MACHINE guidance manufacturer GKD Technologies has been supplying nationwide plant hire specialists Lynch Plant for the past 18 months.
Lynch had a previous supplier who were providing the company’s height and slew restrictor systems, but with machine safety requirements growing.
Lynch reported the old system was too basic for the increasing demands for safety and efficiency on busy job-sites, so Steve Wright, Lynch Head of Service, looked at various options that Lynch could potentially work with, and GKD Technologies, based in the South of England, were on the shortlist.
Chris Gill is Head of Key Accounts at Lynch Plant Hire, said: “2019 is a big growth year for Lynch and we anticipate an investment of £50Million in new plant. Our investment in GKD products is approaching £1Million in the last 18-months.”
Chris procures all of the large plant and equipment for the company and his colleague, Steve Wright, procures the smaller equipment. Lynch’s fleet comprises over 1250 machines and the fleet continues to grow as the company expands.
Chris commented on decision to appoint GKD as their preferred rated capacity indicator supplier.
He said: “We’re a large company and our requirements are changing on a regular basis.
“We wanted to find a provider that could grow with us and meet all of our needs, while remaining flexible.
“GKD’s plans are to grow as a business organically and continue to supply sustainably to Lynch for the next five to 10 years.
“We have been training our staff, our service engineers, our operators and also our yard staff on GKD and the feedback has been really positive. We are also focusing on upskilling workers.”
Chris added how operators pointed out that it took one explanation on how to set the system up and they were up and running with the GKD system – whereas competitors’ systems were complicated.
In 2018 Lynch purchased 80 GKD Height & Slew 2RCi systems, and this year to date, 25 systems have been installed and the company have estimated that by the end of this year the number will reach in excess of 200 GKD systems.
These systems are fitted to a range of machinery brands such as Komatsu, Hitachi, Volvo, Caterpillar and Takeuchi machines. All of Lynch’s ‘rubber ducks’ are fitted with the 2RCi system and the firm are planning to invest in another 40 wheeled excavators this year.
The majority of Lynch’s tail-swing excavators also have the 2RCi fitted, which will assist the company moving toward more ‘Smart Motorway’ projects around the country – where this type of safety system is specified.
GKD Technologies have full-time installers assigned to Lynch Plant. The machines are located all over the UK and installations on new machines are taking place every week nationwide.
Lynch Plant operate on the bulk of the UK’s major infrastructure projects, including Hinkley Point C where the company has been operating for the past three years, the A14 road project in Cambridgeshire, where Lynch are the preferred supplier and have over 150 pieces of machinery on site. Also, Smart Motorway projects on the M6, M4 and M23 and Lynch are also carrying out a lot of HS2 enabling work from London to Birmingham.
“Highways England specify that any machine working on one of their projects must have a height and slew restrictor if working near the carriage way, hence why there has been so much investment in new plant that is fitted with a GKD system,” concluded Chris.
Future investment into GKD by Lynch Plant Hire includes RCi’s for mini plant and is planning to fit between 30-50 systems this year. GKD has already completed installations on several three-tonne excavators which were deployed directly to HS2 enabling works in London.