Nixon Plant Hire have invested in a large fleet of eco-static welfare units manufactured by the Luton based company, AJC Trailers Limited. This brand new order is for AJC’s EasyCabin environmentally biased, Ecostatic 22 and 28 welfare units. Although Nixon Hire currently operates a substantial fleet of EasyCabin welfare units,
A series of on-site training and tool box talks delivered by Trime UK, the market leading supplier of environmentally conscious site lighting equipment, took place at A-Plant, the UK’s leading equipment rental company. Devised and implemented by Trime’s senior technician Wayne Brennan, the programme included topics such as secure operation,
One of the world’s largest JCB dealers has broken new ground by commissioning its first Mercedes-Benz vans, most of which are being used by mobile service engineers who provide customers with round-the-clock back-up. Greenshields JCB sells and supports the manufacturer’s renowned range of construction and industrial machinery from headquarters
National Flooring Equipment, the surface preparation equipment manufacturer, will be hosting two one-day training sessions on the 11th and 12th of April in Warrington, to help contractors in the UK. The sessions will take place at Multi-Hire Power Tools and anyone that would like to register for one of the
Topps Tiles, the UK’s leading tile specialist, ordered 14 MOFFETT truck mounted forklifts from Hiab, part of Cargotec. The order includes Hiab’s pioneering MOFFETT E-Series, which is the world’s first lithium-ion powered truck mounted forklift, as well as a total repair and maintenance contract, Hiab ProCare. “MOFFETT E-Series truck mounted
Hiab, part of Cargotec, invites the world’s best crane operators to submit their entries for the third World Crane Championship. Local heats begin soon, and the winner will be crowned at the finals, which will take place at the IAA Commercial Vehicle Show in Hannover, Germany, on 22-23 September 2018.
The Hertfordshire based plant hire firm, BooBoo Plant Hire, has decided to increase its fleet of solar powered equipment. It has strong links to the demolition and construction markets in and around London, which have started to seek out emission free construction site machinery. BooBoo’s one of the first investments
A £120 million deal facilitated by HSBC in partnership with ABN AMRO will support the leading heavy plant hire specialist Ardent Hire Solutions in its period of accelerated growth. Each partner will provide a £60 million funding in the shape of an asset-based lending facility which will go into Ardent’s
One of Northern Ireland’s leading plant and equipment hire organisations have announced that they have invested in a fleet of environmentally positive lighting sets that have been manufactured by Trime, the lighting tower specialists. CP Hire has made an order for the Trime X-ECO LED model of products that has
As ports, freight terminals and companies involved in heavy industry applications invest to drive trade post-Brexit, increasing sales of Mantsinen hydraulic cranes and SANY heavy handling equipment are driving growth at Cooper Specialised Handling, which has seen turnover rise to more than £10 million. The UK’s only independent provider of specialised heavy lifting equipment with
Nixon Plant Hire have invested in a large fleet of eco-static welfare units manufactured by the Luton based company, AJC Trailers Limited. This brand new order is for AJC’s EasyCabin environmentally biased, Ecostatic 22 and 28 welfare units. Although Nixon Hire currently operates a substantial fleet of EasyCabin welfare units, this is the first time that Nixon have opted for the EasyCabin Ecostatic range. Commenting on their latest investment, Graham Nixon, Nixon’s Hire managing director said, “The decision to upgrade and enhance our temporary accommodation fleet was driven by demand from our clients requesting eco-biased units.” “AJC EasyCabin have themselves invested heavily in innovation and green technology, therefore when we evaluated their Ecostatic units it soon became apparent that, in our opinion, these were the most environmentally advanced welfare units available,” confirmed Mr. Nixon. Lisa Gillet, AJC’s sales director added, “We are naturally delighted that a market