COOKING WITH GAS: NITROGEN, FOOD AND YOU

We’re big fans of food and we’re big fans of gas here at Analox (sometimes, depending on what we’ve eaten, the two aren’t mutually exclusive…) Today, we’re looking at how nitrogen can be used in the food and beverage industry – from factories, to restaurants to pubs…

LET’S START AT THE BEGINNING – NITROGEN AND FOOD PROCESSING

Nitrogen has many uses in food processing. As liquid nitrogen is very cold (-196 °c) it can be used to freeze food quickly. Freezing food quickly leads to smaller ice crystals, which in turn leads to smoother tasting, longer lasting food.

If you have a sweet tooth, you may be interested to know that nitrogen can be used to put bubbles in chocolate bars like Wispas and Aeros. The melted chocolate is foamed up with nitrogen and when it cools, the bubbles appear. Gases like carbon dioxide and argon can be used instead, but nitrogen makes smaller bubbles and provides a creamier taste.

Nitrogen is also used in food preservation – by replacing oxygen in food packaging with nitrogen, the shelf-life of products can be vastly extended.

LIQUID NITROGEN ON THE MENU AT RESTAURANTS

The first mention of liquid nitrogen in association with food happened in 1890 when it appeared in a Victorian cookbook. Since then it has been a popular way of freezing and serving food in trendy restaurants (egg and bacon ice cream anyone?)

Liquid nitrogen can also be used to chill drinks, freeze alcohol and pulverise food into small shards and powder.

FEEL THE CHURN – NITROGEN ICE CREAM

Using liquid nitrogen to make ice cream is quicker than the more traditional methods and as quicker freezing leads to smaller ice crystals – it leads to a delicious dessert.

There are lots of ice cream shops across the world which specialise in nitrogen ice cream, crazy flavours and a lot of theatre!

WOULD YOU LIKE A FLAKE IN THAT LOVE? NITROGEN INFUSED BEER

If you’re a regular reader of our blog, you’ll know that carbon dioxide is used in the beverage and hospitality industry to carbonate beers and lagers. However… did you know that nitrogen can sometimes be used as well? Nitrogen normally gives a creamier, smoother taste to a beer and ‘nitro taps’ are often used to put the fizz into stouts, craft beers and pale ales. If you buy a can of Guinness (heresy), there is even a small widget in there which releases nitrogen when you open it.

MILK, NO SUGAR IN MY NITROGEN PLEASE

Following on from nitro taps – one of the latest and trendiest developments is using these nitro taps to infuse cold brew coffee with nitrogen – a mixture commonly known as ‘nitrobrew’.

Nitrobrew is a cold drink, served in a glass, which looks like beer but tastes creamy, like coffee and delivers a potent caffeine hit – some claim it’s twice as strong as normal coffee.

Nitrobrew is only available in a few venues at the moment, but it’s only a matter of time before it makes it big.

THE DANGERS OF NITROGEN AND HOW ANALOX SENSOR TECHNOLOGY CAN HELP

This is the part of the post where we have to get serious for a little bit… Although nitrogen has many great uses in the food and beverage industry, it can be dangerous if misused.

Although it is not toxic, nitrogen is an inert gas, which means that it replaces oxygen in the atmosphere. The atmosphere normally consists of 21% oxygen – a drop to 15% is enough to cause oxygen deprivation (hypoxia) in the body, and a drop to 8% is enough to cause unconsciousness and death.

It’s not just nitrogen gas that can cause problems. A small amount of liquid nitrogen will turn into a large amount of nitrogen gas – expanding up to 700 times.

When using nitrogen, either in gas or liquid form, it is important not to use it in a confined space, ensure it is stored safely and to have adequate ventilation. Using an atmospheric monitor to detect levels of oxygen in the atmosphere is essential – we offer a range of fixed and portable O2 gas detectors for all industries and price ranges.

Although you can get kits for making your own nitrogen-imbued food and drink, it is always best to leave the creation to the professionals. As long as food and drink has been prepared and served safely, nitrogen has such a low boiling point, all nitrogen will have evaporated by the time you get round to enjoying your ice cream or coffee.

GREENE KING BREWERY GAS LEAK – CARBON DIOXIDE IN BREWERIES

If you would like to know more about carbon dioxide and how gas leaks can affect your brewery or pub, contact Analox today.

On Thursday 15 October 2015, a carbon dioxide leak occurred at the Greene King Brewery on an estate in Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk.

Emergency services were sent to the incident and nearby residents were evacuated as a precaution.

Twenty people were rescued from the building, and the incident was quickly taken control of.

Thankfully there were no injuries as everyone involved reacted quickly, but it could have been a very different story. This blog post will look at carbon dioxide in breweries – how it is made, what uses it has and more importantly… how it can be monitored.

