When Glasgow-based cladding contractor, W F Price, was asked to do it for B & Q, the company straightaway thought of Nationwide Access and its PowerClad hydraulically-operated cladding panel placement system. The challenge was to complete the cladding of the DIY giant's new superstore in Clydebank in the shortest possible time for main contractor, Kier Scotland.

The 8-metre long panels were positioned using the recently introduced vertical cladding panel version of PowerClad, which can be used to install any size or thickness panel up to a maximum weight of 150kg. Its use, according to W F Price, resulted in a significant increase in site productivity compared with manual handling techniques; it enabled the company to achieve a smooth and consistent workflow and made a major contribution towards improved installer safety.

Prior to installing the cladding panels, W F Price laid down the panel support track and the PowerClad-adapted scissor lift - in this instance a Nationwide Genie 5390 - was moved into position to start cladding. A 26mm hole - which was subsequently concealed by a metal flashing - was drilled in the leading edge of the panel to accommodate the PowerClad lifting eyelet, and the panel was then loaded onto the support track.

The next step was to attach the PowerClad belt to the lifting eye and winch the 8-metre high panel, using an integral 110V winch pulley system, to the connecting pin on the PowerClad beam. The eyelet was then located on the pin and the belt was disconnected. The scissor lift was then elevated to the desired fixing height, during which stage all of the panel's weight was carried by PowerClad. Finally, panel fixing was accomplished using PowerClad's panel placement system that allows adjustment with millimetre accuracy time after time. At no time in the installation process was there any manual lifting of the panel or the possibility of "dropping".

The PowerClad equipment was on site for between five and six weeks. However, W F Price also carried out the roofing of the superstore and, once again, turned to Nationwide for a powered access solution. It came in the form of 14-metre working height scissor lift, hired from Nationwide's nearby Glasgow depot.

Nationwide is part of the publicly quoted Lavendon Group Plc and is headquartered in Lutterworth, Leicestershire. The Group is European market leader in the powered access rental market, trading under the name Zooom in Germany, France, Spain and Austria. Full details on the Nationwide offering of booms, scissor lifts and truck mounted units can be found at www.nationwideaccess.com.