leading temporary accommodation hire firm, such as Nixon Hire, are committing themselves to our Ecostatic range. This is a testament to the foresight and creative thinking that our design teams are applying to bring real environmental benefits to all users of temporary accommodation. Environmental, energy-saving features are at the heart of the Ecostatic range.” The Ecostatic 22 is an eco-welfare unit that provides safe and comfortable facilities for up to twelve persons. The unit features a market changing modern appearance compared to other welfare cabins in the hire industry. This modern cabin includes energy efficient technology of automatic start/stop generator functionality and battery charging, with simplistic heating controls and 12v LED slim line recessed ceiling lights. There are also useful USB sockets, external lights and a fridge. Also included is a spacious canteen, plus hygienic toilets and a handy spacious drying room. Power is delivered via EasyCabin’s unique Ecosmart technology which regulates the power usage of the generator, reducing the fuel consumption dramatically when compared to the industry standard of a continually running generator. The EasyCabin Ecostatic 28 has all the features and benefits of the Ecostatic 22; however this unit provides additional office space for two persons and is one of the most eco-friendly and efficient static welfare units available in today’s market. Founded in 1967, Nixon Hire is a family-run business employing nearly 500 people across an ever-expanding depot network. With over 50 years of experience they supply quality plant, tools, and temporary accommodation alongside portable toilet products supported by associated services. Nixon Hire currently has 13 depots in the north of England and throughout Scotland. AJC EasyCabin has recently been awarded a Green Apple Environment Award in an international campaign to find the greenest companies, councils and communities. AJC competed against more than 500 other nominations in the Green Apple Awards for Environmental Best Practice and were presented with a trophy and certificate at an award presentation ceremony in the Houses of Parliament, London, in November 2017.
A series of on-site training and tool box talks delivered by Trime UK, the market leading supplier of environmentally conscious site lighting equipment, took place at A-Plant, the UK’s leading equipment rental company. Devised and implemented by Trime’s senior technician Wayne Brennan, the programme included topics such as secure operation, essential servicing, safety aspects and the environmental benefits of the Trime range of lightning. “Our aim is to offer full support to all owners, operators and end users of Trime lighting,” explained Wayne. “A-Plant recently placed a large order for our X-ECO LED lights and with a concentration of the sets on the new A14 highway project; we took up the opportunity to explain all aspects of the X- ECO to A-Plant and site personnel. In all, twenty-five people attended the session.” The X-ECO LED 6 is a complete unit that brings together environmental, fleet management and operator benefits. It features 6 no. 150W, 48V multi-directionally adjustable LED lights floodlights, with safe 48V power between the generator and the lights. The vertical hydraulic mast has seven sections, rising to a maximum height of 8.5m with 340° rotation and wind stability up to 110 km/h. Easy lifting is via a central lifting eye with longitudinal and transversal forklift pockets for safe handling and transportation. “The safety of our customers is a paramount priority at A-Plant,” commented Ali Male from A-Plant. “Having the option to train both our customers and our own people on site is a tremendous bonus. Wayne’s in-depth knowledge about Trime products and his clear delivery was welcomed by all of us.” A-Plant invested in an initial 150 Trime X-ECO LED lights, which will provide crisp, clear light over a wide area with maximum fuel efficiency, low emissions and long running times. A-Plant is part of Ashtead Group plc and is the UK’s largest equipment rental company with over 185 Service Centres nationwide, more than 3,600 employees and over 35,000 customers in the construction, industrial, infrastructure and events sectors.
