As a small or large business owner, buying used forklift truck can be an amazing and cost-effective way to be able to meet up with order requirements. Read more here. But these second-hand machines has its very own problems which might cost you, clients, later on when they malfunction. Below,
A new industrial quarter is set to arrive in Redcar with the transformation of a South Tees Development Corporation site. In order to bring the work forward in the first quarter of 2019, the government made an investment of £14 million. “Our investment of £14 million in the South Tees
The £1.6 million contract to develop the expansion plans for Viking Shipping Services in Yorkshire has been handed over to Britcon, which aims to expand its offerings at the Selby site with a new warehouse and office facility. “After a thorough contract tender process managed by GGP Consult we were pleased to
Managing the logistics of your construction site is integral to ensuring time and budget constraints are met. Dan Casey, Marketing Manager at award-winning lifting equipment manufacturer Penny Hyrdraulics, shares four tips to help you do this. When managing a construction site, ensuring the whole operation runs smoothly is of paramount
A newly refurbished c.24,000 sq ft unit has come on to the market at Normanton Industrial Estate in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. Owned by Leeds-based developer, Eshton, the prime space located on Tyler Close in Normanton comprises c.21,000 sq ft of warehouse space and c.3,000 sq ft of office space, spanning
ISLAND Road West, a new prime urban logistics scheme in Reading, has seen the second phase of development completed this month on a former domestic landfill site off the A33. Providing civil and structural engineering designs, BE Design has delivered a five-unit, industrial scheme over two phases, transforming a site
While you may not think it, courier companies actually provide an invaluable service to construction firms and the industry as a whole. This rule even applies before work has started on a particular site, as companies are often required to submit time-sensitive tenders to win work and often use professional
A new report from the NHBC Foundation today highlights how trailblazing developers are exploring the use of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). The new report, ‘Modern methods of construction: who’s doing what?’, found that developers at the forefront were investing significantly in MMC and that a majority had plans to
Property company Network Space has completed phase two of an industrial development that is taking shape in Merseyside. The first phase of the Mere Grange development in St Helens was completed in July 2018 and comprised 90,500 sq ft split across four individual buildings, ranging in size from 18,500 sq
When your e-commerce business makes a sale, the last thing you want is to have to deal with a return. You’ll lose the sale and incur additional costs. To accommodate a return, the product must reverses its way through your supply chain. All activity associated with accepting the return of
As a small or large business owner, buying used forklift truck can be an amazing and cost-effective way to be able to meet up with order requirements. Read more here. But these second-hand machines has its very own problems which might cost you, clients, later on when they malfunction. Below, you will find our best tips that will enable you to explore the potential problems that might be hidden on the trucks or by sellers. Ensure the truck will be able to meet your lifting needs Forklift trucks may appear to be pretty the same to a novice. But, they are actually so different based on the model and intended uses. What will you use the forklift truck for – heavy or light loads? How big should the truck be? Will you need to use it on a routine basis? Is your truck going to work outside or inside? Do you need to abide by any rules on fumes and noise in the environment? Does it have long poles that can reach high platforms and shelves? You have to think of all this while picking the appropriate truck. A trustworthy seller will only sell the truck to you after examining your site in order to determine if the truck will be suitable for your business needs. Do note that most online retailers are less likely to do this. To be on the safe side, you should ask a certified Virginia dealer like to visit your business and provide a quotation for both used and new trucks. Then you will get a clear idea on the exact equipment that you need and costs. Do visual assessment Having to depend on the pictures and description of the seller is one of the unmistakable detriments of purchasing online. Ensure that you check for