Manufacturer prioritises critical infrastructure orders
A Leeds-based air conditioning manufacturer is sustaining its operations to help keep crucial technology functioning during the pandemic.
Despite scaling back production to protect staff Rawdon-based Airedale International, which designs and manufactures precision cooling systems that keep critical equipment cool, is still helping to protect and strengthen the nation’s technology hubs, facilitating vital communications networks.
Managing director Anthony Cole said: “Due to the critical role our business plays in supporting UK and international key infrastructure, such as data centres, healthcare, energy, telecommunications and pharmaceuticals, it has been determined by the management team that Airedale International must continue to operate during this national emergency, albeit at a reduced capacity.
“We are still seeing enquiries, receiving orders, making deliveries and fielding requests for commissioning, spare parts and technical support from industries which support everyday life for businesses and citizens.
“These industries must continue to operate at all costs during this unprecedented time and as such, we have a responsibility to ensure the data centres that support their IT infrastructure can function effectively through our specialist air conditioning technology.”
Airedale International has introduced measures to support and protect its 450 staff around the world, including social distancing and increasing the ability to work from home.
It is busy prioritising orders for data centres, hospitals, pharmaceutical plants and telecoms infrastructure.
Cole continued: “As we turn to technology to facilitate remote working, keep us in touch with loved ones and ensure delivery of essential services including healthcare and food provision, our reliance on communication technology has grown.
“Data centres play an integral part in keeping our society functioning and without effective cooling, the servers which hold the nations bank details, WhatsApp conversations, medical records, TV streaming services and e-mails, would soon overheat and fail.
“Our engineers play an incredibly valuable role in keeping these systems afloat by ensuring these data centres continue to operate at increased levels through effective cooling methods.
“We’re acutely aware of the need for proactive and rapid issue resolution in these unprecedented times.
“We have retained all permanent staff, our order book is being managed day-by-day and we fully intend to scale up operations quickly and efficiently as soon as the government restrictions are lifted and the situation allows.”