One of the world’s largest JCB dealers has broken new ground by commissioning its first Mercedes-Benz vans, most of which are being used by mobile service engineers who provide customers with round-the-clock back-up. Greenshields JCB sells and supports the manufacturer’s renowned range of construction and industrial machinery from headquarters in Farnham, Surrey, and six other strategically located depots throughout the South-East. The new fleet of 22 vehicles arrived via Rossetts Commercials, which represents the three-pointed star in Surrey and Sussex. They were painted on line at the Mercedes-Benz factory in their distinctive shade of yellow. All but two of the new vans are 3.5-tonne Sprinters, which have been distributed throughout Greenshields JCB’s branch network. They are assigned to members of its 65-strong team of field engineers, who undertake on-site maintenance and repair of equipment – storage conversion specialist Bott racked out the vehicles’ cargo areas to carry tools and a comprehensive stock of spare parts. The Sprinters are all Medium-length Sprinter 314 CDI models with fuel-efficient 143 hp engines, comfortable, well-equipped cabs, and reassuring safety armouries which include reversing cameras. The two other vans are a mid-sized Vito 114 CDI Long, which has been allocated to a senior technician-trainer, and a small Citan 109 CDI Long, now being driven by a workshop foreman. Greenshields JCB has previously favoured another high-profile van brand. Like the two other manufacturers’ dealers also vying for Greenshields’ business, Rossetts Commercials supplied a series of vehicles for trial before finally landing the prestigious order. Key to Greenshields’ decision to partner with Mercedes-Benz was the promise of efficient, 24-hour after sales support from Rossetts and its fellow franchisees with workshops in their new customer’s area of operation. They will be servicing Greenshields’ new vans under Repair and Maintenance Contracts. Simon Hoare, the JCB dealer’s General Manager – Aftermarket, explained: “We guarantee a four-hour response time to machine breakdowns, though we’re often at the customer’s site a lot more quickly. If we’re to make good on this pledge it’s essential that our own vans are reliable, and that if the worst happens we’ll get the support we need.” Like all Mercedes-Benz Vans, Greenshields JCB’s new fleet came with MobiloVan cover, which includes free emergency roadside assistance, as well as three-year, unlimited mileage manufacturer’s warranties. “We liked the sound of the Mercedes-Benz back-up,” said Mr Hoare. “Its workshops are open through the night, which should mean that our vans are always available for work when we need them, while the MobiloVan breakdown cover was also an important ‘plus’.” He continued: “The Mercedes-Benz demonstrators were well received by our engineers, and they couldn’t be happier with their new vans. From the company’s point of view, meanwhile, the all-round quality and premium image of these vehicles can only complement our own brand.” Mr Hoare also praised the customer-focused manner of Rossetts’ response to Greenshields’ initial enquiry. “Of the three dealers we invited to tender, the Mercedes-Benz representative was the most professional, and provided the best experience by far,” he recalled. “Rossetts’ Van Sales Executive Tracey Stewart was always available and extremely efficient in replying quickly to our requests for information and quotations, while also providing product literature and other materials for our engineers that was much appreciated.” Greenshields JCB still operates another 50 vans by its previous vehicle supplier. “We plan to replace the balance of the fleet over the next 24 months, and if the manufacturer and Dealer deliver on their pledge then there is a strong likelihood that Greenshields JCB will become a significant Mercedes-Benz user,” added Mr Hoare. www.greenshieldsjcb.com
National Flooring Equipment, the surface preparation equipment manufacturer, will be hosting two one-day training sessions on the 11th and 12th of April in Warrington, to help contractors in the UK. The sessions will take place at Multi-Hire Power Tools and anyone that would like to register for one of the training days can contact the distributor. The first day of the training will focus on a range of National Flooring Equipment’s shot blasters, which can strip, clean and profile concrete in a single step, while on the second day attendees will work with a range of walk-behind and ride-one strippers that remove original coatings and prepare concrete for new coverings. As the company’s first large-scale training event in the UK, National Flooring Equipment hopes that all those participating will gain more knowledge, will understand what to consider when choosing the right equipment for each job and will have the opportunity to experience hands-on the company’s machines. “We want to support our customers across the world and this will be the first of many training sessions we host in the UK,” explained Nick White, UK and Ireland country manager at National Flooring Equipment. “Our employees all have years of expertise in the field and these training days allow us to pass on that understanding and knowledge to contractors. As their equipment understanding increases, it will also improve job efficiency.” During the training sessions, contractors will learn the basics of proper machine set up and how to operate each machine to get the desired results. Moreover, they will also learn how to properly clean and maintain machinery and the main health and safety considerations when using surface preparation equipment. Cutting concrete releases silica dust in the air, which is harmful when inhaled, therefore contractors must know how to reduce dust exposure in the workplace. National Flooring Equipment has manufactured equipment for over 50 years. It offers bespoke training to all its customers to suit their needs, with group, personal and online training offerings.
