Blog: Smart solutions and tricky projects
Running a company like MAPUK means being across everything - budgets, certifications, compliance, client relationships, leadership, staff training and development, quality assurance and many more. It’s a busy job, but what I still enjoy most is stepping back into the technical side of what we do.
One of the greatest joys in this job is walking onto a project, especially the tricky ones and knowing there’s no obvious answer yet. That’s where the magic happens. Whether it’s a heritage building with strict aesthetic demands, a luxury home with limited ceiling space, or a laboratory setting needing zoned air control without disruption, these are the jobs that get me thinking and that’s what I enjoy most.
Our work often sits quietly in the background of buildings, but there’s a lot going on behind the scenes. Understanding how air moves through a space and how to shape or control that is both a science and a craft. Sometimes it means modifying a product to fit into impossibly tight spaces or working around structural or visual constraints to find a balance between function and aesthetics.
One project that stands out is Imperial College London’s Department of Chemistry, we developed a hybrid ventilation system tailored for laboratory fume cupboards. It was a technically demanding environment, and a great example of what can be achieved through collaboration and careful design thinking.
I’m also particularly proud of the work we do with bespoke grilles, particularly on the heritage projects. The grilles we design have to meet design, colour and integration demands, often fitted into ornate plasterwork, joinery, or even integrated into wall coverings. The constraints can be tough, especially in listed buildings, but the result is always satisfying. Quiet, efficient, and aesthetically pleasing.
None of this happens without a skilled and committed team. Our technical staff work closely with clients, architects, and interior designers, always respecting the smallest of details and working to very precise specifications. Our projects are often high-profile and varied from high end residential projects like Chelsea Barracks to London hotels - The Botree, At Sloane and 1 Hotel Mayfair to very large infrastructure projects, most recently including the Elizabeth Line.
For me, the bespoke, technical work remains personal. It’s the part of the business that reminds me why we started in the first place. Finding a smart way through a complex brief, solving a problem, or just seeing something work exactly as it should, that’s what still brings the most satisfaction.
Running a business will always involve meetings, spreadsheets, and management but it’s the problem-solving and the real-world application of our ideas that keeps things interesting.
If you’ve got a ventilation challenge that needs a smart, bespoke solution give us a call.
About the author
Barry Hobday is the Managing Director at Motorised Air Products Ltd (MAPUK). With the help of innovative research, MAPUK and its associated suppliers are committed to using pioneering product design and technology to provide solutions in air conditioning, ventilation and fire safety.