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FeedsHome: June - July 2006 › HSS Hire on the right track for rail customers
HSS Hire on the right track for rail customers
31/07/2006 | Channel: Business Improvement, Infrastructure
HSS Hire is focusing on bringing added value to its rail contracts – improving efficiency and saving its customers money.
The UK’s largest tool and equipment hire chain was awarded a multi-million pound three-year contract to supply non-rail specific plant to Network Rail in 2005 and earlier this year signed a five-year tool hire supply contract with Tube Lines.
The deal with HSS Hire marked the end of Network Rail’s multi-agency approach to the supply of hire equipment. With different suppliers in every area and no standard maintenance, supply or cost criteria, Network Rail set out to identify and appoint one national supplier for non-rail specific plant hire and another for rail-specific.
Tube Lines Limited – the company which is working in partnership with London
Underground to modernise the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines – also chose
HSS Hire when they awarded a number of non-rail and rail-specific contracts in 2006.
But HSS has been quick to add value to the contracts – taking a hands-on approach
to develop smarter and more cost-effective ways of operating.
By working closely with Network Rail, the company has developed a new lighting
system for rail trolleys. Working with its own lighting suppliers and AMEC, which supplies the rail trolleys, HSS has identified a solution to the problem and is about to supply up to 1000 tailor-made lighting systems – unique and perfect for Network Rail’s requirements.
Lighting solutions in all five of Network Rail’s UK territories – an area covering
around 20,000 miles of track and stretching from the South-East of England to East
Scotland – is high on the agenda. With so many different types of lights being sourced throughout the network, HSS has been working with Network Rail to standardise the products being used – whether personal head-lamps or engine-driven floodlights.
All good news to HSS, which has grown from a market stall in Kensington, West
London, in 1957 to a multi-million pound turnover business and has recently been
awarded the Hire Industry’s prestigious award for Hire Company of the Year 2006,
recognising their commitment to providing industry-leading levels of customer service
and satisfaction.
“Obviously we were absolutely delighted to be awarded the Network Rail and Tube Lines contracts after highly competitive tendering processes and to have
demonstrated our ability to conform to the clients’ tight operational needs,” said Mr
Nolan, HSS chief executive.
“Our success is not simply about hiring tools, it underlines our commitment to service value and to the development of systems that ensure we can provide the right tool at the right place and at the right time…every time.”
The deal requires HSS to supply a long list of core tools and equipment, including
lighting generators, breakers, drills, chainsaws, cutters and grinders, on long-term
hire. Further top-up kit is hired on an adhoc basis to service Network Rail’s extensive maintenance programme.
“Obviously there was a need for modern, reliable and well-serviced tools and we were able to flag up the company’s substantial recent investment in new equipment,”
added Mr Nolan.
The need to supply spot hires quickly and efficiently, often within a very tight time
frame, is helped by Network Rail engineers having access to a dedicated telephone
number to order HSS equipment.
The call could also be at any time of the day or night and an important part of the
tender was to be able to guarantee a service 24/7, handling requests and operating a
rota of stand-by staff to deliver equipment or exchange vital tools.
“We have proved beyond doubt that HSS is not just a hire company for the DIY enthusiast or independent tradesman, it’s a major commercial force with the experience, skills and flexibility to deliver a first-rate hire service to the UK’s largest companies,” said Mr Nolan.
“HSS has been at the forefront of the UK’s tool hire industry for nearly half a
century and for much of that time we have been the first choice for professionals
because we’ve focused on top quality tools and experienced, well-trained staff.
“The rail deals underline that commitment and as a company we will be looking to build on that success and continue to be the major force in the UK hire industry.”
HSS Hire
Tel: 08457 282828
Email: hire@hss.com
Web: www.hss.com
The deal with HSS Hire marked the end of Network Rail’s multi-agency approach to the supply of hire equipment. With different suppliers in every area and no standard maintenance, supply or cost criteria, Network Rail set out to identify and appoint one national supplier for non-rail specific plant hire and another for rail-specific.
Tube Lines Limited – the company which is working in partnership with London
Underground to modernise the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines – also chose
HSS Hire when they awarded a number of non-rail and rail-specific contracts in 2006.
But HSS has been quick to add value to the contracts – taking a hands-on approach
to develop smarter and more cost-effective ways of operating.
By working closely with Network Rail, the company has developed a new lighting
system for rail trolleys. Working with its own lighting suppliers and AMEC, which supplies the rail trolleys, HSS has identified a solution to the problem and is about to supply up to 1000 tailor-made lighting systems – unique and perfect for Network Rail’s requirements.
Lighting solutions in all five of Network Rail’s UK territories – an area covering
around 20,000 miles of track and stretching from the South-East of England to East
Scotland – is high on the agenda. With so many different types of lights being sourced throughout the network, HSS has been working with Network Rail to standardise the products being used – whether personal head-lamps or engine-driven floodlights.
All good news to HSS, which has grown from a market stall in Kensington, West
London, in 1957 to a multi-million pound turnover business and has recently been
awarded the Hire Industry’s prestigious award for Hire Company of the Year 2006,
recognising their commitment to providing industry-leading levels of customer service
and satisfaction.
“Obviously we were absolutely delighted to be awarded the Network Rail and Tube Lines contracts after highly competitive tendering processes and to have
demonstrated our ability to conform to the clients’ tight operational needs,” said Mr
Nolan, HSS chief executive.
“Our success is not simply about hiring tools, it underlines our commitment to service value and to the development of systems that ensure we can provide the right tool at the right place and at the right time…every time.”
The deal requires HSS to supply a long list of core tools and equipment, including
lighting generators, breakers, drills, chainsaws, cutters and grinders, on long-term
hire. Further top-up kit is hired on an adhoc basis to service Network Rail’s extensive maintenance programme.
“Obviously there was a need for modern, reliable and well-serviced tools and we were able to flag up the company’s substantial recent investment in new equipment,”
added Mr Nolan.
The need to supply spot hires quickly and efficiently, often within a very tight time
frame, is helped by Network Rail engineers having access to a dedicated telephone
number to order HSS equipment.
The call could also be at any time of the day or night and an important part of the
tender was to be able to guarantee a service 24/7, handling requests and operating a
rota of stand-by staff to deliver equipment or exchange vital tools.
“We have proved beyond doubt that HSS is not just a hire company for the DIY enthusiast or independent tradesman, it’s a major commercial force with the experience, skills and flexibility to deliver a first-rate hire service to the UK’s largest companies,” said Mr Nolan.
“HSS has been at the forefront of the UK’s tool hire industry for nearly half a
century and for much of that time we have been the first choice for professionals
because we’ve focused on top quality tools and experienced, well-trained staff.
“The rail deals underline that commitment and as a company we will be looking to build on that success and continue to be the major force in the UK hire industry.”
HSS Hire
Tel: 08457 282828
Email: hire@hss.com
Web: www.hss.com