WHAT IS CARBON DIOXIDE?

Carbon dioxide (CO2) gas occurs naturally in the Earth’s atmosphere, albeit at a very low concentration (0.04%, or 400 ppm). It’s an important greenhouse gas, and important in regulating the earth’s temperature, but in higher levels it can be very dangerous.

Carbon dioxide displaces oxygen in the air, so increased levels can either lead to asphyxiation or poisoning. When there are elevated levels of the gas, all it takes is two or three breaths to render a person unconscious, especially if they are in a confined space. Carbon dioxide is hard to detect as it is colourless, tasteless and odourless, so by the time someone realises they are being exposed, it is too late.

CARBON DIOXIDE IN BREWERIES

Carbon dioxide is a natural by-product of the fermentation process in breweries – this happens when yeast reacts with the sugar in the alcohol. Carbon dioxide is also added to make the alcohol fizzy and to purge process tanks.

Carbon dioxide is heavier than air, and the gas settles at low levels. In 2012, there were two tragic incidents in Germany where staff leaned into a brewery tank and were instantly overcome by fumes.

A carbon dioxide level of 0.5% average over eight hours is the normal international safety limit agreed by HSE and OSHA. A level of 5% is enough to cause unconsciousness.

So, what’s the best way to monitor increased levels of carbon dioxide in breweries? With a gas monitoring system.

Analox offer both fixed and portable gas analysers for monitoring CO2. The Ax60 was developed in response to gas leak incidents in the hospitality industry and continually monitors for CO2, with visual and audible alarms if gas levels climb above acceptable limits. It consists of a wall-mounted central display, sensor units and alarm units.

The Aspida is a robust portable alarm, meaning that staff are protected wherever they are in the brewery. The Aspida can also be wall-mounted as a back-up to a primary gas detection system. Similar to the Ax60, the Aspida has visual and audible alarms, as well as a ‘man down’ button for emergency situations.

So – if you would like help and advice regarding a CO2 solution for your company – be it a well-known brewing brand or an up-and-coming microbrewery, please contact Analox today.

ANIMMERSION AND ANALOX IN PARTNERSHIP WITH 3D HOLOGRAM TECHNOLOGY

From the range of high-tech gas monitoring solutions we provide, to researching new ways of publicising the work we do to customers and distributors, Analox has always been at the forefront of modern technology. This use of modern technology now includes the use of holograms.

During June and July 2015, we created a new innovative design for our reception area. The highlight of the new design is a state-of-the-art hologram display which allows images and videos to become 3D holograms suspended in a glass cabinet.

The work on the hologram display was undertaken by Animmersion UK Ltd. Animmersion are a local company who have worked with clients including Teesside University, Schneider Electric, Continental and St John’s Ambulance. The company not only create hologram displays, but also 3D animations, interactive 3D web content and apps.

Michelle Wilson, Marketing Manager for Analox Ltd said “We have won several high-calibre contracts recently and we felt it was the right time to improve the look and feel of our reception area.

“The hologram display provides us with an exciting way to showcase the work we do, by incorporating our uniquely designed products into projections. We can also use it to present a personalised message to companies who are visiting us. We’d like to thank Animmersion for working with us and we’re looking forward to using the display in our reception area.”

Sam Harrison, Director at Animmersion said: “Animmersion’s specialism is providing visual and interactive marketing and software solutions for organisations – making industrial products and services engaging, accessible and easily understood. We work with a wide range of organisations over a variety of sectors including defence, offshore, energy and process engineering and we’re pleased to add Analox to our list of clients.”

More information and case studies can be found on the Animmersion website.

Stand up and be counted – can stand-up

meetings improve the way you think?

Analox is always at the forefront of trying new things – we recently set up a table in our foyer so we could give stand-up meetings a go.

What’s a stand-up meeting?

A stand-up meeting is where participants stand up rather than sit round a table.

Stand-up meetings have been popular in the software development sector for a long time, where meetings are held on a daily basis so teams can find out what everyone else is doing that day.

Did you know?

Richard Branson is a big fan of standing up in meetings

Many authors were fans of standing up to write, including: Ernest Hemingway, Charles Dickens and Virginia

Woolf

The Privy Council stand up during meetings; this is because participants are not allowed to sit whilst the Queen

is standing

You can buy tables specifically for stand-up meetings, some even have notches in them so you can prop up your

tablet or iPad

Iain Farrell, Analox Director of Projects, is a fan of stand-up meetings and says: “The great thing about stand-up meetings is that participants are more focused and more creative - it’s harder for your mind to wander. The whole of Analox are now taking part in more standing meetings which is fantastic to see and it’s resulting in lots of shorter, more focused meetings.”

