May 5th, 2011
Matt (Field Sales Manager) completed West Yorkshire’s World Coal Carrying contest on Easter Monday, where he achieved a personal best time of 6mins. 18sec. Sixty people completed the senior contest in which Matt finished 18th overall.
The race first took place in 1963 in the village of Gawthorpe on the outskirts of Ossett, West Yorkshire, about 1 mile from Horizon’s Rental & Training Centre. Every Easter Monday since, the tradition of running up a hill with a sack of coal has become a highly competitive local event.
The sacks each weigh in at 50KG for the men’s race and 20KG for the women’s race, carried over a distance of just under a mile (1012.5 mtrs) the majority of which is uphill!
Everyone at Horizon would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Matt on this accomplishment and look forward to a better time next year.
Tags: Horizon Platforms
Posted in Scissor Lift Hire | No Comments »
April 28th, 2011
I have been with Horizon Platforms since May 2008. At that time Horizon was a relatively new company and I have been proud to be a part of its evolution and growth despite the adversity in today’s market place.
My role is as a driver/hire operative, though I have been fortunate enough to have spent time in the past within the busy hire office when staffing constraints have required a little flexibility. That opportunity has served me well and given me a greater appreciation of our customer needs and expectations.
I know I will echo my colleagues’ sentiments, but one of Horizon’s strengths is the pride we take in our customer care whether it is in hire, sales, training or service. Previous employment experience with HSBC, being Self-Employed within the Haulage Industry and latterly employed with West Yorkshire Police, has given me a comprehensive understanding of the levels of personal service we aim to provide for all our customers.
My other ‘role’ within the company is that of entertainment co-ordinator, organising events throughout the year including our very own ‘special’ Christmas Party.
There is an excellent rapport between staff and directors (an open door policy is maintained) both in and out of working hours, operating as a team and as friends. It would not be unusual to find one of the directors ‘getting his hands dirty’ if the need arose at the end of a day.
As our fleet of platforms continues to expand, the company believes that service levels must remain our priority. As part of our investment in service and support, I am looking forward to taking delivery of a brand new Volvo, 370 HP truck next month. This, along with one of the youngest rental fleets in the UK makes working for a Horizon a very exciting and rewarding place to be.
Posted in Scissor Lifts Hire Yorkshire | No Comments »
March 14th, 2011
The 2011 order is made up of 70 units including, the ES Battery Scissor range and both Diesel and Bi Energy Booms. This order will increase Horizons fleet to 350 machines.
Ruairi Duggan Joint Managing Director says, ‘Our focus at Horizon has always been on offering our customers the best possible service.
As the economic recovery gradually gathers pace, we want to be in a position where we can support new business and ensure that our existing customers continue to enjoy the standards of equipment and service that they are accustomed to.
Our customers appreciate the benefits that JLG machines have to offer especially the ES Scissor range, which has proven to be an exceptional performer in the field’
Horizon have placed additional orders for 2011 with Skyjack, Niftylift and Haulotte for a further 30 platforms.
Left to right - Ben Hirst (Horizon-Joint MD), Rory Duggan (Horizon-Joint MD), Edward Price - JLG
Tags: Access Platforms, cherry picker, Scissor Lift Hire
Posted in Company News, Scissor Lift Hire | No Comments »
March 14th, 2011
“I am part of the transport team here at Horizon Platforms. I have worked in the Powered Access Rental business for many years. Over this time I have seen the Industry develop and the range of machines available increase.
Horizon are constantly adding new machines into the fleet, ranging from 4m light weights to 30 m Booms weighing in excess of 16 tonnes. This diverse range of machines requires the right type of truck to deliver to our customers varied sites.
I am fortunate here at Horizon in having a say in the specification of the truck I now drive, a Volvo FM 440 BHP. It is a 4 axle rigid vehicle with a beaver tail plant body. The rear axle steers in the opposite direction to the front two, which vastly reduces tyre wear and aiding manoeuvrability. With a 12 speed ‘I’ shift semi automatic gearbox, the truck is a pleasure to drive, with so much power hills do not exist. The downside of the latest vehicles are the electronics, if anything goes wrong it is a visit to the dealer to put his laptop on it but I suppose that is the progress of the times.
I have been involved with transport for over 40 years, both as a mechanic and a driver. In those years I have seen a lot of changes in the trucks I have driven. In the late 60s and 70s 150-250 BHP was normal, crash gearboxes, few with power steering. Most of my days were spent roping and sheeting the load, a nearly forgotten art. Now curtain side bodies are in abundance, making it much quicker and safer to load trucks.
Horizon’s fleet of delivery vehicles include 32 Tonne Volvo HGV’s, 7.5 tonne Isuzu & Landover and trailers for quick response deliveries.
As Horizon’s fleet of platforms grows further trucks will be added starting with a new Volvo this coming May.”
Volvo FM440 c/w Shawtrack Body
Posted in Company News, Scissor Lift Hire, Staff | No Comments »
February 14th, 2011
Having worked as a Service Engineer in the Powered Access Industry for over 15 years, I have enjoyed watching the developments of MEWPS and seeing how the Industry has improved both safety and productivity levels for people working at height.
