Castle Plant & Tool Hire, which is based in Sidmouth, Devon, has purchased two new Volvo EC27C compact excavators for its hire fleet. They join 1.5 tonne EC15B and 3.5 tonne EC35 models that the company already has in its line-up.

Proprietor Rob Taylor says that the decision to buy the additional machines was based on the reliability and performance of the existing models in the fleet, together with the ease of access for servicing. The 2.7 tonne EC27C is designed to give good stability with minimal superstructure swing, as well as low emissions. The standard auto-idling system lowers engine speed to idle if a control is not used for five seconds.

Castle Plant & Tool Hire offers a mixed fleet to customers throughout a large part of Devon, ranging from mini excavators, site dumpers and rollers, to small tools and equipment.

Hull-based Complete Hire Services and its sister contracting company, Complete Diamond Drilling Services, recently donated resources to help with improvement work at a local children’s hospice.

Complete Hire Services provided free hire of equipment to the Sunshine House charity for a four day project undertaken without charge by the contracting business, involving doorway cutting, floor breaking and tile removal in order to develop new bedrooms, bathrooms and storage facilities.

Bella Access, a specialist hirer based in Stone, Staffordshire, has added two Niftylift Height Rider 17 Narrow (HR17N) platforms to its fleet. The machines provide a maximum working height of 17.2m, with outreach of up to 9.6m.

The bi-energy HR17N can be powered by its diesel engine or onboard batteries, and the machine measures only 1.5m wide. Bella MD Joe Dalmas believes the new units will appeal to a wide range of users, including professionals involved in factory maintenance.

By buying a Syrinx system from Higher Concept Software at the recent Executive Hire Show, Elvington Plant Hire also received two free pumps from Obart Pumps, another exhibitor, as part of a special Show-only promotion.

Tim Garland, a Director of Elvington Plant Hire, said: ‘We opted for Syrinx as we were impressed with its features, ease of use and the extremely helpful sales team. After making the decision to expand into the small tool hire market in the York area, we recognised the need to have a professional, easy to use hire system in order to help us manage our growing fleet of machinery.”

During the Show, Higher Concept gave away two LB480 and LSC1.4 pumps to any prospect that purchased its Syrinx software on the stand. Katy Williams, Sales and Marketing Director with Higher Concept, said: “When thinking of a special deal to offer at the Show, we wanted to provide something hirers would value. We have constantly heard from our own customers about the quality of Obart Pumps’ products and service support, so offering its pumps made perfect sense.” Tim Elvington (right) is pictured at the Show with Katy Williams and Obart Pumps MD Matthew Hill.

Alide Hire Services, which has depots in Bath, Bristol and Keynsham, is using branded stickers and decals from Atlantic Coast Studios on portable toilets in its fleet made from high density polyethylene. This material often has an oily or anti-graffiti finish which can present difficulties with adhesion.

“Finding stickers and labels for our products with reliable adhesion was a real problem until we approached Atlantic Coast,” said Gareth Hayward, MD of Alide, which supplies toilets to the construction and event industries. “The materials used in portable toilet manufacture mean that standard stickers and decals don’t always adhere. Our customers were telling us that old fashioned white spirit just does not work, so we had to look for an alternative”.

Tewkesbury-based Atlantic Coast has developed several solutions, including using a special solution to remove the finish before applying stickers. Where it is not practicable to use self-adhesive vinyl, the labels are designed to be riveted into place.

East Anglia-based hirer, Target Plant & Sales, which recently opened an additional depot in Stowmarket to complement its existing sites in Colchester and Ipswich, has added 18 Thwaites Alldrive dumpers, comprising front tip, high tip, swivel and high tip swivel machines, with capacities ranging from 1 to 9 tonne.

“Although we currently have a mixed site dumper hire fleet, we have decided that, because of their performance, quality and residual value, we will only purchase Thwaites machines in the future, both for fleet expansion and replacement of existing dumpers,” said Target Plant’s Hire Manager, Simon Braby.

“Our new Stowmarket depot is ideally situated on the A14 corridor. Most of the new dumpers will operate from this location, as well as mini excavators and compaction equipment, and we will be looking to add further new machine packages in the Spring.

“Eight tonne minis regularly go out with six and nine tonne dumpers,” said Simon Braby, who is pictured (left) with Tom Heywood of local dealer, Shell Plant. “Also very popular are the 1 and 1.5 tonne high tip swivel dumpers for working on confined space sites.”

Leach Lewis Heavy has been appointed as the authorised dealer for the Red Rhino Crushers range for the East Midlands area. The new dealership will be based at the company’s Whittlesey depot near Peterborough.

British designed and built, the crushers are designed to be easily transported. The line-up ranges from the 750kg 2000 series up to the 10 tonne 7000 models, offering crushing capacities from 6 tonne through to 45 tonne per hour, with outputs variable between 10mm to 140mm.

