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Bobcat Launches New Upgraded BobCARE
Bobcat has launched a new national version of the company’s successful BobCARE Planned Maintenance (PM) programme for customer machines in the UK, the first of its type in Europe.
BobCARE PM is already appreciated by customers for its many benefits such as longer machine life, increased uptime or higher residual value. However, until now it has only been managed at an individual dealer level, which could not completely fulfil all customer expectations. To overcome this, Bobcat has worked closely with the company’s UK dealer network to introduce a new national solution, that keeps all the previous advantages while adding several new benefits including: • Service support anywhere in the UK • Fixed costs for the duration of the contract • Choice of plans with different durations • Inclusion in lease financing • Full guaranteed backing of Bobcat IMPROVED CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
The new version of BobCARE PM now offers a unified customer experience – once a BobCARE PM plan is purchased and activated, it is valid and recognized throughout the UK.As a result, customers can now have their machine maintained at the most convenient dealer branch based on the machine’s current location. The new plan also ensures that costs are fully predictable – the price is final and clearly stated right at the start of the contract. This means that maintenance costs are completely resistant to inflation. Bobcat is also offering various forms of the BobCARE PM plan, which vary from two years and 1000 hours up to five years and 5000 engine hours, so that customers can choose the most suitable support for their operation. The new BobCARE PM plan continues to include the regular maintenance operations and checks as well as all Bobcat genuine parts and fluids, that are necessary for planned service of customers’ machines. Every plan is also fully backed by Bobcat – customers, dealers and leasing partners are completely covered - the company stands behind every contract and guarantees their fulfilment throughout the entire contract period. John Christofides, Regional Sales Director for Bobcat EMEA said: “The UK already has a high adoption of Bobcat’s Protection Plus extended warranty scheme with an 84% take-up rate. We recommend the combination of BobCARE PM and Protection Plus as the best possible way to take care of a customer machine. This means that customers are backed by Bobcat in every possible way and therefore keeps downtime to an absolute minimum and maintains the highest possible value for the machine.” REFLECTING MARKET TRENDS
“Customer expectations are continuously shifting from ‘owning a machine’ to ‘carefree usage’. With the new national BobCARE PM plan, we are taking these trends into account, reflecting the need for flawless customer experience and dealers’ need for a simple and easily manageable offering,” added Corbin Braithwaite, Bobcat Service Manager for UK. Bobcat dealers will offer the option of a BobCARE PM plan when a customer buys a new machine - a loader, excavator or telehandler - from Bobcat. If the customer decides to go ahead, the price of BobCARE PM is included in the machine price. For customers choosing the leasing option for their machines, it is possible to break down the cost into periodical payments. For those customers who change their minds after they have completed their machine purchase, there is also an option to activate BobCARE PM up to three months after the purchase of a Bobcat machine. ‘ALL-IN-ONE APPROACH’
Nowadays, a service contract is a natural part of the machine sales process – the current market trend is to perceive service packages as a machine option. Therefore, Bobcat’s lease partner is fully supporting the company’s service offerings and will support an ‘all-in-one approach’, where the machine, attachments, Protection Plus, BobCARE and financing are all covered by a monthly fee so that customers can solely focus on developing their own businesses. It is also possible to resell Bobcat machines with BobCARE PM still active. The programme is not only transferable, it also probably prolongs the service life of the machine, which also benefits the new customer during the sale.
Brooks Group Acquires Kildare Builders Providers
Brooks Group, which has a branch in Tullamore, has announced the acquisition of Kildare Builders Providers Ltd, in Kildare town. The acquisition brings the Brooks Group network of outlets to nine in seven counties across three provinces.
The company, which is one of the leading timber and builders’ merchants in the country, expects turnover to exceed €125 million in 2022 and plans to expand further in the next few years, both organically and by acquisition. Brooks Group has been an institution in the Irish construction industry since its inception in the late 1700’s. It returned to Irish ownership in 2021 when it was purchased by Murdock Builders Merchants, a family-owned business based in Newry. Brooks Group has grown by developing a product offering in harmony with customer needs and by acquiring businesses that share this customer-focused approach. Brooks Group employs 195 people and already has eight branches in Ireland, including three in Dublin (Bluebell, Glasnevin & Sandyford), one in Wicklow (Bray), one in Cork (Togher), one in Galway (Ballybrit), one in Sligo and one in the Midlands (Tullamore). Commenting on the acquisition, Eddie Kelly, Executive Chairperson of Brooks Group said: “Kildare Builders Providers Ltd, is a wellknown business, in Kildare and surrounding areas since it was founded in 2006 by John Crofton. Together with his team, John has built a fine business and we are delighted to welcome them to the Brooks Group.” John Crofton, Founder and Managing Director of Kildare Builders Providers said: “Being part of the Brooks Group will enable us to offer our customers an even greater range of products, services and value.”
Pictured at the announcement of the Brooks Group’s acquisition of Kildare Builders Providers are Eddie Kelly (Executive Chairperson – Brooks Group) and John Crofton (Managing Director - Kildare Builders Providers).
Henry Brothers has been named winner of the GB & Republic of Ireland Construction Project of the Year Over £2.5million category at this year’s Construction Employers Federation (CEF) Excellence Awards.
