FW3

The ProjectIn aiming to create a facility capable of accommodating 55 million passengers a year, the Manchester Airport project became one of the UK’s largest airport development projects to date.An integral consideration for Manchester Airport Group (MAG) in their decision-making process was ensuring that any solution aligned with their overarching sustainability goals. These goals aim to consistently reduce their carbon footprint and uphold their carbon-neutral status, which they have maintained since 2016.Not only this, but MAG also had to consider a wider variety of objectives, including the long term operational performance of the whole building, lifetime costs and customer approval ratings, amongst many other factors.Finding a solution for over 100 washrooms, that aligned with these numerous, sometimes conflicting objectives, was imperative. Fortunately, the Diamond Dryer proved to be just the solution MAG was looking for.The SolutionSustainability: The latest generation of hand dryer technology, utilised by Diamond Dryers, uses a powerful brushless motor, ensuring that electricity consumption is minimised. Thanks to a low 300W rating, this, in turn, saves 90% of energy compared to conventional hot air dyers.For MAG, using hand dryers instead of paper towels immediately reduced waste generation too, and the need for waste collection/removal. This allowed for an immediate carbon reduction, delivering environmental and cost-saving benefits alongside.Reliability & Maintenance:The brushless motor technology that these Diamond Dryers use is super-reliable and the units are backed with a seven year warranty to offer long-term peace of mind.To minimise downtime, these dryers have just three replaceable parts, which on-site engineers hold in stock. This means that the units can be installed by them easily in minutes.Speed:In busy public buildings with significant peaks in traffic, washrooms must be able to manage sudden influxes of people to prevent congestion. Since airports face this challenge, a rapid drying solution makes a major difference. The Diamond Dryers specified by MAG meet this challenge, taking just 10 seconds to complete the hand drying cycle.Aesthetics:The aesthetic appeal of each washroom is an important issue. Unattractive or poorly coordinated hand dryers can detract from the overall ambiance. This aspect was particularly crucial for MAG.The sleek, contemporary design of the new Terminal 2 applies to every aspect of the building. Opting for the compact Diamond Dryer units, in colours and finishes to match the décor, provides a seamless sense of unity and cleanliness. This integration contributes positively to the overall impression of the airport complex.The ResultsIn considering all these factors as part of its washrooms strategy, MAG has been able to arrive at a specification that will deliver the best solution long-term. The process they have adopted here shows the potential for any other public building operator to benefit from advances in hand dryer technology and work towards a more sustainable future.*Please note that images on this case study are for illustrative purposes only, to demonstrate the Diamond Dryer in action in the washroom. These are not photographs of the Manchester airport washroom facilities.

The ProjectThe Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Trust is a leading healthcare institution, in the heart of Devon. As a well-established healthcare provider, hygiene is of the utmost importance, especially when it comes to washrooms. So, when the requirement arose for updated hand drying facilities, the upgrades needed to not only be able to handle the hospital's high foot traffic, but also maintain strict hygiene standards.The ChallengesBeing a healthcare facility, there were a number of unique challenges that arose as a result. These hand dryer upgrades therefore needed to meet the following requirements:Hygiene - hand dryers must meet the highest standards for hygiene, to prevent the spread of germs and infection. This is especially key for a healthcare provider.High usage - with the building being populated with hundreds of staff, patients, and visitors every day, this meant the facilities needed to be able to handle a high level of foot traffic, while maintaining efficiency and performance.Energy efficiency - to coincide with the current eco-friendly initiatives, this public institution needed to prioritise energy efficiency, and reduced environmental impact. Therefore, hand dryers with low energy consumption were required.Durability - for a busy hospital, avoiding breakdown or frequent maintenance visits is key. The hand dryers therefore needed to be durable and robust, to prevent this.The SolutionSubsequently, The Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Trust selected 30 Biodrier Executive hand dryers for their high-performance. Key benefits of these hand dryers are as follows:Exceptional hygiene - With built-in HEPA filtration, these hand dryers provide a hygienic hand drying solution. HEPA filters allow for 99.9% of bacteria and airborne particles to be filtered out, creating a more hygienic washroom.Fast drying - Offering dry times of under 10 seconds, the Biodrier Executive prevents queues in the washrooms, and helps maintain patient flow.Energy efficiency - these hand dryers are designed to consume less energy than conventional hand dryer models, therefore reducing the Trust's overall energy usage. This, in turn, allows for a reduced carbon footprint and lower operational costs.Durability - built to endure high usage, the Biodrier Executive hand dryers are reliable and robust, requiring little to no maintenance.Low noise - these dryers offer a quiet operation, aiding the hospital's calm atmosphere, and minimising disruption for patients.The ResultsThe installation of 30 Biodrier Executive hand dryers was successful, with a smooth and efficient installation. Minimal disruption allowed for the hospital to carry out it's daily operations as usual.Key Outcomes included:Improved hygiene standards - aligning with the Trust's infection control protocols.Reduced waiting times - reducing congestion and enhancing user experience.Energy savings - reduction in energy usage compared to previous hand dryers, contributing to the Trust's sustainability initiatives.Lower maintenance costs - the durability and reliability of the dryers means less maintenance requirements, reducing costs.

