AFTER RELYING ON EXTERNAL HELP TO MOVE ITS FLEET OF SPECIALIST PLANT EQUIPMENT AROUND IN THE PAST, SIRIUS PLANT HAS RECENTLY MADE A SERIOUS COMMITMENT IN ACQUIRING ITS OWN VOLVO FH16 AND 4-AXLE FAYMONVILLE MULTIMAX TRAILER. HEAVYTORQUE FINDS OUT WHY.
Founded more than 20 years ago by four partners with the aim of improving the contract service for developers and reducing the risks of abnormal ground conditions, the Sirius Group has grown rapidly. It is now active in a wide range of areas including demolition, drilling, ground stabilisation, remediation, civil engineering and plant,
each with its own division.
Sirius Plant looks after more than 70 machines that work across the group’s operations. In earthworks alone, the company is involved with everything from soil stabilisation to site preparation and levelling, and from retaining wall construction to off-site disposal and importation of soil.
THE START OF THE YEAR MARKED A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE UK HEAVY TRANSPORT SECTOR, WITH KINGS HEAVY HAULAGE CONFIRMING ITS ACQUISITION BY THE CAPELLE GROUP, ONE OF EUROPE’S LARGEST SPECIALIST TRANSPORT OPERATORS.
The first week or two of January is generally a slow period for most industries, as businesses shake off the Christmas break and return to routine. This year, however, one piece of news quickly circulated through the industry. What began as a rumour was soon confirmed by an official announcement: Kings Heavy Haulage Ltd had been sold to new owners. More significantly, the long-established and highly respected family-run business had become part of the French Capelle Group.
The news took many by surprise, with Kings long regarded as a business likely to continue under family ownership and into a new generation. However, every situation is different, and companies change hands for many reasons.
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TO CELEBRATE THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR OF VAUGHAN PLANT HAULAGE, OWNER AND FOUNDER JOHN VAUGHAN COMMISSIONED A TRUCK THAT CERTAINLY STANDS OUT FROM THE CROWD
Twenty years in business is an impressive achievement – 60% of all businesses fail within five years, after all. And for a transport business, what better way to mark such a milestone than with a new top-of-the-range truck?
That was certainly the thinking at Vaughan Plant Haulage, where a new Scania 770R tractor plated for 150 tonnes hit the road in March.
Owner and founder John Vaughan, has certainly gone all-out with it. “You won’t get a higher-spec truck,” he says. “We’ve had a big locker module on the back of it, exhaust stacks and plenty of bling, lights and catwalks.” The truck also stands out because, rather than Vaughan Plant’s usual distinctive blue and yellow livery, this one has reversed the tones – being predominantly yellow with blue. It also features some special signwriting to commemorate the 20th anniversary. “We spent far too much on it for a working truck,” laughs John. “But it is
IN THE DECADE SINCE OUR LAST VISIT TO CRANE HIRE SPECIALIST SOUTHERN CRANES & ACCESS, MUCH HAS CHANGED – FROM THE TRUCKS IT RUNS AND THE EQUIPMENT IT HIRES OUT TO THE TECHNOLOGY IT USES AND THE SHAPE OF ITS HEADQUARTERS. HEAVYTORQUE REPORTS.
It’s been 10 years since we last visited Southern Cranes & Access and there have been quite a few changes at the Southwater, West Sussex-based self-propelled crane hire specialist in that time. Not least, from the transport viewpoint, is the arrival of three mighty Volvo FH16 780hp/3,800Nm 17-litre 6-cylinder 6×4 tractor units. Fitted with the most powerful diesel engine available on a production truck in Europe, they are being used to haul the trailers that carry the heavy ballast that may be required to ensure a crane can operate at its maximum capacity. It’s certainly a task that requires plenty of power and torque.
All with I-Shift automated transmissions, single-bunk sleeper cabs and capable of operating at 150 tonnes, the newcomers have the shortest wheelbases possible to aid manoeuvrability on construction sites.
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PPC GROUP HAS EVOLVED FROM UNDERGROUND UTILITY CONTRACTOR SPECIALISING IN GAS AND WATER TO TRANSPORTING THIRD-PARTY HEATING, VENTILATION AND AIR-CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT, ROOF TRUSSES AND EVEN LANDMARK SCULPTURES. HEAVYTORQUE REPORTS.
Need a bulky air-conditioning unit hoisted several storeys into a city-centre office block, or a hot tub lifted over a house into the back garden? Then PPC Group can help. With a headquarters in the village of Winchfield, Hampshire, and three other storage yards across Berkshire and Surrey, the company operates a substantial fleet of rigids and tractor units equipped with lorry loaders, alongside units and trailers suited to heavy, indivisible loads.
PPC work throughout the UK and continental Europe, and also manages packing and shipping projects worldwide. “We’re very busy at present,” says MD James Ray. “Demand across our services remains strong.”
Q CRANE & PLANT HIRE HAS BEEN GROWING STRONGLY OF LATE AFTER ADDING THIRD-PARTY HEAVY TRANSPORT AND CONTRACT LIFTING SERVICES TO ITS LONGSTANDING CRANE HIRE OPERATION. HEAVYTORQUE FINDS OUT MORE.
The ability to adapt to evolving markets is the key to sustained success. And that is aptly demonstrated by Oldham-based Q Crane & Plant Hire, which has evolved markedly in recent years into markets related to its core crane hire sector. The firm provides a wide range of crane and lifting services, handling loads from 5-250 tonnes, and when we last visited it some six years ago, it included a plant machinery hire side, transporting excavators, dumpers and so on, as well as operating more than 30 cranes. But the plant machinery side is no more.
“We took a business decision a few years ago to move completely away from the plant hire side of the business,” confirms Rhys Mullins, plant and transport director. “Over more than 25 years, we’ve built a good reputation in the crane hire world, backed by an experienced team, well-maintained equipment, and a service that customers can depend on.
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MORE OF THOSE WITH HEAVY OR OVERSIZED CARGO TO TRANSPORT ARE LOOKING FOR A SINGLE COMPANY TO HANDLE ITS MOVEMENT FROM START TO FINISH VIA ROAD, SEA AND AIR. AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHERE SPECIALIST FREIGHT FORWARDER ALLSEAS GLOBAL LOGISTICS CAN HELP.
Moving heavy, outsized or unusual loads is never easy – especially if a load needs to be transported to continental Europe from the UK or vice versa. So many businesses seek to outsource such projects. And for many of them, whether it’s about moving a steam engine, a wind turbine or something in between, specialist freight forwarder Allseas Global Logistics can take it on. “Our company was started and built on projects, and this is still a core part of the business,” explains Andy Wormald, projects director at the forwarder. “But the company has expanded over the years to take on general cargo as well, and we now have general road, sea and air freight departments.
“Darren Wright is the founder and CEO of the company, and his passion at the start was project work. But a project can encompass containers, road freight, installation and more. We can bring different departments together to do one job. All those departments and the people within them work individually, but when we need to, we can bring it all together and use the skills of the full company.”
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