‘‘
I would suggest that we became
market leaders in the UK four years ago, and we’ll
continue to expand on that
’’ The Eco300 diesel welder generator is the workhorse of Shindaiwa's range. Darth Vader won't use anything else!
We’ve used lithium polymer batteries and a lightweight polycarbonate casing – our floodlight only weighs six kilos as a result.
“The M1 range has developed too,” he continues. “From having a single model initially, we now have 240V, 110V, 24V and 42V options, and an emergency version which runs for 60 minutes if the power is cut. It’s customer-driven, as well – 110V is good for general applications, but 24V is needed when working inside storage tanks and confined spaces. Then, through our onsite hire partner, we have customers like Wilton International, one of the biggest refineries in the UK, which requires 50V lighting. So we constantly adapt and change the product to suit our clients’ needs.”
Shindaiwa surely has plenty of customers on its books, its lighting range finds favour in heavy and petrochemical industries, and yet the company
itself is modestly sized in comparison. Does this present problems or opportunities?
“Our size is no impediment to our business. We’re an agile team and we have the capability and available stock to deliver,” says Andy. “In fact, we’ve just had our biggest ever order.”
“People probably think we’re bigger company than we are,” adds Tom. “We’re happy at this size and our customers always know who to speak to for service or a spare part, or for a new order enquiry.”
It’s great to hear that business in the UK and Ireland is going well, although Shindaiwa Ltd imports much of its product range from Japan. Given the well documented problems with bringing goods in from overseas, how has the ‘perfect storm’ of Brexit and the pandemic affected trading?
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“Brexit didn’t really affect us, as we planned to hold significant stock in the UK beforehand," says Andy. “We were lucky with COVID, in that we didn’t have to furlough anyone and we carried on trading throughout. From March until June 2020 we were working remotely, but increasing business meant we were back to full strength by July. “Our lighting was used in COVID testing stations and the demand for engine driven products hasn’t really stopped since. Our supply chain has remained strong, and the financial year running from April 2020 to March 2021 has been our most successful ever.”
We’re getting there. So, this visit to Shindaiwa was originally intended to mark a decade since our last trip. Call it a deferred anniversary, then, but what will the next ten years hold?
“If we grow as much as we have in the last decade, we’ll be a significantly different company,” says Andy. “We didn’t really have any market share ten years ago, but I would suggest that we became market leaders in the UK four years ago, and we’ll continue to expand on that.”
Paul Robertson Jim Maccall
bookings@learningforhire.com
www.learningforhire.com
22 Executive Hire News - June/July 2021
“We operate in niche sectors,” says Tom. “There’s a lot changing in the energy market at the moment, in that we’re all becoming less reliant on fossil fuels, and that is going to bring about many opportunities for manufacturers of energy products. For us as a company, we will continue to source and develop innovative products that appeal in those niche sectors and to the wider rental sector in general.” n
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