Issue 10
Local Heroes W e like to think that Windor is well known for making that extra effort, particularly when it comes to supporting our local partners. We also place the welfare of our own dedicated teams very highly. We are delighted therefore to have been recognised by one of our biggest customers for the improvements made in recent years on our sustainability and corporate social responsibility - you can find out more on page four. We’re also working with UK charity of the Year, FareShare, thanks to the great work of our St Helens branch, helping them to reduce waste and provide food for those in need.
Excellence & ambition Bringing it closer to home, we also recently waved goodbye to Sis Bond at our Sleaford branch as she retired gracefully after over 10 years’ service. Our engineers presented her with a watch from Windsor whilst the branch staff also had a collection to buy a necklace. So thanks to Sis and all our other local heroes for their continuing great efforts!
Our name has been synonymous with excellent material handling and access systems since 1977, and ever since we began, we have focussed on growing into one of the UK’s leading materials handling specialists. Our ambitious growth plans are based on the recognition of our service-excellence as we continue to expand across the country. For more details, visit our website at www.windsor-mh.co.uk
ROUND UP
Aggregate Score
Fighting For FareShare
Windsor Helps Leading Champion Against Food Waste
Swedish forklift manufacturer,
that can be turned 180 degrees. The highly
Kalmar, has launched a new range of electric
responsive hydraulic system also improves
9-18 tonnes capacity trucks.
precision and the overall driving experience. Director, Peter Ivarsson, said: “We aim for
Kalmar electric forklift trucks offer the best of
zero emissions across the board. We’re
both worlds: the performance of a powerful
proud to be the first leading manufacturer
diesel truck but without the accompanying air
to offer a full range of electric forklift trucks
emissions, noise and vibration. The operating
with this level of lifting capacity.
cost of the new range is much lower than that of comparable diesel machines, and the pay-
Our machines offer savings via faster and
back time can be as short as two years.
easier maintenance and by using an electric forklift customers can achieve significant re-
CUSTOMER NEWS Construction materials experts, Johnsons Aggregates,
The forklifts have sufficient battery capacity to
ductions in their operating costs. Customers
operate for a full eight-hour shift with lead acid
who require trucks with higher lifting capac-
is investing in new equipment having
batteries and are future-proofed to operate
ities can now start reducing their emis-
opened a brand-new plant in Ilkeston to
with new lithium-ion battery technology. Op-
sions and energy costs at the same time
manage increased volume. The state-
erators can work in peace and comfort inside
without compromising their operational
of-the art recycling plant opened in
the ergonomic EGO cabin, which provides
performance.”
February, after the Derbyshire business
maximum visibility and features a driving seat
secured a £10m funding package from the Business Growth Fund and NatWest to support construction of the site, where up to 450,000 tonnes of materials will be recycled each year. The end product supplied by the company is an important component of concrete mixes, adding strength to the overall composite material, as seen since Roman times. Operations manager, Kevin Marshall explains: “We were originally set up as a provider of quarried and recycled aggregates for construction and engineering projects. Now, we also handle large muck shifts and supply sand, soils, gravels, salt and specialist ash.” The ash is produced in incineration facilities, and typically contains a small amount of ferrous metals. Crucially, it can be recycled to regulate the material and remove contaminants allowing its use as an aggregate for asphalt, cement, blocks and concrete. Although IBA aggregate, as it is known, has many usages, it can often end up in landfill if there is no local demand for it.
Windsor St Helens are doing
After a donation for capital equipment,
their bit towards food waste and poverty in
Windsor stepped in to provide a forklift
the North West by providing a forklift truck
truck and battery charger at an exceptionally
to charity of the year, FareShare.
discounted price.
The award-winning charity helps redistribute
The decision to support the organisation was
food destined for waste.
led by Windsor’s St Helens MHE Consultant, Pete Dennett. Said Pete: “We pride ourselves
The surplus comes in all shapes and sizes,
on being local. We have a lot of requests for
and often goes to waste for seasonality or
this type of kit, so it’s often in demand. We
cosmetic reasons. Local charities and com-
both live and work in the North West, so it’s
munity groups transform the donations into
great to be able to give something back.”
meals for vulnerable people. FareShare Merseyside Development Manager, Mark Hall, explains: “The food redistributed is fresh, quality and in-date, but for one reason or another is destined to go to waste. We work with 173 charities on a weekly basis to put it to great use. That said, the organisations we supply food to are places that provide life changing support, as well as lunch and dinner.” FareShare was established in 1994, when Last year FareShare managed 13,552 tonnes
homeless charity Crisis co-founded it with
of food in the UK. Collecting deliveries as
Sainsbury’s. Since then, the charity has been
well as receiving them, space at their centres
working to fight hunger and tackling food
can get tight, and to help with the logistics,
waste across the UK, and won Charity of the
they depend on donations and equipment
Year in the 2017 Third Sector Awards.
from local businesses.
