
Phoenix power
31 March 2021
I continue to be amazed by the response to my recent posts on the pros and cons of electric vehicles. So expect more in the future.
Indeed, Paul Lewis, managing director of Phoenix
News for Tool Hire, Equipment Hire & Plant Hire and Rental Professionals
I continue to be amazed by the response to my recent posts on the pros and cons of electric vehicles. So expect more in the future.
Indeed, Paul Lewis, managing director of Phoenix
Portable sanitation equipment hirer, Site Equip, reports that the measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus continue to create more demand.
“We are receiving business
The Hireman has introduced The Hireman Xtra, a one-call re-hire service.
Managing director Neil Graham tells me that a dedicated team of people is manning this aspect of the business, wh
The scale of the challenge in adopting new fuel sources by 2050 to develop a carbon zero economy was outlined during a recent webinar organised by the Construction Equipment Association.
As Easter approaches there’s even more positive news. Sunbelt Rentals is investing in 2,100 new JCB machines in a deal worth £65m - described as the biggest ever order from a UK cu
I speak to so many hire companies who say they are working absolutely flat out. And that’s great news.
But at really busy times when staff are stretched and multi-tasking, are all
Mat Llewellyn is managing director of Port Talbot-based MHM Group which offers generators, lighting towers and fluid storage tanks on a nationwide re-hire basis, and sells new and used models.
Vp Brandon Hire Station has taken delivery of seventy 1-tonne Thwaites Hi-Tip dumpers for its 160-strong depot network.
Brian Sherlock, the hirer’s managing director, said: “
GAP is grouping several of its technical and specialist divisions under a new collective branch of the business to reflect the expansion of these operations.
Technical and Environm
The main reason for adopting green technology is obviously the desired reduction in carbon emissions. However, there can be other considerations that make environmentally-friendly equipment an
Full-year results earlier this week from B&Q’s owner, Kingfisher, exceeded forecasts and pleased shareholders. But what I found particularly interesting were some accompanying commen
I think it’s hugely positive and praiseworthy that the CPA (Construction Plant-hire Association) has reviewed its Stars of the Future Apprentice and Trainee Awards in light of the roadma
Today is the anniversary of the first lockdown, when no-one knew what the future would hold. In his evening televised address to the nation exactly a year ago, Prime Minister Boris Johnson des
Bruno, the generator and lighting tower manufacturer, has purchased the SMC lighting tower brand together with existing machines, spare parts and intellectual property from Morris Site Machine
My recent blog posts on electric vehicles have certainly aroused a lot of interest. Now news comes that Speedy is overhauling its company car fleet and installing charge points at depots.
<Remote learning has become increasingly popular over the years and all the more so during the pandemic and the need for social distancing.
The HAE has announced a new partnership w
After a successful first long distance journey, Pete Beach encountered some frustrations with his new electric car. Or at least with the charging infrastructure.
Last Friday I repo
In the Q&A hot seat today is Joe Paterson who is managing director of the independent hirer Anglian Plant based near Norwich. The company offers a diverse fleet encompassing tools, plant a
In the same way that vehicle manufacturers are planning to phase out production of diesel and petrol models as the world aims to go carbon zero, construction equipment manufacturers are lookin
The positive news of recovery continues as JCB today launches a recruitment drive for hundreds more shop floor employees. The manufacturer has also announced plans to give hundreds more agency
Pickerings, the national provider of modular buildings and portable accommodation, has opened its third new depot in recent months with a ten-acre facility in Wootton Bassett, near Swindon.&nb
Feedback from construction machinery manufacturers suggests that the market in Europe could increase overall by 5% in 2021, with many expecting to return to pre-Covid sales levels during the y
Like the official 0-60mph acceleration figure for his new electric car (4.5 seconds), my story last Friday about Genquip Groundhog sales and marketing manager Pete Beach’s first day with
Here’s a warning about a nasty fraudulent hire scam. A tool and equipment hirer told me that his company was a victim of it recently and has lost a lot of kit.
I obviously wo
The Government has said that sales of new petrol and diesel cars and vans will be phased out by 2030, causing all drivers to think about the alternatives.
Pete Beach, sales and mar
As we near the end of the week in which International Women’s Day was celebrated, it’s fitting that Kirsty Archbold-Laming is my Q&A interviewee today. She is a Director of the
A number of hirers are telling me that they are finding good business by offering compact powered access equipment, and now Farnborough-based FTH Hire Group has added ten Snorkel scissors to i
One of the most intriguing aspects of hire has always been how closely companies can work with their customers to devise comprehensive solutions that extend beyond simply the supply of equipme
The demand for storage facilities shows no signs of diminishing, for purposes such as providing a secure temporary place for office furniture that has to be removed for social distancing requi
Following the postponement of the Hillhead exhibition to June 2022, the organisers of Plantworx have announced that its 2022 event, which had been scheduled for 14-16 June, will now not go ahe
Actions that hirers and users of mobile access towers need to take in the light of the new EN 1004-1:2020 regulations were discussed in a webinar organised yesterday by PASMA, the Prefabricate
At the start of February I reported how The Hireman had acted quickly to put in place regular lateral flow testing of all personnel at its three London depots to check that they were free of t
The Hillhead construction and quarrying plant exhibition has been postponed to 2022 following a review of the Government’s roadmap to ease Covid-19 restrictions.
QMJ Group, which o
The demand for more site welfare facilities so that personnel can meet social distancing regulations is leading to more units being specified at many locations. And this, in turn, means that o
Hirers are steadily gearing up for a greener future and now GAP’s efforts in this area have been recognised by an international environmental organisation.
The company has won a Sc
Dennis Hughes is managing director of Genquip Groundhog, the Neath-based designer and manufacturer of mobile and static welfare accommodation units. He’s very passionate about the busine
The Top Service credit reference and debt collection agency serving the construction industry is celebrating 30 years of trading.
The Redditch-based company was founded by Lisa Car
Figures released today give more positive indicators about the state of UK construction output, which is in turn more good news for the hire industry. However, there’s perhaps also a war
Rishi Sunak’s Budget yesterday showed the on-going economic impact of the pandemic. The chancellor said that more than 700,000 people have lost their jobs, the economy shrank by almost 1
Although we now have the Government’s roadmap for the easing of lockdown restrictions, it’s still likely that many people will decide to postpone overseas holiday plans and stay cl
Results announced today from Sunbelt Rentals’ parent Ashtead Group, for the nine months and Q3 ended 31 January 2021, show group revenue down by only 2% compared to the corresponding pre
Perhaps it’s a trend that’s been accelerated by the pandemic and the huge growth in online ordering that we’re all now familiar with, but for whatever reason a number of digi
In a trading update issued today for the year ending 31 March 2021, Speedy reports that business since 30 September 2020 has been ahead of expectations.
In February, core hire reve
Boris Johnson announced the Government’s road map for easing lockdown restrictions exactly a week ago today. So what impact has it had?
I've conducted a quick straw poll with
Hirers realise the importance of receiving quickly the equipment they order. The Hire Supply Company’s (HSC) ability to respond rapidly has been recognised by its appointment from today