Topps Tiles, the UK’s leading tile specialist, ordered 14 MOFFETT truck mounted forklifts from Hiab, part of Cargotec. The order includes Hiab’s pioneering MOFFETT E-Series, which is the world’s first lithium-ion powered truck mounted forklift, as well as a total repair and maintenance contract, Hiab ProCare. “MOFFETT E-Series truck mounted forklifts offer silent and emission free deliveries for urban night-time deliveries. Our customers can expand their business window and contribute towards environmental savings with electric MOFFETTs. When developing the E-series we wanted to ensure that this solution generates efficiency in our customers’ logistics, as well as improving the carbon footprint,” said Barry McGrane, Director, Sales and Product Business Management, Truck Mounted Forklifts, Hiab. Doug Bingham, Head of Supply Chain at Topps Tiles, also commented on the purchase: “The experience we have from the MOFFETT E-Series is very positive. We want to enhance our fleet to include more of this type of emission-free and silent equipment. This also offers us the opportunity to deliver stock outside of store trading hours more effectively.” In addition to the truck mounted forklifts, Topps Tiles decided to include in its order the Hiab ProCare maintenance contract: “Hiab ProCare is a flexible service contract to secure uptime for Hiab equipment. With scheduled and predictive maintenance, our customers’ equipment retains the high quality they have invested in from the start. Each piece of equipment receives professional care via our global service network. Also, with ProCare, the customer ensure the lowest total cost of ownership and highest resale value for the equipment”, said Barry McGrane. “ProCare agreement ensures that we can concentrate on our work. It offers us service inspections, emergency breakdown repairs as well as the replacement of worn out parts with originals designed specially for MOFFETT and gives us, as a customer, the same functionality and safety,” added Doug. The delivery of the Hiab equipment will take place in the second quarter of 2018.
Hiab, part of Cargotec, invites the world’s best crane operators to submit their entries for the third World Crane Championship. Local heats begin soon, and the winner will be crowned at the finals, which will take place at the IAA Commercial Vehicle Show in Hannover, Germany, on 22-23 September 2018. The World Crane Championship aims to showcase the skills and abilities of loader crane operators from around the world, and give them the chance to test their skills against their peers, using the latest load handling products from Hiab. The first-ever World Crane Championship in 2015 started a new tradition in the industry, and generated such huge interest, that Hiab decided to make it a biannual event. The idea of the contest is quite simple: using a HIAB X-HiPro 232 crane, move water cans from a truck, accurately and with precision, around a circuit of obstacles, in the shortest time possible. The operator with the lowest time and fewest faults is crowned the winner, and takes home a prize worth €25,000. The first qualification rounds for the 2018 contest will take place in Germany and Austria in early March. To date, there are entries from 16 countries, including Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, The UK and Ireland, Spain, France, Poland, Slovenia, and Israel. The winner of the second World Crane Championship in 2016 was Tim Hansen, from Denmark, with a time of 2 minutes, 51:42 seconds. Aged just 25, Mr Hansen, of Tim S Hansen ApS, and the third generation of crane operators in his family, said, “Winning was a bit unreal.but it felt pretty good to win the prize and be able to call myself World Crane Champion.” His modesty belies his dexterity and agility at operating the HIAB X-HiPro-equipped crane with pin-sharp precision and accuracy whilst in the glare of the spotlight. The operators are the key people in any crane business. It is their skill and precision in operating a crane that determines how quickly and safely goods can be delivered to end-users. “The competitors take their entry into the competition very seriously,” says Lotta Sjöberg, Global Marketing Manager, Loader Cranes, Hiab. “I have been told that some set up a replica course in their work yards, and practice on a daily basis to hone their skills. They ask me all sorts of questions about the rules, the penalty system, and the course. So, this year, we are keeping all elements of the test course, the crane, and the truck the same, because contestants want to test themselves against the two previous winners on a like-for-like basis, and try to beat them.” There is intense, albeit good-natured, competition amongst the contestants, who are proud to represent their companies and their countries. “Afterwards, they swap contact details, so they can stay in touch with one another,” says Sjöberg. “If you are part of this competition, you become part of a wider Hiab family, and people really like that.” Indeed, feedback from contestants and their companies is very positive. Being the country-level champion is almost as good as being the world champion. “We are proud to have the World Crane Championship UK-country champion driving our company vehicles,” said Gary Halford, Plant Manager at Agetur UK Ltd, after the 2016 contest. And the winning UK-country driver, Trevor Tack, expressed his thanks to the whole Hiab family for an experience he will never forget. “We invite competitors from around the world to take up the challenge of testing themselves against each other,” says Joakim Andersson, Senior Vice President, Loader Cranes, Hiab. “I am looking forward to this year’s contest, and seeing the breathtaking levels of skill and precision that will be demonstrated by our finalists. We are proud to be able to host this competition, and be a part of the growing Hiab family of crane operators around the world.” For more information, and to sign up to compete in the qualification rounds, please visit www.worldcranechampionship.com.
