Nationwide Platforms, the UK’s leading provider of powered access solutions, has entered into a new multi-year partnership with WS Specialist Logistics to oversee its haulage operations across the North of England and Scotland. Effective from October 2025, the agreement will see Nationwide Platforms’ existing HGV fleet and drivers from nine depots across the two regions transfer to WS Specialist Logistics. These vehicles will be dedicated solely to Nationwide Platforms’ operations, operating under dual branding and continuing to run from existing Nationwide Platforms locations to ensure a seamless transition. Nationwide Platforms’ haulage operation in the remaining regions will continue to be managed internally as they currently are. As part of the partnership, Nationwide Platforms will continue to oversee the full end-to-end order management process internally. WS Specialist Logistics, headquartered in the North, will provide dedicated fleet management and driver support, working closely with Nationwide Platforms to maintain high safety and reliability standards. WS Specialist Logistics, a specialist in construction logistics, was selected for its ability to offer operational excellence in complex logistics environments. The partnership will enable Nationwide Platforms to focus on its core powered access rental and service offering. “This new partnership with WS Specialist Logistics is a logical step for Nationwide Platforms,” said Dan Smith, UK Chief Operating Officer for Nationwide Platforms. “It allows us to invest more in our core business and prioritise customer needs as we enter a period of anticipated growth. WS Specialist Logistics’ experience, infrastructure and track record in our sector make them an ideal logistics partner for this next phase of our development.” Nigel McMullan, CEO of WS Specialist Group, added, “Our team is excited to bring our expertise in specialist haulage to support Nationwide Platforms’ operations in the North and Scotland. We look forward to building a successful long-term relationship, delivering great service and supporting their future growth.” This strategic collaboration is the latest move by Nationwide Platforms to strengthen its position as the market leader in powered access solutions. For more information on Nationwide Platforms please visit: https://www.nationwideplatforms.co.uk/. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Hiab, a leading provider of smart and sustainable on-road load handling solutions, has signed a EUR 23.5 million three-year frame agreement to supply advanced loader cranes for offshore wind parks, extending into 2028. The agreement is expected to be booked as order intake starting from Q4 2025, split between quarters until Q3 of 2028. The deliveries of the first cranes are planned to commence in early 2026 and last until early 2029, depending on the completion of the customer’s projects. The agreement is a continuation of a longstanding relationship and follows an existing agreement. The agreement consists of the supply of HIAB SWP cranes. This crane model is custom-designed for the service operations of offshore wind turbines and excels even in difficult conditions. The cranes will be strategically placed within the nacelles of wind turbines to facilitate essential maintenance, service, and component supply, ensuring continuous operation of the wind farms. “This landmark agreement underscores Hiab’s commitment to creating pioneering solutions that power the future of sustainable energy. They are specifically engineered for unmatched performance in the toughest offshore environments, empowering our customers to maintain critical infrastructure and accelerate the global transition to renewable power with confidence,” said Alexander Gelis, Vice President, Sales & Product Management at Hiab.   The wind parks currently benefiting from this partnership are located across the UK, Taiwan, and the United States, with  further expansion plans for Germany and Denmark. This collaboration underscores Hiab’s commitment to supporting the global renewable energy sector with reliable and efficient lifting solutions. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Temporary power distribution specialist IDE Systems has installed a customised Cat® DE110E2 diesel generator, supplied by Finning UK & Ireland, at its manufacturing centre in Cannock. The standby generator will provide resilience against power outages and ensure seamless operations in producing power distribution equipment for critical sectors, including data centres, healthcare and infrastructure projects. The installation ensures that in the event of a mains failure, IDE Systems’ manufacturing operations can continue without interruption, protecting customer delivery timelines and production schedules. Matt Collins, Head of Power Distribution at IDE Systems, said: “Our facility produces a full range of power distribution panels, including everything from small dual 16 A sockets to 4,000 A generator connections. Any disruption on site doesn’t just impact us, it can delay critical deployments for customers. This new standby system from Finning gives us the resilience we need to operate with confidence, even during unexpected outages.” Customised at Finning’s Cannock site, the generator was tailored to IDE Systems’ requirements with fuel system upgrades and a branded enclosure. The unit delivers 110 kVA at 50 Hz and is powered by a Cat C4.4 engine. With a 250-litre tank and fuel consumption of 23.8 L/hr at full load, the system provides up to 10.5 hours of continuous runtime, enough to cover most