13 June 2013: ISO 17020 accreditation for Inspection formally granted by UKAS

Today EffecTech added another UKAS accreditation to their portfolio. ISO17020:2012 Inspection Bodies, Type C accreditation was granted for the Inspection of on-line gas quality measurement systems. This is the fourth separate accreditation granted by UKAS.

21 May 2013: Visit from British High Commission, Singapore

We had a visit from Ian Turner who is a senior trade & Investment manager at the British High Commission in Singapore today. Ian is trying to encourage UK companies to trade more with Singapore and introduce companies like EffecTech to potential customers in the far east.

8 May 2013: EffecTech staff sign safety promise

The final deliverable from EffecTech’s safety day, the Safety Promise was signed by staff today. During the brainstorming session in January, EffecTech staff identified particular areas of their work where they felt safety behaviour could be improved thus developing a more robust safety culture within the company. The safety promise is displayed near the entrance of Dove House reminding all staff several times per day of their commitment to maintaining a safe working culture & environment.

29 April 2013: Two new members of staff

EffecTech have been successful in recruiting two new members of staff. Katie Forrester and Viv Lee joined the company today and will be working in the sales and laboratory teams.

7 March 2013: Largest single order for calibration gases leaves EffecTech

Today was a historic day as 103 calibration gases all calibrated according to our ISO 17025 scope of accreditation were despatched from EffecTech bound for India.
The calibration gases comprising C6 and C9 mixtures will be shipped to Vijaipur where they will be used on various locations within the GAIL network.

24 February 2013: CEM Calibration Success

Following the visit by UKAS on Sunday 24 February at the Doha laboratory, we are pleased to announce that we have been recommended for an extension to scope for CEM calibration including the measurands CO, CO2, SO2, O2 and NO in nitrogen. Subject to a few improvement actions we should have our capability approved by UKAS for both the Uttoxeter and Doha locations.

14 February 2013: "Three Steps to accurate gas Metering Heaven" published in Gas International

Bob Thomson's article "Three Steps to accurate gas metering heaven" was published in the January / February 2013 edition of Gas International. The article identifies the three key areas to focus on when minimising uncertainties in gas measurement.
Click here to download the article.

24 January 2013: EffecTech recommended for ISO 17020 Inspection Accreditation

Following a two day audit by UKAS, EffecTech have been recommended for accreditation to ISO 17020 for inspection of gas quality measurement systems. Once UKAS grant the accreditation, EffecTech will have ISO 17025 for testing and calibration, ISO 17043 as an accredited proficiency testing scheme provider and now ISO 17020 for inspection. This is a great step forward and gives our customers ultimate confidence in our services which are now all accredited by UKAS.

18 January 2013: EffecTech Safety Day

No work for EffecTech staff today as all staff were engaged in a day dedicated to safety. Safety is EffecTech’s top priority and this was reinforced to staff through the use of an external speaker, workshops and brainstorming sessions. The outcome was a safety promise which all staff have agreed to sign up to in their day-to-day activities.

17 December 2012: Three GC’s calibrated for Shell’s new floating Behemoth - “Prelude”

Three GC’s which are to be used on Shell’s new floating LNG production facility were calibrated in the Netherlands this week. The three Yokogawa instruments underwent the ISO 10723 performance evaluation ensuring they all produce accurate results for Shell’s latest and biggest FLNG project.

9 December 2012: EffecTech Presents at Qatar Petroleum’s “First Oil and Gas Measurement Forum”

The Ritz Carlton was the venue for QP’s First Oil & Gas Measurement Forum held in Doha, Qatar. Both operators and vendors presented state-of-the-art technologies and processes which will be adopted as part of the requirements of QP’s Measurement Guidelines. Dr Paul Holland outlined the importance of gas quality measurements in achieving the lowest possible uncertainties in energy metering and this was supported by QP’s Head of Measurement Systems, Mr Carlos Enrique Hernandez Bolivar.

