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Interview with Gina Callari, Chief Operating Officer at RelayCars

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Gina Callari, Chief Operating Officer at EVOX Images/ RELAYCARS where she does Operations Management Client Relations Project Management Marketing, Social Media Outreach Event Management, Solutions Advertising, Production Budget Management in B2B Sales and Negotiations, Editorial, and Content Management.

Tell us about your journey into project management in AR/VR? What inspired you to join EVOX Images/RelayCars?

Having spent years in the automotive industry, I wanted to be at the forefront of technology and what that meant for the automotive industry. Apart from having a talented and tech-savvy team behind EVOX, including CEO David Falstrup, EVOX Images was a global leader in their category and for decades had been building towards a VR play, so some could say they were way ahead of the game. I wanted to be a catalyst for the EVOX evolution which today we can see with our recently launched RelayCars.

Is VR-as-a-Service finally on the horizon for the automotive industry and other OEM industries?

We believe so – for a user to be able to view any make and model via their phone or a lightweight headset, try different configuration options, change color and compare cars side by side, it is a very compelling experience for anyone shopping for a car or even just enthusiasts.

Around 17 million cars are sold per year in the U.S. and buyers spend on average 14 hours researching and shopping for a car. Improving immersion and engagement for those shoppers will save time and help drive sales.

What makes EVOX Images and RelayCars a go-to option for the automotive industry?

We have a very scalable and high-quality capture and content creation process that creates the best VR automotive library on the market. RelayCars has been in the market for several years and we’ve iterated the product dozens of times, adapting to the behavior of over a million users. In addition, we’ve been a go-to resource for the automotive industry for over twenty years, so we understand the business case.

Others can create automotive VR and AR experiences but we are confident we have the highest quality imagery combined with the most compelling feature-set in the market.

How do you plan to extend the benefits of your VR images to your customers and prospects? Which industries are you currently focusing on?

As you’d expect, our focus has been and will be for the foreseeable future on automotive. We have both a free RelayCars consumer application and an Enterprise-focused product portfolio to help with design, research, marketing, and sales.

Our consumer-focused application is available on a variety of AR and VR devices and allows users to view interior panos and exterior spins for thousands of vehicles. Depending on the platform, there are additional features we support like side-by-side comparison and color change.

Our Enterprise products offer features to support product design where multiple people can explore the same vehicle via VR and feedback mechanisms for product clinics. We offer a variety of configurations for our sales tools including both self-guided and guided experiences.

How do you prepare yourself and your team for an AI-driven world in a tech-heavy marketing industry?

Our team feels a sense of urgency and I know that we need to move quickly to keep pace with the technology.

I allocate a significant R&D budget, employ a development team with diverse technical backgrounds and encourage everyone on my team to be part of the local tech community. We attend and speak at meetups, conferences and developer forums.

We frequently purchase dev kits and are typically working on a dozen or more prototypes at a given time. We quickly surface these early prototypes to customers and work with them to ensure we have Product and Market Fit.

Which resources do you refer for cutting-edge VR hardware knowledge? How do you consume information on other emerging technologies for businesses directly related to EVOX Images?

We rely on our own team for cutting-edge VR hardware knowledge. It isn’t hard to find great reviews of new hardware, but we have a pretty specific use case and, in order to get the best visual results, need the hardware in-hand. That way we can experiment with our assets and tools to ensure we’re maximizing capabilities of hardware without exceeding performance capabilities.

What are your predictions on the role of AR/VR in marketing and sales in the automotive industry?

Within the automotive industry, I see a huge advance in the servicing of cars and maintenance. AR will help facilitate the communication and services needed to service vehicles or respond to emergency situations. AR/VR will continue to help dealers immensely by allowing them to minimize their overhead costs and offer a much more extensive range of inventory.

At RelayCars, we will continue to evolve our features to create the most personalized experiences for our users. MyGarage, a RelayCars application we are currently developing, allows users to view and store select cars in a customized showroom and encourage other MyGarage users to virtually drop by. By bringing a user’s car selection into a personal environment, customers begin to develop a stronger affinity to the product.

How do you compete/collaborate with your potential customers already working with AR/VR?