What are the benefits of stand-up

meetings?

Shorter meetings – stand-up meetings are 34% shorter than regular meetings, meaning that you’ll cut through

the fluff and only discuss the points that need discussing

Better health – by standing you’re burning more calories

Easier for impromptu meetings – normally when you arrange a meeting you must make sure there’s a free

conference room. With a stand-up, you can have a meeting anywhere you like!

Do you hold stand-up meetings in your workplace? What do you like or dislike about them?

Emma is one of Teesside's outstanding

business people

Analox Operations Director Emma Harbottle has been named one of Teesside’s most outstanding business people by a local publication.

Tees Business, a local magazine for businesses in the Teesside area, announced the top 25 in the Autumn edition of their magazine.

The readers of Tees Business were asked to vote for their favourite business leaders. The top three in the poll were Bill Scott from Wilton Engineering Services, Andy Preston from Teesside Philanthropic Foundation, and Steve Gibson OBE, the owner of Middlesbrough FC.

Emma initially came to the operations department of Analox to fund a gap year after A Levels, however she enjoyed the work so much she decided to stay, becoming Operations Director in 2011.

This recognition comes after a very successful year for Analox. Analox won ‘Best SME’ at the Best Factory Awards 2016, an application led by Emma, as well as maximum three stars in the Investor in Customers Award. Analox were also recently named one of the best companies to work for in the Sun’s Best of British Awards. Emma said “It’s a fantastic honour to be named one of Teesside’s top 25 business people. It has been a very busy, but very rewarding year at Analox and I’m looking forward to seeing what 2017 brings for the company.”

You can read more about the awards in the Autumn edition of Tees Business (pages 14 and 15) http://teesbusiness.co.uk/TeesBusiness-Issue7.html

Analox look to the future at the Gadget

Show Live 2016

The Analox marketing team had an early start on the morning of 31 March 2016, as we travelled down the A1 to get to the Gadget Show Live at Birmingham NEC. The annual exhibition, a spin-off of the television of the programme of the same name, takes place every year and showcases technology from across a wide range of sensors. None us had been to the show before, so we weren’t sure what to expect - but we were looking forward to seeing lots of new inventions! Here’s a short video summarising our day at the show: So - what did we take away from the Gadget Show?

Small technology is good technology - the smallest technology drew the largest crowds. We were particularly

intrigued by a motion sensor you could put onto a medicine bottle, which would send an alert if someone hadn’t

taken their medication

Wearable tech - there were a lot of fitness apps that you could wear on your wrist and monitor not only the

amount of steps you took in a day, but your heart rate. These monitors are getting not only more accurate, but

more sophisticated!

3D printing - we have a 3D printer at work, so it’s interesting to see what other people are doing. Backface are a

3D scanning and printing service who won an award at the show for the largest 3D print of a person ever made -

Gadget Show presenter Jon Bentley

Virtual reality - there was a lot of virtual reality at the show, as well as augmented reality. We were very

interested by the Guinness Book of World Record’s AR content included in their annual book, as well as a t-shirt

which showed you the inner workings of the human body when you scanned it with your mobile phone

Drones - there were loads of drones at the show, from large ones to small ones you could purchase take home

with you. We were expecting there to be drones flying around the NEC, but there are a lot of stringent laws about

how far you can fly a drone from other people - especially important given the recent news about a drone

crashing into an airplane

Distributor profile: Håkon Rygh

Håkon Rygh is a Norwegian gas-detection company. They have been an official distributor of Analox Military Systems products since 2014, although the two companies worked together for a number of years prior to this.

Founded in the late 1960s, Håkon Rygh provide a range of gas analysis equipment and systems for military applications, as well as training and maintenance.

The Managing Director of Håkon Rygh is Tom Arne Øijordsbakken. He joined the company as a Senior Sales/Service Engineer in 2008, becoming Managing Director in 2013.

Håkon Rygh also have a strong presence in the commercial sector, working with the food, process and offshore industry, as well as oil refineries and laboratories.

The company has worked with Analox Military Systems on a carbon monoxide submarine atmosphere monitoring system used on submarines. Carbon monoxide is generated on submarines by cooking, the combustion of fuel and the use of chlorate candles so it is important to monitor this toxic gas. The Analox CO submarine atmosphere monitoring system is not cross sensitive to hydrogen or water vapour, unlike most standard carbon monoxide monitors.

Håkon Rygh sell Analox products including the ACG+ multi gas compression monitor, ATA Pro trimix analyser and the Sub MKIIP DISSUB gas monitor, as well as spares and accessories.