The ProjectThe South London and Maudsley NHS Trust (SLaM), a renowned provider of mental health care, has distinct requirements for the equipment used in its facilities. With patient safety as a top priority, all equipment must meet strict anti-ligature standards to minimize the risk of self-harm.Recognizing the need for hand dryers that comply with these safety protocols, the Trust selected Biodrier ECO Hand Dryers, which were further customized by FW3, to enhance their anti-ligature features. This partnership has led to the ongoing installation of these dryers throughout the Trust’s facilities, ensuring a balance of safety, efficiency, and hygiene in a sensitive environment.The ChallengesAs a mental health care provider, SLaM faces a unique set of challenges related to its environment and patient population, including:Patient Safety: Equipment must be designed to prevent potential self-harm, requiring strict anti-ligature properties.Durability in High-Use Areas: The hand dryers needed to withstand heavy use in high-traffic areas while maintaining their safety features.Hygiene Standards: In a healthcare setting, particularly in mental health facilities, infection control and hygiene are critical.Energy Efficiency: Reducing energy consumption while maintaining effectiveness was important to meet both cost-saving and environmental goals.The SolutionThe Trust chose the Biodrier ECO Hand Dryer for its compact size, energy efficiency, and ability to be customized to meet specific safety needs. The FW3 Group enhanced the dryers by modifying them to meet the Trust’s stringent anti-ligature requirements.Key features of the solution:Anti-Ligature Design: FW3 Group's modifications ensured that no part of the dryer could be used as a ligature point, making the units safe for installation in high-risk areas.Compact and Robust Build: The Biodrier ECO’s compact design allows it to fit in tight spaces, while its durability makes it suitable for frequent use in demanding environments.Energy Efficiency: The hand dryer uses significantly less energy than conventional models, reducing energy consumption without sacrificing drying speed.Hygienic Operation: Touch-free sensors prevent cross-contamination, ensuring the highest hygiene standards across the Trust's facilities.The ResultsThe continued installation of these customized Biodrier ECO hand dryers across SLaM’s facilities has consistently met the Trust’s safety and operational objectives.Key outcomes include:Enhanced Safety: The anti-ligature modifications have greatly reduced risks, supporting the Trust's mission to provide a safe environment for patients.Efficient Hand Drying: The fast-drying capabilities of the Biodrier ECO help reduce restroom congestion in busy areas, improving facility flow.Energy Savings: The eco-friendly design has led to a measurable reduction in energy usage, supporting the Trust’s sustainability goals.Low Maintenance and High Reliability: The simplicity and durability of the Biodrier ECO have resulted in fewer maintenance issues, minimizing operational disruptions.

