Company News

Working Together | Thorne & Derrick with The Faraday Training Centre

Uploaded by Chris Dodds | Sales and Marketing Manager at Thorne & Derrick

High Voltage Training for Cables & Power Systems

For 40 years Thorne & Derrick have proudly supplied the electrical industry with Power Cable Accessories to provide network reliability, security and energisation from 600V to 66kV – we distribute the most extensive range of Joints, Terminations & Connectors from 3M Electrical, Nexans Euromold and Pfisterer Connex to suit all types of electrical equipment connections in ColdShrink, heat-shrink and EPDM technology.

For 30 years The Faraday Centre, a world class facility, has been delivering hands-on, practical training coupled with theoretical assessment to empower the next generation of engineering talent.

Their 12 Training Rooms and 2 Practical Areas are equipped with a combination of the latest smart technology and legacy electrical equipment to support 50+ Courses delivered by highly qualified and experienced tutors with over 50 years experience.

The Faraday Centre also delivers on-site bespoke courses – this can be for private networks, DNO or tailored to suit the specific High Voltage operational requirements of a project or industry sector.

Expertise & Experience Combined

Both our businesses are now delighted to be Working Together – both our businesses with locations in the North East of England deliver our products and services to UK and international locations. Our industry partnership, based on market-leading Training Course delivery, now intends to close skills gaps, improve workplace safety and both to open and develop career opportunities for attendees.

Standard & Customised Training Courses

Working Together to improve electrical safety knowledge and implementation we will promote the most extensive of range of High Voltage Courses which enable the up-skilling of competency levels and career progression annually of over 2500 Electricians, Cable Jointers, Authorised & Senior Authorised Persons (AP’s & SAP’s) and Authorised Engineers (AE’s).

Standard module Courses are supplemented by tailored training packages to specific customer requirements.

Additionally, brand specific Offshore Wind Termination Courses can be delivered for leading cable accessory manufacturers including Nexans (Euromold), Pfisterer (Connex), 3M Electrical and NkT via The Wind Academy.

With dedicated lecture rooms for Cable Termination, Jointing & Authorisation Training, Thorne & Derrick are delighted to be Working Together in close partnership with The Faraday Centre – we support the delivery of best-practice Courses in the disciplines of High Voltage Jointing, Operational Safety, Protection, Testing & Switching up to 33kV.

“Following our recent visit and tour I am delighted to now be able to extend The Faraday Centre services to our existing and prospective clients. The UK confronts a significant shortage of skilled Electricians & Engineers which could hinder Net Zero goals – facilities like The Faraday Centre can accelerate policy, projects and people’s job opportunities to form the workforce to secure our Green Energy future. Should you have a general or industry specific Training gap, contact us to discuss it,” comments Chris Dodds – Sales & Marketing Thorne & Derrick.

Thorne & Derrick are Specialist Distributors to international Utilities, UK DNO’s, ICP’s and HV Jointing Contractors of an extensive range of LV HV Cable Jointing, Substation, Tooling & Installation Equipment from 600V to 66kV –  we service wind energy, solar power, battery storage, rail, utility, datacentre and the explosive atmosphere industries.

Based in the UK, we are highly customer responsive and absolutely committed to providing a world-class service.

Since 1985, we have provided expert technical support and express delivery from extensive UK stocks to world-wide destinations.

Key Product Categories: Connectors, Joints & Terminations MV HV | Cable Preparation & Jointing Tools | Duct Seals | Cable Transits | Cable Cleats | Cable Glands | Electrical Safety | Arc Flash Clothing & Protection | Cable Pulling | Earthing & Lightning Protection | Feeder Pillars

We’re Exhibiting & You’re Invited

⚡️ Collaborating For Cable Safety ⚡️

Thorne & Derrick and our hire-partners Sunbelt Rentals are delighted to announce that we will be co-exhibiting at OWNE, a leading national event for the offshore wind sector hosted by NOF – the event attracts an outstanding line-up of speakers and supply chain opportunities.

