Shindaiwa - Profile


most rental companies will have a Shindaiwa welder generator somewhere in their fleet


‘‘


deal with the fitters and the workshop staff. Sunbelt is a good example, where we try to engage with everybody throughout the organisation to ensure that they know who to come to whenever they need a welder generator or ATEX lighting product.


’’


“We deal with the big guys, but we also do business with smaller independent hirers too,” adds Andy. “MB Plant in Peterhead was the first company to buy from us back in 2010, when they purchased ten machines. They’ve bought many more over the years and probably have around 75 Shindaiwa welder generators in their fleet now and they’ve just placed an order for ten more. Ultimately, we’re a small company but we’re adaptable, and that’s the key to our success.”


Shindaiwa Ltd in the UK is not owned by the Japanese manufacturer of the same name, but buys its products from them. In other regards, it is able to develop products in its own right. As such, the company has broken


I like to think that


new ground with its ATEX and UKEX certified lighting products. Fittingly dubbed ‘Site Bright’, the current selection of five products is designed for safe use in hazardous and explosive environments. For Tom, Site Bright has been an ambition fulfilled.


“I had a good friend at one of the offshore rental companies and I had a desire to supply ATEX lighting in the rental, petrochemical and offshore markets,” he says. “I had the idea for what has become the M1 series lights, but I didn’t have the backing, the funding or the presence in the market. However, Andy and I got talking and he said that ‘Sight Light’, as it was called then, would be a great addition to the Shindaiwa range. One of the first things we did was fund the development of the product. Having already sourced a manufacturer they produced a prototype within six months, but it took another 18 months to get an ATEX certificate – the company certificating the M1 even argued about whether the glue used inside the light was sufficiently anti-static, so it was a very in depth process to finally get the M1 approved.


“One of the major clients for Site Bright, through their rental partners, is the Royal


Navy in Portsmouth. We’ve supplied lights for ship refits and maintenance, and obviously they have hazardous areas too with large fuel tanks and munitions on board. The M1 series lights and our ATEX range accounts for a significant part of our business now.”


And has the success of the Site Bright range inspired any further product developments?


Shine on Shindaiwa's M1


light is the result of extensive research and testing, and the


need to establish a point of difference among rival products.


A robust polycarbonate housing withstands


much abuse, a clever construction makes


rewiring a doddle and it's available in a variety of voltages.


“Yes, the latest addition to the lighting range is our rechargeable floodlight, which is fairly unique in the market,” says Tom. “Lots of people make rechargeable floodlights, but they tend to be based on lead-acid batteries and are built in heavy steel enclosures.


A great job to have on the books and an even better view. Over 30 Eco500 generators were used in the construction of the new Queensferry Crossing.


June/July 2021 - Executive Hire News 21


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44