leaks, welding, rust or any other damages that might indicate underlying problems. This is easier to do if the dealer is in your local area. Otherwise, just ask for more pictures or even a video of the truck. Scrutinize the warranty It is essential to have a decent warranty when purchasing a used truck. Check carefully to see how long it lasts, what it covers and what isn’t covered. Even if the truck still has a warranty from the manufacturers, call them to confirm if the warranty can be transferred or not. Test drive it It is harder to buy a used truck than a used car. The reason is that forklift trucks are regulated and substantially more dangerous. Never pay anyone for a truck that you are yet to test drive. If you are unavailable or unfit to drive it, hire an operator to do that. The operator will be able to test all the functions and check for exhaust fumes and hydraulic leaks. Ask for Thorough Examination Certificate All trucks are legally required to have one. This guarantees that the vehicles conform to PUWER and LOLER directions. But it is similar to a vehicle MoT, you should depend entirely on it since it does not check the complete condition of the truck. Ensure the truck is certified and not illegally imported In the used forklift market, there is a developing trend of imports by rogue dealers. It is recommended that you stay away from them. Though there are still many trustworthy suppliers. You can check out Sun Equipment used forklifts, and lift trucks from other companies which provides registered trucks. If you buy from rogue dealers, you will find it almost impossible to move it to your location and find parts for the truck in the future. In case of a mishap, it might even make your insurance invalid. Always check that the truck has an authentic CE mark. Also, ensure that the CE Certificate, user manual, identity plate, and other labels, comes in the right language. Ensure the battery life is good if you are buying an electric truck The battery for forklift trucks can be very expensive – worth over 40% of the truck’s value. It is extremely vital that there’s a lot of mileage remaining in the battery cells. As a standard guideline, the normal FLT battery last for about 1200 charges and each charge will run for 5 hours. Get a rough estimate by dividing clocked hours by 5. Assess the battery for any damage or leaks. Consider getting extra insurance cover for the battery. Visit here for more info: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352152X17304437. These few tips will ensure that you don’t buy a dud. Also, make sure that you check the truck mileage versus the one in the service history. Don’t forget to also verify the suitability of the mast and ensure it extends smoothly. When leasing a forklift, always make sure you research.
A new industrial quarter is set to arrive in Redcar with the transformation of a South Tees Development Corporation site. In order to bring the work forward in the first quarter of 2019, the government made an investment of £14 million. “Our investment of £14 million in the South Tees Development Corporation demonstrates this government’s commitment to building a stronger more resilient economy in the Tees Valley and across the Northern Powerhouse,” commented Jake Berry MP, Northern Powerhouse Minister. “This government is firmly behind the Tees Valley, and I’m determined to ensure its people get the most out of the exciting growth opportunities available on their doorstep. It’s a further demonstration of how we’re helping to build a new golden era for the North East as part of our Industrial Strategy, and ensuring the Tees Valley is truly open for business as we are set to leave the European Union,” Mr Berry added. Work to establish construction access and utilities, as well as a new spine road and a roundabout will begin shortly, with new commercial tenants expected on site from 2021. Once completed, the quarter will help create 500 new jobs and ttract over half a billion pounds of private sector investment. “Government has committed £137 million to the Development Corporation over the last year, and this latest £14 million funding is vital to kick-start immediate work to redevelop land to help spearhead the transformation of the area. These huge schemes will deliver hundreds of quality jobs for local people, drive growth for the Tees Valley economy and continue our history of manufacturing excellence,” said Tees Valley Mayor and Chairman of the South Tees Development Corporation, Ben Houchen. “This £14 million shows government is continuing to listen to us and this is another step closer to the Development Corporation becoming a massive success story for not just the North East but for the UK,” Mr Houchen concluded.