We often develop new prototypes with a specific use case or even clients in mind. We frequently approach clients to share these new concepts and solicit feedback. Then we are able to quickly bring new features to existing products or even roll out entirely new products.

Tell us more about your research lab and innovation hub working on AR/VR and interactive content technology?

We maintain an aggressive roadmap with a dozen or more product variants and we quickly test and discard concepts to ensure that we are offering products that meet our audience’s needs. Much of our prototype work involves collaboration and development alongside RelayCars clients.

How do you make AR/VR deliver economic benefits as well as social goodwill?

Major advances in technology often center around communication, and we consider XR technologies to be a huge enabler for more engaging communications globally. This may help reduce isolation and create stronger communities by allowing people to develop stronger and more meaningful connections. We consider these immersive technologies to be another step forward in a more united and connected world.

What are the major challenges for intelligent IoT technology companies in making business results more accessible to local communities? How do you overcome these challenges?

The major challenge for an IoT company making results more accessible to local communities is that much of the value of their company is in the data gathered. It is reasonable to expect them to offer an API for other people to use data or even report builder tool where applicable but there must be a delineation, so they can preserve data that protect their competitive advantage.

The Crystal Gaze

What AR/VR start-ups and labs are you keenly following?

We are excited about Magic Leap, Microsoft’s holographic capture (hoping for a real-time streaming solution soon), developments in light field capture.

Additionally, what technologies within AI and computing are you interested in?

I am very interested to see improvements in computer vision, full-brain simulation (like the Blue Brain project)

As an AR leader, what industries you think would be fastest to adopting AR with smooth efficiency? What are the new emerging markets for AR technology markets?

I am biased toward automotive but, beyond automotive, I would say real-time streaming of holograms in AR will be a game-changer for remote collaboration.

Tag the one person in the industry whose answers to these questions you would love to read:

Kent Bye

About EVOX IMAGES®

For 25 years, EVOX Images has provided large-scale global image creation solutions on demand, with a focus on automotive VR and 360 images. EVOX’s automobile stock image database offers the most extensive package of consistent, high-quality still and 360-vehicle imagery on an unmatched delivery schedule.  EVOX continues to drive innovation in automotive imagery with a new generation of virtual reality solutions and build-to-order CG products.  The company captures vehicle photography and CGI globally and without needing access to manufacturer CAD files.  EVOX Images is used by several U.S. auto marketers including 20,000+ dealer websites, all 6 major dealer solutions providers, 17 OEM’s, 525 newspapers and 8 top portal sites.

About RelayCars®

Featuring the most expansive and high-quality VR automotive library on the market, RelayCars is a virtual reality suite of apps that allow both enterprise and general consumer users to explore the interior and exterior of thousands of different vehicles via smart phone, tablet, web or VR headset. The app is available for free on iOS, Android, Oculus Go, Google Daydream, Samsung Gear VR and Microsoft MR. RelayCars is the sister-company of EVOX Images, a company best known for providing rapid, large-scale global image creation solutions on demand with a focus on automotive VR and 360 images. For more information on RelayCars, please visit www.relaycars.com or follow RelayCars on Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn.

Inchcape is the new distributor for Jaguar Land Rover in Kenya

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Jaguar Land Rover in Kenya has selected a new distributor Inchcape. The Kenyan car market is very different from what happens in developed countries. As a matter of fact I sometimes feel that people in Africa should be richer than people in Europe and America. Why do I say this? A brand new car in Europe going for 5 million Kenyan shillings will probably reach a Kenyan consumer at a price not less than 8 Million Kenya shillings.

This is inclusive of tax and shipping. As such, I am not surprised when I see people in developed countries driving high-end vehicles. This is because from where they stand, the automobiles are affordable.

Anyway, back to the main topic, developed countries have dealerships that distribute specific brands of both used and new vehicles.

These dealerships offer various services that Kenyan dealerships cannot offer such as warranty, and free service for the first two years. Kenyan dealerships distribute second-hand vehicles since most of the cars that come from abroad are already used cars.

The government has been encouraging automakers to invest in assembly facilities in the country and so far, Peugeot and Volkswagen have already entered the market.

