06.01.2014
A new rental contender
A new UK based access rental company United Powered Access has formally started trading to external customers.
The company itself was actually incorporated almost a year ago, since then, Greg Miller, who heads up the operation, has been setting up the company and sourcing equipment. The new company is owned by the CA Group.
CA Group is one of the UK’s leading metal roofing and cladding systems manufacturers, with an equally strong contracting business specialising in industrial, commercial, public sector and refurbishment markets. The company had begun to find that the availability and quality and reliability of aerial lift equipment – particularly large deck Rough Terrain scissors – had become patchy and therefore recruited Miller to consult on the feasibility of setting up its own rental operation to supply both its own needs and those of like-minded contractors.
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United Powered Access' new premises in Lymm
Miller has been in the access industry for getting on 30 years, have started out with the original David Meek business. Nine years later he moved to Independent Access for six years before joining Kimberly Access. He left Kimberly shortly after the buy headed by Ray Ledger and has been working with a number of construction related companies since then, with a spell back in rental.
His feasibility study for CA was accepted and he began looking for premises and sourcing equipment, he and the company settled on two major suppliers to begin with Skyjack for scissor lifts, especially the company’s SJ9250 and 8841 big deck scissor lifts, ideal machines for cladding and roofing.
On the boom side he selected Niftylift with a focus on the company’s Hybrid 4x4 units although it has taken a good cross section of machines from the popular HR12 Bi-Energy to the HR124X4, HR17 and HR21. The first units – 25 big deck Skyjacks - were delivered between June and September and used mostly on CA Group sites.
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Tim Ward of Nifty hands over the latest boom lifts to Greg Miller of UPA
For premises the company selected a brownfield site in Lymm, close to junction 20 on the M6, near to Manchester and Liverpool, and those who attend Vertikal Days just south of Haydock Park. Once planning permission was granted to develop the site into a purpose built depot the company started work on the new site in October and began trading from their in December.
The company sourced Land Rover Defenders and specially built trailers for the sales team, to help with deliveries etc... It has paid cash for all of its equipment purchases with 116 units already delivered. Miller says that the plan is to ensure that all equipment is replaced by the time it reaches five years old, in order to ensure that it maintains a low average age in the fleet. In addition to the Niftylift booms and big Skyjacks the fleet includes other Skyjack electrics, including 6826s and SJ vertical mast models.
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Greg Miller of UPA with David Hall of Skyjack
More units are planned in what Miller calls 'Stage Two' with the fleet likely to top 200 units by mid-year. “The access rental business is very much a people business and United will focus most of all on customers - customers first and foremost,” said Miller. “We have set rates at levels which are competitive for the equipment being offered and believe that combined with the service we plan to offer they will command a small premium."
Deliveries to non CA related customers has now begun according to Miller with demand looking set to ramp up rapidly in the new year.
I can say, it’s been a pleasure to work with Greg and all at UPA as they successfully developed and grew the business over the last 12 months.
I think he looks rather 'nifty'.
Pity about the trouser/shoes combo though.... Ouch!
I have known Greg for many years now and was very pleased when he told me about this new venture.
We have been working with him and his team for some time now, always sharp and professional and open to new ideas.
A pleasure to deal with.
Too many access companies thinking that they control the market. My advice to you Greg is to carry on being different it's a shame that you have to join IPAF that's another communist organization who think they know everything
I am glad to say, that Heritage was UPA's first customer!! I have known Greg, for some 17/18 years now. He is a try gentleman and a perfectionist to the highest order. I have given him last minute orders and UPA have responded like lightning. Good luck UPA, i know with [email protected] onboard, it will be an amazing successful company.
greg howell
MD for Heritage Hygienic Environments
Eddie Williams
We were contacted by Greg some months ago and he spoke about his new venture and the ethos of the new company.
At the time we were experiencing poor levels of service from his direct competitors [machines not turning up on time, machines breaking down on site etc.].Quite rapidly we learnt that all UPA's machines were brand new, this in turn could lead to potentially fewer breakdowns [at the time of writing and some six months into our relationship no UPA machines have broken down].Additionally the unique delivery method, has aided delivery /collection turnaround time-scales too.
Lastly it is refreshing being able to talk to the same person at order placement / delivery / collection /account stages, rather than the usual salesman who once obtains the order,then disappears into the ether when the problems arise.
We have no doubt that this company will be a successful one.
Rob 151
First Class equipment provided and first class service received from UPA since we commenced trading in 2013. We look forward to developing our relationship with UPA throughout 2014 and wish them every success.
It will be great to see how UAP develop their strategies, and with a tried and tested guy in the chair Greg can take them forward.
We have developed our Boom fleet with Niftylifts products and it has really helped our rates.
Go get them Greg!
Good Luck Greg. You deserve it