#Scalable Construction

[epack-prefab]

EPACK’s 150-Hour Factory Build Challenge: A Record-Breaking Feat in Prefabrication

EPACK Prefab has set a remarkable benchmark in the prefabrication industry by completing a fully operational factory in just 150 hours. This achievement showcases the power of advanced construction techniques, strategic planning, and cutting-edge prefabrication technologies. In this blog, we will explore the details of this groundbreaking project, the key factors contributing to its success, and how it sets the stage for future innovations in the construction industry.

1. Introduction to EPACK’s 150-Hour Factory Build Challenge

The 150-hour factory build challenge was a bold initiative aimed at demonstrating the potential of prefabricated construction in drastically reducing project timelines. EPACK Prefab successfully delivered a fully functional industrial facility within a span of just over six days, addressing both structural and operational requirements.

2. Key Innovations in Prefabrication

EPACK Prefab employed several state-of-the-art technologies and practices during the 150-hour challenge:

Pre-Engineered Building (PEB) Technology: Optimized structural design for rapid assembly.

Modular Components: Pre-fabricated wall, roof, and floor panels.

Skilled Workforce Deployment: Well-coordinated teams working in synchronized shifts.

Smart Logistics Planning: Just-in-time delivery of materials to avoid delays.

3. Benefits of Accelerated Construction

The success of EPACK’s 150-Hour Challenge highlights several advantages of prefabricated construction:

Time Efficiency: Drastically reduced project timelines.

Cost-Effective Solutions: Lower labor and operational costs.

Consistent Quality: Factory-controlled production ensures uniformity.

Minimal On-Site Disruption: Limited dependence on extensive on-site activities.

Scalability: Easily replicable models for future projects.

4. Applications Across Industries

The methods and practices used in the 150-hour factory build are scalable and applicable across multiple industries, including:

Industrial Sheds and Warehouses: Rapid deployment of storage facilities.

Manufacturing Units: Controlled environments for production processes.

Office Spaces: Quick installation and customizable layouts.

Cold Storage Facilities: Energy-efficient designs for temperature-sensitive goods.

5. EPACK Prefab's Commitment to Excellence

EPACK Prefab remains a pioneer in the prefabrication sector, consistently delivering quality, efficiency, and innovation. The success of the 150-hour factory build challenge serves as a testament to EPACK’s expertise and dedication.

Why Choose EPACK Prefab?

Custom Solutions: Tailored prefabricated designs for unique project needs.

Proven Track Record: Successful execution of large-scale commercial projects.

Sustainability Focus: Environmentally responsible practices in manufacturing.

Factory Locations:

Greater Noida (U.P.)

Rajasthan

Andhra Pradesh

Conclusion

EPACK’s 150-Hour Factory Build Challenge stands as a milestone in the prefabrication industry, proving that efficient planning, advanced technology, and expert execution can redefine construction timelines. This achievement not only sets new standards but also paves the way for future innovations in commercial and industrial infrastructure.

At EPACK Prefab, we continue to push boundaries and deliver exceptional prefabricated solutions tailored to diverse industrial needs.

For more information or to discuss your project requirements, contact EPACK Prefab today! Related Article - How Manufacturers Deliver Industrial Factory Buildings Faster Using PEB Construction?

[pejasurveying1]

Hire Expert Freelance Quantity Surveyor Services in London – Flexible, Cost-Effective Support

PEJA Surveying offers top-notch Freelance Quantity Surveyor services in London and beyond. Specialising in cost management, budget control, and contract oversight, we provide flexible, scalable, and cost-effective solutions tailored to your project needs. Trusted by construction firms for 15+ years.

[nnctales]

Construction Automation: Types, Benefits and Future Outlook

Introduction In recent years, the construction industry has lagged behind manufacturing in adopting automation technologies. However, the current landscape presents an opportune moment for change. The construction sector’s trajectory towards a digital transformation is now marked by the increasing integration of automated technologies. From streamlining digital design and analysis processes to…

[newobsessionweekly]

Aftershock - Office Barbie

Main masterlist | The Rookie masterlist

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Tim Bradford x younger!reader

Fandom: The Rookie

Summary: Weeks later, fate (and a lost bet) brings Tim to a community conference—where you just so happen to be the key speaker.

Fluff

Warnings: sexual tension? kissing? not proofread

You didn’t expect to see him again.

Not really. You figured Sergeant Bradford belonged to that weird category of men you clash with once and remember longer than you should. Like a slow burn from a too-hot pan. Irritating, and then it lingers.

Tim wanted to leave the second they walked in.

“You two are evil,” he mutters to Lucy and Angela as they weave through city-funded booths and low-effort posters with cheap pamphlets about green living.

“This is what you get for losing a bet, Bradford,” Lucy chirps.

“I thought the punishment was brunch,” he growls.

Angela grins. “Brunch and an event. That’s how you learn humility.”

Tim’s already working on a plan to fake a phone call when the lights dim and a new voice comes through the speaker system.

Sharp. Confident. Familiar.

He turns his head—and his body goes still.

“Holy shit,” Lucy whispers beside him. “It’s her.”

Angela lifts a brow. “Tell me that’s not your girl from the construction site.”

Tim clenches his jaw. “She’s not my—”

“She called you Grinch,” Lucy interrupts, grinning. “You called her Barbie. And now she’s out here talking about carbon-neutral foundations in heels that could kill a man.”

“I think I love her,” Angela whispers.

“She’s not—” Tim tries again, but his voice dies in his throat as you scroll through your presentation, completely composed. He watches the way you move—elegant, direct, sure of yourself. You don’t look nervous. You look like the stage was built for you. Like the mic came from your purse.