Kalmar-vellous Machines New Arrivals From Our Official Big Truck Partner
SUSTAINABILITY
Geared Up For ‘Urban Warefare’
Sofidel present Best Improved Award to Windsor
Making A Difference CUSTOMER AWARD
Italian paper tissue
products manufacturer, Sofidel, has recog-
Windsor Nottingham has developed closed ties with Sofidel, which has its UK head office in nearby Leicester.
work Italy Foundation (GCNI Foundation), of
and held in collaboration with a number of
which the Group is a founder promoter.
global partners and Tissue World Magazine.
“Promoting sustainable and responsible
The Sofidel paper group was the first Italian
logistics industry operates. As online
nised Windsor Materials Handling with a growth also means, within our vision, raising
company and the first in the global tissue
orders have risen, more distribution
Sofidel, the name behind brands such as
awareness and promoting involvement of
industry to join the international project
centres are opening in urban areas to
Thirst Pockets, Kittensoft and Nouvelle,
our partners so we can do more and do it
whereby the WWF proposes large compa-
accommodate an efficient last mile
awarded Windsor as one of only nine win-
better,” stated Luigi Lazzareschi, CEO of the
nies to voluntarily adopt schemes to reduce
delivery.
ning suppliers from almost 400 businesses
Sofidel Group.
greenhouse gas emissions.
working with them across Europe and North
We’re convinced that building a sustainable future involves a widespread, common commitment.
E-commerce has profoundly
changed the way the warehousing and
Suppliers Sustainability Award for 2017.
“
OPINION
As online shopping becomes more
America. The second annual awards were
providing excellent local service and paying
“We’re convinced that building a sustainable
Windsor works to keep the nation’s forklift
popular, and e-commerce retailers
held at Canary Wharf’s East Wintergarden.
attention to these issues helps the business
future involves a widespread, common com-
fleets up to date with modern technologies,
become more aware of the impact
succeed in a socially responsible and profes-
mitment, and a need to assume, each within
reducing the impact of greenhouse gases
unreliable equipment has on their opera-
sional manner.”
their area and according to their role, new
emitted by more aged machinery.
tion, the demand for local service is likely
Windsor was presented with the Best Improver Award for making the greatest
and broader responsibilities.” The awards
to increase.
improvement by undertaking new environ-
Andrew continues: “Our business is
are supported by the Italian Ministry for the
mental and social sustainability procedures.
partnership driven. We take pride in working
Environment and Protection of Land and Sea
These changes resulted in a 25% increase to
hard to develop long lasting relationships
short drive of their facility are certainly
their results in the awards.
that make the difference to our valued part-
going to have a competitive advantage.
ners. The Best Improver Award shows that Windsor sales
this hard work resonates throughout our
director, Andrew
customer-base too.”
Lane, says the recognition follows
There are three awards granted by the
a considerable
“Sofidel Suppliers Sustainability Award”: Best
amount of work to
Supplier, Best Improver and Best Sustainable
improve efficiency
Project.
and reduce waste. An annual event, the Sofidel Suppliers Said Andrew:
Sustainability Awards aim to incentivise,
“We’ve worked
disseminate and promote best practice and
with Sofidel for a number of years and al-
improvements in social and environmental
ways aim to provide the best value and per-
responsibility amongst Sofidel suppliers in
formance. This award recognises the recent
Italy and abroad.
developments we have made in procedures for anti-corruption, child labour, human
It is based on the “TenP - Sustainable Supply
rights, workers’ rights and environmental is-
Chain Self-Assessment Platform”, conceived
sues. We place a great deal of importance in
and promoted by the Global Compact Net-
And service providers located within a
Paper Heavyweights The Sofidel Group is one of the world leaders in the market of the production of tissue paper for hygienic and domestic use. It all started in 1966, when Emi Stefani and Giuseppe Lazzareschi first set up in business.
