We are thrilled to announce that Quintex has been approved by Alcumus as a SafeContractor.

Alcumus SafeContractor is the leading health and safety assessment scheme in the UK. With this, we assure our customers of our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of health and safety competency.

SafeContractor is a founding member of the SSIP Forum (Safety Schemes in Procurement) and is fully accredited by UKAS, the only Government-recognised accreditation body. We are proud to work alongside an organisation that values health and safety as much as we do.

For more information about the SafeContractor accreditation, please visit their website: https://www.safecontractor.com/en-gb/about-us/

Quintex have a record in working with higher education establishments such as the University of Reading and Warwick University. Our Cheetah demand based kitchen ventilation control system helped Warwick University to 341,062 kWh saved per annum which equates to an annual saving of £21,000. They achieved a 2 year pay back on their energy saving investment.

We have a number of blog posts aimed at helping educational establishments save energy (and money);

• How Cheetah from Quintex Helps Schools Save Energy (and Money)
• Schools: Taking The First Steps To Energy Efficiency
• Debunk Those School Energy Myths With Quintex
• How universities are reducing their own carbon footprint

This month, we’ve celebrated Plastic Free July, a month where people are being encouraged to use less plastic or to even live a plastic-free life. As the month is drawing to a close, we wanted to share a few ways you can make changes in your day-to-day lives and to do your part to reduce the amount of plastic being discarded.

Firstly though, let’s discuss just how plastic is having a negative impact on our planet. According to The Wildlife Trust, “Plastic is choking our seas and natural world. It poses a huge threat to wildlife because it doesn’t just disappear; it simply breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces.” Not only does it harm our wildlife, but it also clogs up street drains, and as most plastic can’t be recycled, it’ll stay around forever.

Here are some ways we can all make a difference to the amount of plastic we use in our daily routines:

Use reusable shopping bags

It’s tempting and perhaps more convenient to just grab a plastic carrier bag when you go through checkout, but opting for reusable bags that you can take with you each time you shop can significantly reduce the amount of plastic bags being used and thrown away.

Refill options

Many supermarkets and shops that sell products such as toiletries or cleaning products have a range of refill options available, so you can reuse and refill your plastic bottles. There are also package-free stores opening up across the globe such as this Asda store in Leeds, which we love!

Choose reusable bottles/cups

Refillable water bottles and reusable cups, for example, are a great way to reduce the amount of single-use plastic. The Welsh Government alone has stated that there are 33 million units of disposable cups and stirrers sold per year in Wales. Switching to reusable options can significantly reduce this number, especially if implemented worldwide.

Ditch the cling film

Cling film is bad for the environment and is clogging up our oceans along with every other piece of single use plastic. However, there are some brilliant eco-friendly alternatives, made from things such as beeswax and tree resin. You can even use your reusable tupperware boxes or silicone reusable lids!

Replace sponges and scourers

Usually, kitchen sponges are made from plastic, but there are plenty of alternative options using more sustainable materials. Green and yellow plastic sponges in particular are made from synthetic fibres that not only pollute waterways, but they aren’t biodegradable either.

Buy loose fruits and vegetables

Even though pre-packaged fruit and vegetables can be the convenient option, it also creates unnecessary waste and, in many cases, a lot of plastic. To reduce this, simply opt for loose fruit and veg or use paper bags that are available from many supermarkets today.

Quintex believe in sustainability!

There are so many ways we can do our part to reduce plastic and to help the planet. Our solutions are also created with sustainability in mind, and we have three powerful solutions for energy and grease management;

• Cheetah: Demand Controlled Kitchen Extraction System
• Ecofix: Grease Management System
• Biofix: Biologically Friendly Drain Treatment

For more information about any of our products or for details about how we can help you, get in touch with the team by calling 0118 973 9310.

Quintex Systems, a market leader in energy management technology, has joined the Energy and Environment Alliance (EEA). The aim is to help accommodation businesses save energy and reduce carbon emissions in commercial kitchens. This is critical now more than ever as the damaging impacts of climate change on biodiversity, wellbeing and long-term prosperity are increasingly apparent.

