Plant machinery maintenance specialist
The renowned aggregate supplier, which operates over 70 quarries across the UK, will be employing the skilled expertise of UPS’s nationwide network of engineers, in a move that will keep its extensive, multi-site portfolio of plant equipment, up and running.
Aggregate Industries excavates and produces a diverse range of sustainable solutions and traditional materials. The company’s operations are dependent on the results-driven performance of more than 600 plant vehicles and machines, all of which demand reliable maintenance and repair services to effectively minimise downtime.
To improve efficiencies, Aggregate Industries has awarded the new service and maintenance contract to United Plant Services; a carefully considered decision that will work to keep machines throughout the company’s extensive fleet performing at optimum levels.
In total, UPS has been assigned servicing responsibility for 50%, based on region, of Aggregate Industries’ plant assets; involving machines located across Northern Scotland, Northern Ireland and the South East of England.
Renowned for its ability to provide clients with a nationwide network of consistent, high-quality, multi-brand engineering support, UPS’s team of engineers will now offer fast, effective services - regardless of machine manufacturer or location - to Aggregate Industries; both through a mobile network of appointed operatives, and via two, onsite workshop facilities.
The quarry-based workshops are located at Aggregate Industries’ sites in Cookstown, Northern Ireland, and on the Isle of Grain in Kent. By being based at these specialist facilities, teams of qualified engineers will be able to maximise the maintenance and specialist services available to Aggregate Industries, while providing concentrated breakdown response.
The development of the new contract, together with the introduction of the specialist workshops, will involve TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings – Protection of Employment), to ensure employment continuity for existing members of Aggregate Industries’ staff. The contract will also signify the introduction of UPS and its services to the Northern Irish market for the first time.
“We’re thrilled to have been selected as the appropriate service partner for this extensive contract,” Mark Cooper, managing director explains. “There are not many plant machinery maintenance specialists that carry the staff, skillset and logistical expertise to successfully undertake a contract with such far-reaching parameters, while simultaneously supplying services from onsite facilities.
“We’re positive that this exciting new appointment will give us a transparent platform to demonstrate our capabilities and set improved standards in service delivery, both from our mobile network and new dedicated workshops.”
Commenting on Aggregate Industries’ decision to select UPS as its service provider, Paul Mitchinson, National HME fleet manager, said: “Aggregate Industries currently operates a varied range of assets throughout the UK and United Plant Services has demonstrated its technical ability to provide a service which caters for all of these asset types.
“The newly introduced software package which UPS is using will provide paperless real-time reporting and tracking of scheduled and completed works. This means all our UK sites will have access to the UPS portal to view events and download information as required. We are very keen to start working with UPS to provide a seamless maintenance solution to reduce downtime and increase utilisation throughout the fleet.”
Mitchinson concludes: “We believe UPS will be able to provide an honest, transparent asset support service giving Aggregate Industries many options throughout the diverse fleet, whilst never compromising on quality or safety.”