The £1.6 million contract to develop the expansion plans for Viking Shipping Services in Yorkshire has been handed over to Britcon, which aims to expand its offerings at the Selby site with a new warehouse and office facility. “After a thorough contract tender process managed by GGP Consult we were pleased to award Britcon the Viking project and commence the new development at our Selby site. We look forward to working with the Britcon team,” commented Graeme Pickering, Director at Viking Shipping Services. The comprehensive freight forwarding and cargo handling services provider will complete the design and build phases of the 12,000 sq ft warehouse and adjoining 4,500 sq ft offices. “We are pleased to be appointed by Viking Shipping to assist with its exciting growth at Selby. Amongst our expertise is full turnkey solutions where we are able to take care of planning issues, ground and civils works and of course the build programme,” said Matt Harker, Regional Manager at Britcon. “On this particular project two of the original rail lines dating back to the historical landmark are still exposed with two sets of buffers and the local authority has requested that we maintain these as practical in the new build,” he added. Construction has commenced on site and is expected to take 29 weeks to complete. Britcon is one of the UKs most successful and progressive construction and development businesses based in the North of England. Established for nearly 30 years as a family owned business, Britcon has exceptional pedigree with an impressive and diverse client portfolio. The business directly employs over 100 people in its team and maintains an operating turnover of £50 million. Viking Shipping Services Ltd commenced trading in the 1940’s with the specific aim of providing a comprehensive freight forwarding and cargo handling service. Based at Selby just off the M62 in North Yorkshire, Viking Shipping is strategically located to facilitate a range of services for cargo arriving by both road and sea.
Managing the logistics of your construction site is integral to ensuring time and budget constraints are met. Dan Casey, Marketing Manager at award-winning lifting equipment manufacturer Penny Hyrdraulics, shares four tips to help you do this. When managing a construction site, ensuring the whole operation runs smoothly is of paramount importance. Logistics management is key to this, helping to keep the project on time and on budget but, if you want to minimize inefficiency, you’re going to need a strategy. In this article, I will discuss four ways you can improve the logistics of your construction site to ensure that materials are delivered on schedule, you have the right tools and equipment for every job, and all your workers are fully trained and briefed on what they need to do. Start with a plan Projects of all kinds suffer due to unnecessary and wasteful activities. While this can never be fully avoided, creating a logistics plan at the start of your project is key to determining how everything will turn out. The purpose of creating a detailed plan is to increase efficiency and maximise profits, while also preparing as best you can for unforeseen circumstances. Ideally, you want to create a process map and a list of all the materials you’re going to use, which you can keep track of and update each day. Your plan must take into account the various logistical factors of the construction site, such as material transportation, workforce management, and control of equipment and machinery. This will help to avoid any wasted time and energy, and ultimately determine whether or not the project can be delivered on time and on budget. Communicate with your team An integral part of construction logistics is maintaining open communication channels with your workers, suppliers, and higher-ups. You should always be looking for new ways to improve communication, as this will allow you to get on top of problems early and nip them in the bud before they snowball into something bigger. Little things left unchecked can lead to workflow inefficiencies, so it’ll pay dividends to stay on top of things. As construction is a constantly-evolving industry with new practices and requirements being implemented all the time, it is important to maintain open channels of communication. This is especially true for experienced workers who will be able to help spot holes in your plan, so it’s a good idea to get them involved early and stay in contact with them on a regular basis. While a lot of this can be streamlined and done from afar, the site should still be visited regularly so you can chat to workers on the ground. Have the right tools for the job Even the simplest jobs can take far longer than they should without the correct equipment, leaving workers to struggle through at reduced efficiency. This can be something as simple having the correct shovel for the job but, when it comes to larger equipment and machinery, entire processes can be slowed down, and days can be lost. Providing your workers with the tools they need to do the job effectively is a key part of ensuring the logistics of your site are running smoothly. At Penny Hydraulics, we aim to help improve workflow efficiencies with our vehicle-mounted hydraulic crane and SwingLift products, which are used to move and load materials in a safe and efficient manner. Trying to manually load such items can be laborious and time consuming, so having a handy and easy-to-use solution on-site can massively improve efficiency. Jobs that would have previously required two or more people, such as filling a van with material, can now easily be done by one. Use software to your advantage Improving your own workflow will allow you to spend more time on important tasks, such as focusing on the logistics of your construction site. Implementing automated systems will allow you to save time by cutting down the time it takes for you to send out progress reports, manage ongoing budgets, and keep track of day-to-day changes that affect the site. By using reporting and budget management software, you’ll be able to make sure the right people know what’s happening at all times, allowing you to focus on the more important day-to-day logistics management. There are all kinds of other tools you might find beneficial as well, such as health and safety management software, which can help to prevent hazards and keep track of incidents. There will always be unforeseen circumstances that you have to deal with on your construction site but, with careful planning, open channels of communication, and the right tools to help you do the job, you’ll be best placed to tackle them head on.