The Hertfordshire based plant hire firm, BooBoo Plant Hire, has decided to increase its fleet of solar powered equipment. It has strong links to the demolition and construction markets in and around London, which have started to seek out emission free construction site machinery. BooBoo’s one of the first investments in low emission products was the purchase of EasyCabin 16’ and 20’ Ecosmart Solar welfare units. The Ecosmart Solar delivers sustainable energy to power the electrics and is fitted with a unique, patent pending, solar box, with ‘on demand’ power usage combined with a further patent pending ECO water system that makes hot water always available. “We have started to add the solar powered units to our fleet as we believe that with the increasing focus on emissions, particularly in London, these will be in big demand,” explained Terry Guilder, director of BooBoo Plant Hire. “We are now almost exclusively an EasyCabin supplier, as we find that they are the most reliable, cost efficient and just as importantly, the back-up and support is exceptional.” EasyCabin is the brand name for static and mobile welfare accommodation units manufactured by AJC Trailers Limited. The company has been producing a range of environmentally sustainable units since 1964 and presently operates from a modern 32,000 sq. ft. plant, based in Luton, Bedfordshire. BooBoo is confident that solar is the way forward, therefore they started adding solar powered lightning towers to their fleet. It has recently acquired a brand new fleet of plant consisting of 13 to 40 ton excavators, small and mini differs, and dust suppression systems suitable for both small and large jobs. It also provides a wide range of demolition attachments and access to additional plant and machinery. BooBoo operates throughout the entire country, but mainly in the south.
A £120 million deal facilitated by HSBC in partnership with ABN AMRO will support the leading heavy plant hire specialist Ardent Hire Solutions in its period of accelerated growth. Each partner will provide a £60 million funding in the shape of an asset-based lending facility which will go into Ardent’s receivables, plant, and machinery assets. The flexible access to working capital will give the company the chance to purchase further machinery and maintenance for its existing high quality fleet. Ardent provides telehandlers, excavators, dumpers, and rollers, to civil engineering and residential building businesses across the UK. Headquartered in Enfield and Middlesex, it has 14 depots nationwide, including Glasgow, Leeds, and London. “This substantial Asset Based Lending facility is a mark of HSBC’s appetite and ability to lead the implementation of structured finance arrangements tailored to client needs, and has been a magnificent team effort between our Asset Based Lending specialists and Leveraged Corporates team. Working with ABN AMRO, we have collectively delivered a solution that will not only provide the working capital that meets Ardent’s current needs, but which will also provide them with the foundation for future growth,” commented Nigel Smith, Head of Large Corporates, HSBC Global Trade and Receivables Finance UK, on the generous offering. The new facility will provide Ardent Hire with the financial capacity to respond to the customers’ demand and to provide market growth. “We are pleased to have worked in partnership with HSBC and provided Ardent Hire with a flexible funding solution. It will help support the company’s accelerated growth, enabling them to achieve their business ambitions,” said Pierre Vinci, Head of Origination at ABN AMRO Asset Based Finance. Formed in 2017 through the acquisition of One Call Hire Limited and Fork Rent Plc. made by Searchlight Capital Partners, L. P. and Duke Street, Ardent Hire Solutions has now the largest telehandler fleet in the UK and one of the largest excavator fleets, with over 5,000 machines available for hire.