In recent times we’ve concentrated on improving our knowledge, infrastructure and branch facilities to provide
HISTORY
Their entrepreneurial creativity found good breeding ground in the history, know-how, work ability and innovation of the area, laying the foundations for the future of a group. In the seventies, the consumption of paper for sanitary and household use increased throughout Italy. Commercial TV offered the opportunity to start advertising and thus the “Regina” ads were launched.
everything the customer needs at local level. Too wide a range of products can be off-putting to some businesses, we Rolled on the Fourth of July: movie director Oliver Stone visits Sofidel in April 2017
have found. We want to ensure that our sales team
Production capacity reached 140,000 tons per year by 1994 and a series of investments and acquisitions followed in the UK, Spain, Germany, and elsewhere in Europe and Scandinavia.
in each branch are insightful and helpful,
Today, Sofidel manages and coordinates the activities of 19 companies spread throughout Europe and the United States.
mon activities through technology and
and by continuously adding new products to our portfolio, we have all bases – counterbalance, heavy, and access systems - covered. Today, the focus is on reducing the ‘processing’ times of comdigitalisation. It’s an area offering huge potential for improvements, but there are also pitfalls from those that lose sight of the customer.
“
ENGINEERING FEATS
Insight Bell Rock Lighthouse The world’s oldest surviving sea-washed lighthouse was built between 1807 and
Amazing Feats
1810 by the legendary Scottish civil engi-
Ten engineering projects that reshaped Britain
challenges faced in its construction have led
neer, Robert Stevenson. Sited 11 miles off the east coast of Scotland, the reef upon which it sits is underwater except for a couple of hours at low tide each day. The to the lighthouse being described as one of the Seven Wonders of the Industrial World.
IRON BRIDGE
Queensferry Crossing: Work began in 2011 with Windsor customer, Generation, provid-
Erected in 1779 over the River Severn in Shropshire, the Iron Bridge was the first single span arch bridge in the world to be made of cast iron and was a turning point in British engineering. Now a World Heritage site, it is undergoing a major restoration project. Ground movement over the many intervening years, and an earthquake in the 19th century, has pushed the sides of the gorge closer together, making the bridge crack and four inches taller than when originally constructed.
ing £1m worth of fencing and scaffolding.
Leeds Flood Protection The £50 million Leeds flood alleviation scheme uses moveable weir technology – a first for flood risk reduction in the UK. The new weir gates are supported by giant inflatable neoprene bladders that can be lowered when high river flows are expected. The scheme is said to safeguard 22,000 jobs over the next 10 years.
The Preston Bypass Britain’s first motorway was opened on 5
FLYING SCOTSMAN
4.9 million cubic metres of chalk marl from the Channel Tunnel excavations were used to create the Samphire Hoe Country Park in Dover.
I
n August 2017, the Queensferry Crossing became Britain’s newest and tallest road bridge. Suspended by 23,000 miles of cables over the Firth of Forth, it is a fantastic achievement
to be built in Upper Nidderdale, in North Yorkshire. Needed to provide water to the growing population of West Yorkshire, it took 15 years to complete and ended with the flooding of a former village with a popu-
constructing a 31.4 mile tunnel under the English Channel was an ambitious one. Taking five years to build and involving the excavation of 8.75m cubic metres of material, the lowest part of the tunnel is 250 feet
rise to the term ‘hard shoulder’.
Crossrail
tunnel boring machines to help construct
Scar House reservoir, the last of the three
ever undertaken in the UK, the concept of
hardened, rather than paved edges, it gave
est construction project, using eight giant
A million tonnes of masonry helped create
One of the largest engineering projects
speed limit was imposed and with gravel
At a cost of almost £15bn, it is Europe’s larg-
Scar House Reservoir
Channel Tunnel
and a wide central reservation. Initially, no
the Elizabeth line, is Britain’s newest railway.
helped put Britain and it’s engineers on the map...
lation of 1,250.
planned. It had two lanes in each direction
Another underground marvel, Crossrail, aka
and joins a pantheon of amazing feats of engineering. Here’s a selection of others that
*By Kreuzschnabel - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
“
This legendary locomotive set two world records for steam traction, and was the first to reach 100 miles per hour. Built at Doncaster Works in 1923 it ran for more than 2 million miles before being retired. It now takes pride of place at the National Railway Museum in York.
December 1958, 21 years after first being
deep while 23.5 miles of the rail is submerged underwater. The lining of the tunnel is designed to last for 120 years, whilst 4.9 million cubic metres of excavated chalk marl was used to create Samphire Hoe Country Park. To date more than four times the population of the UK has crossed through the channel tunnel using Eurotunnel Le Shuttle alone, as have over a million cats and dogs.
42km of new rail tunnels below the streets of London.
