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FeedsHome: Winter 2009 › Supporting the industry
Supporting the industry
01/12/2009 | Channel: Manufacture, Equipment
Extending its product range has seen MGF gain a bigger market share within the utilities sector
MGF was first established nearly 30 years ago, with a focus on the manufacture and supply of quality excavation support equipment for the construction industry. It quickly developed a reputation for excellence within the construction business, becoming renowned for the quality design and manufacture of its shoring equipment. Having diversified into other areas, including safety equipment and pipe stoppers, MGF remains one of the UK’s leading names in excavation support equipment. From hydraulic frames and sheet piles to trench boxes, MGF offers shoring solutions for all applications.
The company’s business development manager, Michael O’Hara, elaborates on the company: “We have been trading for 28 years, and today MGF is undoubtedly recognised as a specialist in the field of excavation support. We are continuing with a defined strategy for growth and are committed to completing our UK coverage by extending our current network of seven depots across the UK. We have just completed a deal to buy another yard in South East London. The eight and a half acre site was a big investment but will give us the opportunity to establish a flagship depot within the M25 and complete our coverage of London and the South East.”
Moving on to talk about some of the company’s unique selling points, Michael highlights the focus that comes with operating as a private business: “As a private company, shoring equipment is our primary pursuit, so customers know that we are focused. While we have a number of traditional hire companies as competitors, we also design and manufacture our own equipment to support our core UK hire and sale markets. This gives us a unique ability to consider and deliver bespoke solutions for a variety of applications. Increasingly, on complex utility or civils projects, a bespoke element is required to provide the total solution, and we can design, manufacture and deliver it. This offers significant benefit and value to our customers and is most effective when we blend this bespoke element with some of our standard products to offer an efficient and flexible ‘hybrid’ solution.
“Another USP of our business is our strong engineering and design team. There are currently 13 people working in that department, allowing us to deal with increasingly high volumes of temporary works designs. This is proud of its record for consistently delivering this service in a short time – typically within 48 hours.”
Michael previously worked for JCB (UK Sales) and he outlines the importance of MGF’s relationship and continued co-operation with the world renowned manufacturer of construction machines: “Having worked for JCB for almost seven years, I maintained good relationships and contacts within the company when I returned to MGF. We’ve worked closely with JCB over the years to provide appropriate equipment and support when the company demonstrates its machines at sector specific events and other industry exhibitions. ”
The success of its most recent product launch – a range of safety equipment for use in excavations – has extended MGF’s scope within the utilities sector. Michael describes the new range: “The ‘Working at Height’ line of safety products is particularly applicable to the utility sector. They complement our core products, providing enhanced safety in any excavation project. The range comprises three key pieces of equipment – Edgesafe, Laddersafe and Davit Arm. The modular Edgesafe system provides fundamental edge protection while the safe access and egress from an excavation is covered by the Laddersafe product. The Davit Arm assembly completes the group and is designed for controlled rescue of personnel in the event of an accident or injury. These issues are very topical within the utilities industry at the moment, as health and safety has quite rightly become a huge issue, and this range of products has been developed to address these common areas of risk. The uptake on these safety products has been very positive. We can’t produce them quickly enough at the moment.”
Finally, he concludes by describing the current situation in the utility market and the future of MGF: “It’s well documented that the wider industry has faced a very challenging 12 months, however the utility sector seems to have held up well. Volumes of work have remained strong, and our activity in this key sector is increasing. We have a very clear growth strategy in place for the future, including investing in new locations, stock and the most important aspect of all: our people. “In the future we will remain customer-focused, maintaining our can-do, will-do approach. This is a very responsive sector and as long as we remain committed and flexible, we will continue to meet the demands of our customers now and in the years ahead.”
The company’s business development manager, Michael O’Hara, elaborates on the company: “We have been trading for 28 years, and today MGF is undoubtedly recognised as a specialist in the field of excavation support. We are continuing with a defined strategy for growth and are committed to completing our UK coverage by extending our current network of seven depots across the UK. We have just completed a deal to buy another yard in South East London. The eight and a half acre site was a big investment but will give us the opportunity to establish a flagship depot within the M25 and complete our coverage of London and the South East.”
Moving on to talk about some of the company’s unique selling points, Michael highlights the focus that comes with operating as a private business: “As a private company, shoring equipment is our primary pursuit, so customers know that we are focused. While we have a number of traditional hire companies as competitors, we also design and manufacture our own equipment to support our core UK hire and sale markets. This gives us a unique ability to consider and deliver bespoke solutions for a variety of applications. Increasingly, on complex utility or civils projects, a bespoke element is required to provide the total solution, and we can design, manufacture and deliver it. This offers significant benefit and value to our customers and is most effective when we blend this bespoke element with some of our standard products to offer an efficient and flexible ‘hybrid’ solution.
“Another USP of our business is our strong engineering and design team. There are currently 13 people working in that department, allowing us to deal with increasingly high volumes of temporary works designs. This is proud of its record for consistently delivering this service in a short time – typically within 48 hours.”
Michael previously worked for JCB (UK Sales) and he outlines the importance of MGF’s relationship and continued co-operation with the world renowned manufacturer of construction machines: “Having worked for JCB for almost seven years, I maintained good relationships and contacts within the company when I returned to MGF. We’ve worked closely with JCB over the years to provide appropriate equipment and support when the company demonstrates its machines at sector specific events and other industry exhibitions. ”
The success of its most recent product launch – a range of safety equipment for use in excavations – has extended MGF’s scope within the utilities sector. Michael describes the new range: “The ‘Working at Height’ line of safety products is particularly applicable to the utility sector. They complement our core products, providing enhanced safety in any excavation project. The range comprises three key pieces of equipment – Edgesafe, Laddersafe and Davit Arm. The modular Edgesafe system provides fundamental edge protection while the safe access and egress from an excavation is covered by the Laddersafe product. The Davit Arm assembly completes the group and is designed for controlled rescue of personnel in the event of an accident or injury. These issues are very topical within the utilities industry at the moment, as health and safety has quite rightly become a huge issue, and this range of products has been developed to address these common areas of risk. The uptake on these safety products has been very positive. We can’t produce them quickly enough at the moment.”
Finally, he concludes by describing the current situation in the utility market and the future of MGF: “It’s well documented that the wider industry has faced a very challenging 12 months, however the utility sector seems to have held up well. Volumes of work have remained strong, and our activity in this key sector is increasing. We have a very clear growth strategy in place for the future, including investing in new locations, stock and the most important aspect of all: our people. “In the future we will remain customer-focused, maintaining our can-do, will-do approach. This is a very responsive sector and as long as we remain committed and flexible, we will continue to meet the demands of our customers now and in the years ahead.”