You look… expensive. Like someone who knows how to win a boardroom, a bet, and a man—if you feel like it. Like the version of you he wouldn’t know how to approach, if he hadn’t already seen you in a hard hat and work boots, barking orders at construction workers during an earthquake like it was just another Tuesday.

You don’t dress like this for conferences.

Usually it’s practical shoes, maybe a sleek ponytail, something just polished enough to prove you take yourself seriously, but not too much—so no one calls you “daddy’s little intern” behind your back.

But today?

Today you wear hot pink.

The blazer is tailored, the skirt is short, and the heels are unapologetically sharp. Office Barbie realness. And you own it. You glide across the conference stage with your presentation remote in one hand and a bulletproof smile in place, heart pounding but controlled.

You’ve got this.

You’re talking sustainability in construction—carbon reduction, green infrastructure, water retention—and you know your shit better than half the men in the room who’ve been in the industry twice as long as you’ve been alive.

But then you see him.

Scowling like someone dragged him here against his will, still looking too good in a plain black T-shirt and jeans. And still somehow managing to make his scowl sexy.

You inhale, steady your hands on the remote. You don’t let it show. Not the way your stomach tightens or how your heart does a messy skip at the sight of him. You keep your voice level and your smile unfazed.

Because this isn’t the time. Or the place.

But God, you missed that face.

Tim hears words. He knows you’re talking about sustainability, about long-term environmental impact, about scalable urban design. He even recognizes a few terms. But none of it sticks. All he can focus on is the curve of your mouth when you speak, the fierce spark in your eyes, the way you command the room like you own every inch of it.

He's absolutely screwed.

Lucy elbows him hard. “Close your mouth, Bradford.”

“I’m not—”

“You’re drooling,” Angela stage-whispers.

“I’m going to kill both of you,” he growls.

“You’re welcome,” Lucy sings.

The second you step off stage, the conference organizer pulls you aside. Praise, compliments, the usual. But your eyes keep darting to the back of the room, where the tall, broody one is whispering furiously to his two grinning companions.

“What are you doing?” Tim hisses.

Lucy clasps her hands like a rom-com fairy godmother. “Helping you get laid. Now shut up and be nice.”

Angela tugs her away. “Don’t be a caveman. Go say hi.”

Tim glares after them. But he moves.

God, he looked even better up close. A little scruffier than last time. Brooding. And his eyes—so blue they could knock the wind out of you.

Tim gave you a slow once-over, and that smirk hit.

He stands there, hands in his pockets, the corner of his mouth just barely tipped up. That same annoyingly sexy, broody look on his face. Blue shirt stretched across his shoulders like a sin.

“Office Barbie suits you.”

You roll your eyes—but you’re smiling. “Still calling me that?”

“Still acting like you don’t love it?”

You step closer, arms crossed. “What are you doing here, Grinch?”

“Lost a bet.”

You bite your lip to hold in the laugh. “That explains the permanent scowl.”

Tim glanced at the now-empty stage, then back at you. “You were good.”

“Only ‘good’?” you teased, stepping closer. “I worked on that presentation for weeks.”

He tilted his head, eyes lingering on your mouth. “To be honest, I didn’t hear most of it.”

“Oh?” You raised your brows, pretending offense. “Too many big words for you?”

His mouth twitched like he was trying not to smile. “Too many distractions.”

Your cheeks warmed. But you didn’t flinch. “That sounds like a you problem.”

“Maybe,” he said, eyes dropping briefly—pointedly—to your legs before dragging back up to your eyes. “But the view was decent.”

You let out a soft laugh and cocked a hip. “You flirting with me, Sergeant?”

He stepped closer. “Would it work?”

“Depends.” You toyed with the button of your blazer. “Are you here to arrest me for having too many words in my presentation?”

“Didn't bring cuffs."

You gave him a slow, deliberate once-over.

“That’s too bad. I did prefer the uniform.”

He smiled. Actually smiled. It was a little crooked. A little dangerous.

And it did things to your insides.

Before you could say something even more reckless, a voice called your name. One of your professors—old, sweet, the type who’d ask you for lecture slides in a USB drive.

“I should go."

But when you started to step away, he reaches for your wrist—not grabbing, just touching. His fingers brush against your skin and it jolts through you like a live wire.

“Wait—can I get your number?” he asks.

You pause. Smirk.

“Where’s the fun in that?”

He raises a brow. “You’d rather I stalk you?”

You lean in slightly, lips just shy of his ear.

“You’ll have to catch me first.”

Then you’re gone—heels clicking as you cross the room, leaving him standing there with a frustrated groan and a look that says challenge accepted.

The event wrapped up an hour later, long after the panels ended and the buzz of too many conversations filled the air.

And there he was.

Leaning against his truck like he belonged there. Arms crossed. Jaw tight. Watching you approach like he hadn’t been doing exactly that since the second you walked in.

You slowed, one brow raised. “Stalking me now?”

He shrugged. “Maybe I’m just being polite.”

You glanced at the truck. “Didn’t think Grinches offered rides to strangers.”

He stepped forward, opened the passenger door for you like a damn gentleman. “Get in, Princess Barbie.”

You rolled your eyes, but your smile gave you away.

The inside of Tim’s truck is warm. Smells faintly like pine and leather and whatever cologne clings to him naturally, subtle but unmistakably him and masculine in a way that makes your thighs press together instinctively. You settle into the passenger seat, crossing your legs, careful to tug your skirt down as far as it'll go.

He starts the engine. Glances at you. “Seatbelt, Barbie.”

You smirk. “Worried about my safety, Sargeant?”

His jaw flexes, his eyes on the road now. “Always.”

Silence falls for a beat, thick and brimming with the words neither of you are ready to say. Then he clears his throat.

“So… what are you studying exactly?”