One of Northern Ireland’s leading plant and equipment hire organisations have announced that they have invested in a fleet of environmentally positive lighting sets that have been manufactured by Trime, the lighting tower specialists. CP Hire has made an order for the Trime X-ECO LED model of products that has a number of sustainable features that can deliver significant cost savings as well as fuel efficiency benefits for the owner of the lighting and the end user. The X-ECO LED products manufactured by Trime have been tested by Trime engineers and it is thought that the product range uses around £336 less each month in fuel in comparison to many other light sets that are available. These fuel savings are also the equivalent of a reduction in CO2 output by around 888 kg each month. CP Hire is based in Coleraine and has been working to supply a wide range of plant and machinery since 1971. The latest order made by the company is their most recent move into the LED lighting market. Andrew Hutchinson, CP Hire’s Managing Director, has said that the company are acting on the very clear demand in the market for LED lighting, which is expected to only increase. Therefore, CP Hire are working to ensure that they remain at the front of the market with the purchase of this fleet of environmentally positive lighting sets. The order has been supplied by the Cambridgeshire-based Trime UK Limited through their Northern Ireland dealer, Glendun Plant sales Limited. Glendun Plant Sales in the dealer and distributor of a variety of plant and equipment, the company became a Trime UK distributor for their lighting towers in February of this year. Trime UK is thought to be the UK market leader in the supply of engine driven LED lighting towers.
As ports, freight terminals and companies involved in heavy industry applications invest to drive trade post-Brexit, increasing sales of Mantsinen hydraulic cranes and SANY heavy handling equipment are driving growth at Cooper Specialised Handling, which has seen turnover rise to more than £10 million. The UK’s only independent provider of specialised heavy lifting equipment with a capacity of 6-70 tonnes, Cooper Specialised Handling is committed to working in partnership with its customers and some of the world’s top equipment manufacturers to deliver innovative solutions to the most complex handling challenges. Turnover has increased to more than £10 million in the last 12 months enabling Cooper Specialised Handling to build its market share to approximately 60% in some sectors. There has also been some restructuring of the management team with Chris Barnes, who has been with the business for 13 years and heads up the sales function, promoted to Sales Director. Luke Maslin, who joined Cooper Specialised Handling in 2011, takes on the role of Operations Director with responsibility for planning engineering schedules and ensuring that all service and maintenance work is completed in accordance with customer requirements. He also manages direct parts sales. In one of the biggest tenders of its type, Cooper Specialised Handling sealed a series of deals with Associated British Ports for five Mantsinen hydraulic cranes totalling £6 million and supplied a wheeled Mantsinen 160M at Belfast Harbour. Its achievements in helping to re-establish Mantsinen as a force to be reckoned with in the UK marketplace led to Cooper Specialised Handling being named as Mantsinen’s Dealer of the Year, after it emerged as the crane manufacturer’s most successful dealer globally since 2015. Cooper Specialised Handling’s Chief Executive David Cooper said: “More and more businesses are coming to appreciate that the speed and handling precision delivered by Mantsinen’s award-winning crane technology equates to a highly cost-effective way of driving up productivity. “This is a really exciting time to be involved with the Mantsinen brand, especially as there’s growing interest in the new 300 model, which supersedes the Mantsinen 200 as the world’s largest hydraulic crane and features the next generation HybriLift energy-saving technology.” Meanwhile, since taking on the UK distributorship for SANY in 2015, Cooper Specialised Handling has established itself as one of the manufacturer’s most successful dealers in Europe, supplying high specification reachstackers and container handling equipment to major industry operators, including Goldstar Transport, Rail Freight Services and Maritime Transport. As the Cooper Specialised Handling business develops, so demand for quality engineering services is fuelling growth at sister company Cooper Handling Solutions, which is dedicated to providing service, maintenance and spare parts to users of heavy lifting equipment. Cooper Handling Solutions operates its own, directly employed engineering team and is currently recruiting three additional field service technicians as part of a 10-year strategic plan to develop a team of 25 highly skilled ‘big truck’ specialists.