Jaguar Land Rover Distributor

companies like Jaguar land Rover appoint distributors in the region to sell their brands. A while back, Jaguar land rover was represented by CMC and later RMA. RMA had been distributing the cars until Inchcape was tendered to be the distributors in Kenya and East Africa.

Inchcape will take over the RMA Kenya showroom as well as a planned new workshop facility. The company will apparently also retain most of the RMA employees. Sanjiv Shah, the former CEO of RMA Kenya, will now serve as the Inchcape CEO for Kenya & Uganda.

Jaguar Land Rover

Richard Gouverneur, Managing Director of Jaguar Land Rover South Africa and sub-Sahara Africa said: “Jaguar Land Rover is greatly looking forward to its new partnership with Inchcape in the Kenyan market. The group brings with it a wealth of automotive experience, not only in the premium segment, but also with the Jaguar and Land Rover brands in particular. Our customers in the region can rest assured knowing the outstanding support they’ve come to expect will continue uninterrupted by the transition.”

“We are delighted to have secured this contract to be brand custodian for Jaguar and Land Rover in the dynamic and exciting market of Kenya. We believe that our success demonstrates the value we bring to Jaguar Land Rover as its trusted partner for the full range of distribution and retail requirements in their end markets. It also creates a very attractive platform for Inchcape to grow further on the continent of Africa. Said Ruslan Kinebas, Emerging Markets CEO at Inchcape.

Adding that, “Our focus now is on exceeding Jaguar Land Rover’s expectations and on creating a fantastic experience for Jaguar and Land Rover customers in Kenya. The successful Kenyan team will continue to be led by Sanjiv Shah Previously CEO of RMA Kenya, appointed CEO Inchcape Kenya & Uganda.”

Inchcape’s experience in the automotive field spans a massive 93 years. The group operates in 31 countries across five continents, and represents the Jaguar and Land Rover brands in 12 markets including Kenya.

Inchcape is a UK multinational that sells cars brands that include: Mercedes Benz, Toyota, Audi and BMW in 31 countries.

Inchcape now represents the Jaguar and Land Rover brands in 12 markets. Kenya is Inchcape’s second market in Africa after Ethiopia where it sells car brands such as Toyota and Hino.

The advantage of having a distributor is that customers can easily address their concerns to them. Customers can also order for spares or new cars through them. This way, they enjoy all the services that Jaguar Land Rover offers its customers such as warranty.

Get your Power Solution Right!


How big is yours? How big do you need it to be? When is big too big? When is small too small? All these questions apply to so many things, but they certainly apply to diesel generators, where size really matters.

This article will simply help you to try and get it correct. Its best to spend a little while choosing the correct product, otherwise you may find you have issues later on which will cause your time and cost you money. Sizing a diesel generator is not a simple task when you get to larger sizes. You can use sizing tools to determine which products to use, or better hire and expert who can assist you in selecting the correct product. Too large and you will encounter issues around low load; too small and your equipment won’t function correctly.

Welland Power Diesel Generators

Once it is sized, you or your export will decide which rating is most appropriate for your application. Is Continuous Power,  Standby Power, Limited Time Power or Prime Power? Each rating as defined in ISO 8528-1 offers a power rating and load profile to suit specific needs. Checking on the profile of your machine is key to ensuring you have the correct generator for your application and your dealer will be able to advise on this.

If you need small or large generators in east Africa, Rift Valley Machinery Services is an ideal business to advise on your power needs, having previously supplied power to over 500 premises, including two Welland diesel generators that are still functioning nearly 20 years later in Teleposta Towers. Teleposta Towers is the Third tallest building in Nairobi, Kenya. It is 120 metres in height.  Kenya’s Ministry of Information and Communications and Ministry of Trade are based in the building.

Japanese giants Toyota Tsusho, Mitsui win Sh. 6.8bn cargo cranes deal

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Japanese conglomerates Toyota Tsusho and Mitsui have won a new Sh. 6.8 billion contract to install cargo cranes at the port of Mombasa after signing a similar tender in 2014 that earned them Sh. 2.5 billion.

This raises the total value of the contracts to Sh.9.3 billion, making the multinationals major beneficiaries of the port modernisation that is being funded by yen loans from Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica).