You raise an eyebrow. “Civil engineering. Sustainability focus. You know, boring stuff.”

He scoffs. “Didn’t look boring from where I was sitting.”

You give him a side glance. “You mean from where you were staring?”

His mouth twitches—almost a smile. “You were hard to miss.”

You feign surprise. “Because of the heels or the facts?”

Tim shoots you a look. “Definitely the heels.”

You laugh, and he exhales like he can finally breathe again. The ease between you returns, like it never left—not after the earthquake, not after the adrenaline wore off.

Not even after weeks apart.

The car settles into a smooth cruise, city lights rolling past the windows. Tim rests his right elbow on the center console. His fingers dangle—casual, relaxed. Then they brush against the bare skin of your thighs.

Heat crackles up your spine. You don’t move. Neither does he. His pinky drags the lightest line over your skin—so subtle it could’ve been an accident. But it’s not. You both know it.

You shift, just barely. His finger follows.

Still, neither of you look at each other. You chew your lip.

“You were impressive today,” he says, voice lower now. “Seriously.”

You glance at him.

“Thanks,” you say, softer. “I wasn’t sure anyone actually listened.”

“I did,” he murmurs. “Mostly.”

Your brow lifts. “Mostly?”

“I was distracted.”

You smirk. “By the visuals?”

“By your mouth,” he says simply. “Hard to focus on what you’re saying when you look like that.”

A pulse flutters in your throat. You open your mouth to answer—but then the car slows. A red light.

And suddenly, he turns. His fingers shift, pressing slightly into the inside of your thigh. His other hand leaves the wheel. And then he leans in.

You meet him halfway.

The kiss starts soft—testing, brushing. But your lips part almost immediately, like your body was waiting for this, begging for it. His hand cups your cheek. Yours tangle in the collar of his shirt. His tongue slips past your lips, deep and claiming.

It’s slow for a second. Then it’s not. The kiss turns wild—hungry, open-mouthed, teeth and breath and want. Like all the flirting, the near-misses, the power plays between you were just foreplay for this.

Your back arches into the kiss. His hand slides up your thigh, firm and confident. You gasp softly against his mouth, and he swallows the sound like it feeds him.

Then someone honks, announcing the green light. You both freeze.

Tim pulls back slowly, his forehead resting against yours for a beat before he straightens and puts the truck in gear again, cursing under his breath as he drives. His fingers never leave your thigh.

He pulls up in front of your apartment building, cuts the engine, and hops out to open your door before you can even unbuckle.

Chivalry looks good on him.

You step out, heart pounding, the kiss still tingling on your lips. But the second you’re on the sidewalk, his eyes are on your mouth again.

You smile up at him, voice low and teasing. “You know… I live alone.”

He raises an eyebrow, lips twitching. “As an cop, I suggest you stop saying that to strangers.”

You grin. “Didn’t know you were a stranger back in the car, Sergeant.”

He steps closer and kisses you again. Harder this time. Wilder. His hands find your waist, dragging you against him as your fingers tangle in the front of his shirt. You kiss him like you’ve been waiting—because you have. For weeks. For months. For this exact moment.

You fumble with your keys, still kissing, still gasping between touches.

The door opens. Neither of you stop as you kick the door shut with your heel.

Tim presses you up against it, his mouth hot and hungry on your neck.

You pull his shirt over his head—god, he’s ripped—and he does the same to you, sliding your blazer off your shoulders, fingers grazing your skin, leaving heat in their wake. You gasp when his lips find your collarbone.

“Tell me to stop,” he murmurs.

You look him in the eye. “Don’t you dare.”

[cognitivejustice]

Denmark’s largest energy community is now under construction, featuring more than 30,000 sqm of solar rooftops with a total capacity of about 4 MW. The project will use building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) on pitched roofs and building-attached photovoltaics (BAPV) on flat roofs from Danish specialist Solartag.

“It’s also one of the first to combine local power generation, architecture and citizen ownership in a way that’s scalable,” Karlsson added. “That’s what the energy transition needs – solutions that work technically, socially, and visually.”

“The batteries allow the community to store daytime surplus for evening use, provide local peak shaving and sell flexibility back to the national grid via market-based system services,” added Solartag's spokesperson.

[otherside-wanderer]

Hybrid sorter hub and its three branches - read more about its structure, how it works, and the development process below the cut!

General Structure

For this survival world, my friends and I decided to split up our resources in three different branches, all connected by one central hub. The fourth "branch" is an access hallway (not shown) that contains minecart rail stations. As of now, only one station is built, but the hallway also contains a room where any unsorted items flow out to - this room also contains its own sorter input!

You might notice redstone bulbs in the copper pillars along each hallway - activating these will reveal both a crafting table and stonecutter at the base of the pillar for easy crafting access. Also, the three branches have their own quirks since they were each organized and completed by a different builder - see if you can spot any differences (aside from the items being sorted)!

Redstone & Underbelly

During development, we decided that the sorter didn't need to be fully automatic like our last one - instead, we wanted a way to combine automatic and manual sorting, hence this hybrid design. Only the top rows (and about a dozen barrels in the middle and bottom rows) along each branch leverage automatic sorting - this was to simplify the sorter design and allow for better scalability. This is also why some of our most plentiful items are placed on the top row. We love Minecraft updates, but adding new blocks and items to a sorter can be tough!

Including manual sorting allows us to store unstackables as well as different kinds of items in the same barrel. Although there are some great designs out there for unstackable or multi-item sorters, we wanted this build to be our own and not have to worry about chunk alignment, minecarts, or having to construct it with build assist tools. If you're interested in the redstone for our automatic sorter modules, check out this post about our previous sorter! Our current one applies the concepts in similar ways.