Chris Dodds (Sales & Marketing Manager) and Jonny Hewitt (Key Accounts Manager) from Thorne & Derrick will be joined by Patrick Winter (National Business Development Manager) and Ste Brown (Service Centre Manager) from Sunbelt Rentals – together we all look forward to meeting existing and new clients and suppliers on Stand C03. 

High Voltage Cable Safety

We will be Exhibiting & Demonstrating products to ensure array and export cable safety and the reliability of high voltage power systems and offshore substations – this includes Tools and Instruments for Cable Testing, Cutting, Spiking & Termination up to 120kV from PENTA, Alroc, Nexans, Ripley, Vicera and b2 electronics GmbH.

Cable SPIKING & CUTTING TOOL

We will be demonstrating LIVE the Picoup 400 Cable Spiker with Integrated Cutter alongside the industry’s most comprehensive range of Cable Preparation, Termination & VLF Test Instruments for 33kV, 66kV and up to 120kV power cables.

The unique PICOUP 400 from PENTA provides a combined “Spike & Cut” capability in a single-tool operation – exclusively stocked by Thorne & Derrick. Available from the Sunbelt Rentals hire fleet.

Location: Beacon of Light Sunderland
Date: 6th & 7th November

Click here to register to attend!

Find The Beacon of Light

NOF

NOF is a UK wide, business development membership organisation, helping to make valuable connections between businesses in the global energy sector. They work on behalf of members and their network of partners to put companies of all sizes in touch with the best and most innovative supply chain businesses in the UK.

The organisation offers an annual membership with four core services: Business Development, Industry Introductions, Events and Supply Chain Engagement. Your NOF membership can be enhanced with access to the Offshore Wind Projects Database.

Thorne & Derrick

Thorne & Derrick supply LV HV Electrical Cable, Jointing, Tools & Power Distribution Equipment up to 66kV to the UK and international Offshore & Onshore Wind & Renewable industry – we hold several Framework Supply Agreements with international energy providers, wind turbine manufacturers and High Voltage Power Energy Companies.

Based in the UK, we are highly customer responsive and absolutely committed to providing a world-class service.

Since 1985, we have provided expert technical support and express delivery from extensive UK stocks to world-wide destinations.

Thorne & Derrick | HV Termination, Jointing, Pull-in & Tooling | Specialist Distributors

Thorne & Derrick On the Path to Net Zero with NEPIC

4.10.2024
By Chris Dodds | Sales & Marketing Manager at Thorne & Derrick International

In our latest Blog, we would like to focus on Energy Transition and the future Green direction of our business at Thorne & Derrick as members of NEPIC (North East Process Industry Cluster). NEPIC represents the largest single cluster of process, pharmaceutical and chemical companies in the UK, and is the second largest in the whole of Europe.

Thorne & Derrick International, based in the North East of England, are leading UK Specialist Distributors of products to guarantee personal safety, site efficiency and plant reliability in Harsh, High Voltage & Hazardous Areas.

Our diversity is our strength, from providing legacy asset management solutions for aging electrical infrastructure to the delivery of high voltage cable connection products to repair or energise networks from 600V to 66kV. 

NEPIC Membership and their energetic corporate team have been an invaluable and a vigorous catalyst to the outstanding business and employment growth at Thorne & Derrick over recent years.

NEPIC supports the needs and interests of the process industry sector in the North East of England and exists to ensure our region thrives – lobbying for and supporting investments, innovations and opportunities with a partnership network of members.

Pictured | Thorne & Derrick at NEPIC’s flagship annual networking Event, Meet-the-Members – an opportunity to initiate new client introductions, strengthen existing relationships and gain invaluable insight into the Energy future via Main Stage talks delivered by industry leaders.

During the Event we showcased and received substantial interest in our ATEX certified range of products that provide LV & HV Power, Lighting and Heating to the emerging-energy, process and power industries.

Thorne & Derrick add premium supply-chain value to the Process Industry Sector – with an unrivalled product and service provision from locally manufactured Hazardous Area Lighting by Raytec to Cold-Shrink cable accessory products from global giant and Fortune 500 company 3M Electrical. Our business also provides design services for electric heat tracing and lighting systems for industrial and Explosive Atmospheres to ensure regulatory compliance with DSEAR and ATEX certification requirements.