Ian Childes, Technical Service Engineer at Analox Military Systems said “Håkon Rygh are very easy to work with and are always striving to achieve more, a trait they share with the team at Analox. They are currently working on a new website to showcase their products, which will go live early in 2017, and we’re looking forward to seeing it.”

Tom Arne said “We’re pleased to represent Analox Military Systems in Norway and we’re looking forward to continuing our strong relationship with them over the coming years.”

For more information about Håkon Rygh, visit their website, email them at info@haakon-rygh.no or call +47 55 11 32 90.

Hydrogen sulphide leak causes death on Indian Naval ship A sailor and a civilian contractor were killed and two others injured by a toxic gas leak during maintenance work during the first refit of the INS Vikramaditya in June 2016.

Work was taking place in the sewage treatment plant compartment of the ship at the time. This is where waste from toilets and urinals is treated before it is discharged into the sea. The waste is aerated with fresh air which decomposes the waste. However, if air is not present, anaerobic bacteria are formed, which produce toxic gases including hydrogen sulphide (H2S).

Hydrogen sulphide is produced when sewage breaks down. It is colourless and highly flammable The gas has a distinctive “rotten egg” smell at low levels (0.01-1.5ppm), but you can lose your ability to smell the gas at higher concentrations (from about 100-150ppm).

At low concentrations the gas causes irritation of the eyes, nose and respiratory system, but at higher concentrations the gas can cause difficulty breathing, shock, coma and death. At 700-1000ppm, death can occur within minutes.

The Navy ordered an inquiry into the incident and action was taken to ensure that the sewage treatment plant was made safe.

INS Vikramaditya is India’s largest Naval Ship, joining the fleet in 2013. The aircraft carrier was built by the Russian Navy until it was decommissioned and purchased by the Indian Navy.

This is the third-high profile Indian Naval accident to take place in 2016. In April a sailor lost his leg and two others were injured when an oxygen cylinder exploded on INS Nireekshak. In March, a fire broke out on INS Viraat which resulted in the death of an Engineer Mechanic.

Incidents involving hydrogen sulphide have happened to other naval fleets. In 1981, a sailor aboard the Australian Tobruk was killed following a leak. In 1985, the Stalwart had an incident where three people died and sixty were injured. In 2006, four sailors on a training exercise aboard the Maitland were gassed. Although they all survived, one sailor was discharged from service due to ill health.

Incidents are not limited to naval fleets either. In 2005 a leak of hydrogen sulphide killed three employees when they tried to repair a leaking pipe on a Royal Caribbean Cruise.

Want to know more about Analox Military Systems? Contact us for more information or view our news archive.

A STROKE OF GOOD FORTUNE – HOW ARE FORTUNE COOKIES MADE?

If you’ve ever been to a Chinese restaurant or ordered a takeaway, chances are you’ve opened a fortune cookie.

A fortune cookie is a biscuit which is snapped open to reveal a piece of paper with a ‘fortune’ on it. This fortune can be anything from a saying, a prediction, a joke, or even a list of lucky numbers. In this blog post, we are going to take a look at how fortune cookies are made, and how compressed air plays a very important role.

WHERE DO FORTUNE COOKIES COME FROM?

Interestingly, fortune cookies weren’t a Chinese invention, but invented in America – although who the actual inventor of them is is still widely debated today. It is also claimed that the cookies originated in Japan, with references to them in Japanese literature and art.

Over three billion fortune cookies are made each year – with Wonton Food Inc in New York making over 4.5 million per day, with a database of over 10,000 fortunes.

Fortune cookies have now undergone a revamp, with a wide range of flavours becoming available, including chocolate coated cookies and giant cookies which stand over 5” tall!

HOW ARE FORTUNE COOKIES MADE?

Fortune cookies were originally made by hand, however in the 1960s, a machine was created to automate the process. These machines can make between 750 and 5000 fortune cookies an hour.

Firstly, the batter is made in a vat. The batter is shaped into circular portions and baked. The second step is where the magic happens… according to us anyway!

The cookies are moved to a receiving area where the fortunes can be added. The paper strips are sucked up by compressed air in a vacuum and pushed into the centre of the cookies. The cookies are then folded and bent to create the famous shape, cooled with air, individually wrapped and boxed.

THE IMPORTANCE OF UNCONTAMINATED AIR IN FORTUNE COOKIE PRODUCTION

As we discussed in a blog post in October 2015, compressed air has a wide range of uses in the food manufacturing industry, from cutting and shaping food, to clearing away food debris. It is imperative that any compressed air used is pure and free from water, oil and other contaminants.

This is especially important in fortune cookie production where compressed air is used in every step of the process.

