PROMOTIONAL FEATURE
HODGE Plant has launched a new Lifting Solutions division to provide customers with quality, versatile and safe solutions for all their lifting requirements.
The division is headed up by Martyn Marsh, a self-confessed “old warhorse” who has come out of retirement after being bowled over by the professionalism, attention to detail and ambition shown by the Hodge business.
Martyn has been in plant his whole career, including 28 years at Hewden, latterly in a national accounts manager role. He says the family nature of the Hodge business is a huge advantage, with everyone pulling in the same direction and striving to offer clients a first-rate customer service.
“We’ve got a first-class committed team here,” Martyn explained. “Founder Alistair Hodge is no absentee director; he’s got his face and feet well and truly planted in every aspect of the business. As soon as I came here, I could see it was a different operation. Plant hire to me is often about diggers, dumpers and debt – and scruffy yards. That’s certainly not the case here. This is a very professionally run operation with client value and safety at the forefront.”
The driver behind the new division was Hodge’s appointment as Scottish dealer for telehandler giant Magni, which joined an equipment portfolio that includes premier machines from Case Construction, Dynapac, Kinshofer and recently signed DEUTZ-FAHR tractor dealership for the west coast of Scotland.
“These are expensive pieces of equipment but in the right hands, they can save clients a fortune with their attachment flexibility – and do it safely,” Martyn added. “The Lifting Solutions division is a holistic fit to the overall Hodge business. The company can do everything now from basic contracting through to crushing and screening and lifting. It’s that ‘one-stop shop’ approach. More and more clients are looking at alternative ways of lifting materials and men. The extensive Magni range lends itself to that. They are the next generation of rough terrain rotating and lifting machines.”
Overall management and service provision lies at the heart of the Lifting Solutions business. By hiring from Hodge, clients are assured the highest levels of service, modern and efficient machines, unrivalled project experience, and expert advice on the most cost-effective application of the plant. Every client requirement is treated as a bespoke project.
“Our Lifting Solutions operations will impact directly on our ability to create a competitive advantage for clients, whilst we strive to be the number one lifting solutions equipment rental company in the UK,” Martyn added.
Hodge offers comprehensive preventative maintenance programmes, which include brake testing of tyred earthmoving equipment. In the event of a mechanical breakdown, to minimise the impact Hodge brings to every work site and operation an extensive inventory of spare parts and equipment, to enable onsite repairs to be carried out as swiftly and efficiently as possible.
“At the end of the day we understand uptime and production generate profit for clients and projects alike,” Martyn explained.
This is underpinned by the firm’s modern workshops and comprehensive parts availability, supported by in-house welding and painting facilities.
“We already run a fleet of fully-equipped mobile workshops combined with on-board telematics solutions, with leading edge technology which allows our technicians to effectively carry out operations on machines, even remotely, to determine solutions before we arrive on-site, Martyn said.
“Whatever the eventuality, we will have your lifting resource fully functional with the minimum amount of downtime. Time after all is money.”
By blending Hodge’s equipment rental insight, modern technology, safety ethos and experience with clients’ strategic planning, Martyn believes overall project cost savings are a readily achievable goal.
“Whether it’s lifting in a petrochemical refinery, overhead transmission power lines, live substations, windfarms, telecommunications, or working with housebuilders on timber frame buildings, Hodge Lifting Solutions can supply the answer competitively and, above all, safely,” he concluded.