A newly refurbished c.24,000 sq ft unit has come on to the market at Normanton Industrial Estate in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. Owned by Leeds-based developer, Eshton, the prime space located on Tyler Close in Normanton comprises c.21,000 sq ft of warehouse space and c.3,000 sq ft of office space, spanning two floors. Suited to industrial, warehouse and distribution uses, the property features an extensive secure yard with plenty space for lorry parking, dedicated staff parking, two loading doors – with the option to install a further three – a 6m eaves height, to the underside of haunch and a 215KvA load; with additional power capacity available. The unit occupies a prominent location alongside the M62, with Normanton Industrial Estate situated in the heart of West Yorkshire’s distribution network and boasting close links to the M1 and A1. Other local occupiers include DHL, XPO Logistics, Asda, Ford and Robert Wiseman Dairies. Eshton director, Jonathan Chapman, said: “There is a significant shortage of quality industrial and warehousing space, particularly across Yorkshire, with occupiers limited for choice along the M62 corridor. “The huge demand for logistics properties is being led by the rise of online shopping, with demand expected to outstrip supply in the coming years. Units with such desirability as Tyler Close are rare, particularly when located in one of the region’s top commercial locations, and we anticipate high levels of interest from businesses spanning a range of sectors.” The agents for Tyler Close are Rob Oliver from GVA’s Leeds office and Nick Arundel from AWS.
ISLAND Road West, a new prime urban logistics scheme in Reading, has seen the second phase of development completed this month on a former domestic landfill site off the A33. Providing civil and structural engineering designs, BE Design has delivered a five-unit, industrial scheme over two phases, transforming a site which features domestic landfill with a depth of six metres. More than 34,160 sq ft has been delivered across two phases, with a global logistics firm pre-letting one of the units delivered in the second phase. Director at the engineering and architecture practice BE Design, Stephen Oakden said: “There is a real demand for space to build residential and commercials schemes, and that is only on the increase. Developing on greenbelt land can be somewhat contentious, so we are seeing more and more former landfill sites and brownfield land around the UK being earmarked for redevelopment – meeting the demand and protecting greenbelt land at the same time. “This move towards sustainable regeneration means that sites, such as Island Road West, now provide businesses with the real potential to turn dead-end land into usable – and profitable – space.” First phase completed in 2017, with the second phase starting on site in 2018. During both phases of development, ground consolidation techniques – including rapid impact compaction – were employed to minimise the ongoing settlement and subsidence that can occur on landfill sites. As well as this, multiple safety measures have been employed to safely release gases from the decomposing landfill matter into the atmosphere. “Of course, landfill sites present a lot of unique challenges when it comes to construction, which have to be considered at the very base of any design service but, as long as the environmental challenges are met with practical and safe solutions, construction on sites such as Island Road West in Reading can be just as successful as developments elsewhere. “By taking careful measurements both before and after ground improvement techniques are applied to sites, we are able to measure the amount of consolidation achieved, and this data is likely to prove invaluable in the future are more former landfill sites are earmarked for regeneration.” Two of the five units delivered across the two phases delivered by BE Design remain available to let. Find out more about BE Design at www.bedesign.co.uk or join the conversation on Twitter @B_E_Design.