One of the big attractions of joining Horizon Platforms in September 2009 was their focus on customer service and their desire to be the best Access Hire company around.
As a member of the Service team one of my main roles within the Company is going out to construction sites to carry out servicing and LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations) inspections on all Horizons’ fleet of access platforms. I also carry out LOLER services at customer premises’ on their own platforms, as it is a legal requirement that all platforms have to be LOLER tested.
LOLER regulations came into force in 1998. They cover all operations and equipment which involve lifting people and goods at work. The inspection is a thorough examination inspection of the platform which has to be carried out by a trained, competent person at least every 6 months to make sure the access platform is fit and safe to be used.
Horizon constantly update their fleet of machines and only ever buy brand new equipment.
With further investment from JLG, Genie, Skyjack and Niftylift throughout 2011, we are sure to be able to supply even more customers and allow them to experience Horizons first class service.
Tags: Access Platforms, cherry picker, Genie, health and safety courses, JLG, Niftylift, scissor lift, Scissor Lift Hire, Skyjack
Posted in Access Platform Rental, Company News, Scissor Lift Hire, Staff | No Comments »
December 20th, 2010
Horizon Platforms decided to try something different for their Staff Christmas party this year. Rather than booking a restaurant and trailing around numerous pubs, everything was kept in house.
We had a company supply and erect a superb marquee within our Warehouse at our new premises in Wakefield.
We brought in our own casino complete with Roulette and Black Jack Tables. We had catering supplied by a local Indian Restaurant. We had our very own bar complete with beer on draft and even had live music from a Queen tribute band!
Staff from Horizon Platforms at the 2010 Christmas Party
A great night was had by all and no doubt some very sore heads the following day!
Horizon Platforms would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our customers and suppliers a very Happy Christmas, and a peaceful and prosperous New Year.
Posted in Company News | No Comments »
November 30th, 2010
I look after the accounts at Horizon platforms; everything from payroll to sales ledger and anything in between.
I have had many years of experience working in private industry. This experience has taught me that it is just as important to take care of your suppliers, as it is to take care of your customers. By looking after the suppliers ie: paying them promptly and trying to sort out any invoice queries as quickly as possible, they are more likely to go that extra mile, if we should need their help. This in turn helps us give the best possible service to our customers.
I have been with Horizon Platforms since May 2008. During my time I have witnessed the continued growth of the company. As a result of our customer care and attention to detail, we are consistently opening new accounts and expanding our fleet of Access Platforms. This fleet expansion has increased the work load within my department, so we have recently appointed Angela Bell as our new Credit Controller.
Tags: Access Platforms, Horizon Platforms, Scissor Lift Hire
Posted in Company News, Staff | No Comments »
November 15th, 2010
As Horizon Platforms’ Training Instructor and Health & Safety Officer, it is my responsibility to ensure that our customers receive the highest standards of training and comfort when they undertake one of our many training courses.
I have worked in all areas of the powered access industry and have been an IPAF Training Instructor for over 7 years; training at many sites and locations throughout the UK. Having obtained a NEBOSH General Certificate and being a member of IOSH, with a TECH IOSH status, I am able to confidently carry out all staff and customer Health and Safety training which includes; IPAF, Working at Height, Health and Safety Site Safety Awareness, Manual Handling, Abrasive Wheels and Ladders & Steps training. All of the courses offered by Horizon can be tailored to suit the needs of our customer to ensure they are aligned to their business needs.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: health and safety courses, Scissor Lift Hire
Posted in Company News, Staff | No Comments »
September 9th, 2010
As the Account Manager for Horizon Platforms, I have many responsibilities to ensure our customers always get the highest level of service they deserve.
As experts in powered access, it is our job to recommend what machines are suitable for their exact requirements. Very often a complimentary site survey is recommended for this purpose.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: cherry picker, Scissor Lift Hire
Posted in Company News, Staff | No Comments »
July 20th, 2010
As Senior Service Engineer at Horizon Platforms I was involved in the recent decision to expand our fleet with the addition of the JLG ES battery powered scissor range. We chose the ES range due to the exceptional, class leading battery life and operator friendly control systems.
The class leading battery life is achieved by JLG using their direct drive system, using electric motors to drive the wheels directly. This is an energy efficient way to power the drive system as no energy is lost in heat. Converting power from an electric motor into hydraulic power via a pump as done by other manufacturers is less efficient, resulting in decreased battery life.
Also this system minimises the risk of hydraulic leaks as the ES range only has two hydraulic hoses on the whole machine to operate the steering. This along with zero emissions makes the ES the ideal Access Platform for food manufacturing environments, along with large fit out contracts for Electrical, Heat & Vent any many other trades.
Once our customers experience the difference, they insist on using JLG ES Scissor Lifts on every job!
Charlie Smart- Service Manager, Horizon Platforms Ltd
Tags: JLG, jlg battery scissor lift, scissor lift, Scissor Lift Hire, scissor lift range
Posted in Scissor Lift Hire | No Comments »