“In November 2017, the group (Toyota Tsusho) and Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd were jointly awarded a contract to supply 16 cargo cranes for Kenya’s Port of Mombasa development project, the largest commercial port in East Africa,” Toyota said in a trading update.

The multinational said the new project signed with Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) is worth ¥7.2 billion (Sh6.8 billion) and is set for completion around 2020. This is the second phase of the port development, which is set to significantly raise its goods handling capacity from the current equivalent of 1.3 million 20-foot containers.

Cargo throughput at the port is projected to nearly double to an equivalent of 2.4 million 20-foot containers in eight years. The new contract covers four gantry cranes for quayside operations and 12 transfer cranes for yard operations, all manufactured by Mitsui. The crane types are the same as those delivered in phase one of the project, Toyota said.

For Toyota, the crane deals mark its deepening ties in Kenya’s economy, having established an office in Nairobi to secure contracts in the region.

“Through this project to export high-quality Japanese infrastructure, Toyota Tsusho will contribute to enhancing logistics in Kenya and East Africa while bolstering regional economic development,”said the multinational.

The firm’s local investments include new motor vehicle dealerships Toyota Kenya, DT Dobie, and CICA Motors. It also owns used-car dealership Toyotsu Auto Mart and was part of a consortium that built KenGen’s Olkaria I and IV geothermal plants.

Toyota also recently opened a fertiliser blending plant in Eldoret as part of its plans to venture into more sectors including oil. Toyota’s expansion in Kenya has been aided by a co-operation agreement it signed with the Kenyan government.

Foton unveils first locally-assembled trucks since return to Kenya

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Chinese automaker Foton Motor Kenya Limited has today rolled out its first offline trucks as it moves cement its place in the local market. They were assembled at the Associated Vehicles Assemblers (AVA) plant in Mombasa where the firm has an assembly deal. Speaking during the launch of the vehicles Wednesday, Foton general manager Apple Sun said the company is targeting Kenya’s construction, transport and mining sectors.

“Our truck is a best seller product. In the first year we want to have dispatched at least 300 trucks, “he said. Foton hopes to sell over 3000 trucks by 2022.

Currently, he said, a range of products under a Knocked Down (KD) arrangement for assembly from the company start from heavy duty trucks with plans to extend to products such as light trucks and SUVs.

Mr Sun said the launch is a realisation of the ‘one belt one road’ initiative started in 2013.

“As practitioner of the initiative started by the chairman of China Mr Xi Jinping, Foton Motors set a long term strategic plan in Kenya and Africa. Today we have officially realised the localisation of our main value factors,” said Mr Sun.

Control costs

He said the partnership with AVA will reduce costs.

“Besides reducing costs, it is meant to ensure quality and craftsmanship of the assembled products to reach the same level as domestic factories.”

The retail market price for the trucks will range between $65,000 – 70,000 (about Sh6.7 million to Sh7.2 million).

“The company will increase revenue to the economy and create more job opportunities,” said the GM.

AVA assembly plant in Mombasa is one of the three largest KD assemblies for some internationally renowned brands such as Toyota and Scania. It offers motor vehicle assembly services on a contract basis

Mr Sun says the company intends to open a local assembly line to cash in on China’s growing influence in the East African region.

“Foton eyes to penetrate into East Africa community and COMESA free trade zone through its KD assembly located in Kenya in the near future,” he said.

Lower price

Transporters welcomed the trucks saying it would contribute greatly to the sector.

“We welcome them to Kenya but my advice to them is to reduce the price,” said Mr Salim Bahbmed, a transporter.

How apps are transforming Uganda’s motorbike taxis

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Poor urban transit planning has led to daily, never-ending traffic jams that make it difficult for people to get around Uganda’s capital Kampala.

Buses and taxis can be stuck in traffic for hours, so commuters often prefer to zip past jams on motorbikes.

But Africa also has the world’s highest motorcyclist death rate, according to the World Health Organization.

The worsening traffic jams have led to the rise of the boda-bodas, as more and more people see the potential business opportunity in fast, convenient transport unhampered by congested roads.

Motorbikes and mopeds cost far less than cars, and it is easier and faster to get licensed and onto the roads.

All you have to do is drive down busy roads and customers will hail you, plus they pay in cash.

