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Econ Standard issue 91_Econ Standard 20/09/2021 20:03 Page 1

‘know how’

customer service. It was
Scottish highways contractor spot on.
“Since day one my
Hotbox has been on
streets ahead of competition hire to the local council.
And whilst it’s working
every day, we are keeping Standard · Issue No.91
with Econ Hotbox it looking spotless. It’s
as shiny now as the day
I collected it.”
When Donald Peacock’s 12 year old highways maintenance vehicle was coming Paul Wigby, Econ Hire
to the end of the road, he turned to Econ Engineering for its replacement. & Pre-owned Sales
Manager, said: “Our Investment ensures North Yorkshire
Donald, who initially started as a labourer surfacing roads for Dumfries & Galloway, now has his own clients range in size
small business, with the Scottish authority being one of his regular clients. from some of the
biggest councils and
Whilst the 61-year-old was familiar with the Econ name, and in particular their gritters, he initially felt highways contractors in County Council is well prepared
he might be too small for the company to supply him with one of their Hotboxes.
the UK, to sole traders
However, a four word SOS email to the company saying ‘sell me a hotbox’ was quickly answered, and like Donald.
eight weeks later Donald was at Econ’s Ripon factory to collect his brand new Hotbox.
“We were delighted to be able to fulfil his order, and it’s great to hear his new Econ Even at the height of summer, plans are being laid to ensure North Yorkshire is ready for whatever
Donald said: “Paul Wigby and the Econ team were excellent, really excellent. As a one man band, Hotbox has been constantly employed doing the job that it’s designed for – helping winter might throw at the county.
I wrongly thought I may have been too small for them. I cannot speak highly enough about their repair the nations roads.”
Keeping the counties vast roads network moving for residents and businesses is a high priority for the County Council – and that
means a modern fleet of gritters is essential.

North Yorkshire CC has invested almost £2.2m in 18 new gritters to replace some of the vehicles in its fleet of 80 gritters.
Little John takes Tameside hooks new gritter Cllr Don Mackenzie, Executive Member for Access, said: “We fully understand how important it is for residents and businesses to
keep North Yorkshire moving throughout winter. To do that, we need to ensure our fleet stays right up-to-date. That’s why we’re
investing now, and why we have a policy that none of our gritters should be more than eight years old and the average age of the
a big adventure whole fleet should be less than five.”

A three year old boy from Skelton, near Ripon has been
given a VIP tour of Econ Engineering after winning a grit-
ter colouring competition.

And the tour of the factory located off Boroughbridge Road, which makes
85 percent of the UK’s winter roads maintenance vehicles, was made The new vehicles will form part of the NY Highways fleet. NY Highways is a company created by the County Council but operating
even more poignant as this is where his grandfather, John Simmonds, as a private business. It took on the role of maintaining the county’s 5,800 miles of road after the County Council’s private sector
used to work. contract ended earlier this year. The company is looking ahead to its first winter.
‘Little’ John Telling, who was named after his grandfather, was shown Ross Bullerwell, managing director of NY Highways, said: “Our preparations for winter are going very well. The summer restock of
around the factory by Directors Jonathan and Andrew Lupton. He was taken salt is under way and we are doing full summer services of all our existing gritters.
to the paint shop where his grandfather worked for more than a decade The vehicles, which are built on Mercedes-Benz chassis,
and was presented with a model gritter, visor and hi-vis vest. “It is great to have the investment in these new vehicles. It really enhances our fleet and gives us a very young fleet. This helps us are either four-wheel drive or six-wheel drive to help
to ensure that we deliver a successful winter maintenance programme to keep the roads safe and clear for travellers.”
them to cope with North Yorkshire’s rural topography.
Econ Engineering Director Jonathan Lupton said “It was a real pleasure to They can be fitted with ploughs, if required, and have the
take ‘Little’ John and his dad, Liam, on a tour of the factory. It was The 18 gritters have been manufactured by North Yorkshire company Econ, which is based in Ripon. latest GPS tracking systems. Their engines meet the
particularly nice to be able to show him where his grandfather, a valued latest emission standards. They are fitted with safety
member of the Econ Engineering team, worked for many years. features that maximize the driver’s visibility and have
Tameside Council, covering a large region to the east of Manchester, serves reflective logos and markings to help the vehicles to be
around 200,000 residents. At present, the Council has a fleet of six Econ gritters seen in all weathers and at night.
and a Winter Resilience Team consisting of 25 members of staff.
Econ recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, having
Back in 2016, Econ provided an initial six gritters to Tameside Council. However, in 2020 one needed been founded in 1969. The company employs 240
replacing as it was beyond its operational life. We were able to step in and provide a replacement by people at its base in Ripon and has satellites in Scotland,
winning an open tender based on specification and the best price. Wales and Suffolk. It manufactures 300 gritters a year.
Mark Ellison, the Council’s Group Engineering Manager, said: “We chose Econ because of the reliable
products and good aftersales support team. Econ is a quality company and we genuinely like working Kevin Yale, Econ’s Account Manager, said: “Econ was
with the team.” very pleased to be involved in this very comprehensive
procurement process, which resulted in some of the
“We look after carriageways that border with Derbyshire, Oldham, Manchester and Stockport,” said highest specification gritters in the UK being supplied to
Mark. “As we head towards winter, the vehicle will be helping to ensure they stay clear and safe despite this exciting new venture, NY Highways. Econ’s commit-
the drop in temperatures.” ment to providing an excellent service, as well as invest-
ing in the county, can be seen from its recent £8m
expansion at Sowerby, Thirsk.”

Gritters in operation by the sea side The County Council spends between £6m and £10m
each year on winter gritting, depending on the severity
of the weather. Last winter, gritters completed more than
“Being a family business, we pride ourselves on our family values, and to 10,000 runs. Salt accounts for about a third of the
make this little boy’s day could not make us any happier. And who knows During the summer heatwave, Econ operation’s cost, and taking advantage of improvements
in 20 years time ‘Little’ John may even follow in his grandfather’s footsteps gritters were called up by Cornwall in gritters’ ability to spread more accurately has recently
and become a member of the extended Econ family” Council – and on this occasion, not contributed to annual savings of up to £120,000.
to spread salt! With temperatures
Dad Liam said “I would like to thank Econ for inviting ‘Little’ John to visit soaring into the 30s, the gritters
the factory. One of the highlights for him was sitting in Goldie the Golden were instead used to spread sand
Gritter, which was the focus of the colouring competition. on the roads of the Cornish coast to
stop them from melting. A fleet of
‘Little’ John is fascinated with gritters, and every time he sees one, he asks eight from Econ’s hire fleet were in ECON to open new
if his grandad had painted it. It was a special day for him and I’m sure his use across the county and what a
love of gritters will grow further as a result.” fantastic job they did!
£7million Thirsk

Engineering Facility
50th Anniversary ECON ENGINEERING LIMITED

Boroughbridge Road, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 1UE England See inside for details...
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