Case studies

The Solution

Speedy has supplied eight heavy duty compressors, each delivering 825 cubic feet of air per minute. To support the maintenance teams, Speedy is carrying out weekly usage checks on the equipment, to minimise delays resulting from breakdowns and ensure confidence in the reliability of the compressors.

Speedy has also made sure that a qualified technician is available around the clock to provide support over the phone.

Ken Brown, project manager at Balfour Beatty Regional Civil Engineering, said: "To deliver the job on schedule, we are operating at full capacity, and this means that it only takes one link in the chain to fail to cause knock-on delays.

"By understanding the needs of the contract and working closely with our delivery team, Speedy has assisted us to keep the programme on schedule.

"It has also proved invaluable to be able to have a knowledgeable contact on the phone at any time of the day or night, especially when two of the compressors are half way out to sea on the bridge."

The Solution

Speedy has provided an on-site facility, enabling the project team to tap into the Group's entire assets and resources. Staffed by a permanent and highly trained team, it stocks a wide range of popular tools and accessories, as well as providing repair, maintenance and inspection services.

The on-site team also provides training support for operatives, running its award-winning toolbox talks on a range of health and safety issues.

This is a flexible solution that will expand and evolve as the project progresses.

The Solution

Speedy was the sole supplier of plant and equipment for the operation. The equipment provided included forklift trucks, compressors, generators, tools, manual handling aids, a swipe card clocking system, temporary lighting & electrics, pressure testing equipment and hydraulic tooling.

A dedicated team of six Speedy employees were on site throughout the project, working alongside AMEC's senior shutdown co-ordinator.

Safety equipment including gas detection were also provided to minimise any risk to contractors.

To help the operation run smoothly, Speedy also supplied a radio system that allowed communication for 550 of the engineers on site. The volume of communication traffic and the area of coverage meant that four repeater antennae were needed.

The Solution

It was decided to select key suppliers in a range of areas and appoint an additional top tier organisation acting as the management company for the other suppliers.

The key challenges faced by this overarching supplier were; a logistical issue in controlling the other suppliers, a need to understand the plant hire requirements on the site, a sound technical competency, plus a robust administrative system delivering the required management and accounting information. Speedy was identified to deliver against the above challenges. This is done with an on-site depot with a dedicated team.

Ian Miles, procurement executive, BVT Surface Fleet, said "Speedy and ourselves put in place sound on and off hire processes, which has helped in dramatically reducing the renegade hire problem, and the reporting and analysis procedures have massively increased our understanding of the type and frequency of plant hired on the site.

"This achievement hasn't happened overnight - it has been a 2 year process of planning, implementing the new disciplines and consistent service delivery from Speedy. We have achieved substantial cost savings, in the region of 50%, equating close to £1m."

This on-site arrangement is one of a number currently operating within major projects across the UK.

The Solution

A heavy-duty surface was needed over the grass that would take the weight of the crane without causing any lasting damage.

Duradeck Ground Protection Mats from Speedy are capable of supporting vehicles weighing up to 72 tonnes and was used to create a temporary surface across 50 metres of grass next to the bridge.

A separate 20 metre stretch was created to divert traffic over the grass, allowing it to keep flowing during the job. The mats proved their environmental benefit, preventing any damage occurring to the soft ground and leaving the turf completely undamaged.

While the mats can be joined together to form a more long-term surface, they are also effective simply laid side-by-side, allowing large areas to be quickly protected.

Another advantage is that, weighing just 39 kilos each, the resilient high-density polyethylene (HDPE) panels can be moved by hand with no need for any further lifting equipment.

Paul Fleming, foreman at Carillion said: "Using the Mats saved us a tremendous amount of time and effort. Without them, we could never have finished the whole job in just one weekend, as preparing the site before starting work and reinstating the field at the end would have been a long-winded process."

"After the protection had been down for five days the only sign it had been there was slight discoloration of the grass - and just two weeks later, this had completely disappeared.

"Not only did the Ground Protection Mats allow us to reduce costs by working more efficiently, they also minimised inconvenience to residents of the area."

Andy Conner, supply chain manager at Speedy Hire said: "The key benefit of Ground Protection Mats to contractors is the reduction it offers in job times as well as set-up and clean-up costs.

"An added environmental benefit is that the long-lasting HDPE panels are manufactured using more than 90 per cent recycled materials."

The Solution

To assist the emergency services and the recovery team, Speedy's Hatton Cross depot provided six nine-metre tall hydraulic lighting towers within two hours of being contacted.

Mick McCorriston, manager of the depot, said: "The towers were out on the runway and ready for use in less than two hours.

"Mobile lighting towers are essential in this situation, as they're simple to put up and take down and are easily towed from location to location. This allowed them to follow the plane as it was painstakingly moved from the runway to a hangar.

Tom Quigley, maintenance supervisor at Dyer & Butler said: "We work regularly with Speedy, as we have several large pieces of equipment essential to our on-going maintenance work at the airport on long-term hire. We always receive a highly professional and reliable service, and their performance on the day of the crash was no different."

Speedy operates a 24-hour disaster care service including an emergency hotline and a delivery service.

The Solution

Speedy mobilised its national network of pumping equipment to support Gloucestershire Fire Service.

Speedy's pumps division turned around a fleet of 12 large diesel powered pumps and over 1.5km of hoses in a 12 hour period to the Service remove the three feet deep water that surrounded Severn Trent's treatment works.

Speedy also put a temporary hire desk on-site to ensure immediate supply of any further equipment needed.