Kampala now has over 200,000 boda-boda drivers zipping around the capital, yet the industry remains largely unregulated.

Shaneen, a writer in Kampala, says she likes to use a service called Safe Boda instead of traditional public transport.

“The transport scene in Kampala is very chaotic. There’s an accident I think every day,” she told the BBC.

“I use Safe Boda because it’s safer, faster, they drive really carefully so I’m not worried when I’m sitting on one, and it’s much cheaper than other options.”

Championing safety

Ricky Rapa Thompson, the co-founder of popular ride-hailing app Safe Boda, was one such driver himself.

After a close friend and fellow driver died from hitting his head on a pavement, Mr Thompson realised that boda-boda drivers and their passengers really needed to be wearing helmets.

“Our aim was to bring change into the boda-boda industry. People are dying as boda-boda drivers every day,” Mr Thompson told the BBC.

“People like the fact that the details of the journey are stored somewhere, that someone is accountable for the drivers.”

He started Safe Boda to create a more professional ride-hailing service, where drivers were trained to meet better safety standards.

The Red Cross even partnered with the firm to teach the drivers first aid.

Instead of working for themselves, the drivers accept rides on a mobile app, similar to the way Uber works.

Safe Boda has now recruited over 8,000 drivers.

‘Competition doesn’t matter’

However Safe Boda is not the only company now jumping onto the mobile app bandwagon, and there are plenty of drivers who don’t even work for a company.

One such competitor is Dial Jack – a mobile app aggregator that is also offering boda-boda ride hailing, but eventually wants to offer users a range of different services.

But the start-up doesn’t seem concerned that too many drivers and firms might be saturating the market.

“If you go out onto the streets, anecdotally you can see a few Safe Boda guys, you see a few Dial Jack guys, you see a few guys from other companies, and as a percentage, we’re not even capturing 1% of the potential market here,” Dial Jack’s co-director Tex Wright told the BBC.

“Safe Boda, ourselves and a few others are doing our best to bring some structure into an unregulated environment, so competition is good.”

Pewin Motors inks deal to distribute Chinese Foton

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Pewin Motors has inked a deal to sell and service products of Chinese Foton Motors in the Kenyan market. The deal, which extends for three years, will see Foton’s light and heavy commercial vehicles displayed at Pewin’s showroom on Lusaka Road, Nairobi.

Pewin chairman Peter Kirigua said the joint venture would create employment opportunities for locals across the country.

“We are looking to start with distributing 500 vehicles annually and expect a lot of government support on this,” he said on Wednesday during the signing of the agreement at the China-Africa Capacity Co-operation Exposition at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).

Tight-lipped

While remaining tight-lipped on details of the MOU, Mr Kirigua noted that the vehicles exhibited will be 20% less expensive than others of comparable features. He said the company would be looking to sub-contract dealers across the country to take the products closer to customers.

Mr Kirigua noted that most of the vehicles at the showroom, which is already operational, have been tested and proven fit for the Kenyan roads. Foton Motors opted out of an initial deal with Foton East Africa following a string of bad reputation on the later that it felt was not good for business.

Foton East Africa’s multi-million-shilling Nairobi assembly plant was auctioned to repay debts, which marked the end of the distribution contract for the firm that first entered the Kenyan market in 2011. Foton Motors is owned by the government of China and Mercedes Benz of Germany.

Similar deal

In 2015, Pewin had entered a similar partnership with General Motors East Africa’s (GMEA) to operate a dedicated Chevrolet brand showrooms in Karen.

The deal ended following the exit of Chevrolet from East Africa, which was soon followed by Isuzu Motors buying out General Motors’ 57.7 per cent in GMEA.

The China-Africa Capacity Cooperation Exposition brings together 56 enterprises from China with the aim of exposing them to investment opportunities available in the East African market.

The exhibition targets to encourage the development of trading and business partnerships with local players, creating a multi-level, multi-industrial and multi-element display.

What is a diesel generator? How does it work? Why are they of use?


A gasoline or diesel generator is essential in many parts of the world. Today we are going to look at diesel generators and how they work. A diesel generator is made from a diesel engine and an AC alternator. Generally used for standby power, but can also be used as the main power source, they convert diesel fuel into electricity for use in homes, schools, factories and tower blocks. Every high rise building has one in case of power failure to provide power to lifts, fire pumps or lighting. Engines vary – different engines for example offer different benefits. Well known reliable brands for diesel generators include Perkins and for something reliable but a little less expensive, Baudouin.

The two important elements of a diesel generator for ensuring stable and reliable power are the engines governor. When you apply load to a diesel engine, the actuator reacts allowing additional fuel into the engine, to try to maintain its speed. When you remove load, it reduces it, again to maintain the speed.  this controls the engine speed and the alternators AVR, this controls the voltage the generator produces. It senses the voltage from the generator terminals and compares it to a stable reference. The error signal is then used to adjust the field current by changing the current flow to an exciter stator, which in turn will lead to a lower or higher voltage at the main stator terminals. Together these components manage your power supply and try to keep it consistent.

Choosing a generator is key to making sure you get good value. For smaller projects, a local dealer is ideal. Search on google. For larger projects a turnkey solution from a trusted provider might be better.

Welland Power receives visit from Cummins Generator Technologies management team


Cummins Generator Technologies, the division of the American conglomerate, Cummins Inc, today visited the internationally known UK generator manufacturer Welland Power Limited with the entire global leadership team for a meeting. The entire leadership team consisted of sales managers from each region of the world.

Cummins generator technologies provide a range of high quality alternators into marine and industrial applications, branded as either Stamford or AVK. The Welland Power range of  diesel Generators, all made in the UK use Stamford Branded alternators as standard, reinforcing the brand value of the Welland Product.

Welland Power Diesel Generators

Within the range of diesel generators Welland Power has two main lines, the Perkins Diesel generators and the Baudouin Diesel Generators, both offer exceptional quality to the end user and provide a powerful option to allow the customer to select the product most suited to their needs. The complete range runs from 10kVA to 3000kVA as a single unit, but systems up to 60,000 kVA are possible by combining the power of multiple units into one feed – called paralleling.

At the meeting was Scott Strudwick, Cristi Rila (GM AvK), Trevor French (Director Global marketing & Strategy), Shreyas Patel (GM Americas) , Soh Leng Leng (GM APAC), Bruce Chen (GM China), Bhalchandra Karmarkar (GM India), Guy Baxter (CPG global account manager), Pete Harrison (Global order management leader), Michael McWilliams (Welland Power Account Manager), James Connell (GM, EMEA) as well as Welland Power MD Charlie Farrow and Sales Manager Oliver Peacock.

Scott Strudwick also presented Welland Power with an award for our business across the last 70 years, delivering out products to over 100 countries, such as Bangladesh, China, Turkey, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Angola, South Africa, Lebanon and the UAE, showing that Welland Power is a global brand.

Diesel Generator Manufacture Wins Fast Track Award


Welland Power, the UK based international manufacturer of diesel generators has today been awarded a Fast Track 100 award in the Sunday Times. Welland Power, a well known brand in the power generation industry since 1950 have been growing rapidly in recent years, with their range of Perkins Diesel Generators and Baudouin Diesel Generators. Available in both open and silent types, Diesel generators from Welland Power are the number one choice in many parts of the world.

Welland Power Diesel Generators

The factory encompasses some of the most modern machinery for the production of steel work – CNC Lasers and CNC Break Press. Our expansion and modern facility houses equipment you won’t find at most UK manufacturers, including some of the other biggest names. Welland is still owned today by the same family; Charles Lloyd Farrow currently sits as Managing Director – The third generation of the family.

In all, the Farrow family and its heritage building and assembling industrial machinery can be traced back over 6 generations and video footage of the family at work has been found from as early as 1921. In this time Welland has provided equipment to some exceptional projects around the world, including equipment for leading multinational companies, banks, schools, manufacturing facilities, telecoms stations, airports, police departments and many other bespoke applications, often supplied as turnkey projects by a sister company .

Managing Director Charlie Farrow said “Being listed in a publication such as the Sunday Times is amazing and demonstrates the hard work and dedication every member of the team puts into our business every day of the week. I would like to thank all our suppliers, customers and employees who help to make Welland Power the great success it is today.”

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