JCB Team Helps Engineer WW1 Tank Centenary Tribute
Excavator giant JCB helped TV personality Guy Martin engineered a tribute to the role tanks played in helping change the course of the First World War.
The story of the tank’s role and its modern-day recreation was told in a Channel Four documentary ‘Guy Martin’s WW1 One Tank’ on Sunday, November 19.
The truck mechanic and TV presenter came up with the idea of producing a replica of a 30-tonne Mark IV tank to mark the centenary of a battle in which they were first deployed.
And he turned to JCB’s engineers and welders to help turn his dream into reality in time for the special anniversary.
They rose to the challenge in double-quick time with the profile parts cut, rolled and bent into shape at JCB Heavy Products in Uttoxeter before being welded together at JCB’s World HQ in Rocester.
The huge team effort ensured the tank was operational and on display in Cambrai, Northern France on Armistice Day on Saturday, November 11th.
It was at this location – exactly 100 years ago – where the original Mark IV tank helped the Allies on the Western Front to make an unprecedented breakthrough at the Battle of Cambrai.
Guy said: “When I first looked at this challenge, I thought ‘This is a big ask. We’re not going to see this happen.’ It is a massive undertaking and JCB was the main reason this was able to happen. They built the main part of the tank, and then the lads at the Norfolk Tank Museum put all the engine together. But JCB’s technology and knowhow was so important.”
B&M Waste Services First To Migrate AMCS System
Wirral-based B&M Waste Services has completed the implementation of an Enterprise Management Platform and Mobile solution from AMCS.
Carbon-neutral B&M Waste is one of the first to migrate their legacy system to the Enterprise Management solution on the AMCS Platform, and will use it to manage a number of tasks including the improved planning of collection rounds for over 30 trade waste & recycling vehicles. In doing so, it has already reduced mileage and fuel consumption.
The system is also able to take into account a range of other factors such as disposal locations and customer sites with restricted access or limited collection times, helping to reduce the potential for missed collections.
“We look forward to building on what is already a very strong relationship with B&M Waste Services and working with them to realise the commercial and environmental benefits of increased digitalisation.”
Drivers of the company’s collection and delivery vehicles have also been issued with mobile devices, which enable real-time communication and assist in a proactive customer service approach and the speedy resolution of any issues or queries that arise.
Commenting on the implementation B&M Waste Services, Grahame Henderson, finance director, said: “The new system has enabled us to continue to improve upon the excellent level of service that we strive to give our customers, whilst also helping us to operate more efficiently both commercially and environmentally.
“We have been an AMCS customer for a number of years and the support we have received from the AMCS technical and project management teams has been invaluable over this time. It has given us the confidence we need to make an investment of this magnitude, which we believe will play an important role in underpinning our continued growth.”
Elaine Treacy, head of sales at AMCS also commented, saying: “The AMCS platform is inspired by global market trends and is designed to automate, standardise and optimise all business processes from waste collection to processing and materials trading.
“We look forward to building on what is already a very strong relationship with B&M Waste Services and working with them to realise the commercial and environmental benefits of increased digitalisation.”
Mick George Boxing Match Raises Funds For Charity
In excess of 300 people turned out in force at Vic’s Gym, Peterborough, for a special Charity Boxing night, delivered by local business Mick George Ltd.
The occasion saw employees from various divisions within the company go head-to-head in seven separate encounters, while colleagues, family, friends and associates, vocally expressed their support.
For the past 10 weeks, the fighters have been put through their paces in preparation for the evening, by Gym owner Vic Imbriano and fellow mentor and ex-professional boxer, Tommy Martin.
Their efforts were gamely rewarded as each of the contests certainly surpassed expectation. Although the matches were all approached in the charitable nature intended, the competitive edge definitely kicked-in once the ring-bell was sounded to signal the commencement of each tie.
Five of the Seven fights went the full distance, with only two stopped prematurely – although for good reason.
The main boxing action was reinforced with other fundraising activities, which altogether generated thousands-of-pounds that will be distributed to the businesses charity partners.
Jon Stump, finance director at Mick George Ltd. commented: ‘’Historically we’ve hosted some fantastic charity events, but this was the first of this kind. Having said that, just like those previously, it was another enjoyable and successful occasion.’’
Stump Continued: ‘’Those involved in the evening, fighters, spectators, organisers and trainers each deserve a lot of credit. We’re very grateful to Vic and his team for their time and use of the facilities.’’
Northampton Partnership Homes Makes Savings On New Fleet
Northampton Partnership Homes (NPH) has recently updated its fleet, making savings in the process.
NPH is an arms-length management organisation (ALMO) that manages Northampton Borough Council’s housing services, including repairs and maintenance, tenancy support, allocations and lettings.
Following a tender procurement exercise for the replacement of its current fleet, NPH awarded the five-year contract to Northampton-based contract hire and fleet management company, Specialist Fleet Services (SFS). SFS was already the incumbent supplier having just completed a 4-year contract for NPH.
As part of the tender specification NPH required bidding parties to include the utilisation of existing vehicle racking systems, from System Edström, within the new fleet.
Lee Burdett, property maintenance manager, Northampton Partnership Homes, said: “We invested in really good quality vehicle racking as part of our previous vehicle procurement and it has really paid off. The equipment is still in excellent condition and has been successfully retrofitted into the new vehicles, saving us a considerable amount of money.”
Lee continued: “We are pleased to be working with SFS again. They’re a local company who provide a good service. We also have the added benefits of a dedicated contract manager,,as well as access to their Fleetwave management software system to allow for automated scheduling servicing and inspections of our fleet.
NPH has purchased 52 new vehicles, mostly new model Citroen Despatch vans and Fuso Canter caged tippers, to service over 11800 properties, which it manages on behalf of Northampton Borough Council.
URM Improves Performance With ERP System
URM (UK) Ltd has reported an improvement in business performance following the implementation of an ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system.
Steve Dixon, project and systems manager, URM (UK) Ltd, said: “In a matter of weeks we noticed the benefits. We now have a far more detailed understanding of what drives our business performance. Everything we do is now linked and transparent.
“We have become an almost entirely paperless operation, so the margin for error is much smaller.”
The PurGo ERP software system from VWS Software Solutions has been designed for waste management & recycling operators and materials processing facilities, to streamline processes, and standardise procedures, monitoring and reporting across all departments. The software and interface are highly automated, intuitive and friendly, and integrate seamlessly with other business systems and software packages.
“Two things stood out with PurGo,” Steve said. “Firstly flexibility. VWS was happy to develop the system with us and for us, to meet our exact business needs. We were looking for a partner and that’s exactly what they offered. Secondly the reporting structure is great. There are over 40 standardised reporting structures, which enables us to have complete transparency across the business. Now there is only one truth not 5 or 6 versions of it.”
URM has introduced PurGo into the business in stages, department by department beginning with Transport & Logistics. Drivers now use PDA’s to log on, do vehicle checks and send data back from weigh bridges, as well as record weight and location data. The URM workshop uses the software to facilitate the management of vehicles, repairs, servicing and inspection schedules.
The production module is being phased into the business and involves the complex integration of 4 glass processing sites. Once fully implemented this will allow for the control and measurement of material flow from feedstock through sorting equipment to end-products and waste. It will also monitor the speed, efficiency, profitability and performance of processing down to shift and operator level.
Welcome New Business Partners
CIWM would like welcome its new Business Partners:
- Craemer UK Ltd
- Marubeni
- Komatsu
- CD Enviro
- Metso Denmark A/S
For more information on how to become a Business Partner, visit www.ciwm.co.uk/businesspartners
