When Fercell approached London Reclaimed, a London charity, offering to supply and fit a dust extract system it knew a great partnership would ensue.
It was just over a year ago when Mark Fletcher, MD of Fercell, the recycling and ventilation engineering company, came across London Reclaimed after reading about it in a local magazine. Inspired by the work it was doing and the charity’s ethos, Mark wanted to help it take its company even further on its journey and install a bespoke dust extraction system.
London Reclaimed started as an employment charity for 16-25-year-olds in South East London. It now operates two businesses under its umbrella – Goldfinch Furniture and Lumberjack Café.
Goldfinch Furniture provides a paid trainee programme where young people can work and earn for a year, producing unique, custom-made furniture from locally-sourced timber. After a year they are given support to find their next job using these new skills or a college course to further their education.
Goldfinch’s success in contributing to a sustainable future for the planet is local and very unique. When a tree falls down in London, Goldfinch lumber it where it lays before the timber is naturally milled and kiln dried on site. It ensures that the cycle is complete by planting a new tree somewhere in London, where needed.
To help improve Goldfinch’s efficiency as a business and provide a comfortable working environment for its young, dedicated employees, Fercell suggested a solution to exactly fit the needs of Goldfinch, its operation and its employees. That solution consisted of a centralised duct system with a multi breather dust collector, all of which was installed and commissioned by Fercell engineers.
Goldfinch’s original local exhaust ventilation arrangements were a series of small mobile filter units, which took up valuable floor space and were noisy, when all in operation. By installing a correctly sized and balanced centralised galvanised steel ducting system and a single dust collector, Goldfinch increased its usable floor space and improved the working environmental with improved dust control and noise reduction.
“To be able to help a business like London Reclaimed, who are helping young people get onto the business ladder and setting them up for the future is a real honour,” says Fercell’s Mark Fletcher. He continues: “They are investing in the workforce of tomorrow and in the environment, which for us to be a part of and able to support is extremely rewarding.”
For Goldfinch, whose overall vision and ethos is centred on investing in its staff’s health and their future, the ventilation system was a no-brainer.
“Working alongside Fercell has been an absolute pleasure.” says Mike at Goldfinch. “We have some exciting plans for the future – including expanding the milling side of the business and investing further in the Grade A hardwood that’s left to rot in London. Fercell are absolutely 100% in our future plans to grow our business.”
