Grafters join The Hireman
30 November 2020
A by-product of the lockdowns and other restrictions to reduce spreading the coronavirus has been a reduction in commuter travel.
With many people continuing to work from home, normally…
News for Tool Hire, Equipment Hire & Plant Hire and Rental Professionals
Previous Posts - November 2020
Q & A: Andy Wright
27 November 2020
Today my interviewee is Andy Wright. Last February, Andy became chief executive officer of Sunbelt Rentals UK, the re-branded identity for A-Plant that was introduced in June. His hire industr…
Bobcat’s digital vision
27 November 2020
Bobcat is developing a number of digital technologies to enable users to operate some of its machines via a smartphone for safer and more efficient working.
Promoted during the manufact…
Malta’s green scheme
26 November 2020
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his ambitious ten-point plan for a ‘green industrial revolution’ last week, covering clean energy, transport, nature and innovative technolog…
Making Trax for growth
26 November 2020
GT Trax is another hire business that is investing in its fleet to meet growing demand.
The temporary trackway specialist has bought a further 800 Power Tracks 20 plates. Designed to cr…
No VAT or credit cards
25 November 2020
The main reason for starting this blog was to create a record of these uncertain times. However, here's a post with a rather different historical dimension.
As regular followers of the s…
On the Road to Zero
24 November 2020
On the same day that Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his Ten Point Plan for a ‘green digital revolution’, JCB last week unveiled its latest machines and ancillary equipment…
Stage V compressor
23 November 2020
With environmental-friendliness to the fore, Atlas Copco has re-engineered one of its popular two-tool compressors to enable operators to comply cost-effectively with Stage V emissions regulat…
Q & A: Tony Criddle
20 November 2020
Answering all my questions this week is Tony Criddle, the Operations Director of Beaver Tool Hire (Chichester) Ltd. The company was founded in 1978 and operates out of six depots along the sou…
Snorkelling in the City
20 November 2020
City Hire has expanded its fleet with the addition of ten Snorkel S3010P push-around scissor lifts.
The machines have a lift capacity of 240kg, weigh 370kg, and can be carried in a passe…
GAP keeps Giving
19 November 2020
Not many people would be willing to endure a Bush Tucker Trial involving the consumption of exotic foodstuffs normally found in the wild, but that’s one of the challenges that GAP staff…
Stuart Power's fast response
19 November 2020
The ability of hirers to respond quickly with specific site solutions during these challenging times has been demonstrated by generator hire specialist Stuart Power.
No sooner had it ad…
Where it’s really all Go
18 November 2020
Since establishing GoHire in 2015, expanding the business was always in managing director Sally Wray’s mind. So when two opportunities to do so came along recently, she seized them and t…
Green for growth
18 November 2020
The Prime Minister has today announced his ambitious Ten Point Plan to bring about a ‘green industrial revolution’ creating and supporting up to 250,000 British jobs, eradicating t…
Resilient Speedy
18 November 2020
In its results for the six months to September 2020 announced this morning, Speedy reports a situation of ongoing improvement post Covid-19 and a positive trading outlook.
Revenue during…
Takeuchi swings it for Vickers
17 November 2020
Vickers Plant Services of Stoke-on-Trent is one of the first companies to add Takeuchi’s new TB217R reduced tail swing mini excavator to its fleet and there has been brisk demand for the…
Speedy consolidates Access
17 November 2020
Speedy has merged its powered access businesses, Prolift, Platform Sales & Hire and Lifterz, to create a single entity, Speedy Powered Access.
Speedy. which acquired these businesses…
Zapping hunger
16 November 2020
Paragon Protection Systems, the innovative company behind Zappshelter temporary storage buildings and Zapptizer anti-Covid-19 sanitiser, is generously supporting a food bank near its Perthshir…
Act fast for AIA tax relief
16 November 2020
Hirers are being advised that they should act quickly to ensure they take full advantage of tax relief available for the purchase of plant and equipment.
Currently the full cost of such…
Q & A: Andrew Thompson
13 November 2020
Every Friday I ask an industry professional to give a brief insight into their business and their background. Today it’s the turn of Andrew Thompson, managing director of Mobile Mini UK,…
Self-build, build, build
13 November 2020
The 30th October was designated as Right to Build day and to mark the occasion the government announced a review to make it easier for people to build their own home.
Approximately 15,00…
Electric Sunbelt
12 November 2020
Sunbelt Rentals UK has recycled more than 13 tonnes of old workwear and turned it into a source of energy.
Following its re-branding in June, the company wanted to minimise the impact f…
Hirer digs green power
11 November 2020
There is much talk of a green economic recovery that directs investments into low-carbon energy sources and technologies. Indeed, companies throughout the world that have set a net zero target…
Shindaiwa celebrates
10 November 2020
Here’s another indication of the current strength of the market: Shindaiwa Ltd tell me that October was their best month in terms of sales to hirers since 2015.
“What’…
Vaccine ‘milestone’ announced
10 November 2020
Yesterday’s preliminary results announced by the pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and BioNTech that their new vaccine is 90% effective in stopping the coronavirus have been heralded as re…
Success by the skipful
9 November 2020
I’ve mentioned in a previous post the idea that the humble builder’s skip can be something of a barometer for the overall economy.
The reasoning is that the number of skips i…
Q & A with... Steve Hitchen
6 November 2020
In the hot seat today is Steve Hitchen who is managing director of Chorley-based One Stop Hire. The business currently has 14 depots stretching from Cumbria to the West Midlands,…
Digital Hillhead added
6 November 2020
Hillhead is adapting to the challenges imposed by the pandemic. The popular show for the quarrying and construction industries is adding an online conference and exhibition on 9 and 10 March,…
Performance pumps
6 November 2020
In the latest in a series of product launches held online because of the pandemic, Atlas Copco’s Power and Flow division recently unveiled its new PAC H range of high head pumps.
…
Steep challenge met
5 November 2020
The Dorset town of Shaftesbury was originally a hilltop settlement and some properties in the area are built on or near steeply sloping ground.
Locally based independent Dorset Hire Ser…
Big green Package
5 November 2020
The topic of green energy and the new technologies needed to provide it continues to gain prominence on the news agenda.
One of the latest developments is that MHM has won a Green Apple…
One Stop Hire adds Clow lifts
4 November 2020
Clow Group reports strong demand for its access equipment, ladders and steps, reflecting the ongoing resilience of construction activity.
Amongst recent orders is one for eight Instant…
Grounds care still on course
4 November 2020
They say that golf’s a challenging game at the best of times, but it’s even more so at the moment.
Players were initially delighted when they were able to pick…
Mini Meals make big impact
3 November 2020
With a second wave of the pandemic, a second lockdown throughout England starting this Thursday and restrictions already in place in the devolved nations, life continues to be a challenge for…
More green cabins for GAP
3 November 2020
I’ve written before on this site about the boom in site welfare provision in the wake of the pandemic and it shows no signs of slowing.
GAP recently confirmed an order for 240 more…
Compact sales bounce back
2 November 2020
Strong demand driven by the housing market is behind a bounce-back in sales of mini and midi excavators after a decline caused by the pandemic, according to data from the Construction Equipmen…