Launched in 1999, the Construction Excellence Awards are considered the most prestigious event in the Northern Ireland construction calendar and are designed to reward the achievements of the industry whilst highlighting the contribution it makes to the local economy. Henry Brothers received the Construction Project of the Year Award for its completion of a £4.4m woodland day nursery and forest school at Staffordshire University. Ian Taylor, Managing Director of Henry Brothers Midlands, said: “We are pleased to have received industry recognition for our very first carbon neutral project, representing a significant milestone in Henry Brothers’ strategy to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. “Congratulations must go to our exceptional staff which have delivered an outstanding modern nursery and forest school on campus, with sustainability at its core. “Henry Brothers is privileged to provide Staffordshire University with a truly futureproof facility which will provide significant benefit to staff, students, and their families. “We look forward to constructing many more carbonneutral projects for our valued clients in the years to come.” The Woodlands Day Nursery and Forest School is a single-storey timber frame building located close to the University’s nature reserve at the heart of its Leek Road site in Stoke-on-Trent. The facilities were designed to meet high demand from both students and staff nursery places and to provide additional places for the wider local community. Sustainability, digital technology, and nature are at the forefront of the build, which features REHAU earth tubes and air source heat pumps which use passive cooling/heating rather than mechanical ventilation; along with roof mounted solar photovoltaic panels to offset carbon emissions. Sally McGill, Chief Financial Officer and Executive Lead for Sustainability at Staffordshire University said, “Henry Brothers has created a truly unique facility here at Staffordshire University which as our greenest building, forms a significant part of our green campus transformation and sustainability plans. “As our first carbon neutral building on campus, this facility will support the next generation as well as communities, bringing the forest setting to our city through teaching, learning and embedding our ambitions for a more sustainable future.” In addition to Henry Brothers, the project team consisted of Mace as project and cost managers, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios as lead designer and architect, Max Fordham as building services engineers, Civic Engineers as structural engineers and transport consultants, and Re-form Landscape as landscape designers. The Henry Brothers’ design team included CPMG Architects, structural and civil engineer Hexa and Couch, Perry, Wilkes for M&E services.
news Merlo Reports Growth in Irish Market
Merlo telehandlers distributor in Ireland, McHale Plant Sales, is reporting a buoyant sales performance again this year.
On foot of year-on-year growth, and the expectation of further expansion down the line, sales director, Denis McGrath says ‘assuming economic conditions in Ireland remain favourable, and with the increasing emergence of niche players in food and commodities sectors, Merlo is well positioned to secure an expanding share of the telehandler market in Ireland next year and in the years to come’. Driven largely by a ‘strong showing’ on the agricultural front, backed by an ‘expectedly-steady’ performance in construction sales, the current year out-turn represents what McGrath says is ‘a virtual doubling of sales compared with recent years.’ Key models within the Irish market are the Merlo 50.26S Plus, P40.14 and P40.17 – reported to be the biggest seller in the construction sector – and the Merlo P27.6 and TF35.7 which McGrath describes as ‘the biggest seller by far’ in the farming and agricultural contracting sector. Another strong performer across both sectors is the TF33.7 with the TF42.7, TF50.8 and TF65.9 units showing strongly in the agri-market, and the P50.18, and 50.30s Plus models performing well also in construction. Looking ahead, the company is forecasting growth through the unique Merlo Mulitfarmer MF34.7and MF44.9 machines – which are currently performing well in both quarries and agriculture nationwide – whilst also anticipating the arrival of a larger range of electric machines for which orders are already on hand for a 2.5-tonnes, 5-metre, 90kW, EW25.90 eWorker unit.
The P40.17 telehandler, a unit which Merlo distributor in Ireland, McHale Plant Sales says is its biggest seller in the construction sector.
New Komatsu Wheeled Excavator Arrives
Deliveries of the new, just-launched Komatsu PW138MR-11 wheeled excavator are getting underway, their distributor in Ireland, McHale Plant Sales confirms.
The latest addition to the Komatsu range is powered by a EU Stage V compliant engine with DPF and SCR – a feature that McHale sales director, Denis McGrath says: “will enable owners to compete in any tender that demands care for the environment whilst delivering peace of mind whilst future proofing the investment involved.” In its design, engineers have achieved what Komatsu says is ‘a perfect match’ between an extreme compact size and top performance coupled with unrivalled stability and lifting performance. Its modern styling, reflected in its aesthetic counterweight design, is evident throughout with enhancements that include smart safety initiatives, intuitive ergonomics, first-class operator comfort, razor-sharp controls, easy servicing, and a proven aftertreatment system. Other appealing elements are a 3% productivity increase; standard fit ‘see and be seen’ LED work lamps; automatic 2-way, 1-way, 2-way fast and versatile attachment switching; swing pedal function moved to joystick to increase operator foot space; and a 100% differential lock for surefooted traction on any surface. A full package of added options combine to give users an exceptionally safe and versatile machine – one being an optional fourth camera to extend field of view for enhanced safety. Second is a new trailer hitch option with additional electric ports and connector and a towing possibility up to a 3.5 tonnes.
Henry Brothers Achieves Platinum at Environmental Survey
Henry Brothers has been awarded Platinum Status, the highest accolade available, in Business in the Community Northern Ireland’s (BiTC NI) Environmental Benchmarking Survey.
Recognising businesses that go above and beyond to reduce their impact on the environment, the survey benchmarks companies that drive change through integrating sustainable practices into corporate strategies. CSR Director at Henry Brothers, Ian Henry, was also named the Silver winner of BiTC NI’s George Dawson Award, which celebrates individuals that champion sustainability within their organisations. Ian said: “It is an honour to have achieved Platinum status once again, showcasing the proactive steps that we take as a company to ensure we are acting in a responsible and transparent manner. “Although we have always made an effort to integrate eco-friendly initiatives into our operations, we recently made our biggest commitment to sustainability yet with the launch of our Journey to Net Zero by 2050 strategy, outlining how we will halve our CO2e emissions by 2030. “Achieving Platinum Status and the Silver George Dawson Award at BiTC NI Awards is a real testament to our staff, acknowledging their commitment and innovation on the road to reaching Net Zero.”
