SME18 – Education & Networking In The Sun
On Thursday 20 June, the leading names in the waste and recycling industry came together in the Garden of England for the fifth Southern Municipal Exhibition. Featuring over 30 exhibitors, including a large external demonstration area highlighting new vehicle innovations, the day proved to be popular amongst delegates and exhibitors alike.
The seminar programme, chaired by Deputy CEO of CIWM Chris Murphy, discussed a range of topics including smart waste management, evolution of waste services, fleet management as a career and road risk reduction, sparked debate amongst the audience and allowed for some lively discussions both in the seminars and later over coffee.
The day allowed ample opportunity for delegates and exhibitors to catch up, discuss upcoming projects and demonstrate the latest innovations in their field. The event had a very relaxed and informal feel to it, which was reflected in the hot lunch provided on the field.
Anecdotal feedback from exhibitors and delegates has been very positive; with delegates commenting that it was a “great event”; “keep up the good work and hope it continues to be a great success” and “well worth attending in a great venue”.
Speaking on the day after the show, joint host, Kevin Murton stated “The show continues to go from strength to strength. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all exhibitors and speakers for supporting us year on year and I look forward to meeting you all again next year”. Murton continued “This is a great event for all municipal colleagues to attend and I would urge you to put the 2019 date in your diary now”.
Plans for next year are well underway with SME19 taking place on Thursday 16 May 2019, the event will then run bi-annually.
JCB Announces £50m Investment In New British Plant
JCB has announced an investment of more than £50m in a new British plant which will create hundreds of jobs and double production of cabs used on its machines.
Work is under way on a 350,000 sq ft facility for JCB Cab Systems adjacent to the A50 in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, next to two existing JCB plants. The hi-tech factory will have the capacity to produce around 100,000 cabs a year. It will include a computer controlled production line, fully-automated painting facility and robotic welding and will create more than 200 new jobs by 2022.
JCB CEO Graeme Macdonald said: “This new factory will be the most advanced and productive cab facility in the world and will bring even greater levels of efficiency to the business. The investment is one of the biggest in the company’s history and underlines our commitment to manufacturing in Britain and in our home county of Staffordshire.”
Burton and Uttoxeter MP Andrew Griffiths is Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. He said: “This is fantastic news for Uttoxeter, for Staffordshire and also the wider Midlands’ economy. This investment represents a massive boost for the area and underlines what a great place Staffordshire is to do business. It’s wonderful to see JCB continuing to invest in the county and in British manufacturing – something that can only attract even more inward investment.”
JCB Cab Systems currently employs more than 400 people at its existing site in Rugeley, Staffs. The new plant is scheduled to open in the summer of 2019. JCB Cab Systems’ General Manager David Carver said: “While new jobs will be created, moving to the new factory will enable us to double capacity without doubling the workforce thanks to high levels of automation. The whole plant is being designed to improve productivity, reduce waste and provide unprecedented quality levels.”
RVS Opens Workshops In Devon & London
Refuse Vehicle Solutions Ltd (RVS) is expanding its workshop base with the addition of two new depots located at Devon Contract Waste (DCW) in Exeter and at the Heathrow depot of Simply Waste Solutions (SWS).
Both DCW and SWS have Repair & Maintenance contracts for their fleets with RVS, and the new on-site facilities mean less downtime and quicker repairs to vehicles.
James Capel, CEO and Founder, Simply Waste Solutions said: “RVS have been doing our repairs and maintenance since 2016. We pay them a fixed monthly fee and they deal with everything related to the vehicle bodies, as well as the chassis not covered by an OEM warranty. We used to call them out and they always responded quickly. However, this new on-site solution is even better. We have visibility on our costs for the future and an increase in vehicle uptime.”
RVS has employed a full-time engineer and an apprentice to man the on-site workshop at SWS.
James continued: “RVS offers a very unique service; I haven’t come across any other companies who provide this kind of R&M on bodies and chassis; and certainly nobody who creates on-site, manned workshop facilities for their customers. The great thing is that we don’t have to worry about having spare capacity anymore as RVS can provide us with a vehicle if we need one. They are helping us to be more efficient, so we can be more competitive, and provide a better service at a better price.”
Simon Almond, Managing Director, Devon Contract Waste said: “As we expand its ever more important to make sure our fleet is always available for efficient service. To ensure this is possible we have contracted all our vehicle body maintenance and chassis repairs to RVS on a fixed-cost contract. We now have our own dedicated on-site engineer, which works really well because he is able to deal with potential faults or minor damage quickly before they cause a breakdown.
“Our relationship with RVS has grown as both companies have expanded. We have a close working partnership and that has made our job looking after our clients much simpler.”
Egbert Taylor Middle East Invests In New Dubai Premises
Egbert Taylor Holdings has reason to celebrate after not only reporting its most successful year of export since the Droitwich firm launched its overseas programme in 2011, but also unveiling its own 6,000 sq ft warehouse in Dubai under its Egbert Taylor Middle East division.
The move follows a 24-month period that saw Egbert Taylor significantly increase its presence across the Middle East and play a considerable role in increasing recycling rates throughout areas where its containers are now located.
The warehouse, which is large enough to hold over 2,000 Taylor Continental 1100L containers at any given time, will be welcomed by Middle East customers who, until now, have had to factor in transit time of up to six weeks when placing orders.
Brendan Murphy, CEO at Egbert Taylor Holdings, comments: “Nothing signals a UK-based company’s commitment to an overseas market more than actually setting up a regional presence, which is what Egbert Taylor did earlier this year when it opened an office. Our investment in a new premises, including a 6,000 sq ft warehouse, is the next step and one that will cement our position as a key supplier within the Middle East’s waste sector.”
Egbert Taylor Holdings currently exports to around 40 countries worldwide, however the opening of a Middle East warehouse is a significant milestone for the firm and one that reflects growing overseas demand for the Taylor brand and robust and durable containers made from steel.
Brendan concludes: “Looking ahead, our continued investment in the Middle East, which is aligned with a number of governmental initiatives, is supporting the ambitious recycling rates that the region has signed up to. The use of the Taylor Continental 1100L promotes the objective of segregating waste and I look forward to Taylor playing its part in achieving these ambitious goals.”
