Green Zone:

Environmental emphasis

EHN reports on Arc-Gen’s triumph in the Executive Hire Show Green Zone, and the importance of environmental considerations in the company’s product development.

Arc-Gen certainly had cause to celebrate at the Executive Hire Show in February. Its Weldmaker 300AVC welder won the Speedy Award for Environmental Innovation in the Green Zone at the Show, with hirers voting it as the product they believe will make the biggest contribution to environmental sustainability. “We were obviously delighted to win but, just as importantly, participating in the Zone gave us a real opportunity to promote the machine’s green credentials,” says Sales Director Andy Munford. “Hirers were genuinely interested and we were able to explain the product to them there and then in the Zone.”

The super-silent machine is designed to reduce fuel consumption by as much as 30% against earlier models and an IGBT (insulated gate bipolar transistor) microprocessor optimises engine speed for the required welding and auxiliary output level. At an average of 60db(A) at 7m, noise levels are said to easily meet the latest European legislation. Welding output is from 30-300A, and an auto shutdown system operates in the event of low oil pressure, high water temperature or thermal overload.

Excellent Show

“Overall, the Executive Hire Show was excellent and we received many good enquiries across our product range from national and independent hirers,” says Andy Munford. The Wolverhampton-based company’s existing client base includes A-Plant, HSS, Hewden, GAP, Speedy, Martin Plant Hire, Mac Rental, Hember Plant, Already Hire, and Aberdeen Tool Rental, amongst others.

The recently launched Vertitower mobile lighting tower is another product with green attributes. With a stated noise level of 66db(A) at 7m, it meets the EC declaration of Conformity for Noise Directive 2000/14/EC. It features a 360° rotating lamp head with a telescopic mast, and has a built-in drum to store the power cable. The elliptical lighting heads are designed to provide brighter illumination and increased coverage, and the machine’s compact dimensions allow two to be placed side by side on a standard articulated lorry, enabling savings in transportation and fuel costs. As well as addressing green issues, our products are designed to meet the needs of hirers and to be simple for their customers to operate. All our diesel machines, for example, are now fitted with time delays to prevent the engines from being turned over before the glow plugs have heated up, eliminating unnecessary cranking and the likelihood of a flat battery."

Maintaining its focus on noise reduction, Arc-Gen will unveil particularly quiet additions to its DCA generator range at SED in May. These will include two models with power outputs of 22 and 40kVA respectively, giving noise levels of just 50db(A) at 7m. Other models, with levels of 60db(A) from 14-100kVA, will also be introduced.

Arc-Gen, which has expanded steadily since its acquisition 18 months ago by the Shrewsbury-based group, Morris & Company (exemplified by its acquisition of pump and pressure washer manufacturer, Hilta TW, reported in this month’s Executive News), stresses the on-going need for hirers to be aware of green issues. Chief Executive Mark Hodgkins says “When we think of being ‘green’ one automatically considers cutting emissions. Although this is very important, it is not enough. We have to start considering the entire life-cycle of machinery and the scarce natural resources consumed in manufacturing, in our case generator sets. A machine that can provide efficient and reliable service for up to 15 years can massively reduce the consumption of raw materials.” Arc-Gen says some of its products as much as 15 years old can still be found giving reliable service in hire fleets, maximising returns on investment and reducing the need to dispose of old machinery with components containing scarce resources like copper and steel. •

T 01902 790824
W www.arc-gen.co.uk

Executive Hire News › Archives › April 2008 › Green Zone › Environmental emphasis

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