Like our last sorter, @shewholistens has been doing an amazing job standardizing and decorating the Underbelly, which is still in progress. Having all of our sorter modules and hopper lines accessible (and good-looking) is such a boon, especially when doing work behind the scenes. Currently, the Underbelly is accessible via hidden doors at the end of each branch!

Development process

This was a big project. Since building our last sorter, we learned a lot about what works and what doesn't, and decided to carry that knowledge over to this one. In our new world, we put together a document detailing things we wanted in our sorter and how they would all fit together. These included item organization, a hybrid sorting system, input and output chests, crafting access points, a player-friendly underbelly, and - of course - decoration.

This prep work was by far the most important part of the sorter building process, and it allowed us to break the project into small, manageable pieces. It reminded me a lot of the work I do as a software engineer, and it was so exciting to see the sorter get built module by module, branch by branch.

Before I forget - huge thanks to @indigoforiver for convincing me that we needed a sorter! Our chest/shulker monster was... very bad...

[classic-vintage-bmw]

1991 BMW Z1 Coupe Concept

In 1991, BMW unveiled the Z1 Coupe Concept, a bold prototype crafted by BMW Technik GmbH, the company’s experimental division founded in 1985. Building on the Z1 Roadster’s innovative sliding doors and plastic body panels, the Z1 Coupe Concept reimagined the platform as a sleek shooting brake. Its elongated roofline and spacious rear hatch contrasted the roadster’s open-top design, while retaining the iconic vertically sliding doors—a feature that posed practical challenges for the taller coupe body. The prototype, primarily constructed from clay, wood, and plastic for its exterior, used a minimal steel framework to replicate the roadster’s galvanized chassis, ensuring structural alignment with the Z1 platform. Displayed as a full-size, non-functional model, the Z1 Coupe never progressed to production, yet its quirky silhouette hinted at BMW’s future experiments with unconventional coupes like the Z3 Coupe.

The Z1 Coupe was a testament to BMW Technik’s mission to push platform versatility and explore derivative models. The Z1’s architecture, with its steel chassis, flat aerodynamic undertray, and removable Xenoy thermoplastic panels, was designed for flexibility, enabling variations like the coupe and even theoretical all-wheel-drive configurations. Designated internally as the “Z2,” the concept, shaped under Harm Lagaay’s design leadership, blended E30 3 Series cues with unique features like roof bars, dual exhausts, and mirror-integrated spotlights. The prototype’s construction, combining a steel skeletal base with clay and plastic bodywork, allowed rapid design iteration while maintaining ties to the roadster’s engineering. Though high costs and niche appeal halted production, the Z1 Coupe’s platform-sharing vision influenced BMW’s development of the Z3 and Z4, showcasing the potential for scalable vehicle architectures.

Aerodynamics and engineering innovation defined the Z1 Coupe, mirroring the roadster’s advanced design. The Z1 platform featured a drag-optimized underbody shaped like an inverted wing, delivering 1g of lateral grip on standard tires. The coupe prototype, while non-functional, was built to reflect these principles, with its steel chassis core ensuring compatibility with the roadster’s transverse-mounted silencer and aerodynamic features. The concept retained the 2.5-liter inline-six engine in theory, offering 168 horsepower and 164 lb-ft of torque, though speculative plans for a 1.5-liter turbo engine, inspired by Formula 1 and aimed at Pikes Peak, surfaced in BMW’s archives, as noted in BMW’s Hidden Gems. These ambitious ideas underscored BMW Technik’s boundary-pushing ethos. The Z1’s engineering DNA, rooted in its steel and plastic construction, informed the structural rigidity of later Z-series models.

Though it remained a prototype, the Z1 Coupe Concept left a lasting mark on BMW’s legacy of bold experimentation. Its shooting brake design and platform-sharing strategy prefigured the cult-classic Z3 Coupe, proving BMW’s knack for blending practicality with driving passion. Publicly revealed in 2010 to celebrate 25 years of BMW Forschung und Technik GmbH, the Z1 Coupe, with its clay, wood, and plastic body atop a steel framework, symbolized the creative freedom of BMW’s engineers. The sliding doors, though less practical for a coupe, epitomized the Z1 project’s audacity. Today, enthusiasts cherish its influence lingering in BMW’s Z-series lineage and sparking ongoing fascination with its untapped potential.

[solarpunkbusiness]

A team from the Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences devised a method of crushing and chemically treating old turbine blades so that they could be mixed into materials used in road construction. 

This material was already trialed and has been in place on a section of Qingfu Highway in northwest China for over five months. So far, there have been no reports of cracking or rutting in this hybrid material, and it appears to be "long-lasting." 

While most parts from old wind turbines can be recycled or reused, including the shell, nacelle, and metallic internal components, the long blades are typically made from fiberglass. That's especially true of blades that are reaching the end of their lifespan now, after having been in use for the last couple of decades.

This breakthrough joins a short list of applications – compiled by Chemical & Engineering News – where recycled blades can be useful:

Global Fiberglass Solutions, headquartered in Kirkland, Washington, turns the blades into reinforced plastic pellets for manufacturing durable products like maintenance hole covers.

Waste management giant Veolia shreds blades into small pieces that go in kilns to replace the coal, sand and clay required to make cement.

Knoxville, Tennessee's Carbon Rivers recovers strong fibers from blades using a high-temperature process called pyrolysis; these can be used as-is or in the form of thermoplastic fabrics or pellets to make heavy-duty automotive parts.

There are also a number of efforts to make blades easier to repurpose or discard – from a quick-dissolving resin to manufacture them, to GE's recyclable thermoplastic, to a relatively inexpensive way to break down epoxy-based blades.

But while those are being tested and deployed worldwide over the next few decades, we'll still have this mounting issue of disposed blades to solve. The Lanzhou research team, meanwhile, will take on more projects to demonstrate its recycling technique, and establish it as a scalable way to repurpose old blades.

