The Evangelist says:
Can u see any similarity between the language used by Mr. Sat Dhaiwal CEO of A Plant and Kosran’s September publicity from the two articles below?
Are A Plant & Kosran singing from the same hymn sheet?
... let me give you a few clues and u decide Taking A Plant's hushed performance on the acquisition front over the last few years, it would look like the company was a sleeping giant.
But with healthy results and programmes to trial insurance for small companies and build relationships with construction's big players, it is a formidable operator.
In light of the current economic conditions, managing director Sat Dhaiwal is cautious to commit the company to one particular policy in the short-term.
Yes, A Plant has a programme of organic growth, but no, it would not be averse to any opportunistic moves. "We're not looking for acquisitions at the moment," he says, "but over the next 12 months there will be a lot of uncertainty in the market so there may be some bargains around."
For the firm, organic growth means taking chances and thinking of innovative ways of engaging with its customers.
The A Plant Guarantee, which gives customers free rental for deliveries that arrive an hour late, is now up and running and Mr Dhaiwal says the company wants to use it to exceed contractors' traditional expectations of the hire industry.
"As we go into difficult times, we want our people looking at the customer," he says.
The E replies: Over 150 Hire Companies today put their customers at the heart of their business and supply 15,000 Kosran secured machines nationwide – unfortunately none are available from APlant.
"People order things for 8 am to be on the safe side because they don't expect it to arrive until much later.
If they order it for 10 am we will promise to deliver it at that time or they can have the hire for free."
Perhaps more innovative from the customer's point of view is a scheme the company is currently putting through its paces to deliver an insurance package when they hire its kit.
"We're trialing a scheme at the moment where customers don't have to pay an excess," says Mr. Dhaiwal.
The E replies: Promoted by Kosran amongst our Hire Company Customers since our first policy with Norwich Union was put in place in 2006 – congratulations to A Plant great initiative – now can some of our customers do the same? Come on we will help you we have endorsements and exclusive policies (not available to A Plant) for your Contractor customers. "It is aimed at the general builder who may not hire larger equipment very often. It's trialed in certain regions to see what the attitude is and we may roll it out over the rest of the country."
Remove a headache Contractors pay an extra 15 per cent on the hire cost for coverage in case of theft or damage. Mr Dhaiwal says the scheme will take the headache away from A Plant employees at its depots who sometimes find themselves sending contractors off to find insurance themselves.
The E replies: EXCELLENT –plant security pays provided it’s not a one circuit electronic immobiliser with a tracker – if it is not an electro-mechanical immobiliser shutting off the diesel fuel supply - it won’t stop your plant being stolen.
Mr Dhaiwal says he wants the company to move away from seeing plant theft as an opportunity to renew kit.
"Historically, the mindset was that the responsibility was with the contractor," says Mr Dhaiwal.
"But the hirer would still have to go out and buy a new machine and that could mean waiting six weeks for a telehandler and possibly losing a customer. We make our money from renting equipment, servicing it and renting it again, not from lost equipment."
The E replies: Hire Companies should listen to Mr. Dhaiwal – Plant Security Pays and is progressive – the industry is changing forever – it is time to change old ways - are you what is your plan? Dial 0870 787 5687
At the other end of the construction industry, A Plant is also nurturing relationships with major contractors and started the year winning its largest supply contract to date – a £16 million deal to provide kit to Wates Group.
Mr Dhaiwal says the company wants to tap into the move by major contractors to let hire firms take care of the machines they use.
More sophisticated "Our customers have got more sophisticated in bringing in procurement teams, who are asking whether plant is their core business," he says.
"There are a few firms with big fleets and it will be interesting to see if they will maintain those or divest them and it will also be interesting to see if we will enter agreements with them."
A Plant might not have entered into many headline grabbing deals to swallow its competitors in recent times, but it has stuck its neck out and developed new ways of operating within the plant hire industry. The coming months will see how a hire giant adapts itself to a slower market.
The E replies: APLANT offer enigma tracking with a one circuit electronic immobiliser – this will not stop the machine being stolen in the first place, – sorry wrong product solution. Kosran electro-mechanical immobilisation is just too much for a thief. This would all be super if only A PLANT supplied Kosran – Dial 0870 787 5687. I am waiting by the phone.
