The primary reason for running a renovation project is usually to add value. Whether that’s by rectifying a problem, updating your offering or optimising the space, renovation can improve both the function and aesthetics of a business. Here Connie Johnson, vice president of marketing at surface preparation expert National Flooring Equipment, explains how technology can help improve a renovation project’s return on investment.   The starting point for a renovation project is to establish what the end goal is for the organisation. In most cases, the project is not just to replace the floor, but actually to meet a business objective. The objective could be something as critical as to bring in more customers or improve a building’s efficiency.   For example, in a café or restaurant, it is important to install flooring that feels and looks good under a customer’s feet, is easy to clean if a drink is spilt and is slip resistant for safety. In a casino, a busy carpet may encourage visitors to look up, resulting in an increase in spending – helping the business to increase its profits. A patterned carpet will also conceal any spills, making the carpet cheaper and easier to maintain.   A floor covering can even impact the energy efficiency of a business. In large warehouses or supermarkets, a reflective polished concrete floor can cut energy bills. For a project to have any real return on investment, it must be clear what problem the renovation is trying to solve and what environment the business is trying to create.   Once the goals and objectives of the project are defined, there are several ways that a business can maximise the return on investment of their floor. The first stage is during the renovation itself.   On the job When renovating a business, it’s critical that the work does not disrupt day-to-day activities. Many companies remain open during renovation or refurbishments, which means business owners must be conscious of noise, dust and debris. The contractor can choose a battery or electric powered machine, use dust collection equipment and regularly remove any debris or rubble to help keep the business in operation during the project.   Technology can help a contractor to perform the renovation more quickly. A commonly overlooked factor is ergonomics – the more comfortable the contractor is, the more quickly the job can be performed. For this reason, surface preparation equipment that can be adjusted can help improve the speed of renovation is ideal.   Versatile equipment on the job site will also improve ROI. For example, with the right tooling, National Flooring Equipment’s Helix grinder can grind, polish, edge grind and scarify a surface – offering four capabilities in one machine. Whether you own equipment or hire a contractor, the use of one machine can improve the speed and ease of which a renovation can be completed.   Advances in coating technology can impact the floor’s return on investment, both in terms of meeting a business objective and in the floor’s lifespan. Consider this example, your business is flooded your floor is mouldy and ruined. Do you want to lay the same covering again and risk a repeat occurrence? Of course not. The best option is to address the issue underneath the floor by laying a moisture barrier and safeguarding the floor against future water damage.   Renovation return on investment is about more than the cost of the project. True ROI is achieved by a project that helps a company to meet a business objective, either saving energy costs or increasing customer spend. Ensuring the floor will last the test of time so the business can continue to reap the rewards of the renovated floor is another important factor. Surface preparation is critical for improving lifespan, keep this at the forefront of your mind when you next consider adding value to your business.   For more information visit https://www.nationalequipment.com/. 

Airdrie family business, Arvill Plant and Tool Hire, one of the most innovative players in the Scottish construction sector, has recently acquired a state-of-the-art stonecrushing rig which can radically reduce the environmental impact of resurfacing and ground stabilisation works.  It is the only machine of its kind in use in the UK and it is the latest acquisition in an investment spree totalling nearly £400,000 which maintains Arvill’s extensive hire fleet at the cutting edge of sustainable, eco-sensitive and safe construction methods.  The stonecrusher, which cost £30,000, is designed and built for a new skid steer tracked unit which cost an additional £46,000. Its size makes it ideal for dirt and gravel roads, bike and horse trails, landscaping and difficult terrain.  It has already been tried and tested on several projects and involved in a programme of upgrading towpaths along the canal network throughout Scotland.  Hayley Shevill, Commercial Director at Arvill Plant and Tool Hire said: “The stonecrusher is ideal for challenging terrains such as the canal and cycle paths, which are narrow and can have fragile banks. The unit also helped reduce disruption to pedestrians and the paths remained open throughout operations.”  The kit can work in conjunction with ground stabilisation materials, creating a strong load-bearing layer with a suitably flat surface.  Ms Shevill said: “This solution meets a number of environmental criteria.  It means no energy intensive excavation is needed in a quarry to provide material and it reduces pollution, time and costs on site. We are confident that our acquisition of this machine will open up new markets for us.”  As part of their ongoing expansion strategy, Arvill Plant and Tool Hire has also added 10-tonne cab dumpers and six-tonne cab dumpers to their fleet of dumpers, diggers, rollers, compaction equipment, telehandlers and self-propelled access platforms up to 46ft.    The larger dumpers are fitted with front and rear integrated cameras and the smaller with front cameras which will address many of the safety concerns around front tipping vehicles in which the skip obscures the driver’s vision.    Moving forward Arvill Plant hire aim to help eliminate many of the major risks to health and safety by investing in dumpers that are fitted with rotational cabs to allow for maximum visibility whilst the machine is in use.  For further information, contact Hayley Shevill, Arvill Plant & Tool Hire, 48-60 Flowerhill Street, Flowerhill Industrial Estate, Airdrie ML6 6BH. T: 01236 760070. E: hayley.shevill@arvill.co.uk. W: www.arvillplantandtoolhire.co.uk