MORE

[daleeltrading]

Low Voltage Switchgear for Commercial Buildings: Key Requirements, Standards, and Best Practices

In the construction and modernization of commercial buildings, low voltage switchgear plays a critical role in ensuring safe, reliable, and efficient power distribution. From office complexes and retail malls to hospitals and data centers, these buildings rely on robust electrical infrastructure — and low voltage switchgear is the backbone of that system.

Whether you’re an electrical panel manufacturer, a building contractor, or a facility manager, understanding the key requirements for selecting and integrating LV switchgear in commercial buildings is essential.

What Is Low Voltage Switchgear?

Low voltage switchgear is an assembly of electrical devices designed to control, protect, and isolate electrical circuits under 1,000V AC. It typically includes:

· Air Circuit Breakers (ACBs)

· Molded Case Circuit Breakers (MCCBs)

· Miniature Circuit Breakers (MCBs)

· Contactors and Relays

· Busbars

· Metering and Protection Devices

Why LV Switchgear Is Critical in Commercial Buildings

Commercial buildings demand:

· Continuous power availability

· High energy efficiency

· Electrical safety for occupants

· Scalability for future expansion

Low voltage switchgear delivers:

· Protection against overloads and short circuits

· Isolation for maintenance and fault conditions

· Load management for energy optimization

· Monitoring via smart metering and IoT integration

Key Requirements for LV Switchgear in Commercial Applications

Safety & Protection Standards

Must comply with IEC 61439 or UL 891 depending on the region

Must include overcurrent, short-circuit, and earth fault protection

Arc flash safety features (like arc fault containment) are crucial in populated buildings

2. Compact Footprint and Modular Design

Space is often limited in commercial utility rooms. LV switchgear should be:

Compact to fit tight electrical rooms

Modular for easy expansion as building loads increase

3. Smart Metering and Monitoring

Today’s commercial buildings demand energy-efficient and intelligent systems. Choose LV switchgear with:

Integrated smart meters

IoT-based energy monitoring

Remote control via BMS (Building Management Systems)

4. High Service Continuity (Form Segregation)

To ensure maintenance without full shutdowns, opt for:

Form 3b or Form 4b segregation

Withdrawable ACBs or MCCBs

Dual incomer and bus coupler arrangements for redundancy

5. Scalability and Flexibility

Commercial facilities evolve. Your switchgear must too:

Allow for load expansion

Be compatible with renewable sources (like solar panels)

Support future retrofits and upgrades

Standards to Follow

Ensure LV switchgear in commercial buildings is compliant with:

IEC 61439–1/2 — General and Power Switchgear Assemblies

UL 891 — US Standard for Dead-Front Switchboards

NEC (National Electrical Code) or local building codes

Also factor in:

Ingress Protection (IP Ratings) — IP54/IP65 for dusty or humid environments

Short Circuit Withstand Ratings — Ensure it matches building fault levels

Best Practices for Installation in Commercial Building

Centralize the switchgear for easy maintenance and reduced cable runs

Provide ample ventilation or forced cooling

Use color-coded wiring for clear identification

Ensure emergency shutdown mechanisms are accessible

Document the system with single-line diagrams and load calculations

Applications in Commercial Buildings

Office Buildings: Smart load shedding and energy metering

Hospitals: Redundant systems for life safety

Data Centers: N+1 configurations and continuous monitoring

Malls & Retail: Segmented load distribution for different zones

Hotels: Backup and emergency panel integration

Choosing the Right LV Switchgear Partner

Look for a supplier who provides

Customized switchgear assemblies

Fast lead times and local support

Engineering assistance for layout and specs

Pre-tested or type-tested assemblies

Future Trends in Commercial LV Switchgear

Digitization & predictive maintenance

Energy-efficient, low-loss designs

AI-assisted load forecasting

SF6-free eco-friendly designs

Need Help Choosing LV Switchgear for Your Next Commercial Project?

At Daleel Trading, we supply certified, compact, and smart low voltage switchgear solutions tailored for commercial buildings. Whether it’s a small retail site or a multi-floor office tower, we deliver performance, compliance, and reliability — on time.

👉 Contact us today for a quote, a technical consultation, or a custom panel solution.

[theskyexists]

There are many reasons to not go in for nuclear power and some reasons to go in for it after all.

Against:

1. It takes so many damn years to build. We'll be 20 years on and far past our carbon budget. That HUGE (they are insanely expensive) amount of money could have been spent on something more scalable. Nuclear is not scalable. Wind and solar are extremely scalable (and cheaper every day). One reason is that renewable plants (e.g a mill) are small and a repeated construction. Expertise for constructing renewables is widely available, nuclear plant construction expertise is in short supply. Counter (a bit weak): even if it takes ages to build, still, we're not on schedule for non-fossil fuel use anyway, so it will probably unfortunately still be relevant in twenty years.

2. A nuclear plant is a national security risk. One: in times of war. 2: in times of natural disaster. No counter to that except: surely war won't be THAT bad and the failsafes will always be enough.

3. Sourcing the concrete, steel and uranium that goes into such a plant isn't good for the environment. Nor is uranium renewable. Current stocks and use would provide us with 130 years of energy production. Build more plants, that number goes down. Counter: producing any power plant requires mining and transport - coal plants and renewables do too, for example.

