EXECUTIVE NEWS


OBART’S PRIME PUMP


Obart Pumps recently discovered one of its products that had given remarkably long service in the fleet of Fowler Hire & Sales in Bridport. “Fowlers contacted us to buy a part for one of our submersibles,”


MD Matthew Hill told EHN. “They said it was a Tsurumi S400, but the last one we sold was in 1990, so we felt there might be a mistake. We asked them to take a photograph of it and, sure enough, when we saw the casting marks, it was indeed an S400 – but, remarkably, one purchased from us around 1979. “On mentioning this, they said details of the product had been


transferred from a handwritten record when the business went computerised in 1990, and that they still had the instructions for it.


Depot manager’s Champion achievement


Champion Hire recently congratulated long-serving employee Chris Nicholls on achieving 25 years’ service with the company, presenting him with a bottle of champagne and a cheque for £500. Chris started work at Champion's Chesterfield depot as an


apprentice fitter/driver in August 1992 and was its first employee to attend Chesterfield College on its day-release scheme. He moved to the Nottingham depot in 1997 as Hire Controller, before being appointed Manager at the Derby branch when it opened in 2008, and in 2012 he became Manager at Champion’s Sheffield location. Champion Chairman Tim Hale said, “Chris is one of several key


members of staff who have been with us for many years. We couldn't provide the kind of excellent customer service that we do without people like him.” “I've done all sorts of roles here,” said Chris, “and I can't believe how


the years have just flown by. Champion is very much like a big family and there are quite a few of us who have been here for a long time”. Indeed, Tim Hales added, “We actually have four staff who have more than 25 years’ continuous service, as well as two of the three Directors. 2018 is going to be a big year for us too, as it will be our 50th anniversary.” Pictured, from left, are Champion MD Keith White, Financial Director Jim Raybould, Tim Hale and Chris Nicholls.


Smiths opens bigger Cleveleys site


Smiths Equipment Hire has expanded its Cleveleys depot, and it is one of the first to be re-branded as a ‘Hire It Centre’, a new name that is being adopted at each branch of the business, which now has 11 sites in the north of England, plus its head office in Blackpool. Rick Morris, Manager at Cleveleys, said, “The depot really needed


something to make the place shine again. When the old Blockbuster video hire premises next door came up for sale, it was the perfect decision made by David and Thomas Smith (Joint Managing Directors) to buy it and extend the depot.” The company says it also plans to open additional depots in Lancaster and Leeds.


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We also had the spare part in stock, which we gladly sent. “However, we asked them if they were willing to swap the S400 for


our latest model, the HS2.4S, so we could give it pride of place in our offices. They were happy to do so, as long as we told them when we would be collecting it, in case it went on hire!” During the handover, Directors David (pictured left) and Martin


Fowler said, “Seeing it go will almost be like losing a member of the family.” Matthew Hill added, “We know how well built Tsurumi pumps are, and come across examples regularly over ten years old, but this case is particularly special. We began selling Tsurumi pumps in 1976, so if any other hirer has an older one in their fleet, we would be very excited to hear from them.”


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