Page 2 - Econ Standard 89

Econ Standard issue 89_Econ Standard 20/01/2021 10:08 Page 2

‘know how’ ‘know how’

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Thanks for the memories ’ Super 8 join Robert

McAlpine s M6 fleet
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I have thoroughly enjoyed working at Econ and it has definitely kept
me motivated to keep going. Over the last 50 years, there has been so Sir Robert McAlpine are the M6’s routine operation and maintenance contractor.
many highlights – too many great memories for me to pick out any Sir Robert McAlpine maintain 90km of the A74(M)/M74 from the border Gretna to As a result, Sir Robert McAlpine purchased eight new 9m pre wet spreaders. Pre-wet
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single moment. I am going to miss this place very much. J12 Millbank for Autolink, on behalf of Transport Scotland. spreaders are a contract requirement for the M6. The pre-wetting has both economic
and environmental benefits as the pre-wet grit sticks to the road and the moisture
Shortly after I joined Econ, I lost my brother Brian (Babe) Thompson to Leukaemia which hit ECON supplied Sir Robert McAlpine with their winter fleet to support the contract back in 2013. Sir Robert added to the salt creates a reaction so the de-icing process starts earlier. These gritters
me very hard. The support I received from Lupton Senior during this time was incredible and McAlpine were looking to upgrade the fleet in 2020 so a review was carried out to look at the specification are capable of also applying dry salt if the conditions require it – such as snow or rain
that support and goodwill still runs strongly through the business now. and areas were identified for upgrading. prior to the treatment time.
I would therefore like to use this opportunity to raise some vital funds for a charity so close The vehicle’s are fitted with Spargo Touch Control Boxes allowing the operator to use
to my heart – Leukaemia UK. In lieu of retirement gifts, it would mean an awful lot to me if the increased touch screen display in conjunction with the familiar click turn controls as
donations could be made instead to Leukaemia UK. Donations can be made by following seen on previous Spargo 5, 6 and 7 control systems. Sir Robert McAlpine already hold
the link here<https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/peterthompsonretirement> visibility as a high regard on the fleet, so alongside the Scania Chassis, the vehicle is
It’s not quite sunk in yet that I won’t be making my journey to work on Monday 14 December fitted with additional warning lights to the front and rear of the vehicle to warn other
so to keep myself busy I’ve bought a 34-year-old Suzuki RH250 as a restoration project! That road users of the vehicles activity.
will help pass the time, until I’m able to travel to spend more time with my family in Australia. Sir Robert McAlpine also signed a 7-year repair and maintenance contract to cover the
repair and maintenance of the bodywork on the eight new vehicles. This is something
Thank you to everyone who I have worked with over the years – it’s been a pleasure.
they had taken out on the old fleet which stood them in good stead. The condition of
the used vehicles was excellent, so ECON’s used division purchased them from Sir
Robert McAlpine.
Martin Mitchell, Procurement Lead at Sir Robert McAlpine said “We were delighted with
our original fleet for the M6 coupled with the amazing repair and maintenance
package so replacing them with newer ECON models was the preferred choice.
“All our original vehicles bodywork was kept in excellent condition thanks to the service
engineers who were responsible for the maintenance of the vehicles.
“Our new fleet has been upgraded with the latest innovations and are ready to keep
motorists moving on the M6.”

