Murray Hudson's blog from Gratnells
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Homepage: http://www.gratnellstrade.co.uk
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Gratnells helps Galt celebrate 175 years
Aug 2nd
Exclusive products
It seems amazing that Galt has been providing quality, innovative educational resources to the market place for 175 years. To mark the date we got together with the Galt team to produce a one-offer brochure with a set of exclusive products with some very strange pricing. Everything costs either £1.75, £17.50 or £175. To do this we had to make some serious price cuts to try and shoehorn the products in. Have a look at what we did.
Gratnells Grand day out
Jul 19th
For the second year running, I was delighted that Kathy Sykes, Professor of Sciences and Society at Bristol University was able to present our prestigious Science Technician of the Year Award – and in front of a packed audience of nearly 200 Science Technicians too. This year’s winner, Senior Science Technician Sandra Wollerton from Danum Academy, Doncaster, was overwhelmed by her achievement as she felt she’d ‘just been doing her job’ – albeit for over 30 years!
We all trekked to the National Science Learning Centre in York on Friday 8th July 2011, and heard a keynote opening speech delivered by Professor Sykes, ‘What’s important in Science Education Today?’ You can see a dodgy video of it here.
Of the Awards, Professor Sykes commented, ‘I often describe Science Technicians as “unsung heroes”, working quietly and tirelessly behind the scenes.
The two runners-up of the Gratnells Science Technician of the Year 2010 sponsored Awards were: Shirley Martin from Gable Hall School, Corringham, Essex (2nd place); and in 3rd place, Dawn Billingham, from Wodensborough CTC in the West Midlands. As well as receiving trophies, certificates, cash prizes and hundreds of pounds worth of Gratnells products for all the winners, Sandra Wollerton also won a further gift voucher from SciChem towards Forensic Investigation teaching kits. Thanks to Tim Avery and the team for that. Here’s to the comp next year.
Pack up your kit
Jun 28th
We have just designed a new box for mailing a single shallow (F1) tray. It’s made of very strong cardboard and specially designed to hold the contents securely so the tray (and contents) won’t be damaged during travel. We use them for sending samples and thought some of you might find them useful too – particularly Kit Manufacturers. If you are interested in finding out more about these boxes please email me.
Here's one we made earlier
Shiny new Sandretto toy
Jun 28th
Lonely empty space
Happy full space
This morning we took delivery of a brand new plastic injection moulding machine. To keep up with the ever growing demand for trays and Gratnells storage products, we took the plunge and bought a Sandretto Serie Nove HP (The updated version of the popular Serie Nove S) which I have been promised is even better, and even faster. The features include: Faster cycle speed and increased precision of screw and mould position. More efficient hydraulic system giving better power consumption. Two pumps as standard. Master variable displacement, and slave fixed displacement. So there you go. To you and me, it means we can get more trays out the door quicker than before. Amen.
Still wrapped
The exciting new project linking teaching and learning to school building design.
Jun 21st
A quick ‘heads-up’ to an exciting and unique new education building project being constructed on an industrial estate in Corby, Northamptonshire. It’s called the LearnSpace project (formerly aka The Learning Cube) in which a disused warehouse is being converted into a large empty space into which model classrooms can be built to conduct detailed research into the learning environment. Please click here for a document kindly supplied by Neil Kitson, one of the project organisers, and Education Strategy Manager at Northamptonshire County Council. Many of the objectives chime with our popular www.gratnellslearningrooms.com project which has already been taken up by many teachers. As I get more info I will pass it on.
Some more curves
Jun 15th
Following on from Twoey Toys website pictures that we spotted last week we were delighed to see a new range of classroom furniture from fellow UK manufacturer Crossbrook Furniture. These new units feature our new Gratnells Quadrant tray and you have to agree they look very smart in our photo!
Hertfordshire based Crossbrook Furniture are one of the UK’s leading educational wooden furniture manufacturer, and specialise in good quality furniture with excellent customer service. They are one of the first manufacturers to use Gratnells Quadrant trays in their furniture.
Levitating trays
Jun 15th
While our new Quadrant tray already popular with wooden furniture manufacturers we have also developed a special bracket that allows them to be well-mounted in a classroom. The bracket is invisible when the tray is inserted giving a nice floating tray effect. Perfect for using in awkward corners.
Wall mounted bracket for the new Quadrant tray
Trays on display
Jun 14th
We were delighted to get some pictures today from one of our customers, Najeh Eissa from Sahara Medical & Scientific Supplies in Dubai. Sahara are a well known supplier of laboratory & scientific supplies for schools (including pre-schools), universities, and general laboratories in the United Arab Emirates and Sultanate of Oman and other Gulf regions. Sahara are just back from the GESS 2011 show and took some pictures of their stand featuring Gratnells trays of course!
GESS 2011
GESS – Gulf Educational Supplies and Services 2011 is entering its 5th year and is a well established exhibition and conference in the Gulf region. GESS covers the entire spectrum of educational supplies and solutions including: ICT and SEN solutions, science and lab equipment as well as educational toys, books, games and other classroom supplies and sports equipment. It ran for three days from 3 May 2011. GESS and GEF return on 28th February – 1st March 2012, when it will move to the new location of Dubai World Trade Centre, UAE.
Hands off my mug!
Jun 8th
We have produced some fun heat-sensitive mugs for science teachers and school lab staff. They look plain dark blue normally but when hot water is added a warning sign appears with ‘Hands Off! Science staff only’ We will be giving these out to any school staff who request a lab design from our storage consultant. Of course any of our trade customers who would like to pop round to Gratnells HQ for a nice cup of tea can have one too!
Stylish rounded furniture
Jun 8th
We are really pleased to see a new furniture range from Cumbria based Twoey Toys. They are one of the first UK school furniture manufacturers to produce a range featuring our new Q2 quadrant tray. I saw some concept furniture at the Toy Show and now there is a whole range available which looks really stylish and practical. Have a look at the full range on their website www.twoeytoys.com
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Are you sitting comfortably?
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Boys love train sets
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Stylish unit with rounded ends
