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Market Report: Temporary Power Golden opportunities Alan Guthrie visits a temporary power equipment hirer in Cheshire that reports on-going growth and strong market conditions. Like many successful businesses, Golden Triangle Generators began as a sideline to its founder’s main employment. “I was a Director of a company involved in tunnelling and other construction activities in the north of England,” states Managing Director Graham Cornes. “I could see the need for the reliable supply of temporary power equipment and established Golden Triangle in 1983. The business grew quickly and it became my full-time occupation.” The company was originally based in Widnes, taking its name from its industrial estate location, but in 1994 it moved to its current facility in Frodsham, close to the M56 and M6, where the fleet is stored and serviced. Sales and administrative staff are based at the head office in nearby Helsby. “Most customers are in the northwest of England and can be split, approximately equally, into three categories, namely construction companies, event organisers and power generation utilities. This gives us year-round business,” states Graham Cornes. “We have a fleet of approximately 250 generators ranging from 6.5-1250kVA, enabling us to meet any requirement. Our two principal suppliers are Genetech and Maddon Generators, and we offer units ranging from small road towable models to trailer mounted container sets. “All machines feature special controls enabling users to change load kVAs, amps and volts, frequencies and to control either manually or automatically the synchronisation of the generators with the mains, and to ‘back synch’ off again, all via a computer. We can synchronise several generators to achieve supplies of up to 1mW and this is an area of particular expertise. We work closely with Genetech and Maddon to develop optimum solutions,” contends Graham Cornes. Synchronisation of several generators also ensures uninterrupted power supplies. In the event of a unit failing, another cuts in to compensate. “Noise reduction is also important, for operation in locations like residential areas and hospitals, as well as concerts and public exhibitions. All sets are super-silent, producing only 58dBA at 3m, and we also have generators capable of 54dBA at 3m on full power. Overall, we offer a complete service, including all related electrical equipment, such as automatic mains failure detectors (AMFs), cabling and transformers.” Serving the events industry has grown steadily. Golden Triangle has supplied equipment for many well-known acts including The Who, Bryan Adams, Sugababes, Girls Aloud and the Australian Pink Floyd tribute band. “We often deal with event organisers who, quite understandably, do not know exactly what sort of equipment or power capability they will need for their event, especially if it is being held at a venue for the first time,” contends Graham Cornes. “We spend time liaising carefully with the performers’ managers to calculate what will be required and the exact timings involved, so that everything runs seamlessly. Our staff survey sites to ascertain access logistics, ground conditions and other essential criteria.” The company offers temporary lighting equipment with a fleet of SMC Telelight TL-90s. These have a failsafe parking brake system to reduce the risk of the lighting tower coming into contact with overhead power lines should attempts be made to move it with the mast erected. By incorporating an on-board sensor, if the brake is disengaged with the tower extended, the mast automatically descends and an alarm sounds. Serving power generation utilities is a demanding but rewarding market segment and one which Golden Triangle has targeted strongly in recent years. “These companies have a substantial programme of planned work for maintaining and renewing overhead lines, transformers, switching gear and underground cables,” states Graham Cornes. “They have to minimise the power supply interruption involved in this work, with only a stipulated number of customer minutes lost (CMLs) per year being considered acceptable by the independent watchdog, Ofgem. We supply temporary power equipment to enable the work to be done, synchronising it with the mains electricity network and then undertaking a ‘back synch’ to allow seamless reconnection.” Golden Triangle also supplied equipment during the recent flooding that affected the Midlands. A call came from Gloucestershire Police for generators to power two temporary offices co-ordinating relief work in the area. By midnight, two towable 150kVA generators had been delivered to the two sites. Strong in its home region, Golden Triangle also finds itself working farther afield as contractors and other regular customers win business elsewhere. “We have supplied equipment to projects in Newcastle, the Isle of Man TT Races, the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu and, even, the Paris Air Show. Once people have experienced the quality of our equipment and backup service, they want to take us with them to their next job. “Given the strains on the National Grid and the need for reliable power, we are finding more hire demand for machines as standby units in case of mains failure,” states Graham Cornes, “and with the amount of activity taking place in all the markets we serve, the future remains extremely positive.” • T
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722137 Executive Hire News › Archives › September 2007 › Market Report › Golden opportunities
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