The ProjectIn 2012, The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) aimed to improve their sustainability credentials by upgrading washroom facilities across its offices. The goal was to find the most energy efficient, sustainable and user-friendly replacement hand dryers for its numerous washrooms throughout its HQ buildings 3 Whitehall Place and 55 Whitehall.Firstly, DECC wanted to eliminate paper towels, thereby cutting waste disposal costs, as well as minimising the labour hours required for waste collection/disposal. Additionally, they wanted to reduce energy consumption of hand dryers by installing the lowest power rated solutions available, and reduce standby power consumption.Secondly, DECC specified that energy efficiency must be assessed in terms of energy per dry rather than solely kilowatts (kW), recognising that some hand dryers may take longer to complete the drying process than others. Lastly, DECC aimed to enhance the washroom environment for its staff by minimizing noise levels.The SolutionDECC opted to install 54 Biodrier Biolite low energy hand dryers, sourced by their facilities management company, in order to meet these sustainability goals.These compact, yet powerful hand dryers serve an energy-efficient hand drying solution, perfect for companies striving to adopt more eco-friendly practices in the washroom.The ResultsWaste Reduction:In the Greening Government Commitments report published in December 2013, DECC reported good progress towards meeting its waste reduction commitments. It states that DECC has seen a 14% reduction in waste in 2012/13, with part of this improvement attributed to the installation of the hand dryers and phasing out of paper towels.Energy Savings:DECC reports that the Biodrier Biolite hand dryers use significantly less energy, both in use and during standby periods. This is due to the evolution of hand dryer technology, allowing for an adjustable heater element. For organisations like DECC, this provides the opportunity to use the lower energy setting during summer months, as warmer air is not required.Minimising energy consumption when not in use is also key to delivering these energy savings. Solutions like the Biolite have a very low standby usage of just 0.1kW.Lastly, the Biolite hand drying cycle lasts just 10-12 seconds with these, further minimising energy use.Enhanced Washroom Experience:Switching from paper towels to hand dryers delivered an instant visual transformation in the tidiness of the washroom, as well as the bins taking longer to fill.Noise is minimised too with levels limited to just 70 dBa, improving the washroom experience further.Swift Payback Period:The payback period for these Biolite dryers was calculated to be only 17.2 months (based on DECC’s five-day working week).

The ProjectChaddesden Park Primary School in Derby, re-opened in June following a 2-year building programme and refurbishment, for their 1960s buildings. The new two-storey building was constructed to the latest building standards, accommodating 402 pupils from the ages of 3-11.The teaching staff and school management team were, however, acutely aware of the operational hurdles posed by the outdated 1960s buildings. Consequently, they were motivated to ensure that the products selected for the new build met criteria for reliability, practicality, safety, and energy efficiency. This extended to the washrooms, which were outdated in numerous ways.Joyce Gallagher, Chaddesden Park Primary School Business Manager explains: "The washrooms in our previous school buildings utilised paper towels for the children to dry their hands. This created daily problems for us."Therefore, the use of paper towels in the school was problematic and needed addressing urgently.SolutionThe school opted to install the latest generation of low energy hand dryers to avoid the issues it had experienced with paper towels.These hand dryers the school selected included the Biodrier Biobot - a child-friendly hand dryer, designed specifically for small children - and the Biodrier Eco - an extremely energy efficient hand dryer.Joyce comments on the thought process behind selecting this dryers: "The Biobot and Ecodriers were primarily chosen because of the potential for savings on paper towels, plumber call-outs and cleaner routines, but they also gave us the opportunity to help educate children about the importance of environmental savings given the reduction in wastage and application of low energy technology. This was particularly so with the Biobots which feature a colourful educational back-board which helps encourage the children to use the wash their hands to use the dryers."The ResultsThe upgrade from paper towels to energy-efficient hand dryers transformed the school's washrooms completely.Joyce continues: "The new school may only be a few months into its life but the results so far are fantastic. Compared to our old school buildings, the washrooms are tidier, safer, more attractive to visit and cost us far less to operate and maintain. The energy savings will become apparent as they are monitored over time, but we expect the dryers to make an important contribution to helping us minimise our carbon footprint longer term and reduce our energy consumption.”

The ProjectLidl spans across 960+ stores in the UK, making it one of the largest, and most popular, supermarket chains in the UK.Searching for an hand dryer to roll out across their stores, which met their specification, was a big task. Main features that were key in their decision included cost-effectiveness, energy efficiency, fast dry times, and hygiene.The SolutionLidl worked closely with us here at FW3, to find a solution that met their specification exactly, deciding on the Biodrier Biolite (HD-BL09). Don't just take it from us though, take it from Lidl's construction consultant, Henry Foxall:‘Opting for the Biodrier Biolite hand dryer in our stores was a no-brainer for us – it not only met our specification, but exceeded it. The hand dryer’s energy efficiency, powerful nature, and cost-effectiveness, in comparison to competitors, were the primary features that sold us on the BL09.’ - Henry Foxall (Lidl Construction Consultant)Cost Effectiveness:This was a huge factor for Lidl when choosing a hand dryer. The BL09 offered a hand drying solution which was extremely cost effective, in comparison to competitors and alternatives. The low running costs, thanks to it's ultra-energy efficiency, coupled with the fast dry times of just 10 seconds, ensured Lidl saved money both short, and long-term.Energy Efficiency:Using just 650-900W energy, the Biolite hand dryer offered an environmentally friendly hand drying solution, usingup to 90% less energy than conventional hot air hand dryers. This was a key point for Lidl when selecting a hand dryer, as conventional hot air alternatives can typically use around 2500W.Fast Drying:The BL09 is compact, yet powerful. Drying hands in under 10 seconds, it ensures high foot traffic is effectively managed, and energy usage is decreased. Having a hand drying solution in place, which can withstand high foot traffic is key for a busy supermarket.The ResultsSo far, the Biodrier Biolite has been rolled out across every Lidl store in the UK, with a scope to continue rolling out these hand dryers across any future stores.