26 October 2012: EffecTech wins GAIL (GAIL India Ltd) contract

EffecTech wins GAIL (GAIL India Ltd) contract to supply 90 cylinders to the HBJ pipeline in India. The cylinders are due to be shipped to India in Q1 of 2013.

24 October 2012: EffecTech Presents at North Sea Flow Measurement Workshop

Chris Cowper presented his paper “ What is C6+? today at the North Sea Flow Measurement Workshop this week in St. Andrews, Scotland. The paper was well received by delegates and certainly made them think about this simple but very important question.

24 October 2012: Another successful audit from UKAS

A surveillance visit took place on 23-24 October 2012 at Dove House. Due to the large scope of accreditation, five auditors in all from UKAS looked at our ISO 17025 and ISO 17043 technical methods and management systems in Uttoxeter.

15 October 2012: High Commissioner Visits Dove House

Today, EffecTech had a visit from the Judith Slater, the UK's High Commissioner for Singapore and Director of Trade & Investment representing UK Companies in the far east. Judith chose to visit EffecTech as part of her tour of the County.

3 September 2012: Calibration gas animated video

A new animated video went live today on the EffecTech website. The animation shows graphically the benefits of EffecTech calibration gases in a light hearted but informative way. You can view the video on the EffecTech website or YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/effectechcalibration

20 August 2012: EffecTech hosts a work experience week

Three local youngsters from the Uttoxeter area were experiencing life as analytical chemists this week. The three students currently studying A levels gained an insight into the complex world of gas chromatography and gas analysis. The three students hope to find a career in chemistry after their studies at university are complete.

8 August 2012: Across the North Sea

A new book featuring EffecTech was released today. Across the North Sea is a publication which pays tribute to the inspiring history of the British oil and gas industry and the technological innovations that have shaped it. The book can be downloaded as an e-book from http://hornonline.com/books/uk-offshore/

2 August 2012: Visit from Royal Society Chemistry

Professor Jim Iley Executive Director of Science and Education at the Royal Society of Chemistry visited EffecTech today. Jim’s visit followed a meeting with EffecTech’s Dr Paul Holland at Loughborough University Chemistry Department’s Research Open day held in April. Jim’s visit was on a fact finding mission to understand how chemistry based SMEs in the UK recruit and train their graduate staff and the areas where new graduates showed weakness or needed additional training. During his visit, Prof Iley met with many of the new graduates working at EffecTech UK.

15 June 2012: EffecTech engineers have been on site at the GATE terminal

EffecTech engineers have been on site at the GATE terminal in Rotterdam this week. Both the gas quality measurements and flow measurements have been validated by the team.

1 June 2012: EffecTech awarded contracts at South Hook and Dragon LNG terminals

EffecTech awarded contracts at South Hook and Dragon LNG terminals for the validation and calibration of the gas quality and flow metering systems.

18 May 2012: EffecTech will be calibrating the gas measurement system on Shell's new floating behemoth, "Prelude" the largest floating object ever created

Longer than four soccer fields and displacing six times much water as the largest aircraft carrier, the FLNG facility will be the biggest floating production facility in the world. Find out more

11 May 2012: 120 samples for OMV Petrom in Romania completed

Over the last 8 weeks 120 gas samples have been transported in a dedicated vehicle from Romania to EffecTech in the UK for analysis of the hydrocarbon and sulphur content. The analysis requirements were complex as the samples required the speciation of the typical sulphur components and analysis of the hydrocarbon content to C14.

2 March 2012: ISO 17025 Success for EffecTech’s Qatar Laboratory

1 March 2012 saw two UKAS assessors at the EffecTech laboratory in Doha, Qatar. The assessors were auditing the laboratory against the requirements of ISO 17025 for testing and calibration. Following clearance of a few improvement actions, UKAS will recommend the laboratory to be accredited to the standard. This will allow high quality calibration gases to be sourced from within the State of Qatar for the substantial and ever expanding gas processing plants in the country.