Neil Evans, from Speedy, said: "Once we delivered our first batch of large diesel pumps to Severn Trent, word spread and we had calls requesting a variety of products to assist with the clear up. We also implemented a 24 hour on-site refuelling system in order to keep our generating equipment working constantly.

"Once we realised the scale of the project we mobilised all the equipment we had at our disposal in the surrounding area and the managing director of our Speedy Western business travelled through the night to pick up extra pumps from Kent and delivered them to the site within 12 hours."

A spokesperson from Severn Trent, added: "Severn Trent Water would like to thank Speedy for all of their help during the Mythe flooding incident, along with the Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service it was a great collaborated effort. All the equipment arrived before each deadline and was fully functional. Speedy took it upon themselves to erect an on-site hire desk and supply the refueling system, which was ideal considering the amount of equipment we required."

Following this emergency, Speedy was inundated with calls and supplied pumps to local authorities for all the flood affected areas across the UK, including Yorkshire, the Midlands and Gloucestershire.

The Solution

On this project, scaffolding and boards could have been used to create a birdcage scaffold, but due to the large area and multiple room sizes, the boards would have had to be cut to size, adding significant time and cost to the job. Airbags were rejected as they are not intended to provide a safe platform from which to work.

Speedy therefore recommended the Reynolds System Safety Decking -a unique, purpose-designed working platform that creates a safe environment when working at height.

The product allows the user to create a bridge to fill any gaps that are smaller than the decking, making it ideal for a project with different room sizes.

Speedy also trained three of the Interserve site workers on how to use the equipment with a HAE accredited course.

Phil Emery at Speedy said: "We recommend the product because it is so easy to assemble, it's adaptable to fit any room profile and it meets the requirements of the latest working at height regulations."

Keith Hawkes, site manager at Interserve said: "Although the product was slightly more expensive than other options considered, the value offered through increased productivity and efficiency more than compensated.

"Storage and handling was not an issue as the product is light enough to be carried and because of its size and design it can be very easily stacked."

While the product was initially selected to help position the timber trusses for the roof, Safety Decking remained in place until the end of the first fix.

The bricklayers used the working platform to install wall plates and, instead of waiting for scaffolding to be removed and erecting aluminum towers, Interserve's engineering division used the platform to lay cable trays and complete all plumbing and heating.

The Solution

Ahead of the festival, Speedy deployed a specialist communications team to view the site and specify a system that would deliver the level and extent of coverage that the complex event demanded.

The team established that a radio system could provide the required service, but that a powerful base repeater station with a large antenna would be needed.

A total of 120 Motorola GP 340 series licensed radio handsets were then supplied to the organisers and distributed among the festival staff.

John Thompson, technical director of Manchester International Festival said: "Speedy delivered a system that provided comprehensive and reliable radio coverage in a challenging situation.

"Thanks to this communication solution, Speedy played a vital role in delivering another fantastic festival for the people of Manchester."

Speedy also provided generators, fencing and crowd control barriers as well as temporary accommodation for on-site offices to support the festival.

The Solution

Working with architects RMJM, Speedy designed and implemented Scotland's largest portable building, totalling more than 4200m² and comprising 135 units and a total of 102 rooms.

The modular building is big enough to house all of the facilities needed for the college to function, including classrooms, labs, music rooms, staff rooms, dining facilities and toilets.

The building is fully equipped with plumbing and is attached to the mains water supply. It is also connected to mains electricity, which provides power for the pre-installed heating and lighting systems.

Ian Gilbride, senior site manager at Miller Construction said: "The solution provided by Speedy has been an invaluable facilitator in allowing us to carry out this ambitious project. Speedy, has minimised the upheaval, and is playing an essential part in a smooth transition between the old and new campuses."

The Solution

As part of its partnership with Europe's largest CCTV monitoring system Camwatch, Speedy supplied three JCB Mobile CCTV Towers - two were situated on the ground and one was winched to a section of flat roof.

The portable system provides 24/7 security, without the need for the site to be manned. The camera is attached to an 18ft tower hosting an uninterruptible power supply and continuous digital video recorder. The tower then links to Camwatch's 24/7 central control centre.

When sensors on the tower detect movement in the area, staff are alerted at the control centre and can then make a direct audio challenge using an in-built PA system.

For additional security, the Tower is accredited to BS8418 - the British standard required by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) to respond immediately to a security breach.

Within days of the system being installed, the cameras detected intruders who immediately fled upon hearing an announcement that they were being monitored.

"Maintaining robust security is an absolute priority on all our sites," says Tom Warnes, Morgan Ashurst site manager. "We are always looking at new ways to boost security and ensure our sites our safe."

Paul Mills, at Speedy said: "Our partnership with Camwatch means Speedy is the only hire company in the UK to offer this system - which is ideal for use on construction sites, rail projects or at road-works.

The Solution

To provide the capacity of accommodation required, Speedy supplied 20 cabins each measuring 10ft by 23ft.

So that the cabins could be placed within six metres of the existing building, Speedy supplied cabins from its special fire rated accommodation range.

The cabins were stacked two units high to allow the required floor space within the limited footprint available. Three sets of stairs were provided to allow access to the upper floor space, with linking corridors running through the temporary building to allow access to each room.

The accommodation was fully serviced with lighting, heating and water, IT and telecommunications.

John Pass, senior site manager at Morgan Ashurst said: "The fire rated units from Speedy have allowed us to safely install the capacity we need and this has brought major logistical benefits to the project."