4. Nuclear waste is a non-negligible problem. There are (war) incentives NOT to reduce waste. Even when waste is minimised, waste remains. Highly dangerous waste can kill people for longer than any society on earth has ever survived. 500.000 years... So no society can reasonably take responsibility for it. When nuclear waste is stored and then spills (as has happened in Germany) the state must pay billions in taxes to clean it up. Storage is difficult. There are NO permanent storage sites ready in all of Europe. There's about 180 plants now that have ran for decades. No permanent storage. If a company is made responsible for a nuclear plant, they tend to pay out to their shareholders one year and claim not to be able to take care of the waste for fear of bankruptcy the next - or they've already declared bankruptcy. Literally happened here. There are no incentives to deal responsibly with the waste for companies. Germany is projected to have to pay hundreds of billions of euros for permanently storing all the waste they've still got lying around at interim sites. Once again, money which might have been spent on scalable renewable production. 500.000 years... this a storage solution must last for 500.000 years. Ever seen concrete last so long... ?

5. We're seeing nuclear crowd out renewables RIGHT NOW IN REAL TIME in politics in the Netherlands and the UK. The money (and project managemeny time) really cannot be spent twice.

For:

6. Fossil fuels have done way more damage to the environment so far. Nuclear is preferable. In fact, 20% of European electricity and 10% of total energy is provided by nuclear power plants. 180. Plants. All renewables combined provide 17%. No real counter to that: they really do produce a lot of electricity without emitting greenhouse gases! Importantly: they don't need a lot of space. (Nuclear on the whole causes about as many greenhouse gases as wind energy equivalent and even slightly less than solar. Forty times less than coal.)

7. Nuclear is a proven way to produce a LOT of power. Weak counter: this makes it a liability in the electricity grid and incentivises less maintenance to minimise downtime (if no other plants can take over - generally not if they're too big. This makes them unreliable, just like renewables). Counter to that counter: much smaller (scalable) plants are being developed. Counter to that counter: they're experimental. The thorium reactors thay produce shorter lived waste are also experimental. I.e. it will take decades before we can build operational versions. (BUT! there's an ENORMOUS amount of thorium on earth, which is extremely important. Waste is much less problematic and meltdown impossible)

8. Nuclear plants that are not traditional baseload only plants and have load following capabilities can play a role in managing the ups and downs of renewables on the grid. Counter: even when built for this purpose, it's impossible to make enough money to pay for the construction and management and deconstruction and waste management by only running these plants as buffer. This is a problem because companies are asked to construct the plants, not the state. Counter 2: in a hybrid system with renewables the grid operator actually has to PAY OFF (millions) the nuclear plant to stop it producing so much. It's a liability in a hybrid system with renewables.

Final conclusion:

CURRENT nuclear power plant construction does not play well with the transition to renewables because there is no way in this financial system to use its production as a buffer, the state cannot produce the plants because there is a lack of expertise, companies cannot afford to run the plant as buffer and cannot be trusted and ideologically and politically nuclear power is proposed as an alternative to renewables instead of a complement which cuts into the much-needed financial resources necessary for renewable expansion. It is slow to build and badly scalable. We need speed and scalability considering our climate deadline. There is no permanent solution for waste and takes billions of euros to store right now already. Uranium is a scarce and non-renewable resource. Existing plants impede the transition to renewables (there is no need). They form a liability for continued production when it comes to short term production for the grid when needing maintenance and long term liability for energy production when they need to be decommissioned (France is dependent for 3/4ths on many plants that must be decommissioned at the same time). Nonetheless, existing plants are preventing a large amount of carbon emissions. Nuclear can be a useful element to the energy mix, and requires a lot less space than renewables. If innovations in scalable, smaller plants with increasingly better business cases, faster build times and ability to offload production to each other, there may be serious synergy with renewables. Still, these will be useful for 50-100 years until uranium runs out. Problematic, not just because it leaves us with expertise and infrastructure that will have no fuel, but also because we need to transition FAST and it's uncertain in how many years this technology will be operational. Thorium would be a solution to a lot of problems, but that is also decades away from operation. Putting money into research and test reactors is a priority. Decommissioning existing plants early would be stupid even if it would remove their contributions to transition intertia and the as of yet unsolved and increasing waste storage problem.

[himalayanarchitectureandplanning]

Reflecting from the Himalayas: Our Journey as Jurors for the Materia Award 2025

This year held an extra layer of meaning for our sister firm SMA and us. Sagarmatha Next— mountaineering waste upcycling center near Everest—was officially welcomed into the Materia Award family on 22 March 2025 in Paris. Selected by a distinguished jury of 15 professionals and scientists, the project was included in both the Materia exhibition and the accompanying publication, Stone: 40 Best Contemporary Sustainable Architecture Projects in the World. Architect Himanshu Lal, a key member of the design and execution team, was in Paris to receive this international recognition on behalf of SMA, making it a super proud and reflective moment for all of us rooted in the Himalayas.

To be counted among the top 40 projects in the global Materia Award 2025 is a humbling recognition. Rooted in the spirit of place and material—so deeply aligned with the Himalayan ethos—this honor came with a beautiful invitation from Prof. Anne: to pause, reflect, and engage deeply with the other 39 selected works from around the world.

Together, as Team SMA from Kathmandu and Team HAP from Bhimtal, we also stepped into the role of Himalayan jurors, grounding our perspectives in the mountains we call home. Over days of review and deliberation, we curated our personal Top 5 from the shortlisted entries—projects that spoke not only to innovation and sustainability but to cultural continuity, the dignity of materials, and human-scale craft.

Each of the 11 jury members brought a lens informed by their local terrain and traditions. On the morning of March 26th, we came together—across regions and time zones—to listen, debate, and learn from one another. The following day, we cast our votes.

The entries stretched across climates and cultures: from Housing Now’s affordable bamboo housing solution in Myanmar, to the restoration of a barrack built with earth and thatch in El Palmar, to a rest house entirely clad in scallop shells. What unified them all was a rootedness in local context and a commitment to ecological intelligence.

