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Plant Hire News
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HAE EHA Wins Gold for Battle Against Virus
The vital support that Hire Association Europe and Event Hire Association (HAE EHA) provided to its members during the Covid-19 pandemic has been recognised at the prestigious National Association Awards 2021.
CEO Paul Gaze and Marketing Project Lead Stuart Tyrrell collected the Gold for Best Covid Response award at the Copthorne Tara Hotel in Kensington on behalf of the organisation for members who hire or manufacture plant, tools and event equipment. Hosted by Sky TV sports presenter and entertainer Jonny Nelson, the audience represented trade associations from a huge variety of UK industry sectors. HAE EHA was on the front foot from the start of the first lockdown of the pandemic, creating a Covid-19 Response Team and becoming the go-to place for information, guidance and news, with numerous resources to help hire companies both small and large to understand what was happening, how it affected them, and where they could turn to for help. In addition to Covid-19 email updates, HAE EHA supplied dedicated newsletters and communications carrying links to key information on the HAE EHA website, gov.uk, or to funding sources, political statements, guidance on HR and SSP, and message templates helping members to deliver information to their own customers. Covid-19 Response Workshops were also organised and held virtually using webinar platforms for numerous essential subjects. These covered mental health and wellbeing, practical guidance on social distancing, developing business resilience, event hire practical guidance and other related subjects - all designed to assist members during the crisis. Many businesses in the tool, plant, and equipment hire sector either remained open or have since reopened operations for customers after lockdowns. HAE EHA lobbied the UK Governments during the pandemic to help ensure that hire and rental was deemed as essential retail, implementing appropriate measures to minimise the spread of infection, including social distancing and hygiene arrangements. The hire industry was rarely singled out in any of the government guidance or legislation, rather it was referenced in the broader context of construction, so HAE EHA says it was vital to cut through the generalisations and highlight the relevant matters to its members. Paul Gaze said: “Our response to the pandemic demonstrates a true understanding of our members and the people who work in hire. This award reflects the efforts of our member-led board and staff to deliver critical support for the hire industry during the most challenging times that most of us have ever faced. We are delighted that this has been recognised nationally in what has been a real team effort.” This could be the first half of a sensational double, as HAE EHA has also entered the Best Membership Support During Covid-19 category in the Association Excellence Awards, being held on October 7th at the Kia Oval in London.
The Construction Planthire Association (CPA) has announced the construction plant sector’s future stars at one of the industry’s first live events following the COVID pandemic.
Over 220 people attended the CPA Stars of the Future Awards 2021 hosted at the Heart of England Conference and Events Centre in Fillongley near Coventry. Despite the many challenges that employers, training providers and apprentices have faced over recent months due to the pandemic, the CPA received almost 70 nominations for Stars of the Future this year. This represents one of the highest ever entry figures in the awards programme’s nine year history. On the day, the top accolades were won by: • National Plant Mechanic of the Year (Level 2) - Dean
Johnston of Liebherr and
NSCG Stafford College • National Plant Technician of the Year (Level 3) - Luke
Thornton of GGR Group and
Activate Apprenticeships • Plant Operative of the Year - Jim
Baraclough of L Lynch Plant Hire • Plant Installer of the Year - Liam Basson of Falcon
Tower Crane Services
(L-R): National Plant Technician of the Year Luke Thornton of GGR Group, Judges’ Special Award Winner Lucy O’Rourke of Sunbelt Rentals, Hire Controller of the Year Amy Wicks of L Lynch Plant Hire, Plant Installer of the Year Liam Basson of Falcon Tower Crane Services, Best Personal Statement Winner Beth Doel of HSS, Plant Operative of the Year Jim Baraclough of L Lynch Plant Hire and National Plant Mechanic of the Year Dean Johnston of Liebherr.