When the hospitality industry reopens its doors post COVID-19, new challenges will be faced. Ensuring new procedures are followed to guarantee guests’ safety will create extra responsibility and the imperative focus on sustainability may be delayed by some businesses who are struggling to survive financially. It is also likely that some managers may not wish to burden staff with extra tasks on top of those that will be encountered due to new legislation. Consequently, behaviour changes that would improve environmental performance may be unlikely straight away.

This is where Quintex patented DCKV system will help businesses; Cheetah, is the first technological solution made widely available to EEA members. It is an installation of a network of smart sensors into kitchen canopies/hoods. This technology ensures cooking activity is continuously monitored and the speed of both the extract and air supply is controlled to meet the required conditions. With this system, significant energy cost savings can offer payback on the initial investment in under two years.

One brand that has adopted the use of Quintex patented system is EEA member Radisson Edwardian. The value for its Heathrow property was recognised due to the size and function of the hotel. Offering 464 rooms each night, 42 conference rooms (fitting up to 1000 guests) and 3 dining outlets, the kitchens during their peak operating times are busy, hot and loud. This is contrasted on quieter days which came with heavily reduced activity. Many changes have been made across its portfolio, including a drive to create and develop a strong sustainability policy. This is critical, as sustainability is needed to attract and retain business clients. The vision of a strong sustainability policy is enhanced through the use of the Cheetah system and it is accepted as a win-win investment.

Ufi Ibrahim, CEO of EEA said, “Commercial kitchens can be highly pressurised environments with all hands-on deck focused on customer service. On Earth Day, we at the EEA are delighted to announce the partnership with Quintex to bring innovative automation that will reduce energy usage, cut carbon emissions and save cost, without adding any additional burden on the teams servicing commercial kitchens. The EEA strives to identify the behaviour and technology changes needed to decarbonise the hospitality industry. Such technology is critical and should be adopted where possible and relevant.”

Emma Brooks, Managing Director Quintex said, “We are delighted to be part of the EEA and look forward to supporting the EEA Technical Forum. Through the forum we aim to gather market intelligence, to identify trends that allow us to expand on the innovation in the technological and commercial solutions we create. This partnership will not only be great for us, but the industry as a whole as we all push forward to reach our 2050 goals”.

Lawrence Barnes, Group Corporate Responsibility Manager at Edwardian Hotels London, said: “Energy saving technologies from companies like Quintex are the route to the future. They create greater efficiencies and a deeper understanding of inhouse energy intensity. They will also enhance our environmental performance and help raise the brand’s image.”

Here at Quintex, we’ve developed our own solution to fully support clean and safe air in kitchens, and it’s a smarter, safer and more cost effective alternative to manual cleaning.

There are four months to go until it’s Clean Air Day, but that doesn’t mean we can’t speak up about the importance of keeping our air safe and clean in the meantime!

Commercial kitchens are environments that naturally expel grease, oil and fat deposits through ventilation systems, which not only harms the environment and the air we breathe, but also poses a huge fire risk if left untreated.

Why adequate ventilation in the commercial kitchen?

A kitchen ventilation/extraction system will work to remove any irritants from the air and control kitchen temperatures. When frying and cooking food in a commercial kitchen, grease, fat and oil deposits can evaporate and attach to walls and kitchen surfaces. Not only can this cause major problems for food safety and working environments, but it can be very unhygienic too.

Poor or inadequate ventilation can lead to smokey kitchens, whereas too much ventilation will waste energy. Kitchens need the right balance to ensure the fumes and grease is being taken away as efficiently as possible. Too much air can cause fumes to spill out from the canopy causing more issues for the kitchen, and potentially diners too in open kitchens.

Keeping commercial kitchen air clean and safe with Ecofix

Ecofix, our safe, automatic and eco-friendly grease management system, provides an effortless way to thoroughly clean your kitchen’s ventilation/extraction systems.

By using advanced biological technology, Ecofix penetrates every element of your cooker extraction and ventilation unit, cleaning as it goes. Ecofix bacteria also breaks down grease in such a way that water is the only by-product that is released. As a result, it puts an end to costly and time consuming manual scrubbing procedures and removes any residual odour.