After careful reflection, our collective selection of five projects stood out:

Le Costil House, France A thoughtful extension of a traditional brick house, aiming for 0% concrete, 0% plastic, and 100% natural materials—wattle-and-daub, light earth, lime plaster, and hemp—demonstrating how heritage materials can guide future architecture.

Medical Surgical Center, Burkina Faso A powerful response to resource constraints, this center uplifts local materials—adobe, straw, and laterite—while celebrating the wisdom of vernacular craftsmanship.

La Bricole, France A poetic celebration of reuse, reinterpreting reclaimed wood and hemp into a space that feels both familiar and forward-looking.

Low-Cost Housing, Sahel, Mauritania A modular, scalable housing solution by Architecture et Développement au Sahel, using Nubian vault adobe techniques.

Casa Lasso, Ecuador A grounded yet ambitious project that draws from Cotopaxi’s vernacular traditions. Built with rammed earth and local labour, it’s as much about construction as it is about community learning and continuity.

The Materia Awards invited us into an exploration—a pilgrimage of sorts—through material cultures and sustainable imaginations. What we found reaffirmed something we’ve long known in the mountains: sustainability is not a constraint—it is a path of creativity, humility, and beauty.

[pejasurveying1]

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[beardedmrbean]

Crime syndicates behind a multibillion-pound cyber scam industry are expanding globally as governments in South East Asia struggle to contain them, a UN report has warned.

As they expand business, countries in South America, Africa and Eastern Europe are now being targeted, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said.

The networks and gangs have emerged in South East Asia in recent years, in sprawling compounds housing tens of thousands of people, many trafficked and forced into work, scamming victims abroad.

Sky News previously reported on one of these compounds, and the workers who were tricked, trafficked and forced into working there.

Even as governments in Asia have intensified their crackdowns, the gangs have moved within and beyond the region, the UNODC said.

It warned that a "potentially irreversible spillover has taken place... leaving criminal groups free to pick, choose, and move... as needed".

"It spreads like a cancer," John Wojcik, a regional analyst for UNODC, said. "Authorities treat it in one area, but the roots never disappear; they simply migrate."

Even the more conservative estimates indicate there are hundreds of large-scale scam farms around the world, generating tens of billions of pounds, the UNODC warned.

The agency called on countries to commit to a more joined-up approach to tackle the international issue.

"The regional cyberfraud industry... has outpaced other transnational crimes, given that it is easily scalable and able to reach millions of potential victims online, with no need to move or traffic illicit goods across borders," Mr Wojcik said.

South America, Africa and Eastern Europe targeted

The syndicates have moved to expand into new ground, the UN agency warned.

In South America, the networks were said to be seeking increased partnerships with drug cartels.

Zambia, Angola and Namibia in Africa, and Georgia in Eastern Europe, were also seeing an increasingly established base of scam operations.

Gangs have also diversified their workforces, UNODC said, as they recruit people from dozens of nationalities.

Citizens of more than 50 countries, from Sri Lanka to Uzbekistan and Brazil to Nigeria, were rescued in recent crackdowns on the Thai-Myanmar border.

'Inflection point'

Recent months have seen authorities from China, Thailand and Myanmar all move to crack down on the scam operations that have thrived particularly in the lawless areas of the Thai-Myanmar border.

Thailand has moved to cut power, fuel and internet to areas housing the scam compounds.

However, the syndicates have adapted and shifted their operations between "the most remote, vulnerable, and underprepared parts of South East Asia", UNODC said.

This was taking place especially in Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia, where gangs exploited jurisdictions with weak governance and high corruption levels.

In Cambodia, the industry is most visible and raids there led to it expanding into "more remote locations", including the country's western Koh Kong province, the UN agency said.

New sites also continue to be developed in Myanmar - a country gripped by an expanding conflict and recently hit by a deadly earthquake.

UNODC said the international community was at a "critical inflection point", with failures to tackle the issue properly now leading to "unprecedented consequences for Southeast Asia that reverberate globally".

A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy told Sky News: "China attaches great importance to engage in international and regional endeavours in a responsible and constructive manner to deal with this cross-border issue.

"Substantial progress has been achieved since this year. China will continue to work with relevant parties to crack down on telecom fraud and other cross-border illegal and criminal activities."

[rudrakshasmarthomes]

Dholera SIR: India’s Next Industrial Hub with Expressway

In a significant update shared during the Gujarat Assembly, Minister of State Jagdish Vishwakarma confirmed that the 109-km long Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway, being developed by the Central Government, is set for completion by May 2025. This high-speed corridor is not just a road — it’s a lifeline that will power the region’s economic engine for decades to come.

What sets this expressway apart is its eco-conscious construction strategy. In an innovative move, the project will utilize 35 lakh cubic meters of recycled waste for embankment construction. As a result, 29 acres from Ahmedabad’s massive 80-acre waste dump will be cleared. Additionally, around 173.82 lakh cubic meters of fly ash sourced from various thermal power plants will be repurposed for the build — making this one of the

greenest highway initiatives in the country. Adding to its sustainability goals, a lush green belt is planned on either side of the expressway, covering 97.19 hectares with over 97,000 trees. To protect local wildlife, a dedicated wildlife crossing (4.5m x 7m) will also be constructed, showcasing a perfect balance between infrastructure and ecology.

Designed for speed and scalability, the expressway will initially handle 25,000 vehicles daily, with a top speed of 120 km/h. Future-ready provisions have been made to scale up the four-lane expressway to twelve lanes as traffic demand grows. A cloverleaf interchange, modeled after the one at Adalaj, will enhance local accessibility.