Going up in the world! Fitted in the world's tallest building - Burj Khalifa, DubaiThe ProjectThe Burj Khalifa, standing at 828 meters, is not only the tallest building in the world, but also a symbol of architectural innovation and luxury. With millions of visitors annually, the building’s facilities must uphold the highest standards of hygiene, efficiency, and sustainability. The SolutionTo align with these standards, the Biodrier Eco Hand Dryer was selected for their washrooms. Key factors influencing this decision included:Energy Efficiency: The Biodrier Eco uses 90% less energy than conventional hand dryers, which aligns with the Burj Khalifa’s energy-saving goals.Hygiene: The dryer includes HEPA filtration, built in, to remove bacteria and viruses from the air, ensuring a hygienic hand drying process.Speed and Noise Reduction: The dryer offers a drying experience under 10 seconds, with minimal noise, enhancing user experience.Durability: Made with high-quality materials, the dryer is designed to withstand high traffic, which is essential for a building with as many visitors as the Burj Khalifa.The ResultsThe installation of the Biodrier Eco Hand Dryer results in several positive outcomes:Energy Savings: reduction in electricity consumption, due to the Biodrier Eco, enables a more energy efficient washroom.Operational Cost Reduction: the cost of paper towels and waste disposal decreases dramatically, leading to lower operational costs.Environmental Impact: the reduction in paper towel usage leads to less waste, supporting the global commitment towards environmental sustainability.

The ProjectThorpe Park, one of the UK’s top theme parks, welcomes millions of visitors each year. With such a large number of guests, maintaining cleanliness and ensuring a smooth visitor experience are crucial. To meet these demands, Thorpe Park recognised the need for efficient, environmentally friendly, and durable hand dryers throughout its facilities.Subsequently, they opted for the Diamond Dryer Pure hand dryer, supplied by Mike Hentschel, with over 90 units being installed across the park.ChallengesWith any project comes a set of challenges which need overcoming. For Thorpe Park, the challenges included the following:High foot traffic: With thousands of daily visitors, the dryers had to withstand continuous use.Ensure hygiene: Fast drying and hygienic operations were essential to prevent water accumulation and keep facilities clean.Eco-friendly: Reducing the park’s carbon footprint was important, so energy-efficient dryers were needed.The SolutionThorpe Park chose Diamond Dryer Pure hand dryers due to their cutting-edge technology and environmental benefits. The following features were key in making this decision:High Performance: Diamond Dryer Pure provides powerful airflow for fast hand drying, minimising wait times and improving the guest experience overall.Energy Efficiency: Diamond Dryers consume significantly less energy in comparison with traditional hand dryers. This therefore supported Thorpe Park’s sustainability initiatives, allowing them to cut down on energy usage.Durability: Constructed with durable materials, Diamond Dryers are built to endure heavy use, reducing long-term maintenance costs.Hygienic Design: With touch-free sensors and HEPA filtration, these dryers ensure a hygienic experience, reducing the spread of germs across the park.Low Noise: Despite their power, the dryers operate quietly, maintaining a calm and pleasant washroom environment.The ResultsThe installation of more than 90 Diamond Dryer Pure units throughout Thorpe Park was completed smoothly due to the product’s ease of setup. Once in operation, the dryers delivered impressive outcomes, including, but not limited to:Enhanced efficiency: The rapid drying feature significantly eased restroom traffic, particularly during busy periods.Reduced energy usage: Thorpe Park reported substantial energy savings, aligning with their environmental goals.Improved visitor experience: Faster drying times and cleaner restrooms led to greater guest satisfaction, as seen in positive feedback.Minimal maintenance: Thanks to their durability, the dryers have required little maintenance, saving time and reducing costs for the operations team.