While you may not think it, courier companies actually provide an invaluable service to construction firms and the industry as a whole. This rule even applies before work has started on a particular site, as companies are often required to submit time-sensitive tenders to win work and often use professional couriers for this purpose. Once work has commenced, couriers provide an even more invaluable service to construction firms, particularly those that are undertaking large scale projects. Here are some of the main benefits of partnering with a professional courier: Prevent Workflow Disruptions One of the biggest benefits of using a professional (and reputable) courier is that they can play a pivotal role in preventing workflow disruptions. This works in two potential ways. Firstly, it ensures that you do not have to pull an employee from one project to deliver a package to an alternative site, enabling you to optimise each individual’s productivity and overall contribution. At the same time, you can also arrange for crucial items and components to be delivered on-time and directly to the project site. This is particularly important when managing time-sensitive projects, which can easily be disrupted by delivery delays. Access a Truck Delivery Service When you hear the term ‘courier service’, your thoughts are probably drawn to small transit vans and relatively minimal hauls. However, professional services often lay on large trucks and vans too, which are capable of transporting both a high volume of items and big pieces of equipment. This is extremely important, as it negates the need to reassign employees to load and unload items when travelling between different destinations. Similarly, this also allows you to have pieces of machinery delivered on-time and anywhere in the UK, whether this is required from the start of the project or to replace a broken item. Create Additional Storage Space for Supplies One of the main issues associated with building sites is that they often become cluttered, and this can create significant issues in terms of health and safety and the integrity of expensive pieces of equipment. Professional couriers may be able to help with this, however, as they often retain additional space that can be utilised by clients for the purpose of storing supplies. This serves as a kind of logistics warehouse, which stores and organises your supplies until such a time that you need them. You should also be able to secure a competitive price and deal from your courier, especially if you have an existing relationship or have completed a lot of business with them. Another benefit of this is that it minimises the risk of materials being stolen overnight from your construction site, delivering long-term cost savings that will help the project to maintain its profitability.
A new report from the NHBC Foundation today highlights how trailblazing developers are exploring the use of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). The new report, ‘Modern methods of construction: who’s doing what?’, found that developers at the forefront were investing significantly in MMC and that a majority had plans to expand the number of homes they build using such methods. Among the house builders, housing associations and developer/manufacturers included, the report details high levels of adoption of different, advanced forms of MMC such as volumetric modules and panelised systems. Better quality, improved efficiency, accelerated delivery and increased productivity are cited by these developers as key factors driving their uptake of MMC. The report, which was produced on behalf of the NHBC Foundation by Cast, which is led by Mark Farmer, author of the Farmer Review, features a range of case studies, demonstrating a diversity of approaches to the adoption of MMC, as well as a wider survey which showed that 30% of those studied were already investing in their own manufacturing facility and a further 9% had plans to do so. In addition, and as a further indication of confidence, 62% were committing funds to research and development to enhance technologies further. Commenting on the new report, Neil Smith, NHBC Head of Standards, Innovation and Research, said: “The study explores the current levels of interest in MMC from a range of developers of different sizes and types and provides a useful benchmark to gauge future trends and patterns in the uptake of innovative forms of construction. “Overall, the findings demonstrate a clear commitment by developers to delivering high-quality new homes through the adoption of MMC. As this confidence in MMC grows and more technologies become proven, we will begin to realise the full potential for MMC to build more, and higher-quality, homes.” Mark Farmer, chief executive of Cast, added: “We’re delighted to see NHBC Foundation taking a lead here in raising industry awareness of industry’s gradual move towards embracing MMC. This report highlights how pre-manufacturing has the potential to drive not just productivity and profit – but quality and efficiency. “What is also clear is that developers are approaching the use of MMC in different ways. We expect that pre-manufacturing will continue be used in a variety of combinations and using different materials and systems.” For further information please visit http://www.nhbcfoundation.org