Analox Sensor Technology offer the ACG+, a unit which is used to monitor compressed air, either in real time or spot checking. The unit monitors for oxygen (O2), carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), water vapour, volatile organic compounds (such as benzene and toluene) and can also run an oil-mist test. The monitor is easy to use and takes readings instantly, meaning that your factory is protected at all times.

Don’t forget – safe factory processes aren’t just down to good luck – contact Analox Sensor Technology today.

Sources:

http://www.madehow.com/Volume-2/Fortune-Cookie.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/16/travel/16iht-fortune.9260526.html?_r=0

ANALOX ARGON ALARM – HOW IS ARGON GAS USED?

In our latest blog we take a look at how an argon alarm can help if you use inert gases.

Analox specialise in monitoring gases including oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen, but we do cater to some of the more unusual gases too. One of these gases is argon.

WHAT IS ARGON?

Argon (Ar) is a colourless, odourless gas. It is part of the noble gases group, which includes krypton, neon, helium and xenon.

It is an unreactive inert gas, so much so that argon comes from the Greek word for lazy!

Argon was discovered in 1894 and makes up just under 1% of the earth’s atmosphere. As it is so prevalent in the earth’s atmosphere, it is one of the most abundant and cheapest inert gases available for use.

HOW IS ARGON USED?

Argon is used as a carrier gas in laboratories as it is so unreactive. A carrier gas carries vapour through a gas chromatograph, helping to test the purity of a specific substance, separating the different components of a mixture or identifying a compound.

In the chemical industry, reactions are often conducted under inert gas rather than air in order to minimize the risk of fire.

Inert gases like argon are used to pack food in order to prevent the growth of bacteria. It can also be used to preserve artefacts. For example, the original document of the US constitution is stored in argon in order to keep it safe and avoid degradation.

A mix of argon and nitrogen gas is used as a filler gas for fluorescent and incandescent lightbulbs; as the inert gases protect the metal filament inside the bulb.

Argon can be mixed with krypton to make windows with a high level of thermal efficiency.

Argon is used in welding as a ‘shielding gas’ in order to keep impurities out of the weld and allow for a smoother, more solid finish. It is either used on its own or in combination with another gas like carbon dioxide.

Recently, we also discovered that argon can be used in 3D printing in order to create a stable printing environment.

HOW IS ARGON DANGEROUS?

Inert gases, such as argon, do not support human breathing. A leak of argon into the atmosphere can cause oxygen levels to deplete, leading to asphyxiation.

Normal air usually has an oxygen concentration of 20.9%. A drop to 19% is enough for some people to suffer physiological effects, whilst a drop to 10% can cause loss of consciousness or even death.

WHICH ARGON ALARM IS RIGHT FOR ME?

As argon depletes oxygen in the atmosphere, the best way to monitor for an argon leak is to use an oxygen depletion monitor.

Analox offer the O2NE+, an ambient oxygen detection monitor which has two audio-visual alarms, one preset at 19.5% and another set at 18%.

If you also use enriched oxygen, for example in a laboratory, the Safe-Ox+ monitors both oxygen depletion and enrichment, with preset alarms of 23% and 19.5%.

If you have your own monitoring system, we also offer oxygen monitoring OEM sensors including the MEC and 3000SI.

Contact us and we’ll be more than happy to discuss your inert gas monitoring requirements and help you decide which argon alarm is right for you.

NITROGEN MONITORING IN BREWERIES – KEEPING THE BUBBLES IN BRITAIN

In this blog post, we take a look at how breweries use gases and why nitrogen monitoring in breweries is more essential than you initially might think…

2016 has been a bit of a gloomy year so far, with unexpected celebrity deaths, surprising changes in government and killer clowns on the loose, but on the upside, it’s been a great year for UK breweries.

Brewers Journal reported at the start of October that there are now around 1,700 breweries in the UK… an 8% increase since 2015, and a 65% increase since 2010. Demand for craft beer is at an all time high with local micro-breweries popping up across the country.

The increase in breweries means that the variety of beers available has greatly increased. Not only are there a range of flavours, colours and aromas to try, but the gases used to put bubbles into beer can vary too.

Although carbon dioxide is traditionally used in breweries to put the bubbles into beer, nitrogen gas can also be used too.

WHY USE NITROGEN IN BEER?

Some breweries use a mix of nitrogen and carbon dioxide (usually a 70/30 mix) to put bubbles in their beer, particularly stouts, pale ales and porters. Beers which are nitrogenated are less acidic and taste creamier.

Some breweries offer beers as both carbonated and ‘nitro’ variants, so that customers can try both and see which they prefer.

When the nitrogenised kegs are sent to the pubs, a nitrogen/carbon dioxide mix can be used to deliver the beer to the taps, as opposed to pure carbon dioxide.

