Speedy lifts off in Basildon
13 December 2023
Speedy Hire’s new London Gateway branch in Basildon must be one of the few tool and equipment hire depots that has its own passenger lift. But it’s needed because the big building has a 33,000 sq ft footprint and has three floors.
The depot also incorporates features to optimise energy usage and to reduce the company’s carbon footprint on its journey to Net Zero.
The newly built facility, which strengthens the company’s National Service Centre network, is located on a trading estate with excellent transport links to central London, Essex and beyond.
As Dan Evans, Speedy’s Chief Executive Officer, told me at the official opening, the London Gateway consolidates three smaller hire depots in Basildon, Romford and Greenwich into one larger and more efficient location offering tools, power generation equipment, lighting towers, powered access and compact plant.
“Relocating the smaller sites into one is more efficient, saves on fuel and transport costs, reduces energy usage - and customers prefer it,” he said. “Customer spend invariably increases at larger locations, and people also like working in them.”
The warehouse space has an impressively high ceiling and it would be easy to add a mezzanine floor at a later date.
The building has several large office spaces on all floors including hot desk facilities for sales reps and other mobile workers, as well as meeting rooms complete with telecoms and AV capabilities for online sessions, again reducing Speedy’s carbon footprint.
Indeed, like Speedy’s flagship Innovation Centre in Milton Keynes which opened two years ago, as reported previously, the Basildon location is designed to be environmentally friendly.
Sandra Palmer, Service Account Manager with Global Associates, who are BMS (building management system) specialists and Master system integrators who work with Speedy on its facilities, told me that office windows have smart contacts that can monitor their status. If the windows are opened, radiator valves in the room automatically close.
Each office area has an IAQ sensor monitoring temperature, humidity, CO2 and PM2.5 particulate matter less than the width of a human hair.
“New regulations from CIBSE TM44 require office environments to monitor air quality as part of an updated scope," said Sandra. "We can alter the alarm function on the sensors so that the staff can open a window. In the areas that do not have windows, we have installed ventilation. This will automate the air movement based on air quality levels, providing clean air.
“The warehouse heaters are linked to the roller shutter doors. As part of Speedy’s drive to Net Zero we looked at many efficiency controls. One of the main ones was around behavioural change so that the staff are aware that, if the roller shutter doors are open, the warehouse heating will not be enabled, to prevent the constant running of the gas units to heat an area that would never reach its set point. Once the doors are closed, the heaters will engage.”
The warehouse actually benefits from an enormous amount of natural illumination (see picture below).
“Within the warehouse we have sensors monitoring the amount of light. Once the level drops below 400 lux, the standard setting for operational areas, the lighting will come on automatically,” Sandra added.
Each work bay has smart controls that only allow power to flow to the unit if the operative is present and has pressed a button on the panel. This prevents any equipment being left running unattended.
The controls are monitored remotely by Global who can dial in to alter settings as required.
Daniel Rice, Managing Director East at Speedy Hire said: “The opening of our new sustainable service centre demonstrates Speedy Hire’s continued commitment to carbon emission reduction in the supply chain. Not only can we provide our south-east based customers with sustainable services, but we have also created a contemporary and inspiring workplace for our people.
“This is a strategic location for the business and as a modern logistical and operational centre. It supports Speedy Hire’s near-term sustainability targets, while reducing energy consumption in our drive to be net zero by 2040.”
Darren Francis, Property Director at Speedy Hire said: “The seamless integration of smart features not only reduces our carbon footprint, but it provides a sustainable model for the business to build on as we work to achieve our sustainability goals.”
The London Gateway depot is likely to be busy. So I imagine that lift mentioned earlier will be getting a fair bit of use.
Photos: Alan Guthrie
