A nationwide fleet provider has opened a refurbishment centre for specialist commercial vehicles.
Go Plant Fleet Services launched the operation at a new depot in Derbyshire after seeing rising demand across the UK.
The service will include the modification, refurbishment and repair of refuse trucks, recycling vehicles and cage tippers for third party customers and is a first for the company, which will also use the premises as an operations and maintenance hub for its fast-growing spot hire division.
Phil Quelch, Fleet Engineering Director at Go Plant Fleet Services, said: “The opening of this refurbishment centre is an exciting development for us and compliments the rest of our fleet services business.
“It’s something we’ve wanted to do for some time and the acquisition of a centrally-located depot delivered the perfect opportunity.
“Assets such as refuse collection and recycling vehicles are a huge investment and operators are naturally keen to get as much out of them as they can.
“Professional refurbishment can significantly extend the life of a vehicle, but there are very few businesses providing that kind of service for the specialist sector.
“We’re a company with a vast depth of knowledge and experience in this sector so we have the expertise, the tools and equipment to offer a credible, cost-effective alternative to the manufacturers.”
Mr Quelch believes demand for the service will be strong and says the pilot project could soon be rolled out to more of the company’s 39 depots across the UK.
He added: “We’ve identified growing requirement for independent refurbishment centres and we’re confident it’s a service that will prove valuable.
“The increasing demands of waste and recycling collection mean refuse vehicles and cage tippers can suffer quite badly with structural damage or wear and tear.
“We know, for example, that the floor and hoppers on RCVs are vulnerable and that repairs are often needed to ejector walls and other wearing parts.
“We have the ability to carry out any improvement or modification work at the depot, including complete lift swaps, and could have the vehicles back on the road within 48 hours.
“As a company, we understand the value of top-quality service and the expertise of our technicians means we can provide a rapid response along with a first-time fix.”
The Matlock depot, together with 26 vehicles, was acquired in August from family-run firm Harprule Hire, which closed down its long-running business earlier this year.
The deal takes Go Plant Fleet Services’ total owned spot hire fleet of truck-mounted and compact sweepers, cage tippers and RCVs up to 260.
Matt Townsend, formerly of Harprule Hire, has joined the business as Operations Manager to support the new operation, which also includes workshop manager Gareth Tonks, two welder fabricators, vehicle technicians and administration staff.
Mark Gallimore, Commercial Director at Go Plant Fleet Services, said: “The opportunity to acquire this operational depot is an important step for the company.
“The site is ideally located for our first refurbishment centre, but will also act as a central hub for our owned spot hire division, which is a key focus for the business in the coming months.
“This is a move that will further expand our customer offering and ensure we continue to lead the way in the specialist commercial vehicle sector.
“It’s another significant step for us as we look to maintain a period of nationwide expansion and build on the outstanding progress we’ve made in the last 12 months.”
The move follows the acquisitions of Stockton-on-Tees-based G Sweeney Ltd, SM Sweepers (Northamptonshire), ID Sweepers (Norfolk) and Jordan’s Sweepers (Worcestershire) in the past year.
Mark added: “We’ve been through a fantastic period of growth in recent times and the expansion in Derbyshire, along with a series of acquisitions elsewhere in the country, will help us achieve our goal of offering a truly nationwide service to our customers.”
Go Plant Fleet Services, which has headquarters in Leicestershire, operates a 4,700-strong fleet of operated and self-drive vehicles alongside a comprehensive suite of fleet management services.
It delivers cost-effective, safe and compliant solutions alongside a comprehensive repair and maintenance programme.