Cans of nitrogenated beer normally have a hollow plastic disc or ball in them known as a ‘widget’, as well as a very small amount of liquid nitrogen which evaporates and pressurises the can, compressing nitrogen in the widget.

When the can is opened, the pressure in the can drops and the nitrogen gas in the widget causes bubbles to rise to the surface of the can, forming the head on the beer.

THE DANGERS OF NITROGEN

Nitrogen gas is not toxic, but it does replace oxygen in the atmosphere, which can cause problems if there is a nitrogen gas leak. The atmosphere normally consists of 21% oxygen and even a small drop is enough to cause harm. The US-based Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) deem 19.5% to be the minimum acceptable oxygen level and a drop to 15-19% is enough to impair coordination.

If a brewery is using carbon dioxide as well, a leak of CO2 can also be fatal. Both gases are colourless and tasteless, meaning that they can be very hard to detect.

NITROGEN MONITORING IN BREWERIES – WHICH GAS MONITORS TO USE?

If you need to monitor levels of nitrogen in a brewery, you are best monitoring levels of oxygen in the atmosphere.

The Analox O2NE+ is an easy to use oxygen depletion monitor which can be used to detect nitrogen leaks.

However, if you also use carbon dioxide in your brewery, a dual monitor may be the most cost-effective solution.

The new Ax60+ is a wall-mountable multi gas monitor which can be used to monitor both levels of oxygen and levels of carbon dioxide. The system is fully customisable, meaning it is ideal for everyone – from the smallest craft brewery, to the largest international beer brewer.

If you’d like to know more about nitrogen monitoring in breweries, please contact us today. You can also purchase a range of our gas monitors for the beverage industry online.

ANALOX WIN ‘BEST SME’ AT THE BEST FACTORY AWARDS

Analox is celebrating after winning the ‘Best SME’ award at the Cranfield School of Management’s Best Factory Awards 2016.

The Best Factory Awards celebrates manufacturing excellence in the UK. The awards are open to any UK-based manufacturing plant and over 3000 companies have taken part in the scheme since it begun in 1992.

Analox were visited by the Best Factory Awards assessors in June this year and were told that they had been shortlisted for the ‘Best SME’ award, alongside two other awards, in August.

Previous winners of the Best SME award include Interflex Group, who supply packaging solutions, and Tharsus, a manufacturer of electro-mechanical products.

Analox are not strangers to the Best Factory Awards scheme, having won the ‘Health and Safety’ award and being highly commended for innovation in 2012

The awards ceremony took place on Friday 14 October at the National Motorcycle Museum near Birmingham, with the Best SME award presented by Santander. The judges were particularly impressed with Analox’s approach to continuous improvement, KPI-based management and approach to people management.

Other winners at the 2016 Best Factory awards included Fujifilm, Arla and 3M, with Brose winning ‘Factory of the Year’

Emma Harbottle, Operations Director at Analox said “I’m delighted that we won Best SME at the Best Factory Awards; the award is a reflection of all the great work everyone is doing. All shortlisted manufacturing plants with less than 250 employees are eligible for this award, so competition in this category is extremely high.”

Mark Lewis, Managing Director at Analox said “Continuous improvement is at the heart of everything Analox does and this award is a testament to all the hard work which has taken place over the last few years. Well done to everyone involved.”

CARBON MONOXIDE V CARBON DIOXIDE – DO YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE?

In our latest blog, we take a look at a concerning issue: people getting carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide mixed up. Find our more about the critical differences, or visit our website to discover more about our wide range of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide detectors.

In March 2015, we posted a blog about the American Red Cross getting confused between carbon dioxide (CO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) in a household initiative. A year later, we’d like to say that people have stopped getting their gases mixed up, but unfortunately this is not the case.

We have seen a lot of stories about charities, the media and other organisations not seeming to know the difference. In February this year, a newspaper in Delaware reported on the death of a woman and attributed it to both CO and CO2. In Melbourne, Australia, a plumbing company offered carbon dioxide testing following the death of a family killed by a carbon monoxide leak. It’s great that people are raising awareness of gas leaks, but the mix-up is still a concern. Even a Google search for carbon dioxide brings up more carbon monoxide websites than we would like to see.

WHAT ARE THE KEY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CARBON MONOXIDE AND CARBON DIOXIDE?

Both of these gases have a lot of similarities – both CO2 and CO are odourless and tasteless. Elevated levels of both gases can cause health problems and even death.

The critical chemical difference is that CO2 contains one molecule of carbon and two molecules of oxygen, whilst CO has one carbon and one oxygen molecule.

Carbon dioxide is non-flammable, whilst carbon monoxide is not – we certainly wouldn’t encourage you to light a match in order to determine which gas is which.