• Hire Controller of the Year -
Amy Wicks of L Lynch Plant Hire • Best Personal Statement - Beth Doel of HSS and
Reaseheath College • Judges’ Special Award - Lucy
O’Rourke of Sunbelt Rentals and Reaseheath College Kevin Minton, Chief Executive of the CPA said: “The standard of entries for Stars of the Future this year was exceptional and we were delighted to welcome the nominees and winners to the awards ceremony and congratulate them in person. The judges really had a difficult task choosing the winners, and it was reassuring to see that the future of the construction plant sector really is in safe hands.” Stars of the Future is a national awards scheme for apprentices and trainees in the construction plant-hire industry, organised by the CPA, the leading trade association for the plant-hire sector in the UK. The CPA has over 1,700 members who supply 85% of hired plant to the construction industry. The CPA Stars of the Future awards are intended to recognise and reward outstanding apprentices and trainees who not only bring ability and commitment to their learning and their work, but also possess those extra capabilities which mark them out as being not only the foundations of the future of the industry, but also potentially its leaders - the Stars of the Future. Stars of the Future has expanded significantly from its origins of rewarding and recognising Plant Mechanics. Several national titles are now awarded and nominations have been made by training providers, plant-hire companies, manufacturers, contractors and others operating in the construction plant sector with apprentices and trainees in their workforce. The awards categories reflect the key occupations in the plant industry, and correspond with apprenticeships that are available, including new ‘Trailblazer’ apprenticeships in England. A new category for 2021 was Plant Installer of the Year. As well as receiving national recognition, Stars of the Future winners won a number of prizes on the day, including Snap-on tool kits, training courses, iPads, vouchers and an all-expenses paid trip to Germany to visit a Liebherr crane manufacturing plant.
GAP Group successfully completes two-year HVO trial
GAP Hire Solutions has completed the longest and most detailed real-life trial of HVO fuel in the hire industry.
For two years, GAP has been carrying out a trial on the use of alternative fuel, HVO, on all of its hire equipment and commercial vehicles at its 4hire depot in Jersey on the Channel Islands. Within this time, in excess of 40,000 litres of HVO fuel has been consumed throughout the trial in our plant and machinery. Mark Anderson, Managing Director North, stated: “Following the trial, GAP is pleased to re-confirm that Green D+ HVO fuel can be used to top up all our hire diesel equipment. HVO is fully compatible with all existing equipment meaning using this fuel alternative is an easy switch. There is no need to clean the fuel tanks prior to switching, customers can just refill their tanks with HVO and continue operations with no damage to any machinery.” Adding to GAP’s ever-growing eco-friendly product portfolio, the hire company has recently introduced Green D+ HVO Fuel boxes to its fleet to supply to customers. Mark continued: “From 1st April 2022, the construction industry, including hire companies, can no longer use, top up or supply subsidised red diesel or red HVO. Currently, HVO is going to be taxed the same as white diesel following the red diesel/HVO subsidy removal for construction. However, there is growing support to subsidise the use of HVO and GAP remains at the forefront of these discussions.” With the success of the hire company’s trial, resulting in no damage to any machinery, GAP is leading the way with HVO fuel, helping to reach its goal of becoming net-zero by 2040 and reduce its own as well as its customers’ carbon footprint.
Speedy Brings Industry-First Eco Hybrid Lighting Tower to Market
Construction equipment hire and services provider Speedy has introduced the industry’s first plugin hybrid outdoor lighting tower to the market following a multi-millionpound investment in its UK fleet.
The business has added 200 new Speedy V20 Eco Hybrid units to its lighting range through an exclusive partnership with Generac. The four-in-one units can run directly from the mains, an internal battery, a solar panel hired separately, or on green HVO D+ (hydrotreated vegetable oil) fuel and they can operate automatically in reaction to changing light levels. An external battery pack can power the towers for up to five days at 10 hours per day. Speedy’s £6.3m investment also includes 225 new MX Fuel Lighting Towers, 200 X-Eco Lighting Towers, 100 VB9+ Lighting Towers and 100 solar powered lights to its fleet for contractors to hire across the UK. The 825 new towers from Generac, Trime and Milwaukee will help construction, infrastructure engineering and events contractors to reduce carbon emissions through electric-only operation, while offering users options which run on diesel HVO D+ if projects require. Speedy takes delivery of the new kit ahead of the clocks going back for winter, with shorter nights driving high demand from contractors for lighting towers to keep sites safe. Many of the towers will be used to support major rail development projects across the country, with a large quantity already earmarked for HS2 delivery partners. Andy Connor, group supply chain director at Speedy, said: “The new, sustainable products will enable contractors to reduce carbon footprints across their projects. Working closely with Generac on the launch of the Speedy V20 Eco Hybrid towers is an excellent example of how we’re using our intermediary position in the construction supply chain to introduce new, transformative technology to the market. “The investment represents a significant expansion of our fleet, giving contractors greater access to high-performance and versatile lighting that’s capable of meeting the varied demands of live sites.” Alessandro Rossi, Managing Director at Generac, said: “We’ve worked closely with Speedy to develop this new-to-market specification of lighting tower. They are a great addition to our existing range of light and heavy-duty towers that are built around easy operation and durability. “By calling on Speedy’s contractor relationships and industry expertise, we’ve designed a new lighting tower that effectively meets both the day-to-day needs of site workers, and the overarching sustainability requirements of the industry.”
