GAP gets set to invest

8 February 2021

On the first day of the New Year, I suggested several reasons for maintaining a positive outlook, not least because many hirers had plans to expand.

Since then, I have posted a number of stories about hirers opening new depots or divisions, and now GAP has announced plans for a busy year ahead as it invests to meet new opportunities.

Chris Parr, the company’s chief operating officer, said recently: “We are still investing in equipment to meet customer demand and, despite the pandemic, capex most definitely has not stopped.

“If demand and utilisation levels support it, we will invest. Construction and infrastructure will be areas specifically targeted by the Government to stimulate the economy, and it is vital that we are fully prepared and able to respond to resultant increased levels of demand.”

During the first quarter of 2021, more cabbed dumpers, rollers, compressors, excavators and welfare units will be delivered to depots throughout the GAP network. New machines include theKubota U50-5 (pictured) five-tonne and KX080-4a2 eight-tonne mini excavators with Stage V compliant engines, and two-tool compressors from Atlas Copco.

GAP launched its tanker services division last year and by the end of June 2021 it will have no fewer than thirty 26-tonne effluent and water tankers in its fleet.

Iain Anderson, joint managing director, tells me that GAP's Welfare Services division is also performing very strongly, up by 46% on 2019/2020. "One reason is that site personnel now need to have more facilities to comply with coronavirus Health & Safety regulations. A welfare unit designed for, say, six people might now be deemed suitable for only three. And looking ahead, it's likely that people will become accustomed to having that level of provision."

The company currently has 146 locations and invested £13.5m in upgrading and expanding its premises, including the opening last December of a depot in Bodmin to service the whole of Cornwall.

GAP says that the overall value of its equipment fleet now totals £500m.