Access

Aerial access platform manufacturer Snorkel has begun full production of five lithium-ion battery powered compact rough terrain scissor lift models. Now in production in Snorkel’s assembly facilities in the UK and New Zealand, the five new RTE electric rough terrain scissor lifts expand Snorkel’s lithium-powered range to eight models. They join the electric SL26RTE and SL30RTE Speed Level rough terrain mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) launched in 2019, and the SR5719E/SR626E compact rough terrain telehandler launched in 2020. The range includes lithium-ion battery versions of two narrow width units, the S2255RTE and S2755RTE, as well as three standard width units, the S2770RTE, S3370RTE and S3970RTE. The new scissor lifts are equipped have lithium-ion battery packs w...

Plant and tool hire broker Nationwide Hire has changed its name to WowNow Hire. The private equity owned firm needed a new name to distinguish it in from other ‘Nationwides’ out there, including Nationwide Platforms. This Nationwide, now called WowNow, is a £16m business founded by Howard Piper in Hampshire in 1995. It has no inventory, shops or depots but boasts access to five million products from 9,000 locations by acting as an intermediary. In October 2019 Wol Kolade’s private equity vehicle, Livingbridge, invested £15m in the business to take control. Chief executive Jonathan Holley said: “Changing our name makes perfect sense. We still cover the entire United Kingdom and the new name amplifies what we are all about, our WowNow DNA.” He said that the ‘Wow’ reflected...

Powered access hire company Star Platforms has opened a depot in Somerset. Star Platforms’ new depot in Bridgwater, Somerset, becomes the sixth in its network, along with depots in Luton, Sevenoaks, Coalville, Reading and Thetford. Andy Pearson, once the managing director of AMP Access before setting up Prolift Access, is Star Platform’s new regional director for the southwest. He sold his Taunton-based Prolift Access business to Speedy in 2017 for £5.9m cash. Andy Pearson said of his new role: “I am delighted to be joining the team at Star Platforms, at this exciting time and look forward to being a part of the company’s expansion. I have worked closely with [joint managing directors] Richard Miller and Steve Simmons for a number of years within the industry and look forward to s...

UK aerial lift rental company Upward Powered Access is opening a fourth location in Billericay, Essex this week to cover the region on the east of London and beyond. The new location will start as a satellite operation with machine storage and service ready for faster local deliveries. In the words of Tim Ward of Upward “Upwards goes ‘Towie’ (The only way is Essex), with our latest ‘peng’ depot in Billericay opening its doors this week to offer our range of powered access platforms to East London and beyond. Truly ‘ream’.” Don’t ask us for a translation! He also added a caption to the photo of him and Paul Johnson below: “Paul Johnson may look exasperated in this picture as it looks like Upward have their very own Joey Essex..”

The International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) says that moving away from plastic cards for trained operators to a smart phone application is a ‘game-changer’ for site safety. IPAF’s ePAL is set to be launched in April 2021 – a digital IPAF PAL Card, operator log book and operator safety guides. It will also allow operators to receive the latest IPAF safety information and best practice guidance, and will ultimately allow construction managers to verify an operative’s qualifications, as well as for the operator to log and share their equipment time. It will be available for Apple iOS and Android devices and will be updated with additional features as usage demands and developing technology allows. IPAF’s PAL card (standing for powered access licence) is not actually a l...

Powered access hire company Horizon Platforms is now under the ownership of its employees. Ben Hirst and Rory Duggan, who set up Horizon Platforms in Normanton, West Yorkshire in 2008, have sold their business to an employee ownership trust (EOT) for an undisclosed sum. Selling to an EOT, owned by all 72 employees equally, means that they do not have to pay capital gains tax. Ben Hirst and Rory Duggan, both in the forties, will continue to manage the business as chief executive and strategic account director respectively. Ben Hirst said: “This is the proudest moment of my career. Transferring ownership into the hands of our employees offers this organisation the opportunity to live on, and truly become what I have always strived to achieve, a business built for our grandchildre...