Linking directly to the upcoming Dholera International Airport, a 9.56 km Greenfield link road will be built at an estimated cost of ₹550.49 crore, offering seamless access between the expressway and the airport. Zooming out to the broader vision, the minister detailed developments in the Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR) — a world-class Greenfield Industrial Smart City being developed across 920 sq. km in Ahmedabad district. In its first phase, development activities are focused on 153 sq. km, and the momentum is already visible.

Several marquee industries have already set up shop in Dholera:

ReNew Power has launched a solar cell and module manufacturing plant.

Tata Power has commissioned a 300 MW solar project.

Polycab is building an advanced electronics manufacturing unit.

Tata Semiconductor Manufacturing Pvt. Ltd. is spearheading India’s first commercial semiconductor fabrication facility right here.

Looking ahead, Dholera SIR is expected to create over 8 lakh jobs, positioning it as one of the largest industrial employment hubs in the nation. To support this massive industrial ecosystem, the government is working on key connectivity projects including:

A freight rail link from Bhimnath to Dholera SIR

The Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway

The upcoming Ahmedabad-Dholera Metro Rail

And a dedicated freight corridor to streamline cargo movement

With world-class infrastructure, sustainable practices, and powerhouse industries anchoring its growth, Dholera…

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[compneuropapers]

Interesting Papers for Week 37, 2024

Simple spike patterns and synaptic mechanisms encoding sensory and motor signals in Purkinje cells and the cerebellar nuclei. Brown, S. T., Medina-Pizarro, M., Holla, M., Vaaga, C. E., & Raman, I. M. (2024). Neuron, 112(11), 1848-1861.e4.

Disentangling the effects of metabolic cost and accuracy on movement speed. Bruening, G. W., Courter, R. J., Sukumar, S., O’Brien, M. K., & Ahmed, A. A. (2024). PLOS Computational Biology, 20(5), e1012169.

Two Prediction Error Systems in the Nonlemniscal Inferior Colliculus: “Spectral” and “Nonspectral”. Carbajal, G. V, Casado-Román, L., & Malmierca, M. S. (2024). Journal of Neuroscience, 44(23), e2327232024.

In and Out of Criticality? State-Dependent Scaling in the Rat Visual Cortex. Castro, D. M., Feliciano, T., de Vasconcelos, N. A. P., Soares-Cunha, C., Coimbra, B., Rodrigues, A. J., … Copelli, M. (2024). PRX Life, 2(2), 023008.

Visual working memories are abstractions of percepts. Duan, Z., & Curtis, C. E. (2024). eLife, 13, e94191.3.

A scalable spiking amygdala model that explains fear conditioning, extinction, renewal and generalization. Duggins, P., & Eliasmith, C. (2024). European Journal of Neuroscience, 59(11), 3093–3116.

Mesostriatal dopamine is sensitive to changes in specific cue-reward contingencies. Garr, E., Cheng, Y., Jeong, H., Brooke, S., Castell, L., Bal, A., … Janak, P. H. (2024). Science Advances, 10(22).

Astrocytes as a mechanism for contextually-guided network dynamics and function. Gong, L., Pasqualetti, F., Papouin, T., & Ching, S. (2024). PLOS Computational Biology, 20(5), e1012186.

Ventral Pallidum and Amygdala Cooperate to Restrain Reward Approach under Threat. Hernández-Jaramillo, A., Illescas-Huerta, E., & Sotres-Bayon, F. (2024). Journal of Neuroscience, 44(23), e2327232024.

Choice overload interferes with early processing and necessitates late compensation: Evidence from electroencephalogram. Hu, X., Meng, Z., & He, Q. (2024). European Journal of Neuroscience, 59(11), 2995–3008.

Decision-related activity and movement selection in primate visual cortex. Laamerad, P., Liu, L. D., & Pack, C. C. (2024). Science Advances, 10(22).

Intrinsic and synaptic determinants of receptive field plasticity in Purkinje cells of the mouse cerebellum. Lin, T.-F., Busch, S. E., & Hansel, C. (2024). Nature Communications, 15, 4645.

Effects of post-saccadic oscillations on visual processing times. Llapashtica, E., Sun, T., Grattan, K. T. V., & Barbur, J. L. (2024). PLOS ONE, 19(5), e0302459.

Cholinergic Neuromodulation of Prefrontal Attractor Dynamics Controls Performance in Spatial Working Memory. Mahrach, A., Bestue, D., Qi, X.-L., Constantinidis, C., & Compte, A. (2024). Journal of Neuroscience, 44(23), e1225232024.

Binocular receptive-field construction in the primary visual cortex. Olianezhad, F., Jin, J., Najafian, S., Pons, C., Mazade, R., Kremkow, J., & Alonso, J.-M. (2024). Current Biology, 34(11), 2474-2486.e5.

Behavioral strategy shapes activation of the Vip-Sst disinhibitory circuit in visual cortex. Piet, A., Ponvert, N., Ollerenshaw, D., Garrett, M., Groblewski, P. A., Olsen, S., … Arkhipov, A. (2024). Neuron, 112(11), 1876-1890.e4.

Exact Distribution of the Quantal Content in Synaptic Transmission. Rijal, K., Müller, N. I. C., Friauf, E., Singh, A., Prasad, A., & Das, D. (2024). Physical Review Letters, 132(22), 228401.

Phase-dependent word perception emerges from region-specific sensitivity to the statistics of language. Ten Oever, S., Titone, L., te Rietmolen, N., & Martin, A. E. (2024). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 121(23), e2320489121.

Temporal interference stimulation disrupts spike timing in the primate brain. Vieira, P. G., Krause, M. R., & Pack, C. C. (2024). Nature Communications, 15, 4558.

Theoretical principles explain the structure of the insect head direction circuit. Vilimelis Aceituno, P., Dall’Osto, D., & Pisokas, I. (2024). eLife, 13, e91533.