Rail companies are increasingly challenged to improve the services they offer. HSS Hire’s rail director, John Helm, explains the importance of choosing the right business partner.
Stand G31 E
ach rail company faces a tough set of demands: on-time delivery and improved track availability, better time- tabling, reduced costs and of course not forgetting the big issues - zero accidents, minimising environmental impact and in- frastructure maintenance.
They need suppliers and partners who will help to keep them on track. Literally.
Tight purse strings mean that rail compa- nies need suppliers who will pro-actively seek-out innovations, cost savings and enhanced quality and safety measures on their behalf. They need to partner with those that ‘speak rail’.
Presenting, HSS Hire.
Tool and equipment hire fi rm HSS Hire has, for some time now, been the business partner of choice to the rail industry. With more than 250 locations, the company boasts full logistical coverage of the UK, meaning they are always in close proximity to the nation’s railways. Round-the-clock opening hours ensures they are best placed to enable through-the-night track maintenance.
But the path to becoming a railway partner was an unusual one. HSS didn’t choose rail; rail chose HSS. As a sector, rail initially was not one the company actively pursued. The focus historically had been predominantly FM, as a logistical technical partner. How- ever it became more and more apparent that stringent safety standards and quality procedures saw the company becoming the equipment provider of choice for the rail industry.
Rail, understandably, demands extremely high standards in health and safety compli- ance. HSS is the only tool and equipment hire fi rm to possess a four star safety rat- ing from the British Safety Council and this among other accreditations and accolades attracted the rail sector.
The relationship has fl ourished from then on. Having been partner to the industry’s biggest names HSS learnt the industry from the trackside up.
And, as a result, HSS’s range of kit has dra-
matically expanded to suit the rail indus- try. From an extensive range of non-rail specifi c kit developed a capital investment programme to include an extensive range of rail-specifi c kit. The company has now invested around £60m in its rail and non- rail specifi c product fl eet over the last three years and will spend a further £27m in 2011 supporting core hire fl eet growth, demon- strating commitment to rail customers.
But it’s not just a range of kit that makes HSS a good partner to the rail industry; the company has also offered several in- novations over the years. A proactive and insightful business partner, HSS’s offerings can be credited for improving productivity and safety, as well as reducing costs.
Since 2005 alone, the company is respon- sible for around 70 product innovations. These products make the diffi cult job of maintaining the rail infrastructure a little bit easier, improving productivity and ena- bling rail customers to work more safely.
And training is essential in ensuring zero accidents. It is an employer’s responsibility to ensure that Health and Safety Legisla-
tion is adhered to. HSS is a pioneer in the training arena, providing over 250 courses via sister company HSS Training. Rail spe- cifi c courses offered include Personal Track Safety initial and recerts, IWA, COSS, Track Induction and RMMM Machine Controller among many others.
HSS has developed a dedicated Rail Team with eleven rail specifi c colleagues who work exclusively on rail contracts, ensur- ing they run to perfection. Cumulatively, the team has well over 100 years’ experi- ence working for HSS, and nearly as much experience again of working specifi cally in the rail sector.
The dedicated HSS Rail Hire Desk pride themselves on ‘asking the right questions’ of rail customers to deliver a fi rst-rate ser- vice at all times.
HSS Hire is ISO9000, ISO14001, OH- SAS18001 and SAFE-Hire certifi ed and holds Investors in People status as well as a four-star British Safety Council award.
FOR MORE INFORMATION Visit
www.hss.com
rail technology magazine Apr/May 11 | 133
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