Six Groundhogs for Welfare Unit Hire

31 March 2022

Wigan-based Welfare Unit Hire recently added to its 100-strong fleet with the arrival of six 3.2m GP360 models from Genquip Groundhog. 

Mick Elston, managing director of WUH, tells me that these are the first to be delivered from an order of 22. 

The company has fitted its own hybrid power system to the cabins, incorporating diesel generators, battery banks, 12V DC circuitry and commercial quality solar panels to charge the batteries. 

“We have been working in the area of renewable energy for more than 15 years,” Mick says. “Initially we developed the hybrid system to reduce the running time and service requirements for the small engines in the generators, but now of course they are popular for their environmentally friendly qualities. 

“The cabins can be up to 80% cheaper to run than a comparable traditional diesel unit. 

“The system has been designed by engineers rather than accountants! And because we fit the systems ourselves, our engineers know where every wire and screw is, and we know the standard of the components. This makes it easier for us to work on and service them.” 

Maintenance is carried out by WUH’s own trained staff and are cleaned and serviced by an in-house team. 

“We aim to go above and beyond in our cleaning standards,” says Mick. “We won’t hire out a cabin without regular toilet servicing being included so that we are visiting and checking it ourselves. 

“If someone goes into a typical toilet on a construction site they probably expect one of the worst experiences of their lives.  But if find that it’s a pleasant environment that’s been well-cleaned by someone who has taken pride in it, then they’ll make a not of the company who supplied it and use them in the future. That’s how we have grown.” 

WUH serves a large area from its Wigan headquarters, extending from Birmingham up to Carlisle, and roughly from the Welsh border to the M1 motorway. 

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