the past years. One example is the <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=69539B034DEA476EAE8CF3F470E82751&_z=z">seminar week</a> which took place at the Academy locations in Zella-Mehlis and Hassfurt, Germany from 6th to 10th of July. <br />Uponor had organised a seminar week with 25 participants from the United Arab Emirates, China, Slovenia, Serbia, Iceland, Lebanon and Syria. </p> <p align="justify">The highlights were also the training room in Zella-Mehlis in which simulation of underfloor heating and cooling are possible and have been of much interest. Feel and touch is what convinced the participants about cooling ceiling at the Academy in Zella-Mehlis where Uponor has installed the latest technology for practical demonstration during Academy courses.</p> <p align="justify">For further details please check the <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=69539B034DEA476EAE8CF3F470E82751&_z=z">detailed report</a>.</p> </article> <article> <h1>New Uponor web presence</h1> <p>Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:15:00 GMT</p> Uponor will introduce harmonised websites for all countries. The first launch of 14 websites deals with mainly Eastern Europe and countries where Uponor exports its products. Other Uponor units will follow step by step in 2009–2010. <br /><br />Visitors to the new site will find an open and clear design to support the unified Uponor brand message. Tailor-made services for customers, functional oriented solution pages as well as a completely new designed online product catalogue and a well arranged download centre will meet information requirements for a modern web service. <br /><br />“Discover the new Uponor world!” is the slogan for the virtual 3-D city where customers can experience the full range of Uponor building solutions with only a few clicks. <br /><br />The first pages in English have now been launched and visitors at www.uponor.com and www.uponor.com/international can convince themselves about the new design and features. </article> <article> <h1>No more bevelling - just press!</h1> <p>Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:00:00 GMT</p> <p>The new generation of Uponor multi layer pipe systems without calibration and bevelling for higher safety and time saving installation.<br />At the ISH 2009 Uponor has introduced the new generation of the multi layer composite pipe system for tap water installation and radiator heating. The important innovation of the system for the outer dimensions from 14 up to 32 mm: No more calibration and bevelling is needed. For the plumber that means less tools and to save one entire working step which leads to a time reduction of about 30% for the press connection. After cutting, the pipe can immediately be inserted into the fitting and afterwards has only to be pressed with the respective tool. The further advantages of the innovative system are still valid. The fittings have been designed so that water discharges when the fitting has not been pressed or screwed. This pressing indication together with the colour coded fittings and pressing jaws for fast and safe allocation of each dimension from 14 to 32 mm reliably prevents any kind of mix-up. These unique advantages together with the world-wide certified quality ensure a permanently tight connection combined with easy and efficient installation. </p> <p>Please find more details on the <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=93D90269FA4645B89B843DE47A89B01A&_z=z">solution page</a>.</p> </article> <article> <h1>300 different fittings are replaced by just 27 new modular items</h1> <p>Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:00:00 GMT</p> <p>Uponor introduces new fitting generation for it’s Riser system with multi-layer composite pipes <br /><br />Fewer parts, greater flexibility, easier planning and quicker processing are the key advantages of the new Uponor multi-layer composite pipe (MLCP) system for risers in the dimensions 63 to 110 mm. </p> <p> <br /> <br /></p> <p>With this innovation Uponor sets a new benchmark for multi-layer composite pipe systems with regard to quality, reliability and safety. While up to 300 different components are necessary for conventional 63 to 110 mm plumbing systems, the new Uponor MLCP Riser system requires not more than 27 items. The combination of polyethylene and aluminium of the multi layer composite pipes certified to German DIN 16833 makes the system robust, oxygen tight and resistant to pres-sure and temperature changes and thus leads to a durable installation. Please find more details on the <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=93D90269FA4645B89B843DE47A89B01A&_z=z">MLCP system</a>.</p> </article> </main></body></html>