Plant and tool hire firm A-Plant is seeking to expand its operations into Scotland, it has emerged…
The plant and tool hire sector has been something of a mixed bag lately, with some firms enjoying success off the back of growing construction demand and others struggling to balance the books.
A-Plant reported in September it was one of the more fortunate firms and had experienced growth as a result of a buoyant US market. Since that time, the firm has actively purchased new equipment including 112 skyjack platforms and 500 compressors and generators.
Now, the firm looks set to continue to grow its operations in Scotland. A-Plant Lux traffic control and management will be incorporated into a shared location in Inverness with FLG Services and PSS Hire.
PSS Hire, which is described by A-Plant as the UK and Ireland’s leading utilities and pipeline equipment provider, has expanded into Scotland through a mixture of acquisitions and organic growth. The firm took over East Coast Construction Services (ECCS) and Hy-Ram Engineering (Scotland) and has expanded into a new 10,000 sq ft service centre in Bathgate, near Edinburgh.
FLG has also expanded into new locations in both Glasgow and Edinburgh.
PSS Hire director Mark Hamilton said: “Scotland was identified as a key area for expansion, as we have secured a number of contracts and our increased network coverage allows us to service these contracts effectively.
“For instance, we’ve recently secured a five year framework agreement with Scottish Water which runs until 2020.
“To service this contract and several others, we’ve invested £3.5m in new equipment from several leading suppliers, including electro-fusion equipment, coiled pipe trailers, pipe-bursting equipment, butt fusion products and underground winch systems.
“We can now offer our customers the full product range for the gas, water, electric and civil engineering sectors.”
Jeff Hudson, services director at FLG said the operation was “undergoing rapid expansion in Scotland to increase our national coverage”.