Carbon dioxide naturally occurs in the atmosphere at about 400 parts per million – humans and animals breathe in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide – we can tolerate a small amount of it. However, carbon monoxide does not occur naturally in the atmosphere and can cause health problems even in low concentrations

The density of both gases is also different. Carbon dioxide is heavier than air and gas detectors should be put nearer the ground, whereas carbon monoxide is slightly lighter and detectors should be placed higher up.

We are often asked if a carbon monoxide detector will measure carbon dioxide levels, and vice versa. Unfortunately the answer is no. Carbon dioxide detectors use infrared sensors to detect levels of gas in the atmosphere, whereas carbon monoxide detectors primarily use electrochemical sensors as well as gel sensors and metal oxide semiconductors.

Analox Sensor Technology has a wide range of both carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide detectors to suit your requirements, and if you’re still unsure which gas you need to measure, our sales team will be more than happy to advise you.

WHY DO CARBON DIOXIDE LEVELS RISE IN CROWDED ROOMS? We attend a lot of exhibitions at Analox, over a wide range of industrial sectors. When we do, we like to monitor our carbon dioxide (CO2) monitors with interest.

Why? To see carbon dioxide levels rise over the course of the day.

We were at the NRA Show in Chicago in May, the largest gathering of restaurant and foodservice professionals in the world, with over 45,000 people attending the show over the space of three days.

Our Ax60 CO2 detector measured gas levels at 0.05% (500ppm) at the start of the day. By the afternoon gas levels had doubled to 0.1% (1150ppm).

(L) Our Ax60 carbon dioxide monitor showed levels of 500ppm at the start of the day – by the afternoon (R) this had increased to 1150ppm

SO – WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN?

Humans breathe in oxygen which is used for cell respiration. Carbon dioxide is created as a byproduct of this process and we breathe this out. On an average day we breathe out about 2.3 pounds of CO2 (more if we engage in a high level of physical activity).

In an enclosed space (like an exhibition hall) with a lot of people, this means that over the course of the day, carbon dioxide levels will increase slightly.

DO THESE HIGH LEVELS OF CARBON DIOXIDE HAVE A NEGATIVE HEALTH EFFECT?

The rise in carbon dioxide in exhibition halls will not put you in danger. The American Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set an exposure limit of 0.5% (5,000ppm) over an eight-hour period. When we were at the NRA show, the highest carbon dioxide level we registered was still just over a fifth of the exposure limit.

Experience indicates that people in rooms with elevated levels of carbon dioxide do report tiredness and lethargy. SUNY Upstate Medical University and the Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory conducted an interesting experiment in 2012 where they put four participants in a

small room and gradually increased the levels of CO2. They found that decision making and strategic thinking levels decreased significantly as carbon dioxide levels increased – up to 94% at 0.25% (2500ppm). However, the study was conducted on a small sample size and needs to be tested on a larger scale before any strong conclusions are made.

If you want to keep CO2 levels low in busy spaces, the best thing to do is to keep the room ventilated in order to dilute levels of CO2. It is also a good idea to have some plants in the room – as they use carbon dioxide to produce chemical energy, creating oxygen as a byproduct.

Exhibitions can be long and stressful – whether you are an exhibitor or a visitor. If you do get a ‘fuzzy head’ during the course of the day, the best thing to do is to get some fresh air.

A WHOPPING HOAX? GAS LEAK PANIC AT THE LOCAL BURGER JOINT

We are always on the lookout for stories about incidents about gas leaks at Analox, and when we saw this news story appear in our inbox, we knew we had to investigate it in more detail.

In early April, an employee at the Coon Rapids Burger King in Minneapolis received a phone call from someone who said they were with the local fire department. They claimed that there were dangerous levels of carbon monoxide in the building and that the building would explode if staff did not relieve the pressure inside the building.

This resulted in staff panicking and smashing the windows of the building, in an attempt to keep themselves safe.

Police quickly arrived on the scene and confirmed that the call was a hoax and they would never call a household or business and ask them to take action in this way. Apart from one employee suffering minor cuts, nobody else was injured.

Interestingly, this was not the first attempt to troll fast-food staff. Two months earlier, a manager of a Burger King in California drove his car into the building after a similar call, resulting in an estimated $35,000 of damage. In Oklahoma, staff caused $10,000 of damage to windows in a repeat event.

So….what was wrong with the story? The best lies are the ones which have an element of truth to them, and this prank call was no exception. Carbon monoxide is flammable which could lead to an explosion in extreme cases. However, due to its toxicity, it is far more likely to cause health problems or death before then.

