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Market Report: Health & Safety pt1: Work at height & manual handling Paving the way More hirers are adding Probst’s products to their fleets. Alan Guthrie reports. Interest in manual handling equipment has surged in recent times and Probst’s success proves the point. The German company established its UK operation 21 years ago, and reports that demand has scarcely been stronger for the handling and laying products it offers for the construction industry and related markets. The line-up includes paver laying systems, vacuum laying technologies, pipe laying equipment and attachments for truck cranes. “We aim to be a true one-stop shop for lifting equipment,” states Neil Jones, UK Office Manager of Probst’s UK business, based in Wem, Shropshire. “The market continues to grow and interest has risen sharply in the last two or three years as employers become more aware of their responsibilities and potential liabilities. The HSE is very vigilant regarding manual handling. The cost of providing a mechanical solution is a fraction of the amount in damages a company might have to pay following a claim from an injured employee. “Approximately 50% of our business is with the hire industry. We have worked hard to achieve approved supplier status with hire companies, who have shown greater interest in this equipment as they realise the business opportunity it represents. Our client list includes A-Plant, GAP, HSS, Hewden and Speedy, as well as many independents. We are part of their supply chain, ensuring that their customers get the right products for their particular projects.” Demand has been particularly strong for Probst’s vacuum lifting equipment and grabs for handling kerbstones. This has been an area of particular focus for the HSE. For new build projects, the industry was given until June 2004 to make the change to mechanically assisted kerb laying; for spot kerbing or kerb maintenance work, a deadline of January 2005 was agreed. A typical kerbstone weighs 67kg - the weight of an average person - and these were traditionally manually handled at least three times from arrival on site to final positioning. Particularly popular is the trailer mounted Jumbo BV, which is designed to be transported behind most types of vehicle. Petrol or diesel driven, the machine’s suction can carry a full pack of kerbs or concrete products. Interchangeable heads enable a variety of items to be lifted and laid in place. The telescopic boom provides a working width of 2-4m. “Our conventional mechanical products are also popular for hire, such as the SG Scissor Grab. It is suitable for handling product pack sizes of 400-1100mm and can facilitate transportation of un-palletised building materials, such as vertically strapped paving blocks. At SED last year, we launched a range of manhole ring and cone chain clamps, and these are now appearing in several hirers’ 2006 catalogues,” states Neil Jones. “A target market this year is the rail industry, and we have been examining ways in which we can adapt equipment to travel on rails and assist with the handling of sleepers, platform edging and other items. “Another potentially huge market is in equipment for handling paving products. Block paving is still very popular in domestic and commercial settings, and facilities such as ports, docks and airports are installing it on a massive scale. Manually handling many blocks could lead to repetitive strain injuries (RSI) and Probst has developed solutions to mechanise the process. The VM 204 Robotech accepts all common paving stone configurations and the cab gives the operator a clear field of vision. More manufacturers are offering paving in machine-lay formats, which do away with pallets. Following the HSE’s interest in kerbstone installation, paving could its next area of focus.” • T
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235325 Executive Hire News › Archives › Feb/March 2006 › Market Report › Paving the way
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