In July, Dext was invited by Siemens to demonstrate DexThermic at the groundbreaking Siemens Transform showcase in Manchester.
The Dext team were flattered and proud to be asked. Unlike conventional trade shows where exhibitors book and pay for a stand, this prestigious event was by invitation only – allowing Siemens to showcase the new, innovative, and most advanced ways partner companies are putting their technology to work.
Dext is part of the official Siemens ‘Ecosystem’ because DexThermic uses Siemens technology to measure performance and provide live data from site. This enables us (and our customers) to see exactly how much heat is being recovered, how much energy saved, and by what percentage costs are reduced. This tech also allows us to spot any potential faults or dips in performance before they become an issue, minimising downtime and preventing costly repairs.
Siemens technology is also used in the Nando’s sauce dispenser, where it measures portions, monitors usage and keeps track of cleaning requirements, allowing us to send automated prompts to the relevant restaurant.
The sauce machine was also on display for people to use in the hospitality area of the Siemens Transform show and was mirrored by a digital counterpart, so users could see an animated version of the dispenser on screen complete with live data updated while in use.
We had some incredible feedback from visitors to our section of the ‘Smart Buildings’ area, with one delegate saying the DexThermic was by far the best thing he’d seen at the event …quite a statement in a room full of digital innovation, F1 cars, and even futuristic robots.
Commercieel directeur Neil Bracewell said: ‘It was great to be able to show delegates exactly how DexThermic operates and let them physically get to grips with a system that’s usually hidden away on a roof or in a plant room.
‘People seemed particularly impressed with how easily the cassette opens to access and replace the recyclable panels if needed. Especially considering that if a more conventional heat recovery system clogs up or fails you traditionally have to cut it out and replace the entire unit.
‘Years of investment, research and development have gone into the DexThermic system, and demonstrating it at the Siemens Transform event gave us a welcome opportunity to take stock and see it with fresh eyes. It was rewarding to give ourselves a bit of a pat on the back and appreciate just how truly groundbreaking this technology really is.’
Technisch directeur Gareth Evans said: ‘When I think about how this system evolved, I immediately remember the countless late nights sat in front of a computer and all the work involved in running the wind tunnel trials, managing the Innovate UK project and the seemingly endless testing, re-testing and analysis. It took a lot of stamina and determination to take DexThermic from a brilliant idea – to a finished product.
‘To see the resulting product garnering lots of interest at such a prestigious show, was really, genuinely quite heartwarming.’
Exhibiting at the show has prompted a number of requests for further information, and exciting potential for a much stronger partnership with Siemens going forward.