Briggs Equipment is a unique ‘one stop’ engineering and equipment solutions provider. The UK distributor for Hyster and Yale forklifts, we also maintain strategic partnerships that enable us to offer customers enhanced materials handling solutions tailored to meet their specific requirements. As a specialist in asset management, with an in-house financing capability and many other areas of expertise, including short-term rental and engineering services, we are able to add value and deliver real innovation by putting customers at the heart of everything we do.

96743Peter Jones, Managing Director of Briggs Equipment UK Limited, spoke to Warehouse & Logistics News about the forthcoming IMHX exhibition.

Warehouse & Logistics News – First of all, Peter as Managing Director, what is your role in the company from day to day?

Our aim is to become the most valued UK engineering services company, renowned for innovative solutions and unrivalled customer service. As MD it is my responsibility to direct and position the company towards achieving this goal and to ensure we have appropriate resources to deliver this.

WLN – Can you talk us through the different products and services Briggs Equipment provides?

Briggs Equipment is a unique engineering and equipment provider that delivers market leading innovative solutions. With a team of 600 engineers located throughout the UK, we offer unrivalled service and maintenance support for a broad range of equipment.

We also provide global equipment and maintenance support to the UK’s Armed Forces, through our specialist division Briggs Defence. In addition to being the sole UK distributor for Yale and Hyster forklifts, Briggs maintains strategic partnerships that offer customers a total solution and we service all the equipment we sell.

So, whether it’s new, used or shortterm hire equipment, we have a proposition that goes far beyond materials handling.

Our market-leading fleet management tool, BE Portal, plays a pivotal role in driving up standards of customer service and our in-house financing capability, BE Finance, offers customers greater flexibility. By placing customers at the heart of everything it does, Briggs is transforming the industry.

WLN – What kinds of businesses in what industry sectors are your solutions aimed at?

We manage in excess of 55,000 assets across a wide range of products and services. Our diverse customer base is strong in warehousing/logistics, retail/wholesale and engineering/manufacturing, and we partner port operators/freight terminals to enhance their heavy lifting capabilities.

WLN -When was your business established? Who owns the company now? Which other countries do you operate in besides the UK?

A privately owned company headquartered in Staffordshire, Briggs Equipment creates long-term solutions designed to help customers develop more efficient, results-driven businesses. In 2006, we became part of Briggs International, the world’s largest global distributor of Yale and Hyster materials handling equipment. Our parent company in the USA is Sammons Enterprises Inc., which is one of the largest privately owned US companies. It is this strength that gives Briggs stability and security for the future.

WLN -What sets your company apart as a supplier in your sector? Why should busy professionals from the warehouse and logistics industry take time out to visit your stand at IMHX? What is your overall message to visitors?

Overall, we want to show UK supply chain businesses how we innovate and add value. For many years Briggs has been renowned for supplying quality products from top manufacturers, but we are about so much more than this.

We pride ourselves on delivering costeffective, tailor-made solutions that enable customers to improve productivity while also reducing operating costs. To people that think they know Briggs, our message is simple, it’s time to think again.

WLN -What will visitors be able to see on your stand at this year’s show? Which of your core products and solutions are you presenting? Are you launching anything new at IMHX?

We will have a major presence at IMHX with two stands to showcase our unique engineering and equipment capabilities. One is devoted to our materials handling expertise with Yale and Hyster equipment, while the other promotes our wider capabilities, including engineering services, shortterm rental and the flexible financial solutions available through BE Finance. We will also be promoting the total fleet transparency delivered by our interactive, fleet management tool, BE Portal. The system supports informed planning and budgeting enabling customers to optimise fleet performance to improve safety while also protecting their investment and, ultimately, their bottom line.

We are also delighted to be launching the new Yale MX forklift truck. Designed specifically to deliver hardworking performance in a variety of 2.0-3.0t capacity applications, the MX is especially well-suited to secondary distribution, wholesale, retail, light manufacturing and rental.

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WLN – The last IMHX was in 2013. How have your customers’ needs changed since then? What are the biggest pressures your clients face these days? How are you addressing these?

Total transparency with complete data integrity is vital to improve fleet management and take decisive action that not only saves time and money, but also helps to reduce operating costs. With BE Portal we are empowering customers to achieve this level of control. For us, BE Portal is a vital interface that has changed the way we work, allowing us to be more proactive, which has, in turn, improved customer service.

WLN – Can you tell us about your major customer contract wins in the last three years? Do these represent new development areas for your company?

Our specialist division Briggs Defence provides global supply and support to the MoD and in 2013 was awarded an £87 million contract to supply, manage and maintain a mixed fleet of materials handling equipment. Its ability to keep pace with the changing infrastructure of defence procurement has allowed it to develop important strategic partnerships, leading to a £2.5 million national engineering contract with Landmarc Support Services.

We are also developing our business with ports. Briggs is the primary supplier of materials handling services to Peel Ports Group, having secured a £38 million contract with a compelling proposition that demonstrated value and innovation. We have also won a key contract with Scotland’s largest port in Grangemouth and delivered an innovative handling solution to BAP Group at the port of Felixstowe.

In the automotive sector we secured a £2 million deal with Tier 1 supplier Stadco and a £250,000 contract with Car Parts Industries, a leading remanufacturer of car parts in Europe.

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WLN – How do your products and solutions address today’s increased emphasis on safety and environmental impact in warehousing and logistics? Will you be highlighting this aspect of your offering at the show?

Yale and Hyster have developed wireless asset management systems designed to improve operator performance and help drive fleet efficiency to reduce operational costs and C02 emissions. This technology is changing the way people interact with equipment too, helping to enhance operator safety and promote a culture that makes it everyone’s responsibility to be safe at work.

Our fleet management tool BE Portal complements OEM telemetry systems.

Access to reliable data enhances decision-making, so fleet managers can spot trends and pinpoint problems, such as poor driving standards. In taking action to minimise damage and reduce operating costs, they are also improving workplace safety.

Safety is a top priority for Briggs and through BE Safe and associated initiatives we continue to promote best practice and drive a culture of safe working for all our employees.

WLN – And finally, it’s three years to the next IMHX. Where do you see your company going in that time?

We have big growth plans. We want to double the size of our business over the next five years, investing in engineers, expanding our product offering and maintaining our leading position as a unique, innovative provider in this space.

www.briggsequipment.co.uk

think@briggsequipment.co.uk

03301 23 98 50

BRIGGS EQUIPMENT

BriggsEquipmentUK

@briggsUK

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