It is not often that a plumber gets an international audience, but working on a multi-million pound project for one of the county's most high profile businesses is a little different.

Gloucester-based SK Heating and Cooling ltd knew its involvement in the renovation of Cheltenham's The George Hotel for the Julian Dunkerton-owned Lucky Onion Group would be different, and it knew every detail would need to be just right.

Turnkey county building firm Dowdeswell Estates hired it to find and fit air conditioning units in the multi-million-pound 47 bed hotel project, and the city business duly found the best equipment for the job - in Japan.

It turned out there was a mutual interest in meeting face to face - with SK Heating and Cooling being able to ensure every detail of the fit-out was covered to its clients liking, and world leading air conditioning manufacturers Daikin Industries able to learn from a unique insight into the UK market.

According to SK Heating and Cooling ltd the trip enabled the Japanese engineering giants "to understand the unique constraints of pipework installation in construction refurbishment projects in the UK compared to the different challenges they face in the Japanese market".

"Air conditioning pipe work can hold a typical pressure of up to 30bar (430psi) and the need for brazing joints on pipe work in air conditioning systems is one of the many difficulties faced in UK refurbishment within an existing building," said a spokesman for the business.

"Currently, rigid hot works procedures take place involving fire protection, fire safety and fire watch but these procedures require constant management and are also very time consuming.

"The visitors specifically wanted to view a project with all or most of the pipework still exposed as when a project is complete it is often covered by the building fabric.

"Daikin representatives had a close up view of the challenges faced within an existing building and as they were guided through the premises they were given demonstrations and examples of typical challenges as well as hearing the views and opinions of the SK installation engineers providing valuable first-hand knowledge and insight".

"Following introductions to the Dowdeswell Estates directors they were grateful for the opportunity to view the project at an important stage."

To find our more about SK Heating and Cooling visit http://skheatingandcooling.co.uk/  or telephone 01452 410500.