ANDERTON BOAT LIFT The Canal & River Trust called the Anderton Boat Lift “the most ingenious and endearing character of any structure on the canal system.” An amazing engineering feat, it was built by Edwin Clark in 1875 to lift barges the 50 feet from the River Weaver to the Trent & Mersey Canal, powered by two huge water tanks. It operated for over 100 years before requiring restoration.
hells bells JOHN TAYLOR FOUNDRY
Originating in the 14th century, Taylor’s is the world’s largest working bell foundry and has provided bells for many of the world’s churches and a succession of high profile buildings including “Great Paul”, the largest British cast bell, for St Paul’s Cathedral and “Great George” for Liverpool Cathedral. Rock band AC/DC also used Taylor for a 2000-pound cast bronze bell for the song, “Hells Bells”, which was originally used on the “Back in Black” tour in 1980. Having been rescued from administration a few years ago, John Taylor & Co. has spent the last few years quietly restoring the fortunes of this historic business and factory site in Loughborough.
“
TRANSPORT
Insight
Back To The Future
Windsor engineer, Brian Lockwood, sets his satnav for the 50s
Keep on trucking
“Its first owner was a Boston timber supplier called J. S. Towell, who had the truck from 1951 to 1967, when it was sold to Geo Barnstone in Donington, Lincolnshire.” In 1990, the truck was sold onto Drummond Mill in Bradford where it stayed unused for two years before being sold to Ken Longthorn in North Yorkshire. Longthorn took the vehicle to rallies on the back of a larger truck and
With new vehicles driven by diesel and petrol engines set to be banned from British roads by 2040, the route looks clear for electric lorries. Models from Daimler, VW, and others are in the works, but it’s Tesla’s new automated “Semi” that’s dividing opinions...
According to Tesla, it’s new “Semi” offers amazing range, comfort and safety features. The all-electric architecture is designed to have a higher safety standard than any other heavy-duty truck on the market, with a reinforced battery that shields it from impact and gives it an exceptionally low center of gravity. Its windscreen is made of impact resistant glass. Jackknifing is prevented due to onboard sensors that detect instability and react with positive or negative torque to each wheel while independently actuating all brakes. The surround cameras aid object detection and minimize blind spots, automatically alerting the driver to safety hazards and obstacles. With Enhanced Autopilot, the Tesla also features Automatic Emergency Braking, Automatic Lane Keeping, Lane Departure Warning, and event recording.
T
he 500 mile range, 0 to 60 mph in five seconds and one million mile guarantee were enough to convince WalMart and DHL to make their first orders...
We believe we can learn how this technology performs within our supply chain, as well as how it could help us meet some of our long-term sustainability goals, such as lowering emissions. Wal-Mart statement We’re not looking for performance, not least because lorries’ speed is limited to 56mph.... my gut feeling is that [UK electric lorries] are 20 years away. Rod McKenzie, Road Haulage Association policy advisor Commercial vehicles are typically driven on motorways for a much higher proportion of their annual mileage... the
relative simplicity of motorway driving may mean that sensor and software requirements for “average” autonomy packages for these vehicles could be lower than those for cars. Market Forecast report from the UK Government’s Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles. So they knock range and they are from where? The UK is not that big. Fuel is a lot more expensive in the UK.... Personal truckers might have a hard time with the up front cost but companies won’t. F150 Brian, InsideEVs Forum Whether or not Tesla is successful in the Semi business is secondary to the fact that it is changing people’s thinking of what truck can be - a culture changing company is a very powerful thing to be. Peter Saundry, Professor of Energy, Johns Hopkins University.
was subsequently never driven. Taking the truck to most rallies in Yorkshire, “I got my hands on it in 2016, and got it back up and running,” says Brian. “In 1951, the maximum speed was 30mph, and today it reaches 40mph. It didn’t have brake lights or indicators when I bought it, so after realising very few people understand hand signals, I fitted them for safety!”
For service engineer Brian Lockwood at Windsor Wakefield, maintaining working vehicles isn’t just a job – it’s a way of life. Repairing forklifts by
mechanic. “The truck is 66 years old, so naturally it breaks down a lot and I do all the repairs myself,” said Brian. “I spend more time under the hood than I do driving it!”
day, you would think that Windsor service engineers would spend their free time with
Brian managed to get in contact with the family
their feet up – but not Brian.
that originally owned the truck, who shared with him a photo taken of the first driver, Albert
As the proud owner of a 1951 Bedford
Jackson. “For me, it’s not just about driving and
O Type 5 tonne lorry, Brian spends more
maintaining it, it’s about the history behind it,”
time repairing than the average vehicle
explains Brian.