There are so many other benefits to Ecofix, including its eco-friendliness, its ability to create a safe working kitchen environment and of course, the opportunity to integrate this with the Cheetah ventilation control system.

The campaign for clean air

Air pollution is often described as a ‘hidden killer’, and the campaign for clean air places a big focus on the air outdoors from road transport. However, the pollution expelled from kitchens will certainly play a part in contaminating the air with harmful particles if we don’t take the right action to reduce it.

Here at Quintex, we fully support the campaign for clean air, and it ties in nicely with our 2050 Net Carbon Goals. We aim to get as many commercial kitchens as possible energy efficient and carbon neutral by using Cheetah and Ecofix solutions, with cleaner and safer air for kitchen staff.

Choose Quintex for cleaner, safer air

All our solutions have been created with the environment in mind and we strive to be as environmentally friendly as possible. If you want to join the 8,000+ kitchens with Quintex solutions installed across the UK, then get in touch with the team today on 0118 973 9310 or email sales@quintex.co.uk.

Our very own Emma Brooks is in the spotlight this month, and for a very good reason… In case you missed it, Emma was recently promoted to Managing Director! We’re so thrilled for her new role and know this is an exciting step for the future of Quintex. She’s a crucial part of the team, so let’s find out more about her!

How long have you worked at Quintex?

16 years.

What are you required to do in your role/why is your role so important in the company?

My role is to lead, mentor and grow the Quintex team. Overseeing the finance, sales, operations and production teams. We are a small team and every single one has a great work ethic and belief in us as a business. We have many team members who have been with the business 10+ years and this is a testament to the great business we are. I’m immensely proud of my team and enjoy watching them grow with the business.

What does a normal day look like for you?

Busy! So many things to do and too many to mention!

Greatest achievement or most interesting project worked on whilst at Quintex?

My greatest achievement is becoming the Managing Director of Quintex. I joined Quintex as Office Manager in April 2004 on a part time basis as a new mum. Keith, our now Chairman, gave me the opportunity to be the Sales Manager in 2006 and the business went from strength to strength… I had a 6 month sabbatical in 2016 and re-joined in 2017, and since rejoining have been working hard to prove myself which has now finally paid off. From 1st December 2020 I will be the Managing Director of Quintex Systems Ltd.

Perks/favourite part of the job:

I’ve worked for Quintex for 16 years and absolutely love my job, I believe in everything we do, integrity and honesty is extremely important to me. All of our products provide a sustainable solution for our clients and when you get that positive phone call for future business just makes the job even more satisfying.

A bit about you (hobbies, what you do out of work, etc.)

I’m a mum to Lucas who’s 19 and 2 miniature schnauzers Ruby and Lola who are 8 & 6. They keep me on my toes. We love long dog walks and pub lunches…. I love a staycation as well as travelling abroad and looking forward to when we can all do that again.

A fun fact someone may not know about you?

I had an elephant at my wedding!

Keep your eyes peeled next month and see who will be under the spotlight!

Emma said, “I’ve worked for Quintex for 16 years and absolutely love my job. I believe in everything we do – integrity and honesty is extremely important to me. All of our products provide a sustainable solution for our clients and when you get that positive phone call for future business, it just makes the job even more satisfying.

It’s a dream come true to now be the MD of Quintex and I’m excited for the future.”

Keith Stevens, now Chairman of Quintex, said: “I’d like to thank Emma for her immense efforts over the past 20 months. Restructuring the business, managing day to day activities, as well as keeping some of our key customers happy are only a few of the challenges she has encountered.

This time last year we had turned the corner to a profitable year and were looking forward to continuing success in the coming years. Who would have predicted what was to come, the most testing and trying time the business has encountered since its inception 20 years ago. But, we are still here in business and still looking forward.”

Emma has been a key part of the business and Quintex’s progression over the years and we’re thrilled for her new role. We can’t wait to see what the future holds!

Emma Brooks Chats All Things Quintex With AmberEnergy

It was only a few weeks ago when we revealed our partnership with amber energy – the global utilities company with a simple mission: to fix utilities, save the planet and make people happy, leading the way in the energy industry.

