An even more extensive range of powered access equipment is now available in Guernsey, following the signing of a deal between the island's leading event equipment and plant hire company, Event Services & Plant Limited, and Nationwide Access, the UK's market leading powered access rental company.
The deal means that, in addition to being Guernsey's premier supplier of cranes, cabins, marquees and a host of ancillary equipment, Event Services and Plant is now able to supply a wide choice the finest powered access equipment available anywhere in Europe. This includes a broad selection of scissor lifts, self-propelled boom lifts and, for special applications, Nationwide's Skylift truck mounted access platforms.
This latest development for the Vale-based company coincides with Event Services & Plant's move to new, purpose-built premises. These comprise 550 square metres of warehousing, offices, stores and workshops, plus a hard standing of around 140 square metres.
The Nationwide range on offer from Event Services and Plant means that there is now an efficient and safe access solution for just about every application where people are working at height. Powered access, says Event Services & Plant's plant specialist, Steve Le Tissier, undeniably provides faster access and is far more versatile than either traditional scaffolding or towers, and far safer than relying on ladders or trestles. Certainly his advice to builders on the island is to check out the powered access option as, time and again, it can save time and money.
THE CONTRACTORS' CHOICE
Steve cites numerous examples where Nationwide's powered access has proved its worth. For example, the repainting of a residential apartment block on the outskirts of Leamington Spa in Warwickshire cost the contractor a third of what would have been needed had the original plan to use scaffolding been adopted.
Another contractor saved a scaffolding bill that would have run to £20,000 when repainting the exterior of a girl's school in Birmingham. The decision to use one of Nationwide's mobile elevated work platforms for the job enabled the redecoration to be completed in just three days, rather than the two weeks it would have taken had the company utilised scaffolding.
And the building-related applications are not limited to painting and decorating.
The electrical contractor working on the new Homebase store in Market Harborough, Leicestershire believes the completion deadline would never have been met without the aid of Nationwide's powered access. Nationwide equipment is also being used extensively by the contractors undertaking the curtain walling, cladding and glazing, and the steel and glass structure specialists completing the Debenhams' and Selfridges' store fronts at the redevelopment of Birmingham's Bull Ring.
POWERED ACCESS OPTIONS
But what are the main differences between the three powered access options? When is one machine better suited than another to a particular job? While seeking expert advice from Event Services and Plant is obviously worthwhile, having a broad understanding of the attributes of each type of machine is equally worthwhile.
The powered access fleet being held by Event Services & Plant is made up of Nationwide machines - scissor lifts and self-propelled booms - that have been carefully selected to match the island's needs. However, close co-operation between Event Services & Plant and Nationwide's Southampton depot ensures swift sourcing of any machine not held in the Guernsey fleet. So, what is on offer? Let us first look briefly at Nationwide's self-propelled booms.
Much of their popularity has to be attributed to their versatility. For, in addition to providing the essential vertical lift, they also offer an outreach capability, which enables the boom's work platform to reach over obstacles, gaining access to areas that would be inaccessible to equipment where the operation is limited to vertical elevation. The height options are considerable, from just 6.1 metres to an impressive 40.1 metres.
The Nationwide offering includes both telescopic and articulated models, with diesel, electric - for indoor use where emissions are unacceptable - and bi-powered options being available. Units range from compact, slim-fit machines with a width of just 0.81 metres, which are in their element where access or working space is restricted, up to industry-leading working height and outreach combinations.
However, if the access need is limited to vertical elevation, scissor lifts are likely to be the appropriate choice. Nationwide machines provide safe and reliable vertical access platforms for working heights between 6.4 metres and 28.3 metres, with safe working load capacities of up to 1,000kg. Again, the three power options, diesel, electric and bi-powered, are available.
Finally, Skylift truck-mounts. As the name implies, these are mounted on the back of trucks, some of which are all-terrain, four-wheel-drive vehicles. They are able to move on and off site quickly and efficiently and be fully operational within minutes of arrival on site. Most Skylift booms are able to rotate a full 360 degrees and are manipulated via controls located on the work platform. As with self-propelled booms, the outreach capabilities mean that movement is not restricted to vertical elevation. Skylift machines range from 14-metre working height units, all the way up to a colossal 72 metres.
THE NEXT STEP
It will be worth taking a few minutes to look at Event Services & Plant's website and the award-winning Nationwide site. Event Services & Plant's site is at www.eventsci.com; you may well be surprised at just how much the company has to offer and the depth of its expertise. The Nationwide site is at www.nationwideaccess.com and contains a veritable catalogue of all of the 6,000 or so powered access machines in the company's fleet.
Alternatively, for advice on the most appropriate powered access machine for your next project, call Steve Le Tissier at Event Services & Plant at 01481 243334. Steve holds the IPAF [International Powered Access Federation] instructor's qualification and is currently working closely with the Health and Safety Executive to produce a definitive guide and procedures manual for users of powered access equipment on the island.