We specify, supply and are Certificated to provide Installer Training for the 3M range of Cold-Shrink Medium Voltage Cable Accessories in the 11kV, 33kV and 66kV voltage classes.

A Sustainable Future for our Energy & for our Business

Our NEPIC Membership has positioned Thorne & Derrick alongside a cluster of industrial, power, process and hydrogen businesses dedicated to the decarbonisation of industrial operations through the deployment of Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS) – we are working to specify and supply compliant critical equipment to build and operate the infrastructure required to transport CO2 from emitters in the Teesside and Humber regions to a secure offshore carbon store beneath the North Sea via the East Coast Cluster and the Northern Endurance Partnership.

Image | The East Coast Cluster & Energy Transition

Net Zero Teesside

Net Zero Teesside (NZT) is a collection of industrial, power and hydrogen businesses which aim to decarbonize their operations through the deployment of carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS).

Net Zero Teesside Power (NZT Power) is a first-of-a-kind fully integrated gas-fired power and carbon capture project and a key driving force behind plans to make Teesside the UK’s first decarbonized industrial cluster.

NZT Power’s proposed combined cycle gas turbine electricity generating station will have an electrical output of up to 860 megawatts (MW) of low carbon electricity, enough to power up to 1.3m homes per year.

NZT | The UK’s First Decarbonised Industrial Cluster

T&D are Specialist Distributors to the Process Industries – this includes the fine and speciality chemicals, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals and polymers manufacturing sectors.

We supply and support businesses working on the design, construction and maintenance of UK, European and international projects.

We can competently specify and competitively supply an extensive range of Hazardous Area Equipment (ATEX & IECEx) to provide Power, Heating & Lighting to the Explosive Atmospheres industries – this includes LV HV Cables, Accessories, Jointing, Substation & Electrical Eqpt from 600V to 66kV.

Based in the UK, we are highly customer responsive and absolutely committed to providing a world-class service.

Since 1985, we have provided expert technical support and express delivery from extensive UK stocks to world-wide destinations.

Spike & Cut Power Cables ! Improving Cable Safety with Sunbelt Rentals

uploaded by Chris Dodds | Sales & Marketing Manager with Thorne & Derrick

Thorne & Derrick, the Specialist Distributor of LV HV Cable Accessories, Tooling & Substation Electrical Equipment, are delighted to be working alongside Sunbelt Rentals UK, the global leader in the hire of Electrical Test Equipment.

Together, we are launching the PENTA PICOUP UltraSafe range of Spiking Tools with Integrated Cable Cutters to improve industry safety and simplicity for contractors working on underground or subsea cable repair, jointing and fault restoration work, 600v to 132kV.

The unique PICOUP provides a combined “Spike & Cut” capability in a single-tool operation with a choice of 2 models; PICOUP 65 (LV up to 65mm) or PICOUP 400 (LV HV up to 140mm) diameter, including armoured (SWA) cables.

Safely spike then cleanly cut – one tool does it all.

Collaborating for Safety 

“Our PICOUP collaboration is based upon excellence in customer service and delivering cable safety improvements through tooling innovation. Thorne & Derrick provide a competitive purchase option with availability from stock, while Sunbelt Rentals have invested and introduced PICOUP into their hire fleet. Whether to buy or to hire, our collaboration guarantees immediate availability,” comments Chris Dodds from Thorne & Derrick.

“The Remote Controlled Hydraulic Spiking & Cutting Tool allows the user to verify the cable for absence of voltage and once proven Dead to then cut it in a one-tool procedure. I am genuinely excited about our collaboration – it improves safety, efficiency and further consolidates Thorne & Derrick as the global market-leading stockist of LV HV Jointing, Installation & Cable Preparation Tooling,” adds Chris.

“Penta ESP, Thorne & Derrick and Sunbelt Rentals are a unique collaboration in the industry, and one we are proud to be part of. Having a joint Sales-Hire option with both companies allows any potential customer to have fast access to either the Rental Fleet or to a Stocked Item ready within hours of interest. This nationwide service provides a cutting-edge product within easy reach. We are available to provide a Nationwide Demonstration of any product from the PICOUP range – all of our UK team will be happy to support you with further information should it be required,” comments Bill Earlie (Commercial Manager Penta UK).

