Phoenix takes off

16 September 2022

Phoenix Hire and Sales officially opened its dedicated plant sales facility at Newport last week by holding an open day highlighting the brands it has dealerships for. 

"Phoenix has always perceived itself as a true one-stop shop for hire and sales. We now offer 98 per cent of the equipment in our range for hire and sale, as well as ex-rental items for sale,” Gary Derraven, Phoenix chairman told me. “We can also source a whole range of other equipment for customers through the network of contacts we have established.” 

Brands represented at the event included Yanmar Compact Equipment, Atlas Copco compressors, pumps, lighting towers, generators and other machines, Ammann compaction equipment, Topcon Positioning Systems, Indespension trailers, Thwaites dumpers, Merlo telehandlers and booms, and Engcon attachments. 

Occupying a two-acre greenfield trading estate site, the 8,000sq ft depot has extensive workshop facilities, storage, canteen and welfare areas.

Sales director Jason Derraven told me that the Newport depot was designed to Phoenix’s specification and meets exacting environmental standards, including the installation of an oil interceptor in the yard, as the site borders a nature reserve. 

Stock levels can be monitored in real time via Phoenix’s recently installed Syrinx computer system from Point of Rental Software, with re-ordering alerts issued automatically. 

The opening of the dedicated plant facility at Newport shows Phoenix expanding well beyond mainstream tool hire and equipment hire. And Jason says that a second plant depot could be opened in the future. 

Phoenix managing director Paul Lewis said that the company is looking at event hire as another area of opportunity, having already generated significant re-hire business in this market sector. He also expects Phoenix’s first satellite tool and equipment hire depot to be opened next year as the company expands its reach still further. 

Phoenix’s other tool hire depots are in Bridgend, Cardiff, Cwmbran, Swansea and Pontypridd. A separate survey and safety depot is located at Pontypridd. 

● Read the earlier Q&A interview with Paul Lewis here. 

Photos: Alan Guthrie