2 March 2012: New Appointment Strengthens EffecTech’s World Class Gas Metrology Capability

EffecTech is very pleased to announce the appointment of a new Principal Research Consultant, Gergely Vargha. Born in Budapest, Hungary, Gergely worked at the UK’s National Physical Laboratory for 10 years before joining EffecTech in February 2012. Gergely was a key member of the NPL gas metrology team. His role involved the preparation and validation of the UK’s Primary Reference Standard Gas Mixtures (PSMs). During his time at the NPL, Gergely was the major contributor to the work in which the UK’s primary standards were used in international comparisons at CCQM (Consultative committee for the amount of substance). This is the method by which national metrology institutes can demonstrate international equivalence. Gergely’s innovative approach and keen eye for detail ensured and will continue to ensure the UK is at the forefront of gas metrology.

2 March 2012: EffecTech’s Bespoke Research Facility Opens

A new research and logistics facility underpinning EffecTech’s commitment to growth and diversification opened recently. The new building covering 800 square metres over two floors is adjacent to EffecTech’s head office in Uttoxeter and will allow a wider range of calibration gas mixtures to be produced using a state-of-the art gravimetric facility. Indeed the new facility has balances boasting a 2mg weighing uncertainty at 15kg which can compete with any of the national metrology institutes worldwide. Other high precision analytical equipment located in the new facility will underpin raw material purity analysis; ensuring gases of the appropriate purity are used in the gravimetric process.

The new research laboratory will be run by the internationally recognised gas metrologist, Gergely Vargha. The combination of a new state-of-the-art laboratory and world leading staff are sure to produce extraordinary results.

18 November 2011: Handover of new warehouse and laboratory facilities

EffecTech commissioned the building of a new warehouse and laboratory facility adjacent to their head office in Uttoxeter. The new facilities were handed over from the contractor on 18 November 2011. The warehouse will house more stock, improving supply times and the laboratory will increase the capacity and range of services offered.

10 October 2011: EffecTech has been assessed by UKAS and is now an accredited provider of proficiency testing schemes under the requirements of ISO 17043

EffecTech is the only UK company which provides an accredited proficiency testing scheme for gases and gas mixtures.

26 August 2011: Proficiency Testing Scheme 11Q2 Results

Results for the second round of the Global Gas and LNG Proficiency Testing scheme have been reported today. 18 laboratories from around the World participated in this second round of the scheme.

2 June 2011: First Biogas Performance evaluation

The first EffecTech Performance evaluation of a Biogas gas chromatograph was conducted in Europe today. The Encal 3000 chromatograph underwent the ISO 10723 performance evaluation in the Elster Instromet factory in Silvolde, NL to assess its performance for the measurement of biogas. Biogas differs from natural gas in the components and composition ranges and challenges the instrument manufacturers with the inclusion of oxygen which many natural gas instruments cannot measure routinely.

Biogas generation and measurement continues to grow in popularity as it will form an important contribution to the EU’s renewable energy target of 20% renewable energy by 2020.

10 May 2011: Energy measurements at the GATE terminal, NL

EffecTech has evaluated all the metering equipment and network entry instrumentation at the new GATE (Gas Access To Europe) terminal in Rotterdam this week. The GATE terminal is the first LNG terminal in the Netherlands and will be an important source of energy for the Netherlands and the rest of Europe.

28 February 2011: EffecTech approved as an Investor in People organisation

EffecTech have underpinned their commitment to their staff by becoming an approved investor in people organisation. Everyone agrees that people are an organisation’s greatest asset, and we all know that for an organisation to succeed everyone has to perform well. To achieve this, people need the right knowledge, skills and motivation to work efficiently. They also need to be given clear direction and be supported by inspirational and effective management practices. IIP helps organisations improve productivity, meet goals and adapt to change.

