Blue Group appoints new finance chief
SUSAN Shardlow has been appointed chief financial officer at Blue Group. Susan has previously worked in a number of senior roles within the constructions sector for firms including Finning International, Hewden Stuart and Cogen. She will be responsible for all financial matters across the equipment supplier business...
Highland Hammer Hire named new Rototilt dealer
HIGHLAND Hammer Hire has been appointed the dealer for Rototilt in Scotland to serve the growing tiltrotator market. The firm, which is based outside Inverness, will be tasked with supplying and servicing the Swedish-manufactured Rototilt products throughout the country. Callum Mackintosh, owner of Highland Hammer Hire (HHH) said,...
New Hydrema sales chief targets Scottish growth
SANDY Fairweather has been appointed regional sales manager for Hydrema and aims to help drive major growth for the manufacturer in Scotland. Sandy, who was previously sales manager for Bell Equipment in Scotland, sees particularly strong opportunities to capitalise on the growing housebuilding sector by...
Action needed to address skills gap
THE president of the Scottish Plant Owners Association (SPOA) has called on the nation’s plant firms and contractors to show patience and help provide sufficient opportunities to allow the next generation of industry workers to break through and prevent a future skills crisis. Graham Bow...
Optimum bearing selection for mines and quarries
Mining and quarrying are among the toughest of industrial environments, with dust contamination posing a real threat to plant and machinery. David Oliver, channel and platform development manager, bearings and units at SKF, focuses on quarrying and describes how bearings can be protected to enhance...
Innovation is “part of JCB’s DNA”
Project Plant editor Gary Moug recently visited a JCB factory in Uttoxeter to see the manufacturer’s latest excavator developments. Afterwards, he spoke to Nick Grills, JCB’s General Manager, Excavator Global Business Growth, about the division’s major offerings INNOVATION is “part of JCB’s DNA”. That’s the...
As good as gold: Taylor & Braithwaite mark 50 years in business
TODAY, Cumbria-based Taylor & Braithwaite services the north of England and Scotland, with a Hyundai excavator dealership for the north of England and crushing and screening dealerships for Scotland. Founded in October 1967 by Harold Taylor and Trevor Braithwaite, both of whom had previously worked...
A powerful partnership
Kubota UK joined forces with engine and transmission specialist Mitchell Powersystems (MPS) in 2016 in a strategic partnership that established MPS as the official national distributor of Kubota’s Industrial diesel and dual fuel engines in Scotland. Six months later, based on the success in Scotland,...
Getting to know… Henry Brain
HENRY Brain’s career has seen him work for numerous attachment firms up and down the country, culminating in his current role as managing director and co-owner of Yarwoods Excavator Attachments. Henry recently told Project Plant’s Fraser Rummens about how he ended up going into business...
Five benefits of going green on-site
SITES in the construction sector are turning green in order to combat the challenges climate change presents to our society. Alongside the environmental concerns of global warming, there are many solid reasons for construction companies to do this. In particular, on-site accommodation represents a unique opportunity...
No fair-weather friend: JCB Finance vows long-term sector commitment
IT goes without saying that a firm’s ability to invest in plant equipment and associated products can play a crucial role in the creation and growth of a successful business. With the construction sector notorious for its unpredictability, choosing the right asset finance company to...
Tracked boom conquers space challenge in Glasgow
A Hinowa tracked boom provided the solution to a tight space challenge in Glasgow city centre recently. A property maintenance firm required access to the rear of a building in order to inspect and repair window lintels on the third and fourth storeys. However, to...
Kubota UK MD to become new Hitachi UK chief
DAVE Roberts is leaving his role as Kubota UK managing director to become the new CEO of Hitachi Construction Machinery (UK) from April this year. He will succeed John Jones, who is retiring after 28 years with the business. Dave Roberts held various senior roles...
Thousands of workers needed to satisfy industry demand
MORE than 10,000 new workers will be required in the Scottish construction sector over the next five years to meet demand, new research has revealed. Most sectors of the industry will experience growth during that period, according to a new forecast from the Construction Industry...
Ellon firm invests in 21 Liebherr cranes
ELLON-based crane specialist Whyte Crane Hire has ordered 21 new Liebherr cranes for its expanding fleet. The firm, which operates in the renewable energy, oil and gas and general construction sectors, has already taken delivery an LTM 1300-6.2 mobile crane and an LTC 1050-3.1 compact mobile...
Safety on the agenda as production starts on JCB dumpers
PRODUCTION is underway of JCB’s new range of site dumpers, including the Hi-Viz model that has been described as bringing new levels of safety to the market. JCB announced plans to build its own range of dumpers last year in a move that will create...
New models out in force for Intermat 2018
A number of leading manufacturers have been disclosing details of what they’ll be showcasing at this year’s Intermat exhibition in Paris. Case said its stand will consist “almost entirely” of models introduced within the past 12 months for a range of sectors including road building,...
CITB calls on employers to take on ex-Carillion apprentices
THE Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has called on construction employers to ‘rally round’ and take on apprentices of fallen construction giant Carillion. The CITB wants ex-Carillion apprentices to get in touch with them so the organisation can help them continue their training. With skills...
Eco-friendly product lights up landmark Aberdeen project
A new lighting tower is helping to brighten up the construction site of the new multi-million pound Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC). Taylor Construction Plant’s Ecolite TH200 LED Lighting Tower uses BOC’s HYMERA fuel cell as a sustainable power source. The product has been developed...
A-Plant recognised for apprenticeship commitment
A-Plant has cemented its status as one of the nation’s top apprenticeship employers. The hire giant, who currently have 166 apprentices, was named in the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employer list for the second consecutive year at the National Apprenticeship Awards 2017. A-Plant described its commitment to...