“The PICOUP range of Ultra-Safe Cable Spiker and Cutting Tools are an absolute game changer with regards to SAFETY and OPERATIONAL CONSOLIDATION, in that they remove the requirement for live ammunition and incorporate both the spiking and the cutting of the cable, whether that be Low, Medium or High Voltage, into one function, thus saving time and costs.

Working together with Thorne and Derrick, a fellow North East of England company coupled with the expertise of Penta, means we are able to collaborate fully for both the hire or purchase of these fantastic tools and make a real difference to people’s lives who work in the cable industry,” adds Patrick Winter (National Business Development Manager at Sunbelt Rentals Limited).

• HYDRAULIC – safe operation, no resort to firing hazardous class, explosive cartridges
• REMOTE – safe working distance with no physical connection between the user and tool
• POWERFUL – hardened steel blades spike and cut up to 140mm diameter cables

To Site Overnight | 1 Tool = 2 Functions | Hire or Sale Option

Left to Right | Pictured at Sunbelt Rentals UK Hire & Service Centre in Stokesley, UK; Richard Derrick (MD Thorne & Derrick), Bill Earlie (Commercial Manager UK PENTA), Patrick Winter (National Business Development Manager Sunbelt Rentals UK) and Chris Dodds (Sales & Marketing Manager Thorne & Derrick).

Rugged & Robust | The IP67 waterproof heavy-duty tool is suitable for outdoor trench cable installations. Pictured : Safely cable spiking and cleanly cutting a 4 core 120sqmm XLPE/SWA BS5467 cable.

Image Credit : John Hayes (Director at JH Jointing & Cabling Contractors Ltd).

The UK’s Largest Rental Equipment Provider | Protection Relay Testing, Circuit Breaker Testing, Power Quality Monitoring, Cable Fault Location & Earth Testing.

T | 01642 718 900

E | [email protected]

ENERGYx2022 North | Chester Racecourse | 21st September 2022

ENERGYx2022 North | Chester Racecourse | 21st September 2022 | Book Now

ENERGYX2022 north

What:  ENERGYx2022 North | Electrical Industry Event
Where: Chester Racecourse, New Crane Street, Chester, CH1 2LY
When:  Wednesday 21st September 2022 09:00 – 16:00
Exhibition Space Bookings: BOOK NOW
Free Delegate Attendance: BOOK NOW

ENERGYx2022 North is an Exhibition and Conference for anyone working within the Electricity Industry (distribution network operators, private network operators, energy transmission, renewable energy, telecommunications, and rail companies). This Net Zero event combines Overhead Lines, Plant and Cables as well as featuring the Health & Safety aspects.

Thorne & Derrick are delighted to announce that we are exhibiting at ENERGYx2022 North taking place this September at Chester Racecourse. Earlier in the year we were Exhibition Sponsors for ENERGYx2022 South in Chester. We would like to take this opportunity to invite our supply chain to attend this prestigious event.

Thorne & Derrick will be showcasing a range of products including the Strutslayr Rigid Tool, HV Joints, Terminations and Connectors, Arc Flash PPE & Electrical Safety Equipment and Cable Jointing Tools.

There is much to see and do at ENERGYx2022 North, be that hear from leading industry figures, meet the best of the supplier base, take part in practical health and safety demonstrations, and sample the food drink and entertainment available at the Networking event the evening prior.

This event will be attended and supported by a wide mix of people working in Electrical Utilities, Network Operators, DNOs, Railway Companies, Transport Specialists, Renewable Companies, Civil Works, Health & Safety, Telecom, data centres and Industrial Manufacturers with private networks.

Following on from ENERGYx2020/21, COP26 and the UK government’s drive for us all to reduce the use of fossil fuels ENERGYx2022 will be a great place to benchmark our progress. The challenges reaching Net Zero creates for transmitting and distributing electricity whilst maintaining safe and reliable networks, though not insurmountable requires a lot of joined up and collaborative thinking.

