We have a wealth of experience across a great number of  different industries and can provide specialist straddle carriers and maintenance for specific applications.

In his new role as customer services manager, Ian will support the forklift supplier’s existing employees in delivering the region’s highest standards of customer service and support.

Ian brings with him more than 35 years of materials handling experience. His career includes a wide range of roles: from designing forklift trucks for a leading international manufacturer to selling them in Britain and abroad.

Ian’s most recent role – working in the UK across a wide range of industries, in specialist applications and MHE management – has given him an in-depth understanding of fork lift trucks… and their users.

He says: “Throughout my career, I have worked with customers of every shape, size and industry with one goal in mind: to help them get the best value from their own operations by optimising their materials handling equipment, maintenance and related support processes.”

“Over the years I’ve taken a particular interest in challenging existing practices and working to implement techniques and products which improve a customer’s operations.”

“Performance is everything in high capacity operations, such as port and dock work, whisky handling and freight operations. Our customers need products and a dealer that they can rely upon – every hour of every day. That’s why I am delighted to be working with Douglas Gillespie Plant. We offer a unique combination of products from an approved range of international manufacturers, properly trained and equipped field engineers, with a proven reputation for reliability, and an organisation that consistently delivers the highest quality of customer care.”

Director Gordon Barclay is particularly impressed by Ian’s in-depth understanding of customer needs. Gordon says: “Ian’s unrivalled ability in generating the best deal for each and every customer, combined with his technical background makes him a massive asset for Douglas Gillespie Plant.”

The award was presented to Christopher at the CMPE 51^st Anniversary Dinner at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Glasgow.

Douglas Gillespie Plant, the Glasgow-based fork lift truck specialist, sent Christopher on the Construction Plant Maintenance course at North Glasgow College. The course is for apprentices in Construction and Materials Handling Plant Maintenance who wish to follow a career in the repair and maintenance of equipment associated with the Construction Plant Industry.

The day release course provides learners with good knowledge and practical engineering skills in order to maintain, repair and service a wide range of plant and equipment. Learners must be employed within the industry and can progress from Level 1 to Level 3 throughout their apprenticeship. Successful candidates are awarded the Scottish Qualifications Authority SVQ certification.  On completion of the course the college will nominate an apprentice to be presented with the CMPE Award.

The CMPE was formed in 1957, its members being individuals with a common interest in the operation, maintenance and repair of construction plant and machinery. The objective of the CMPE is to broaden the scope and knowledge of its members.

“North Glasgow College is proud of its relationship with the CMPE and in particular the apprentice award where the winner is presented with the CMPE Shield,” said John McGrath of North Glasgow College. “DGP’s Christopher Ferguson showed outstanding achievement in his final year and was a worthy winner of this prestigious award.”

Winner Christopher Ferguson added “I found the course really interesting and it has given me great practical skills for my career in the forklift industry.”

Douglas Gillespie Plant is a family firm occupying custom-built premises in Glasgow’s Darnley Industrial Estate. It employs over 30 staff and maintains a rental fleet of more than 600 forklift trucks and sideloaders, servicing customers nationwide.

Aggreko plc is the world leader in the supply of temporary power and temperature control solutions with customers in over 100 countries. It provides heating, cooling or power facilities either at short notice or for a certain time period to a wide range of industry sectors such as construction, manufacturing and facilities management. One of its major customers is the sporting and entertainment sector, and Aggreko recently served the needs of high profile events such as the Beijing 2008 Olympics and the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.

Aggreko designs and manufactures its equipment at its factory in Dumbarton, Scotland, and is the first company to take delivery of the newly developed Combilift Straddle Carrier. This will enable it to make vast cost savings on the handling of the large number of generators and container units produced at the site to keep up with global customer demand. The Straddle Carrier is being unveiled at a special product launch at Combilift’s HQ and manufacturing facility in Monaghan on 15^th April, and will be shipped to Dumbarton following this event.

After making an initial enquiry regarding better handling procedures for generator engines in the pre production storage facility, Aggreko turned its attention to the more pressing issue of ensuring the efficient movement of finished generators due to a planned move to a new site in 2011. Aggreko’s team – Project Coordinator Derek Neilson, Facilities Coordinator Alex Hardie and Senior Project Manager Ken Gordon, consulted Brian Docherty of the local Combilift distributor Douglas Gillespie Plant (DGP) and Combilift’s Anthony Rooney for advice. Together they identified the Straddle Carrier, then in the design phase, as being ideal for Aggreko’s requirements. “With lengths of 20 to 40 feet, the dimensions of generators are comparable to containers,” says DGP’s Brian Docherty. “I was aware of product development at Combilift involving container handling and when we looked more closely at the design and features of the Combilift Straddle Carrier everyone involved in the project realised that this would be far superior to any other option on the market.”

“Two major factors in the choice of new handling equipment were cost and the weight of any machine capable of carrying 25t loads,” explains Derek Neilson. “Our previous system was based on cranes and trailers, and hire costs for these have been extremely high and we were keen to cut this.  Any conventional reach stacker up to our requirements has an unladen weight of around 70t, and the loading on each wheel would have meant spending considerable sums on reinforcing the floor in the new premises. As the Combilift Straddle Carrier is around four times lighter than a reach stacker, the ground pressure is obviously greatly reduced even when it is used to carry two generators to its full capacity of 35t. We therefore quickly recognised that it is not only a more affordable alternative to the conventional truck but will enable Aggreko to save considerable outlay on upgrading the flooring across the new site.”

