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Market Report: Health & Safety pt1: Work at height & Manual handling Turner prepares to climb Turner Access has just increased its range of work at height products for the hire market. Alan Guthrie visited its Glasgow headquarters. Glasgow’s River Clyde was once, of course, a centre of shipbuilding excellence. That industry’s decline has been well documented, but Turner Access, based in the heart of Scotland’s largest city, is maintaining the metalworking tradition and manufacturing an increasing range of non-powered access equipment. The business is part of the privately owned Turner Group, which has diverse industrial interests and has an annual turnover of more than £225m. Turner Access was founded in 1984, originally as a supplier and hirer of access equipment, particularly to contractors working on rejuvenation projects throughout the Glasgow conurbation. However, manufacture was started in 1986 and demand grew quickly for a range that now encompasses aluminium access towers, low-level access products, system scaffolding and advanced guardrails. “Today, manufacture represents approximately 95% of business,” states Sales Manager Dougie McCombie. “Indeed, four years ago, the company put a programme in place to broaden its market significantly, and we are targeting hire companies throughout the UK.” Simpler assembly The range includes the Octo 250 mobile access tower, which complies with BS EN 1004:2004 standards and is available in both Span (1.45m wide) and Narrow Width (0.85m wide) options. Three platform lengths are offered. The ‘climbing frame’ design features eight non-slip rungs at 250mm centres, and this is said to bring benefits such as simpler assembly and more choice of platform heights. Conical head spigots on each frame are designed to eliminate jamming. The Octo is also compatible with PlusGard, Turner Access’ additional advanced guardrail designed to enable users to meet Work at Height Regulations requirements and to provide total fall prevention throughout the assembly and dismantling process. It can be inserted at any level and operated by one person. “PlusGard can be used with all common modular system types of scaffolding, as well as traditional tube and fittings, frame and alloy tower types,” states Dougie McCombie. Omegadeck is a bridging system for access up and over ground level obstacles such as desks and machinery. Spans can be manufactured in lengths of 1.5-3.2m with a standard working height of 3.8m. Extension kits are available to give heights of 4.3m and 4.8m. The Sigmadeck is a lightweight folding aluminium platform for low-level access requirements, and which can be moved from room to room while still assembled. It provides a 3.6m working height and a guardrail is incorporated. Also available is the Alphastep, a podium step product designed for one-person low-level access in internal locations. It offers four working levels up to 3m and its telescopic guardrail section can be reduced in height so that the product can be moved easily through a standard doorway. Amongst the hirers with the Alphastep in its fleet is HSS, which was involved in the design process. New Beta tower launched Turner Access launched its latest product development at the recent Executive Hire Show. The Beta tower is described by the company as representing the logical ‘evolution’ of aluminium tower systems, in terms of strength, light weight and versatility. It offers the option of two advanced guardrail systems, and is designed so that components can be used with other most commonly used tower system parts, from other manufacturers. “We plan to provide assembly guidance for the purpose of mixing components which have performance specifications that may be rated lower than the Beta tower,” states Dougie McCombie. Frames are made from extruded aluminium tube and are claimed to provide greater strength and increased load capacity. Glass reinforced nylon spigots are designed to eliminate frame jam and are of one-piece design to reduce the risk of component loss. End cross-members are configured for enhanced damage resistance, while a tongue and groove profile on the box section extrusion is said to increase storage and stacking options. Hooks can be removed easily for repair and maintenance. The integral ladders in the Beta frames are designed so that, if damaged, the ladder can be replaced simply, without having to purchase an entire new frame. Gull wing welds are also used in order to give more strength, decreased weight and more cost-effective repair options. Automatic windlocks of a self-engaging design are incorporated, and these are said to reduce the likelihood of errors in assembly and to speed installation. Brace hooks used in the Beta tower feature lateral welding for precision and incorporate a single-action latch, which does not require priming and enables single-handed operation. The hook shape is also said to give better resistance against impact damage. Also launched at the Show was an enhanced version of the Deltadeck, a low-level access product designed to give users maximum working flexibility for tasks involving work at height of 3m or less. It is a self-contained unit with no components to lose, and offers five working levels. It is fully guardrailed at all heights and has a safe working load of 200kg. It is designed for easy mobility while still assembled. The product folds flat for easy storage and can be transported in a car boot. Another new introduction is Aluguard, an advanced guardrail system specifically for aluminium towers. Developed by Alsure of Birmingham, it comprises telescopic guardrails and adjustable end frames for safety during erection and dismantling. Turner Access has recently increased the size of its Glasgow factory by 30%. With new products having been added to an already comprehensive range, the need for extra manufacturing capacity is hardly surprising. • T
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5555 Executive Hire News › Archives › March 2007 › Market Report › Turner prepares to climb
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