3 February 2011: Another first for EffecTech - ISO 17025 accreditation granted for on-site temperature and pressure calibration

UKAS have granted EffecTech ISO 17025 accreditation for on-site calibration of temperature, pressure and differential pressure transmitters. The transmitters are used to measure the temperature and pressure of natural gas in gas metering streams, and the differential pressure developed across an orifice plate under flowing conditions. These measurements are used to calculate the volume of gas flowing through the metering stream. These calibrations are carried out as part of a wider validation process of metering streams that measure gas flow for payment purposes, often referred to as ‘fiscal metering’. This accreditation for the calibration of the secondary elements for flow complements EffecTech’s existing ISO 17025 calibration scope for gas quality measurements. The ISO 17025 accreditation status gives customers unrivalled confidence in their fiscal metering. 

22 November 2010: EffecTech awarded 5 year contract for Global Gas and LNG Proficiency Testing Scheme.

EffecTech has entered into a 5 year partnership with Shell Global Solutions to provide and co-ordinate a global gas Proficiency Testing (PT) scheme according to ISO 17043 standards. EffecTech will prepare and certify reference gases at their UK laboratory and send them “blind” to Shell laboratories located at their LNG terminals throughout the world. Each laboratory analyses these gases and reports back their results to EffecTech as scheme coordinators. Once all the results have been received, EffecTech reveals the actual gas compositions to the participants. The closeness of each laboratory’s results to the actual composition forms the basis of a quantitative assessment of their capability and performance. This will identify which are the better performing laboratories and those who may need help and guidance to improve. Anonymised results are reported to all participants so they can compare their performance against other laboratories in the scheme. The overall goal is to monitor and improve the quality of the data reported by each participating laboratory, providing Shell with an accredited global level of quality assurance.

Participants in this scheme include all of Shell LNG production sites and a number of other LNG contract laboratories around the World - For more information about participating in the scheme.

Following in the footsteps of EffecTech UK last year, EffecTech India have undergone successful stage I & II audits with the BSI culminating at the Tarapur facility yesterday (23 September 2010). EGPL was recommended for registration to ISO 9001 with ZERO improvement actions.

Representatives from Petrochina visited the EffecTech head office in the UK today. The visitors included the President of Petrochina, Dr Huang Liming and several of his management team. The Petrochina visitors were accompanied by Dr Gregor Friedrichs a consultant from the Dusseldorf based company Competence Engineering. The visit was organised to allow the Chinese visitors to understand how the UK’s natural gas transmission and distribution system operates, focusing particularly on the key metering issues across the entire network. Presentations from key experts in the field were given by Dr Dave Lander, formerly National Grid Gas and Chris Cowper along with other members of the EffecTech team.

This premier sector award requires the nominees to have demonstrated outstanding success during the last financial year and includes exceptional growth, development of services and products. The award will go to the business that has not only increased its own potential but also has had a positive impact on the economy of the region as a whole. The awards ceremony will take place at the Moat House Hotel in Stoke-on-Trent on Tuesday 23 March. 

Following a successful audit by BSI, EffecTech is now an ISO 9000 registered company, the official registration date was 23 November 2009.

EffecTech have secured their first calibration gas order from Egypt this week. This order for 10 calibration gases was gained through EffecTech being recommended by a UK subsidiary of the Egyptian company

A new record has been set by the calibration laboratory in the UK. An urgent order for ten ISO 17025 calibration gases for a client in Vietnam has been manufactured, calibrated, labelled and packed in 8 working days.  

EffecTech Ltd should, as they say, be cooking on gas having won the Business Initiative-backed Small Business of the Year Award.

The Uttoxeter company has a crucial role in deciding how much is paid for natural gas by large-scale users, dealers, and – ultimately – homes and factories using it or electricity from gas-fired power stations. Effectech’s business development director Paul Holland said: "It is a very prestigious award and we are really glad to win."

This will provide internationally traceable measurements of natural gas quality on the HBJ pipeline in India. The contract was awarded today by GAIL India Ltd following a tendering process which started in October 2008.

The EffecTech gases will be used to calibrate a large number of process gas and laboratory instruments providing GAIL India Ltd with state-of-the-art accuracy for their natural gas quality measurements.