Combilift has had a reputation for coming up with innovative handling solutions since it was first established in 1998. MD Martin McVicar explains the rationale behind the new product: “We saw a gap in the container handling market for a cost effective, very light but nevertheless extremely stable alternative to conventional container handling forklifts, reach stackers or mobile cranes, so have been developing the Combilift Straddle Carrier over the last 18 months or so. This latest addition to our range offers customers complete independence when it comes to moving products around a site. Savings made by not having to hire other equipment make for a very quick return on the initial capital investment. Like Aggreko, we offer solutions to a global marketplace and we believe that the introduction of the Straddle Carrier will have a significant worldwide impact in the container handling sector.”

Combilift has developed both four-wheel and three-wheel Straddle Carriers. As Aggreko needed to double stack generators from the ground up their initial option is a four-wheel, diesel powered model (LPG power is also available) and the company will also be leasing a second three-wheel machine and looking to purchase a further four-wheel model before the move to the new premises. In the meantime, the first Straddle Carrier will improve operations on the current site. Its flexibility will have the immediate effect of eliminating parked trailers for lower costs and better use of space. With around 115 units needing to be moved on a weekly basis its speedy operation is also of considerable benefit – taking a unit from the production plant and loading it for dispatch takes less than three minutes – three times faster than the crane / trailer combination. Aggreko’s requirements for manouevering and lifting the 5t engines to a height of 6m in the pre-production storage area will also be addressed by the delivery of two 10 t capacity C 10,000 4-way Combilift models.

MGM Timber (Scotland) Ltd has taken delivery of six Combilift 4-way forklifts which will be used in its locations across the country to improve the handling and storage  procedures of the company’s wide range of forest products such as structural and aesthetic timbers, sheet materials, joinery, decking and flooring products as well as a wide range of insulation and plasterboard products.

Part of the James Donaldson Group of companies, MGM Timber (Scotland) Ltd was established in 1991 and has grown to become Scotland’s largest independent timber merchant with sales of £30m in 2009/10.  Eight of its twelve branches are now equipped with Combilifts after trials of the trucks when the Oban and Prestwick sites were opened. MD Scott Cairns: “Brian Docherty of our long term service provider Douglas Gillespie Plant (DGP) recommended the versatile qualities of the Combilift as being ideal for our requirements and this proved to be excellent advice, as we have come to expect from DGP.”

MGM had previously needed a combination of sideloaders and counterbalance forklifts to cope with its varying sizes of loads ranging from palletised goods to 6m long packs of timber. The Combilift’s ability to work as a sideloader as well as a conventional truck plus its 4-way capability eliminates the need for multiple machines. Operations are speeded up as drivers no longer need to switch from one truck to another for specific tasks, and the number of forklift movements are reduced for enhanced health and safety procedures.

DGP is Scotland’s leading independent fork lift truck specialist, with 40 years experience servicing customers across the nation. “We have been supplying equipment, including Combilifts, for various divisions of the Donaldson group for over 10 years now,” says DGP’s Brian Docherty, “such as Donaldson Timber Engineering (roof trusses and floor systems) and James Donaldson Timber (sawmills). MGM’s new Oban and Prestwick branches presented a good opportunity for a more streamlined materials handling approach.”  The initial Combilifts were so successful that the decision was made to introduce this system in other branches. MGM’s handling is now considerably more efficient than with the conventional sideloader and frontloader combination. Mr. Cairns comments “the efficiencies are clear to see for our business and as we continue to expand our branch network we will continue to utilise the Combilift product where ever appropriate. Our business is all about service, and as we continue to outperform our competitors the Combilift product helps us to stay one step ahead’’.

Diesel powered C4000 Combilifts as well as more modified versions of the C4000 were chosen as the most suitable models for MGM’s requirements.  The C4000 was the first Combilift to be launched and is considered to be the core model of Combilift’s range. Its 4 tonne capacity and ability to work in narrow aisles as well as on semi-rough terrain make it a versatile workhorse for a wide variety of applications.

Combilift 4-way forklifts are all designed and built in Monaghan, Ireland, where the company also has its HQ and R&D facility. The current range now encompasses at least fifteen base models with capacities ranging from 2.5 – 25 tonnes. Combilift has won numerous awards for its products since the company was established in 1998, and there are now around 14,000 units in operation around the world.

Douglas Gillespie Plant is recognised as Scotland’s expert in supplying explosion protected trucks for use in hazardous Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas.

We can arrange conversion of diesel and electric forklifts, sideloaders and other lifting equipment to be flame and explosion proof according to the latest ATEX health and safety standards.

Whether you require to buy new or used flame proof trucks or would like them on contract hire, we have a wide range available and our engineers and sales staff are extremely well qualified in dealing with explosion proof materials handling equipment.

Douglas Gillespie Plant technicians are qualified to conduct PAT electrical testing.