Lifting company Action Lev was assigned to install 24 new tanks for beer fermentation, providing an additional 400m3 per tank of storage capacity for a total of 9,600m3 for craft brewer Goudale in the north of France. For this mission, the company chose two Demag cranes – AC 160-5 and AC 100-4 – as they offered the most efficient and cost effective solution. “This plan required unloading the tanks from the trailers and placing them on a raised concrete slab,” explained Bruno Declercq, owner of Action Lev, who was also operating the larger of the two cranes. “Thanks to the compact size and manoeuvrability of the AC 160-5, I was able to set up the crane on the concrete slab in order to reduce the working radius. Otherwise, we would have had to use a crane with a capacity of 700t to lift them from the outdoor parking area.” Space is at a premium in the case of many craft brewers, meaning that the location of the storage tanks at the back of the building does not leave much room for cranes. This operation was challenging due to the fact that there was a 6m-wide passageway to position two mobile cranes and a convoy that required a space of six by 30 metres. To tackle the challenge, Action Lev chose to deploy a Demag AC 100-4 four-axle crane that was to lift the lower section of the tanks. The crew then set up the AC 160-5 crane on the raised concrete slab to handle the new tanks, which allowed the AC 160-5 to be rigged close to the load’s final position. Ths left the access passageway free for the six metre convoy and the set up of the AC 100-4. To place the tanks, the AC 100-4 and AC 160-5 cranes required maximum counterweight of 26.1t and 46t respectively. The dual-crane solution employed by Action Lev allowed the crew to cleanly and efficiently place six tanks per day.

Arvill Plant and Tool Hire, an Airdrie-based family business, has shown its commitment to age diversity with the appointment of a 79 year old construction industry veteran on the sales executive position. Eddie McLean, who was born in the same year as the Battle of Britain, is the oldest salesperson in plant hire in Scotland, and possible the UK. He is working closely with Commercial Director Hayley Shevill and has already brought in a slew of new clients to the innovative business. “At my age and having worked in the sector for so long, I know most of the people in the business and am delighted to bring my connections to a firm which has long set the pace in plant hire across Scotland,” commented Eddie. Eddie was brought into the team by owner and managing director Arthur Shevill, who founded in company in 1985 and ran it in its early years from his home and garden shed. “The whole team is delighted that Eddie has agreed to come on board. He has an unrivalled track record, he keeps his word, he has an excellent reputation in the industry and he knows how everything works,” said Arthur. “To indicate how valuable his contribution will be, he has already secured deals with Fankerton Plant, RJ McLeod, Marshall Plant, CM Steel, Front Line Construction, Advance Construction and Dem-Master,” he continued. Eddie left school in 1955 and went straight into working in the oil shale mines that have been operating in Scotland for more than a century. As well as the shale mines, he worked in construction on motorway projects including the M8, the M73 and the M74. He also gained a heavy goods licence and travelled the country as a lorry driver. “It’s great to have a fount of knowledge like Eddie on the team. We have all ages, including a trainee fitter who is just 16. Eddie has certainly brought the average age up by a few years,” said Hayley Shevill.

Makita has introduced the first tool of the ever expanding and popular CXT cordless range – Makita 12v TW140D impact wrench. Its impressively small size allows easy access in tight locations and underlies its powerful performance, delivery and speed. Weighing only 1.2kg, including a Li-Ion CXT battery, and measuring just 161mm in overall body length, the TW140D impact wrench will deliver 140Nm of fastening torque and 270Nm of nut busting blitz, will run up to 2,600rpm and will deliver up to 3,200ipm. This model features an electric brake and variable speed trigger; forward and reverse rotation and an LED job light.  It also has an ergonomic soft grip handle for operator comfort and a convenient belt clip. The TW140D CXT impact wrench is available with two 2.0Ah Li-Ion CXT slide batteries and DC10WD charger (offering a 60 minute charge time), or as a body only machine. Moreover, Makita’s new, premium quality, 3/8” drive CR-MO impact sockets, made from high strength chrome Molybdenum alloy steel, offer a combination of durability and impact resistance and for best results are recommended for use with the TW140D. Makita also launched its 12v-MAX SDS-Plus HR140D cordless rotary hammer drill that generates one joule of impact energy and up to 4,900ipm. Weighing just 2.6kg, this model will run up to 850rpm. It features two operating modes – rotary only and rotation with hammering – and a vibration absorbing grip handle assembly, which cuts drilling vibration transmission to protect the operator for up to six hours use. The HR140D 12v CXT rotary hammer is currently available with a 65 piece accessory kit containing wood and metal bits, a tape measure, two 2.0Ah CXT Li-Ion batteries and a charger, all packaged in a convenient and protective carrying case. Makita is a leading world class brand of professional power tools, accessories and workwear known for quality, performance and durability in rigorous industrial use. Operating for 45 years, it is Britain’s number one professional power tool manufacturer, offering an extensive inventory of over 620 products and accessories.