outages without the need for immediate refuelling. Martyn Drinkwater, Senior Sales Manager of Electric Power UK & Ireland at Finning, said: “The DE110E2 is engineered for fast response in environments where downtime isn’t an option. It meets ISO 8528-5 transient response standards and can accept 100% block load in a single step. This means power is restored instantly without any phased ramp-up. “It meets EU Stage II emissions standards and is housed in a sound-attenuated enclosure suitable for installation near offices or testing bays. With its 50°C ambient capability, it’s well suited to real-world UK site conditions, including the kind of summer extremes we’ve seen in recent years.” Finning UK & Ireland is the exclusive distributor for Cat equipment and power systems across the region. With in-house engineering, service, and customisation capabilities, the company supports customers in construction, manufacturing, energy, and other critical sectors with power solutions. For more information please visit: https://www.finning.com/en_GB Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

AER Rents has placed a significant order with Chinese construction equipment manufacturer SANY, securing 50 new machines for its UK and Irish operations. The deal will see a mix of telehandlers and excavators delivered over the summer to support AER-owned businesses: MPH Hire & Sales, DHS Complete Hire, and Chippindale Hire & Sales. Prior to placing the order, AER Rents executives travelled to SANY’s manufacturing facility in China to assess the company’s quality management processes first-hand. “This is more than just a fleet refresh – it’s a clear signal of our ambition,” said Gavin Pitt, Chief Executive of AER Rents. “We’re expanding, partnering with the best, and placing performance, safety, and sustainability at the core of everything we deliver to our customers.” Distribution of the equipment will be handled by SANY’s regional dealer network. Banner Equipment will supply the majority of the order to Chippindale Hire & Sales. SANY UK’s direct sales team will deliver to MPH Hire & Sales in the southeast, while Sleator Plant will manage deliveries to DHS Complete Hire in Ireland. Rob Gowling, General Manager of Banner Equipment, commented: “This fleet expansion is fantastic news for all parties involved. It’s especially rewarding to see our long-standing relationship with Chippindale Hire & Sales extend across the wider AER Rents Group and into the broader SANY UK & Ireland network. SANY has firmly established itself in the construction sector, and this partnership strengthens that reputation further.” AER Rents Group, part of Ireland’s O’Flaherty Holdings, acquired Mr Plant Hire (now MPH) in 2014 and Chippindale Plant in 2022. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

HG Construction Invests £1.2m in ‘Revolution Battery’ Leading UK contractor HG Construction is partnering with Dumarey Green Power to decarbonize its crane and hoist operations across the company’s UK sites. HG Construction has made a £1.2m investment into Dumarey’s ‘Revolution Battery’ following a successful trial on two HG sites earlier this year.  The investment will enable HG Construction to significantly reduce carbon emissions and operational costs on its sites, and is aligned with the company’s commitment to adopting more sustainable construction practices. HG Construction partnered with Dumarey Green Power to run trials on its Moritsch crane fleet at two London sites earlier this year. In one trial, a single Revolution Battery powered two Moritsch RTL 195 luffing cranes using a 32A 3-phase mains supply, replacing two 200 kVA diesel generators that ran 50–60 hours weekly. The results were transformative: Adam Quinn, CEO, HG Construction, commented: “The performance of the Revolution Battery during the trials was exceptional – reducing carbon emissions and running costs by over 90%. These results speak for themselves and made our decision to invest a straightforward one. The fact that the technology has been developed and produced locally also aligns with our commitment to source from local suppliers where possible.  This investment will enable us to make great strides on our journey towards decarbonisation of our operations, improve site efficiency and reduce waste. Looking forward, we remain committed to embracing innovations that deliver tangible environmental and operational benefits.” Unlike conventional battery systems that store large amounts of energy for high peak power, the Revolution Battery, an industrial battery energy storage system (BESS), decouples energy storage from output power. This innovation allows high power delivery from minimal energy storage, resulting in a smaller, more efficient system with fewer battery cells and lower embedded emissions. If mains power is unavailable, the battery can be charged by a 40 kVA generator, running less than three hours daily based on trial data. Alex Keys, Sales and Marketing Director, Dumarey Green Power, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with HG Construction as the business makes a bold step towards decarbonising its crane and hoist operations. The construction sector faces challenges in the years ahead to meet emissions targets, and switching from diesel-powered generators to efficient battery systems can make a huge impact. HG Construction’s adoption of this technology underscores its commitment to achieving its net-zero goals and sets a new standard for sustainable construction.” Manufactured in the UK by Dumarey Green Power, the Revolution Battery leverages local labour and suppliers, minimising transport emissions and supporting the UK construction market. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Smart Construction, the digital arm of Japanese machinery manufacturer Komatsu, has reported a 44 percent adoption increase in its software as a service (SaaS) technology from FY2023 to FY2024, highlighting a rising demand for software in construction. The business, which creates solutions to improve productivity and efficiencies across mixed construction sectors, also doubled its headcount and announced its excavator guidance products are now compatible with industry-leading tilt rotators brands. A key driver of Komatsu Smart Construction’s growth has been its focus on improving and refining its already popular technologies. Following a 30 percent increase in users across its Remote product, the brand has announced a license for the cloud-based solution will be included as standard with all purchases of Komatsu-branded guidance and control systems, including the newly released PC220LCi-12 dubbed ‘the most advanced’ excavator ever. Smart Construction’s Remote solution allows users to access and control both Komatsu and non-Komatsu machine guidance and control system monitors remotely. Bart Vingerhoets, Senior Commercial Manager at Komatsu Smart Construction explains: “We’re proud to work with as many people as possible across the industry to develop our tools to be even more effective. Our users don’t just use our tools, they shape them.  “As European construction continues to embrace digital transformation, we’re committed to accelerating that progress and making jobsite management more sustainable, connected and accessible than ever.  “The last financial year has been pivotal for the team, with our investment into advancing our own tools growing and multiple new editions of solutions launching, we’re extremely proud of our achievements.” Additional product development successes from the brand include the relaunch of its pivotal drone surveying assistance solution, Edge, now in its second major hardware edition since the launch, and its seventh version of software.  Edge uses a custom-built AI algorithm to automatically remove buildings, equipment and vegetation from the 3D point cloud it processes from the drone footage, delivering a clear, accurate, 3D representation of the site.  The tool processes high quality and precise data from the job site, providing the user with a direct way of calculating job site progress quickly and identifying any challenges or unforeseen considerations. Bart adds: “At Komatsu Smart Construction, we’re also prioritising partnerships, connecting with other technology to create truly brand agnostic solutions that support the whole industry. Last year the team launched a new version of the Smart Construction Fleet solution, overhauling the user interface and upgrading the algorithms to improve accuracy and user experience.” Komatsu Smart Construction solutions are available through a community of distributors, which is continuously growing, meaning the brand can gain access to unbiased customer feedback and use it to shape future upgrades. To find out more please visit: smartconstruction.io  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

In response to growing demand for high-performance infrastructure, Sunbelt Rentals UK and Ireland has made a significant investment to expand its offering and meet the evolving needs of the industry. As part of its Sunbelt 4.0 strategy, designed to improve customer experience and sustainability, the company has expanded its fleet with 20,000 recyclable aluminium panels, along with 28 Trakway installation vehicles. This expansion of their fleet supports the company with the increasing demand for safe, scalable and environmentally responsible infrastructure across the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe. An important aspect of the investment is their focus on the sustainability aspects of the equipment to allow customers to easily make the switch to greener solutions. The recyclable aluminium panels are aligned to the company’s sustainability strategy, Our Planet, designed to reduce waste and increase circular economy practices. Once used, these panels will be melted down, repurposed and returned into the industry. Ann Marie Brindle, Commercial Director – Trakway at Sunbelt Rentals said “This investment reflects our commitment to providing our customers with a world class rental experience. The addition of the Lion panels and expanded fleet of electric solutions means we can consistently deliver on time and align with our customers’ focus on sustainable solutions.” Lee Robinson, Managing Director of Trakway at Sunbelt Rentals, expanded on how this will benefit their customers: “This investment goes beyond the equipment – it’s about setting a standard for excellent customer experience and social sustainability.” In addition to its investment in equipment, Sunbelt Rentals is equally focused on investing in its people. Recognising the importance of expertise and safety, the company is committed to prioritising the development of its teams through targeted training programmes. Every teammate involved in site operations is required to complete mandatory certifications, including CSCS, ALMI, BESC, and lift supervision. These qualifications ensure that every team member meets the highest standards of safety and technical proficiency, guaranteeing that customers receive a consistently high level of service backed by knowledgeable and skilled teams. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals