Leading manufacturer of biomass heating systems, Windhager UK has recently doubled the area of the company’s training facility to coincide with the new style of HETAS training course. It is one of just 10 approved UK HETAS training centres in the UK. The new course structure now encompasses both theory and practical training and runs alongside Windhager’s own product training courses.
The new practical training room, located at the company’s head offices in Chippenham, is a development of the existing facilities and an extension of the ground floor showroom and training room. The practical training area was created in line with the new HETAS course criteria for 2011, which includes practical assessments and training to replace the theory only courses previously conducted. Windhager has now adopted three new courses developed by HETAS – practical training for an installer of dry appliances (3 days) with the option for an additional day course on the installation of wet appliances, as well as a practically assessed 4 day training course on wood biomass appliances. This latter course will provide installer confidence to meet the requirements for MCS Biomass.
Courses run every month through the year and full details of course types and dates are on Windhager’s website
Delegates attending any of the courses can see first hand installations of biomass and solid fuel installations. Working models and test rigs for full practical training and demonstrations allows delegates to gain a better understanding of the installation process, operation and servicing of appliances.
The new area of the training facility is dedicated to correct installation methods of appliances and chimney systems. The existing training area remains as a multi-functional area for demonstrations to customers and the venue for product overview days.
The HETAS training is delivered by Mick Waumsley of Sure Fire Technical Services and has a maximum capacity of 12 delegates, reduced from 18 to give delegates a better opportunity to learn within a smaller group. The new facility and training arrangements have already proved extremely popular with capacity attendance to date and a 95% pass rate of delegates on the new courses.
Windhager also offers a separate course on training of its own range of biomass heating stoves suitable for installers or specifiers. There is an overview day presenting the products and providing practical demonstrations, and bespoke courses can be arranged of one to three days focusing on log boilers, pellet boilers and MCS controls.
Oliver Duckworth, Director at Windhager UK commented, “With new products being developed all the time it is essential for us to provide on-going training for our agents and installers to maintain the professional service and product knowledge to achieve outstanding results. I am confident that the new facility will continue to produce successful results in the future, ensuring the high quality of training necessary within the field of renewable energy”.
The training facility also allows engineers to test and simulate different scenarios and see first hand installation procedures and different designs that are available. The fully working system also allows customers to see the benefits of the Windhager systems and provides invaluable boiler commissioning and maintenance procedures for engineers.
Further information on the training programmes conducted by Windhager is available from Windhager UK on 01249 446616, email: enquiries@windhager.co.uk or by visiting the company’s website at www.windhager.co.uk.