Norse Highways maintain approximately 9,850km of Norfolk’s highways on behalf of
Norfolk CC’s newest fleet Norfolk County Council. Norse took over the routine maintenance of Norfolk’s roads
back in October 2019 when 150 members of Norfolk County Council staff transferred
to Norse. Norse is 100% owned by Norfolk County Council and this contract should
additions are leading the eventually save the Council up to £500,000 a year.
As well as other services, Norse provide a complete range of highways services
Econ Engineer James An Econ Engineering employee who has worked on “I’m incredibly proud of being a part of the Econ team including repairing potholes, routine maintenance, carriageway surfacing and repair,
and what we do here, in Ripon. I’m also still very
emergency response and during the winter months gritting.
more than 10,000 gritters and snow ploughs has “come
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Simmonds Comes Of Age ’ of age”. proud of the role we play in keeping Britain’s roads way in spinner technology
open during the harshest of winters.
James Simmonds, who started working for the Ripon-based business
when he was 19, has celebrated 21 years at the firm, which supplies 85 “It’s an honour to receive this watch and I will wear it
per cent of the winter maintenance vehicles used on Britain’s roads. with pride. I’m also looking forward to continuing my
role working on the fantastic winter maintenance The last time Norfolk County Council added to its winter fleet was back in 2016,
And to thank him for his unstinting service, Ripon-born James was vehicles that we are famed for.” meaning in 2020, seven vehicles, purchased in 2010, were due for replacement.
presented with an engraved watch by Operations Director, Jonathan Following a competitive tender process ECON successfully won the contract to
Lupton, and Factory Manager, Colin Trewhitt, during a socially distanced Jonathan Lupton said: “James is a valued member of supply seven brand-new vehicles along with ploughs, bringing Norfolk County
ceremony. the Econ team and we are delighted to have presented Council’s Econ permanent mount spreaders total to 45 vehicles – all of which are
him with this watch as a mark of our gratitude.
James, who is part-of a nine strong team that prepares vehicle chassis now ECON.
ahead of them being ‘made’ into snow ploughs, gritters and ‘hotboxes’, “These days it’s rare for employees to stay in one job for
said: “Econ is a great place to work and I’m incredibly happy here.
a long time but Econ is an exception. James is one of a
“From the first day I set foot on the factory floor I’ve never looked back. good number of colleagues who began their career with
Over the last 21 years the business has evolved, and there has always us as teenagers, and have continued their employment
Coming of Age! Econ engineer James Simmonds, centre, with Operations
Director, Jonathan Lupton, left, and Factory Manager, Colin Trewhitt. been continual investment. with us as valued members of the ‘Econ family’.

Norfolk’s new Econ gritters are leading the way in 2020 as they are the first to be fitted
with the new ECON control design. The new design improves efficiency and will reduce
the potential for repair as there are fewer moving parts on the spinner control system.
Falkirk reduces Carbon Footprint The vehicles are also fitted with Econ’s latest in cab control system manufactured in
house at Econ, Spargo X offers the operator multiple upgrades. The single screen now
incorporates the camera system and if selected the navigation function so to compress
all detail into one single unit. Upgrades on the box also allow for working beacons and
Falkirk Council is no stranger to Econ vehicles with five Unibody gritters and operating light’s to work when required rather than staying on for the whole journey,
three Multispread vehicles in their existing fleet. However, the addition of an touch screen controls along with the option to add back in the click turn controls used
on Econ’s SPARGO control system since its inception.
ECON road mender has allowed them to reduce their carbon footprint. Now
they only need one vehicle on site rather than two thanks to the twin chamber Norse also have a contract maintenance agreement with Econ for their winter
design. maintenance fleet and hotboxes meaning Econ’s service engineers service and maintain
the bodywork on the Norfolk vehicles including a full 24 hr – 7 Day a week breakdown
The Econ roadmender offers a complete patch repair system. It has the capacity to carry the callout cover from October to April each year.
reinstatement material as well as take away the old broken road surface. This means that there is no
longer the requirement for an additional vehicle to take away the old waste – therefore reducing their Jason Glasspoole, Operations Director at Norse Highways said “The new technology is
carbon footprint. more efficient at salt distribution and really does help to make road conditions safer
during the winter season. Our teams are ready for the job at hand this winter.”
The new Econ roadmender is used by Falkirk’s quick response team who repair potholes throughout Cllr Martin Wilby, Norfolk County Council’s cabinet member for highways, infrastructure
the Falkirk Council area. The south east Scotland local authority, whose area covers the town of and transport, said: “It’s important for us to stay up to date and use the latest
Falkirk– voted the most attractive Scottish town– as well as Grangemouth and Stenhousemuir
technology to be as efficient as possible, which is why we’re making these replacements.
Gordon MacLachlan, Area Engineer for Falkirk Council said “We are extremely happy with the Econ “These new gritters will have a long road ahead of them, as our highways teams do their
roadmender. Its design has certainly helped us to be more efficient due to not needing to use a back vital job to keep people safe as the colder weather sets in throughout the following
up vehicle which also makes us greener.” winter months.”

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