BREEDON GROUP BOOSTS EFFICIENCY AT NORTH CAVE WITH CDE SOLUTION
Breedon Group, a leading supplier of construction materials throughout the UK and Ireland, commissioned a new state-of-the-art wet processing solution from industry experts CDE in 2020 to maximise efficiency at its North Cave Quarry and accelerate the adoption of long-term sustainable working practices within the extractive industry.
Headquartered in Breedon on the Hill, Leicestershire, the vertically integrated company, which employs 3,500 staff, operates two cement plants, including the UK’s largest by capacity, and an extensive network of quarries, asphalt plants and ready-mixed concrete plants. Breedon Group’s operations also include contracting services such as highway maintenance, contract surfacing, civil engineering and airfield construction. When Breedon Group acquired North Cave Quarry in 2017 it inherited three existing plants on the site which continued to operate for several years. Area General Manager at that time, John Neesham, said inconsistencies in product specification across the multi-plant operation restricted growth. “We were extracting from two different sites at North Cave and running the material through three different plants. Our biggest challenge was consistency in material output. “When we acquired the site, our long-term vision was to streamline its operation in a way that successfully aligned the group’s commercial and environmental objectives. By consolidating the three plants into one solution we could minimise our environmental impact while simultaneously reducing operating costs and ensuring the production of premium, consistent products.”
Synergy
A competitive tender process was launched and Breedon Group engaged with a selection of manufacturers for the project. “Some couldn’t provide what we wanted at all,” John said, “but CDE proposed more than just a solution that would deliver the positive results we were after, it proposed a partnership with a supplier that shared similar values.” David Kinloch, Director of Business Development – UK and Ireland at CDE, said a detailed site audit and tests on feed material was necessary to propose a solution tailored to Breedon Group’s site-specific needs. “When CDE was invited to tender for this project we sat down with the team at Breedon Group to better understand its requirements and what it wanted to achieve. A lot of time was spent on site evaluating the three existing plants to see where the
inefficiencies were and analysing material to inform the design of our solution.” He said CDE’s unrivalled process knowledge combined with its experience offered Breedon Group confidence in its investment. “We were able to demonstrate our technical ability alongside proven solutions that are delivering for our customers. The results speak for themselves but underscoring any successful project is a successful partnership. Synergy between our two companies and a collaborative design process provided Breedon Group with the reassurance that CDE is fully committed to the project.”
CDE’s Solution
CDE proposed a 400tph of sand and gravel washing system designed using proven and extensively engineered modular components. A static system, the solution offers all the same flexibility and capabilities of CDE’s modular approach. The new system combines all washing operations following the purchase of an R4500 primary scalping screen to handle a difficult and complex feed material. Oversize aggregates measuring +50mm are isolated and removed by the R4500. The -50mm material continues to the ProGrade rinsing model which produces three washed aggregate fractions with the -4mm material being captured in its integrated sump. The -4mm material is processed by the two EvoWash units, which remove the silts and clays and produce two clean finished sand products. The plant also features CDE’s OptiMax technology, the latest addition to CDE CORE – an innovative range of technology solutions developed to give customers greater control of their plant. CORE uses automation and sensors to monitor and enhance productivity, minimise downtime, automate processes and lower operating costs while maximising profitability.
The Results
The plant is currently producing five variable sized clean products, including two sands (0-2mm and 0-4mm) and three aggregates (4-10mm, 10-20mm and 20-40mm). Jonny Danby, Territory Sales Manager for Breedon Group, said the plant offers variety and consistency. “We’re producing two main types of sand; a 0-2mm building sand, which is used for concrete batching plants and paving, and a 0-4mm coarse sand. We’re also producing three aggregates; our 4-10mm is generally used for pipe bedding, our 10-20mm Yorkshire Cream is earmarked for the decorative market, and our 20-40mm oversize product is used for restoration works in the wetlands.” Commenting on the consistency of the product, Quarry Manager Patrick Tighe said there has been zero non-conformities from their technical department. “We’re producing a consistent, in-spec material every week. The cleanliness of our 20mm product is over and above the original specification required. Our customers are extremely pleased with the grading of the products and how we’ve significantly reduced our moisture content from around 18% down to approximately 9-10%.” The new CDE turnkey solution is Breedon Group’s first direct purchase, as the company has acquired a number of other CDE plants through various acquisitions of other quarrying companies in previous years. “Working with CDE has been an exceptional success – from initial presentations, through the procurement process, installation and the final commissioning,” said John Neesham.