Rentool, which has depots in Chandlers Ford and Poole, has added another two Wacker Neuson 6003 excavators to its fleet. Director Bill Collings said: “One of the main reasons we really like this model is the fact it has the compact dimensions of a 5 tonne excavator, but has the working envelope of a typical 7.5 tonner, which makes it very popular with our customers.”

The machine is powered by a 69.5hp Yanmar diesel engine and offers a maximum digging depth of 4140mm. It incorporates a long dipper arm, an additional counterweight, work lights, a re-fuelling pump and a quick-hitch.

Wacker Neuson will be exhibiting at the Executive Hire Show on 8 and 9 February at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry.

T-T Pumps has invested in a new service and repair centre at its head office in Woore, Cheshire, designed to deal with all makes and types of pumping equipment. The workshop has a 3 tonne lift and comprehensive test facilities.

In order to minimise the impact of its operation on the environment, the company has also introduced a rainwater recycling system for the new centre, whereby collected water can be re-used for washing down equipment.

T-T Pumps will be exhibiting at the Executive Hire Show next week at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry.

Specialist hirer, MBS Tracked Access, has taken delivery of three additional Teupen Leo spider lift machines from distributor, Ranger Equipment. The company, which is based at Witham in Essex, has bought two 23GT models and an 18GT, offering a maximum lift height of 23 and 17.9m respectively. The deal included the trade-in of MBS’ existing 23m Leos. The company’s fleet also includes a 15GT machine and a 30T.

The spider lifts are mainly hired with an operator for work in shopping centres and facilities management, and are used by parent company, MBS Grounds Maintenance, for tree surgery and building maintenance.

The new 23GT models have been specified with Teupen’s hydraulic track height alteration system. Martyn Bass (pictured), MD of MBS, said: “The ease of adjustment for driving along kerbs and sloping ground is a big advantage when manoeuvring around site for arborist work, gutter cleaning, roof slate repairs, and the like.”

Ranger Equipment will be displaying the latest additions to the Teupen Leo line-up at the Executive Hire Show on 8 and 9 February, at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry.

Progress Group, a Dewsbury-based hirer and seller of power generation equipment, has bought the business and assets of TM Newburn Group Ltd of Bradford out of administration. TM Newburn, which hires diesel generators to a national client base, will in future be known as Newburn Power Rental Ltd.

Progress Group, which has a turnover of £22m, supplies generators and emergency power equipment to industrial and commercial clients across Europe. MD Mark Henstock said: “This is a fantastic outcome for all parties – it secures the jobs and future of a great Yorkshire business with a loyal customer base, which has been trading for over 20 years and has built a strong reputation. It also complements our existing business and enables us to move into different specialist markets, such as providing power to the leisure industry for outdoor events.”

Pictured, from left, are Mark Henstock, Andrew Walls of Ethos Corporate Finance which helped co-ordinate the acquisition, and Paul Cooke of TM Newburn.

Ilminster-based Rob Bool Plant Hire has taken delivery of a second Volvo mini excavator, an ECR48C model equipped with a Harford hydraulic ‘I’ lock quick hitch and a full set of buckets. It joins a mixed fleet of general plant that is offered to customers within a 30 mile radius of the Somerset town.

Proprietor, Rob Bool, says the decision to buy the 4.8 tonne machine was based on several factors. “We purchased a second hand EC55B about three years ago for a specific project and appreciated its reliability and performance. We now need for a similar sized machine and, based on our previous experience, we decided to opt for the ECR48C with reduced tail swing.”

The machine has a closed centre, load sensing hydraulic system for fast cycle times, and two speed travel on the machine is fully automatic. Rob Bool Plant specified air conditioning for its latest fleet addition as an optional extra.

Arco has launched a catalogue listing more than 3,000 signs that meet current BS and potential future EN standards, along with advice on how businesses can prepare for any changes. The publication is designed to help organisations choose signs to warn of remaining risk, or to instruct employees of measures they must take to stay safe in the workplace.

The company says that all the signs meet the current ISO 7010 standard. It adds that new symbols will be phased in when available to meet the proposed ISO EN 7010 standard, which will become a European Normative, meaning the standard must be written into UK and EU law after an introductory period. To request a copy of the Arco Safety Signs catalogue visit arco.co.uk/safetysigns.

Arco’s subsidiary Hose, Ducting & Fittings (HD&F) will be exhibiting at the Executive Hire Show on 8 and 9 February at the Ricoh Arena.

HSS has opened a new regional distribution centre in Bristol. The 30,000 sq ft purpose-built facility on the Aztec Business Park will become a key regional distribution hub for the group’s activities in the south west and Wales. As well as providing hire services, the building offers storage on two levels and training facilities.

The existing local HSS branch in Bristol will be closed, with staff transferring to the new site. The company says that more than 30 additional jobs will be created as it continues to invest in its activities in the region.

GAP Group has been selected by City Building (Glasgow) as sole supplier for tools, skips, access equipment and accommodation, after a rigorous tender process beginning last October. The initial contract went live on 4 January and will last for a minimum of two years, with an option to extend it up to four years.

City Building has an annual turnover of almost £20m, and this latest contract is worth approximately £2m. GAP’s Joint MD, Douglas Anderson, commented: “We are very pleased that City Building has given us this opportunity, particularly because the sole supplier status shows that we are trusted to meet each and every one of its hire requirements.”

Vibration monitor supplier, Reactec, says it is entering the New Year in positive mood, with four of the country’s largest tool hirers now offering its HAVmeter to clients in order to protect workers from HAV exposure.

MD Jim O’Hagan said that four of the hirers currently listed in EHN’s Tool Hire Top Ten, namely A-Plant, Brandon, GAP and Speedy, were currently providing the monitors to their customers, adding that “Our focus for the coming year is to see other major hire firms also offering the technology. Vibration safety remains one of the biggest problems for any industry that regularly uses vibrating power tools, and workers need to be properly protected from the dangers.

“If companies do not have an accurate way of monitoring vibration exposure in place, they not only run the risk of staff contracting incurable diseases like HAVS, but also leave themselves open to compensation claims or fines.” Reactec are exhibiting on stand C30 at the Executive Hire Show next month.

EHN’s Tool Hire Top Ten analysis for 2012 will be published in our January/February issue.

Brandon Hire has bought the surveying and construction equipment supplier, Phoenix Surveying Equipment Ltd, which employs 50 staff from five depots. With its head office in Yate, Bristol, Phoenix hires, sells and repairs surveying equipment to customers across the country.

Brandon MD Tim Smith (pictured) said: “Phoenix is a great company with a strong reputation. Key to its success is its product strength and its people, who are experts at what they do. It will continue as a separate business, although, clearly, the fact that we are both working within the same sectors is an advantage for our customers.”

Oaks Plant Hire, based in Sevenoaks, has taken delivery of two new 5 tonne Yanmar ViO 50 zero tail swing machines from UK and Ireland importer Ammann Equipment. The machines join a 3 tonne ViO 30 in the hirer’s fleet, which Director Ralph Wilcox bought two years ago at the Executive Hire Show, and which he says has proved very successful.

“Customers like the zero tail swing minis from a safety perspective, and we find there is less damage to the body of the machines. We operate various Ammann and Yanmar products and have found them all very reliable for hire. The service back up and supply of spares is excellent.”

Aspects of the ViO 50 that impressed Oaks Plant Hire include the provision of sprung steel guards on all rams, a new boom design to ease loading, a large cab and an extended blade for clearance work. However, Ralph’s says his favourite characteristic of the machine is a built in auto-refuel system, designed to eliminate the risk of contamination from filling up with dirty cans.

Ralph is pictured (right) with Gary Wingrove, Regional Sales Manager for Ammann Equipment, which also supplies Ammann and Rammax compaction and excavator attachments, together with Cormidi tracked dumpers.

Speedy has received a Green Apple award for its One Plan sustainability strategy. Competing against more than 500 other nominations, the company was presented with its award during a presentation held at the House of Commons.

The awards are administrated by the Green Organisation, a group that promotes environmental best practice. Judges are drawn from the Environment Agency, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health and the Chartered Institute for Waste Management. Speedy will now also be considered to represent its country in the European Business Awards for the Environment.

One Plan is a sustainability action plan based around a combination of services and incentives designed to enable Speedy and its suppliers to reduce carbon emissions, improve Health & Safety and increase efficiency.

JCB’S UK employees have received a double dose of festive cheer as the manufacturer announced a £500 Christmas bonus and a 5.2% pay increase.
Approximately 4,400 employees at the company’s factories in Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Wrexham will share in the bonus, worth a total of more than £2m. In addition, from January 1, UK employees will receive a pay increase linked to November’s Retail Price Index (RPI).

JCB Chairman Sir Anthony Bamford said: “JCB has continued to recover strongly this year from the difficult trading conditions of 2008 and 2009, and all areas of our business rose to the challenge of growing sales in a tough economic environment. Last year we sold 51,600 machines and this year sales will increase by more than 30%.”

“The award of another Christmas bonus and a substantial pay increase wouldn’t have been possible without team work at JCB during the severe economic downturn of 2008 and 2009 when everyone worked together to ensure the business emerged strongly from a difficult trading period. The economic outlook has become more uncertain in recent months but if we continue to work as a team, I’m sure we can achieve even more next year.”

In October 2008, UK production employees voted to work a 34 hour week in order to help save the jobs of hundreds of their colleagues. All employees also endured an 18-month pay freeze from 2009 to the summer of 2010.