With the proliferation of working from home it has become more difficult to meet and network with potential customers and suppliers and therefore events such as ENERGYx and The Electrical Engineers Circle have grown in importance.

Contact Louise Purcell Events Director at Energy Network Events Limited to discuss further:
Tel: +44 (0)121 736 0411
Mobile: +44(0)7581 779661
Email: [email protected]

Energyx2022 North Confirmed Speakers

Liam O’Sullivan – Licence Director, SP Manweb, SP Energy Networks

Liam O’Sullivan is the Licence Director for the SP Manweb area for SP Energy Networks. He started his professional career in ScottishPower in 2000 and has gained a wealth of experience in several senior roles, in both the Retail and Networks businesses, including Customer Collections, E-Commerce, Network Operations, Customer Connections and Large Capital Investment Projects.

In his current role, he is responsible for the electricity distribution network in North West England, North and Mid Wales. As a result of the decarbonisation of transport and heat networks, demand and reliance on our electricity network infrastructure is expected to increase significantly. Liam is committed to ensuring a smooth transition to low carbon technologies for all industrial, commercial and domestic customers in Merseyside, Cheshire, North Shropshire and North Wales.

Cara Blockley – Head of DSO Strategy, Electricity North West

Cara has been with Electricity North West for 14 years working in network innovation and transition to distribution system operations for the last 8 of those. Cara has responsibility for the teams who are charged with leading the North West to Net Zero.

This means ensuring we understand what the needs of our customers will be in relation to network capacity requirements, seeking innovative, flexible solutions to those requirements through running tenders for flexibility and supporting the adoption of low carbon technologies.

Geoff Murphy – Head of Delivery for Low Carbon Technology and Low Voltage Cables, SP ENERGY Networks

Geoff is currently the Head of Delivery for Low Carbon Technology and Low Voltage Cables in the SP Manweb Licence Area. He is a Chartered Engineer that has worked for SP Energy Networks for 18 years.

During this time, he has held several varied positions within the organisation, with a strong focus on developing, trialling an implementing innovation strategies and solutions.

Kailash Singh – Lead Engineer – Future System Strategy, SP Energy Networks

Kailash Singh is a Lead Engineer within Future System Strategy team at SP Energy Networks.  With over 15 years of industry experience, Kailash is specialised in power system planning, design, and network innovation.

At SP Energy Networks Kailash is involved in development of the state-of the art Engineering Net Zero (ENZ) Model which underpins Load Related Expenditure (LRE) within SPEN’s RIIO-ED2 Business Plans.  Kailash has been instrumental in development of SPEN’s flexible network planning process and have been involved in assessment of over 1.5GW of flexibility capacity across both distribution license areas of SPEN.

Professor John Barrett OBE

John is a Professor in Energy and Climate Policy at the Sustainable Research Institute, University of Leeds with over 20 years of experience in energy and climate policy. John’s research interests include energy demand, resource productivity, energy and economy modelling, carbon accounting and exploring low carbon transitions.

John has been the Director of a number of large research centres that has employed a range of modelling approaches to understand how changes in production and consumption can contribute to a low carbon future. John was the Director of the Centre for Industrial Energy, Materials and Products (CIE-MAP – www.ciemap.ac.uk), a £4 million initiative funded by the UK Research Council. The centre explored how using material and products differently could contribute to the UK carbon targets. John is now a Co-Director for the Centre for Research in Energy Demand Solutions (CREDS – www.creds.ac.uk). This £19 million initiative is a new research centre established in 2018 with a vision to make the UK a leader in understanding the changes in energy demand needed for the transition to a secure an affordable, low carbon energy system.

John’s research is applied in various arena having been an advisor to a number of UK Government departments, Government Select Committees and agencies such as the Committee on Climate Change. John’s research team are responsible for providing annual headline Government indicators, including an indicator on “Consumption-based GHG emissions” and “Resource Productivity”. His research findings have provided evidence and influenced many Government publications related to energy demand projections, climate policy and resources and waste strategies. John was also a lead author for the International Panel on Climate Change, Working Group III.

