MARKET REPORT TEMPORARY POWER
Steady supply
In a challenging business climate, it is even more important for hirers and suppliers to offer the most appropriate power generation equipment.
Since a reliable power source is an essential requirement for virtually any work site, generators and related equipment are traditionally strong hire items. However, the difficulties faced by the construction industry, and particularly the decline in new-build activity, has made the market challenging to say the least. Nevertheless, construction work has not stopped altogether, and existing sites have to be maintained or developed, so opportunities remain.
Typical of other suppliers that are working hard to help hirers secure more business is Harrington Generators International. “The construction industry is still quite flat. Also, as people try to cut costs, there has been more of a ‘mend and make do’ approach to prolong the life of equipment,” says Harrington’s Philip Forrester. “As a result, we have seen growth in demand for replacement parts, and this is an area we have consciously invested in over the last 18 months.
“In addition, we have successfully started to offer tailored packages to certain customers, such as hirers, so that they, in turn, can provide added-value solutions to clients. Many people regard an item like a small 3kVA petrol generator almost as a commodity, and they might try to source a cheap supplier of something that might look similar over the Internet. However, if a hirer can offer products that give particular benefits in terms of, say, more efficient operation and reliability, and which cannot be easily found elsewhere, then this will help win more hire or sales business.”
With more people going camping, portable generators represent an attractive hire or sales opportunity.
“We have seen a slight improvement in the market for site generators over the past year,” says Phil Winnington, Sales & Marketing Director with Seddons. “We offer a wide range of machines from manufacturers such as SDMO, Pramac, Honda and Seddon Johnson, to enable hirers to choose the type of equipment that exactly meets their, and their customers’, requirements.We can also advise on items such as ancillary fuel tanks that enable long term running in more remote locations, and so that hirers can offer a more complete package.
“With ever-increasing demand for electricity placing more strain on the National Grid, there is growing interest in generators that produce reliable and ‘cleaner’, spike-free supplies suitable for sensitive equipment like computers. The technology used in these machines can also produce power more quietly, and this is a point that hirers can stress to tradesmen and contractors working in noise sensitive locations. More people are holidaying in the UK and going camping and caravanning, perhaps for the first time, and they will appreciate being able to power equipment easily outside the home. And those who work from home increasingly need a backup source of supply in case of power outages. So there are many hire opportunities in addition to what are, perhaps, more traditional construction markets.”
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Nevertheless, specific opportunities remain in the construction market, according to Wigan-based hirer Mather and Stuart Ltd. It has just started offering carbon-offset diesel fuel from Crown Oil UK as an option on all its generator sets in a fleet that totals over 800 machines. The fuel producer supports initiatives such as tree planting and energy conservation, so that any carbon released by burnt fuel in the generators is effectively cancelled out.
Mather and Stuart is offering carbon-offset diesel fuel as an option on all the generator sets in its fleet.
“Increasingly, contractors are having to demonstrate their green credentials when tendering for business,” says Director Mark Stuart. “This is an extra service that we can provide and, if we can offer clients the kit they need to demonstrate environmental awareness, it will help win business for them, and for us, too.”
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