NEWSBRIEF

ge capital's new md to unify brands

GE Capital Equipment Services, the hire business which has emerged following US conglomerate GE Capital's spring purchase of plant hire company Barcom, has appointed an MD, David Edwards. The former director of United Carriers' parcels division who starts this week will play a key role in integrating the business's 11 distinct operations under one banner. At the same time as Edwards arrival a key industry source told CJ that a couple of the company's current managers, one of whom is understood to be David Meadham, boss of GE Capital Meadham Plant, are "heading for the door" under their own volition.

hewden strengthens with new posts

UK plant hirer Hewden Stuart which is in the middle of restructuring its operations to present a more focused business to its shareholders has recently strengthened its finance operation with the addition of several significant new posts. As well as appointing John Clarke to the newly created position of group financial controller, the company has made Alistair Smith finance director of Hewden Hire and David Shaw finance director of its crane division and tool hire operations. Overall control of the company's finances remains with group finance director Alistair Deakin who defined the recent appointments as: "Tidying up. Putting responsible people in responsible positions to take the company forward."

errut's new wet roller striker

After extensive field trials, Errut Products, a division of equipment manufacturer Belle Group, has introduced an all-new sectional roller striker for finishing wet concrete slabs of up to 7m in width. Features include an increase in tube diameter from 125mm to 150mm which, combined with a new method of tensioning, allows 100Nm of torque to be achieved between each section.

initial ptp's a tv high flyer

Initial PTP Aerial Platforms is flying high after winning the contract to help TV crews get dramatic shots of one of London's most spectacular events - the Lord Mayor's Show - from 70m up. The Bronto 72HLA platform, which is hydraulically powered and can rotate through 360¼, has already been central to TV coverage of Wimbledon and the British Grand Prix. Initial PTP Aerial Platforms which operates from 23 depots, is part of Initial Plant Services, whose parent company is Rentokil Initial.

i-r drill boosting quarry production

A new Ingersoll-Rand CM-345/CE/ARH Crawlair drill purchased by Staffordshire based drilling contractor, EMK Drilling and Blasting is boosting production at Tilcon Ballidon Quarry near Ashbourne. The medium-class rig suitable for one-man operation is being used to develop new ledges for blasting. To enable it to drill 125mm holes to a depth of 15m to 20m, the unit is fitted with the Air Rotary Head option which offers a maximum torque of 1492Nm.

blue circle puts hope in belle skidsteer

Blue Circle Hope Works has recently replaced one of its skidsteer loaders with a new Belle 740 model. Hope Works, located in the Peak District National Park, has used skidsteers for several years as the most economical method for tackling difficult access handling tasks and clean-up work. Despite test trials with competing models the company's operators opted for the Belle 740. Key attractions included the cab layout, and hand rather than foot operated bucket controls.