Property company Network Space has completed phase two of an industrial development that is taking shape in Merseyside. The first phase of the Mere Grange development in St Helens was completed in July 2018 and comprised 90,500 sq ft split across four individual buildings, ranging in size from 18,500 sq ft to 26,350 sq ft. Each unit is self-contained, built to a high specification and designed to appeal to the needs of a wide range of logistics and industrial users. Phase 2 comprises a 51,400 sq ft unit which is currently under construction and has been pre-let to a specialist commercial laundry firm, Synergy LMS, on a 25-year lease. Caddick Construction are the contractors responsible for the build and completion is anticipated next month. Network Space has also recently secured planning for a 20,000 sq ft unit on the final phase which has been pre-let to an electrical distribution business. Construction of the unit is due to commence on site next month with completion before the end of the year. Stephen Barnes, Managing Director (Development) at Network Space, said: “We are delighted with progress at Mere Grange as we near completion of Phase 2 and shortly look to commence Phase 3. “In attracting the calibre of occupiers we have, Mere Grange has beaten off strong competition from other sites in the region. This is not only testament to the quality of accommodation we are delivering at the site but also the quality of the location and our proactive approach in responding to occupiers needs. “I’d like to thank the professional team for their hard work, together with our partners St Helens MBC and Homes England who have been actively involved in supporting the project. We look forward to successfully completing the final phase later this year.” Mere Grange is being developed in association with Homes England, St Helens Council and Liverpool City Region Combined Regional Authority. Cllr Derek Long, Leader of St Helens Council, added: “The development at Mere Grange is precisely the type of new employment space we require in St Helens in that it can support multiple different sectors. The Borough has a tradition in pharmaceuticals, and health and medical technology businesses.”
When your e-commerce business makes a sale, the last thing you want is to have to deal with a return. You’ll lose the sale and incur additional costs. To accommodate a return, the product must reverses its way through your supply chain. All activity associated with accepting the return of a product is known as reverse logistics. The assoicated costs are always higher than just the price of shipping. According to Supply Chain Dive, reverse logistics cost companies upwards of $260 billion annually. Here are five hidden costs in the reverse logistics process many e-tailers overlook. Labor Costs in Return Process Labor is one of the most commonly overlooked because it’s felt indirectly. When a product comes back, employees need to receive, inspect and possibly restock the item—depending upon its condition. This usually involves multiple workers across various departments. Time that could be spent growing the business is consumed handling returned product. Reselling Returned Products at a Discounted Price Product condition can play a huge factor in determining price. In some cases you’ll have to resell at a discount or discard it all together. On top of losing the profit from the original sale and incurring the cost of labor to get the product back into your inventory, selling the product for a discount or discarding it all together adds even more salt into the wound. Returned Product Can Lead to Inventory Mismanagement Product returns can throw a monkeywrench into your inventory tracking process. Resources are redirected toward returned product, which takes away from the inventory control operating procedures. E-retailers have the option to outsource their inventory management to a third-party logistics company (3PL), but others who chose to handle inventory in-house could benefit from a cloud e-commerce platform. Cloud-based platforms can help with inventory management because of their speed, security and scalability. Offering Free Return Shipping A growing trend in return processes for e-commerce companies is free return shipping. This usually has a positive impact on how the customers perceive an organization because it shows them that the company is taking care of the extra expense instead of putting it on the customer. Around 49 percent of online retailers offer the service While this goes a long way toward engendering customer satisfaction, it’s detrimental to the bottom line. On average, about 30 percent of e-commerce orders are returned, so these costs add up very quickly. Customer Frustration Can Lead to Higher Customer Churn While positive return experience can drive loyalty, a bad one is likely to lead a customer to shop your competitors. Per the Narvar Consumer Report, customers who return product are likely to be the best customers. Eighty-two percent of customers who previously returned products were repeat shoppers, and 95 percent of customers satisfied with the returns process said they’d purchase from the retailer again. A key report takeaway — high value customers are also the most likely to utilize the returns process. E-retailers need to implement or update their reverse logistics strategy in order to become as efficient with their returned product as possible. E-commerce companies who do not pay attention to this process could be losing upwards of 10-20 percent of their profits, and possibly, a devoted chunk of their customer base. Running an e-commerce store demands attention from every angle, but by focusing on these five hidden costs in the reverse logistics process you’ll recover more of your margins and better satisfy the needs of your customers.