Brian owns up to being an occasional cause of traffic delays on the county’s A roads. “The furthest we’ve taken it is Peterborough. We broke down six times and it took five and a half hours, so we stick to Yorkshire mostly. But we are booked in for the Great Dorset Steam Fair next year – so I better roll my sleeves up! I’m taking it off the road to
do restoration on the back axle and inside the cab this winter,” Brian said. “The truck tows a caravan to most steam rallies, so it needs to be in the best condition possible before we get it on the road again in 2018.”
Unfortunate rail delays...
B
illionaire inventor and Tesla owner, Elon Musk, is also known for his other pioneering work in engineering, aerospace and transport. When discussing his radical 800mph Hyperloop concept with the BBC, he explained that news of California’s long-planned high speed rail project prompted the idea. “They did better things in Japan 30 years ago.... I
said, ‘Why are we doing this and spending so much money on it?’ And it’ll take 20 years, by that time we will be 50 years behind what they’ve done in Japan. That was my reaction.” When the BBC’s Gavin Esler pointed out that the UK’s own HS2 rail project was even further behind than
California, Musk’s surprise was clear: “Oh my god, really?! Wow. That’s brutal. It’s almost unfortunate.”
MAJOR ACCOUNTS
Insight
motor. This also allows the forklifts to de-
Still Standing
liver a high volume at a low V-engine speed due to the electrically activated hydraulic pump. Gary continued: “I’m thankful for the glass cab too – trucks I’ve used in the past have
A family owned third party logistics provider has taken delivery of a fleet of forklift trucks from Windsor Materials Handling’s premium range.
Established by George Kime in the 1930s, George H Kime & Co. Limited has experienced over 80 years of operational success. Initially set up as a provider of transport services for local food businesses in Boston, Lincolnshire, the company has grown to serve not only the fresh food industry, but a wide spectrum of customers internationally. Over the years, Kimes have served all sorts of customers – from sole traders to blue chip companies – and many of these have continued to use the firm’s services for decades. With branches in Wrangle nr. Boston and Lincoln, the firm’s continued success saw the opening of a third warehouse in November 2015, based in Sleaford. Kimes hit a milestone eight months ago when they bought the facility after renting it for
most of their first year of operation.
been open to the elements. It not only protects you from the weather but from dust
The icing on the cake for the business expansion was a brand-new fleet of forklift trucks for the Sleaford depot, which Windsor Materials Handling’s David Fletcher helped specify. A pair of two-tonne capacity Still trucks were supplied, and just a week after delivery, drivers at Kimes were already endorsing the forklifts. One operator, Gary Rose, is typically impressed. “The new forklifts feel stable, and the various different settings make the job so much easier. The manoeuvrability of the machines is incredible, and the automatic braking on ramps gives you extra confidence.” Still’s RX 70 series has a particularly stable driving behaviour due to the truck’s low centre of gravity. George H Kime will also benefit from low operating costs through the trucks’ hybrid diesel-electric drive with a powerful industrial
A pair of two-tonne capacity Still trucks from Windsor are making Kime’s operation run smoother and faster
Delivering solutions since 1930
and debris left behind in trailers too!”
George H Kime & Co. Ltd. is a family
outstanding reputation for the dependabil-
owned business with over 80 years of operational success. Founded by George Kime in the 1930’s it was initially set up to provide a transport service for the local
Still has been delivering its products and services for over 90 years now, and have an ity of their trucks. Starting out by repairing motors in the 1920s, the company has used its expertise to develop into one of the leading full service providers for intralogis-
food partners.
tics. Windsor formed a partnership with
From this humble beginning the company
relationships are the basis of a long business
has grown because of it’s commitment to proving an excellent service and subsequent trust from its valued client. The company not only serves the fresh food industry but has expanded to encompass a wide spectrum of customers on an international field.
Still due to their mutual belief that personal relationship For George H Kime’s Sleaford warehouse manager, Tony Clifton, this is just one of the reasons for choosing to work with Windsor. “I have worked on this site for 22 years – before Kimes the warehouse belonged to Staples Disposables, and I worked with Windsor for many years in that capacity too,” said
Tony. “This is the first time we have had brand new trucks though, and I can’t fault Windsor at all for their service and response times. With the local Windsor branch only five miles down the road, a helping hand is never far away. Their engineers are experienced and do their jobs quickly too.” Branch Manager for Windsor’s Sleaford office, David Fletcher, echoes this: “Our business is partnership driven. This means providing the best possible deal and backing that up with great support,” he said. “I have known Tony for lots of years – I met him when I was working for the local pest control company. He was surprised when one week I was fitting pest control and the next week I was pestering him about forklifts! For me, this is what Windsor is all about - providing the best quality local service on a national level.”