Helen Gaier-Laidlaw – Licence Programmes Manager, SP Energy Networks

Helen is responsible for the development and delivery of investment programmes for SP Energy Networks including Overhead lines, vegetation management, telecoms, civils, Low Carbon Technology connections and investments including EVs and heat pumps.

Management of budgets, asset and business performance as well as preparing for the next Price Control contract from Ofgem and enabling SP Energy Networks transition to Net Zero.

Tom Walsh – District General Manager – Scottish Power

Tom leads a multidiscipline team to build, operate and maintain the EHV, HV & LV electricity distribution network in Merseyside and delivering a world class customer experience.

Tom is an experienced GM with a demonstrated history of working in the construction and utilities industries.

Guy Shapland – Lead Commercial and Policy Analyst, SP Energy Networks

Guy started his career in Manweb in 1993 as an apprentice jointer and has worked in many areas throughout his time. More recently Guy has been taking a lead role in developing the processes and systems to manage the procurement and operation of flexibility services.

Jason Hicks – Offshore Network Strategy Manager, National Grid ESO

Jason started his career at National Grid in 2011. During this time, Jason has been responsible for producing the Network Options Assessment (NOA) signalling the future transmission network requirements needed to deliver the renewable energy revolution.

With 10 years’ experience in onshore network planning Jason recently pivoted into the offshore network planning space. Since then, Jason has developed the Holistic Network Design, a first-of-a-kind plan to coordinate the connection of 23GW of offshore wind and recommend the key onshore and offshore infrastructure requirements necessary to facilitate the Government’s ambition of connecting 50GW of offshore wind by 2030.

In his current role, Jason is continuing to develop the strategy that delivers a future offshore transmission network, unlocking access to large volumes of renewable generation and paving the way to Net Zero.

Simon Sutton

Simon has over 25 years’ experience in the electricity transmission and distribution industry predominantly in the cables sector. He has worked in the cable materials supply industry, as the cables policy manager for a transmission utility and in the research sector. His interests also include condition monitoring, diagnostic testing, forensics and asset management.

Simon now works as Director of Professional Services for Altanova and is based in the UK. His responsibilities include business strategy, external relationships, and the coordination of technical activities around the world.

Simon holds a degree and PhD in Physics both from the University of Reading. He is active in International professional bodies and recently became chairman of CIGRE Study Committee D1, Materials and Emerging Test Techniques. He is also a member of the editorial board of the IEEE Electrical Insulation Magazine and a Visiting Senior Research Fellow at the University of Southampton.

Sebastian Ebert – M Sc of Engineering / Diplom-Ingenieur Elektrotechnik (FH)

Sebastian graduated from the University of applied sciences Zittau, Görlitz (Germany) as a Electrical Engineer and has worked in the industry for nearly 20 years in Germany and across the world. He has been with Suedkabel since 2019 and as a keen environmentalist he and his team want to play their part in helping with the drive to Net Zero.

Based on what we learnt at previous ENERGYx events we thought it fitting to have a speaker from a world class manufacturer, Suedkabel, who have been producing high quality cables and accessories for more than 120 years.

Sebastian will speak about the importance of maximizing the use of European power cable system manufacturing with technological leadership and sustainable advantage as contribution to meet the climate targets to drive the energy transition in the UK and in Europe.

T&D are Specialist Distributors of LV MV HV Cable Installation, Jointing, Substation & Electrical Equipment – we supply companies in the onshore and offshore wind, solar, rail, oil/gas, data centre, battery storage and utility sectors with products to enable the energisation, operation and maintenance of underground cables and overhead lines.

Products | Sealing Cable Ducts | Cleats, Clamps & Hangers | LV MV HV Electrical Safety | Arc Flash Clothing & PPE | Jointing, Termination & Stripping Tools | Cable Pulling & Laying | Earthing– Tapes | Rods | Bars | Feeder Pillars | Joints LV – Cold Shrink | Resin | Heat Shrink | Joints Terminations Connectors MV HV | Tools – Cutting | Crimping

HV Joints Terminations Connectors | 11kV/33kV up to 66kV Ex Stock