Executive Hire News › Archives › April 2009 › Executive Report : PSE goes for Gold

Executive Report : PSE goes for Gold

Portable Sanitation Europe continues to look forward positively.

PSE has officially introduced the final Gold Award stage of its quality assessment scheme. Association members have already complied with the Bronze and Silver category requirements, and are now expected to seek Gold certification. The Award, launched during the recent PSE Expo 2009 event in Stoke, requires members to show that their staff and systems meet all appropriate standards, with licences, certificates and other documentation gathered together in one folder. Service operatives will be required to carry a copy in their vehicles, for inspection by clients,
local authorities, Health & Safety departments, site managers and other officials, and will need to adhere to the standards and procedures specified.

Suppliers exhibiting at the Expo promoted their latest products for this industry. Seddons (Plant & Engineers) highlighted its new Taskman line-up of cold water pressure washers, available in petrol and diesel versions and including models offering working pressures from 1,350-3,000psi. Seddons also gave a copy of its popular Parts Handbook to each PSE member, listing spares for Honda engines and machines from manufacturers such as Belle, Husqvarna, Stihl and Yanmar.

“A lot of equipment used by hirers in the portable sanitation industry has Honda engines,” says Seddons Sales & Marketing Director, Phil Winnington, “such as waste pumps on toilets, cleaning equipment and generators. Workshop technicians and mobile service personnel value the ability to quickly identify components they need and to order them from a single source.”

Avant Tecno’s stand display included its new 218 multi task machine, a variant of the 216 model, incorporating a Kohler 18hp engine. The compact unit can be fitted with forks to load and unload portable toilets, and to position them easily on site, particularly on rough terrain. The 218 is small enough to be transported to site on equipment delivery trucks.

GenQuip promoted its Groundhog mobile and static welfare units that contain a microwave oven, kettle, heater, washing facilities, toilet and drying areas. Electricity is provided from various power sources, including a diesel, LPG or petrol generator, or solar and battery options.

Taylor’s Trailers of Brighouse launched a 5.18m executive toilet trailer unit, under its New World Toilets brand. Made from gel-coated GRP panels, it has a profiled front section, granite finish vanity units and taps operated via infrared sensors. Re-circulating flush toilets are incorporated. A triple-axle version is also available, giving better road handling and less risk of sinking into soft ground. Taylor’s also promoted a flatbed trailer designed specially for the transportation of portable toilets.

Many toilet and event hire businesses use inspHire’s Windows-based management software, and the company demonstrated new enhancements. Smart Views allows the user to create live, dynamic and interactive views so that specific business information can be interrogated and analysed. Results can be exported to Excel.

Other inspHire developments include the CRM customer relationship management module, which helps ensure clients are contacted regularly and quotations followed up. It also includes diary functions, mail merge and reporting capabilities. The WebPortal facility allows hirers’ customers to obtain information like on-hire lists and invoices 24 hours a day, and the Mobile Working module enables staff in the depot, workshop or on the road to process contracts, orders and do other tasks while away from a hard-wired work station. Signatures can also be captured electronically on delivery of equipment.

Business Vehicle Tracking demonstrated its systems designed to increase efficiency of vehicles and drivers. They can display details of routes taken, speeding, excessive idling and journey timings. The nearest driver to a particular location can be pinpointed instantly, and the performance of different staff can be compared. The company says this enables savings in time and fuel to be achieved. The systems can also send alerts if vehicles enter or leave a previously specified zone.

Looking ahead, PSE members have their fingers crossed for a good summer after the uninspiring weather in 2008. They hope that fine conditions will lead to more outdoor events being held, requiring appropriate facilities, and helping to offset the decline in demand from the construction industry.

“There has obviously been a reaction to the current downturn, with many portable toilets having been taken off sites,” a PSE spokesman told EHN. “While demand from small builders constructing home extensions, conservatories and the like, remains positive, it is the contracts for, say,
20 or more toilets for a site that are declining. The poor summer last year led to many outdoor events being postponed or, even, cancelled completely, with a consequent decline in demand for portable sanitation. Fine conditions this year will certainly help redress the balance.” •

Supplier Contacts

Avant Tecno - www.avanttecno.com
Business Vehicle Tracking - www.businessvehicletracking.co.uk
GenQuip - www.genquip.net
inspHire - www.inspHire.com
Seddons - www.seddonplant.co.uk
Taylor’s Trailers - www.taylors-trailers.com