As an introduction to this partnership, our own Emma Brooks chatted with the amber energy team to discuss how Quintex started, the kind of businesses we support and what our plans are for the future!

What is Quintex?

Quintex was first established in 1996 as a consultancy in the foodservice space. We’re essentially energy and grease management experts. In 2000, we introduced demand control ventilation systems to the UK, developing our own version called Cheetah. Cheetah is our flagship product and has been for years. Across the EMEA, and other parts of the world, we’ve installed around 8,000 systems so far.

Just to explain what it does use an everyday scenario if you’re in the kitchen at home and you want to cook an egg, you’d turn your extractor fan to one or whatever your lowest setting is; for a roast dinner, you’d turn your extractor fan to max. The Cheetah system does this all automatically.

By installing and using sensors in the canopies of commercial kitchens, we’re able to regulate the fan speed based on demand; the more they cook, the more air it extracts, and the less they cook, the less it extracts.

So, how does this help your clients?

If you slow a fan down from 100% to 90%, you actually save 27% of the required power needed to run it; and by turning that fan down to 50%, you save 88% of that power. That’s how we can make significant savings for our clients.

Can you give us a little known fact about Quintex?

It’s a family-run business. Our client manager, Chris, is the grandson of the founder. His grandad started the business in 1996, then his dad joined in 2000, and Chris followed suit in 2018. That is a huge part of our ethics actually. We’re not a huge company, but most of our team have been with us for 10 years plus. So, we must be doing something right.

Who are your clients?

Our client base includes businesses like Hilton, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, NHS, Fullers and Wagamama’s. Around 95% of our business is in the hospitality space, but what we do is also highly compatible with other sectors. For example, we also work with universities, schools and office buildings. But it’s important to note that we’re not just about achieving energy savings for our clients. We also sort out fan maintenance and often help with any noise abatement orders they may receive.

Does sustainability play a part in what you do?

Yes, absolutely. Ours is an energy efficiency product that can make a real impact. We explain to our clients, “Yes, we can save you X amount on your energy bills every year, and that’s going to have a great impact on your bottom line. But, more than that, what we’re doing is also going to help you meet your net zero targets.” At the end of the day, it’s not just about the commercial value for us. It’s about being as sustainable and eco-friendly as possible as well.

How has COVID and lockdown affected your business?

Following the first national lockdown in March, all our clients essentially closed their doors. But with cheetah, we could access their systems remotely; we were able to download their data on a daily basis and then advise our clients accordingly – taking action where necessary. More than that, our team spent those strange few months discussing how we could improve on what we’re already offering; to future-proof the business and push things forward. Our vision is now much stronger because of that.

How did you first find out about amber?

A mutual friend recommended that we speak to amber’s founder and CEO, Nick Proctor, so we approached him with our backstory and described what we do for our clients. The partnership started taking shape from that moment onwards, really.

What does the future look like for Quintex?

For the short term, at least, we’ve moved our focus on to the £1 billion Salix fund that the government has given to the public sector. We’ve previously installed our systems for universities, schools and hospitals, with great results, and we’re now looking to expand on that offering. With some of our contacts in the private sector halting any capital investments for the foreseeable future, we’re really excited to see how we can do more in and for the public sector.

Of course, we’re thrilled about the recent Quintex and amber energy partnership! Chris, our Client and partnerships manager here at Quintex said, “As with all partnerships it’s important that your brand values are aligned, that’s what excites us about working with Amber Energy, knowing that they will have any clients best interest at heart. With our combined passion in sustainability, I have no doubt that together we will help many businesses meet their energy and carbon goals.”

Huw Mitchell, Strategic Partnerships Development Manager at amber energy, said: “Quintex are a great example of an amber energy partnership which benefits all parties. Our clients have access to a piece of technology which saves them money and carbon, which in turn provides Quintex with new opportunities. At the same time Quintex understands how hard we work to find the most effective solutions to their clients’ energy challenges and having worked closely with us they are confident to recommend us. They know that we’ll bring that same level of customer-centred focus.”