In a fast food restaurant, carbon dioxide is more likely to be a danger. Whilst carbon monoxide is the unpleasant result of faulty gas appliances, carbon dioxide is always present in fast food restaurants as it is needed to carbonate fizzy drinks and soda. If there is a leak in the tubing carrying the gas, carbon dioxide can leak and potentially cause illness and death. For example, a carbon dioxide leak caused the death of a woman in a McDonald’s restaurant in 2011.

Whether you are concerned about carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide in your place of work, a gas detector is an important piece of kit. Analox provide detectors which can alert you if concentrations of gases rise above a certain level. For example, the Ax60 carbon dioxide monitor has three different alarms depending on the level of gas in the atmosphere – 0.5%, 1.5% and 3.0%.

Unfortunately, as the quote goes: “If hindsight was foresight, we’d all be geniuses” and it is easy to panic and go to extreme measures if you believe your life is in danger. If there is a suspected gas leak at your place of work, the best thing to do is to evacuate the building, call the fire department and most importantly, not panic.

p.s – If you’d like us to keep you up to date with the latest gas industry news and incidents, why not sign up to our blog mailing list, and we’ll send you twice-weekly updates?

REVISITING THE KARLOVAC BREWERY INCIDENT

As a gas monitoring company, we have been made aware of many tragic incidents concerning gas leaks. One of the most obscure and tragic is the incident which happened at the former Karlovac Brewery in Karlovac, Croatia in 2007.

Karlovac Brewery (Karlovačka pivovara) was founded in 1854 and is one of Croatia’s most famous breweries, brewing national beer Karlovacko. In 2013 the brewery was renamed Heineken Croatia.

In February 2007 an elderly man was walking his dog near the brewery, when the dog died on the spot. The man went to revive his dog and fell into a coma. Although the man was hospitalised, he died a month later.

Coincidentally the man, Zdravko Martinović, was a former employee of the brewery.

After an investigation, it was found that incorrectly laid pipes carried carbon dioxide gas emitted by the brewery into the sewerage system and then into the nearby Grabica stream – records suggested that this had been happening since November 2006.

As carbon dioxide gas is denser than air and lies low to the ground, the dog would have been poisoned immediately, whilst Martinović would have succumbed to the gas when he went to the ground to try and revive his dog.

Carbon dioxide gas is a natural byproduct of the fermentation process. Although it occurs naturally in the atmosphere, increased levels of the gas can have serious health effects, from drowsiness and dizziness, to unconsciousness and death. The investigation found that nearby residents had also complained of health problems symptomatic of carbon dioxide poisoning.

Carbon dioxide has no taste or smell so can be hard to detect, which is why carbon dioxide monitors are essential in breweries.

Five high-ranking employees of the brewery were investigated for the incident, and the brewery was temporarily shut down by the Government.

ETHYLENE OXIDE – USEFUL BUT DANGEROUS? We’re proud of the fact that Analox Sensor Technology can help you monitor a wide range of gases, from carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, to oxygen and helium. One of the more unusual gases we offer monitoring solutions for is ethylene oxide, or C2H4O as it is often known.

Many people do not know what ethylene oxide is, and we have seen a lot of Google searches where people are trying to find out what it is, how it is used, and more importantly, how it could be misused.

SO… WHAT IS ETHYLENE OXIDE?

It is a colourless gas with a wide range of uses in different industries. It is sometimes referred to as oxirane or EtO.

It is used in the medical industry to sterilise medical supplies – this is because unlike an autoclave (which uses heat and steam), it does not damage delicate instruments, such as those made from plastic or with electric components.

It’s also used as a fumigant; very small amounts are used to remove insects from nuts, grains and spices. C2H4O evaporates quickly, so it is unlikely that it will stay on food long enough to be eaten. Ethylene oxide is also used as a fumigant for delicate objects such as books, leather and beekeeping equipment.

The derivatives of C2H4O are just as useful. Ethylene glycol is used to make antifreeze, polyester, fiberglass and recyclable plastics. Polyethylene glycols are used in cosmetics and lubricants whilst ethylene oxide glycol ethers are used in brake fluid and paint.

As our headline states – ethylene oxide is a very useful product but it does have a downside. Unfortunately, the downside that it is toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic and extremely flammable.

Unlike carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide which are odourless, ethylene oxide does have a sweet smell – but the odour can only be detected at very high concentrations, at which point damage may have already been done. The smell can also be mistaken for other, less toxic chemicals such as ether.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) state that employee exposure must be limited to 1 ppm of air over an eight-hour period and 5 ppm short-term exposure limit over a 15-minute period.

With this in mind, it is very important to use a continuous gas monitor to check the levels of ethylene oxide in the atmosphere, in order to ensure the gas can be used safely.

We offer bespoke gas monitoring which can help you monitor levels of ethylene oxide – contact us today to find out more