A national engineering company is lighting the way in environmental good practice after replacing all of its lights with industry sensing LED Luminaires.

Econ Engineering – which supplies 85 per cent of the winter maintenance vehicles used on Britain’s roads and employs a workforce of more than 240 – is committed to significantly reducing its carbon footprint with a series of green initiatives.

In relation to the LED Luminaires, the bulbs sense movement within the workplace and adjust the light strength accordingly. This will save 109 tonnes of carbon entering the atmosphere per year over the old system.

As well as being more energy efficient – which in turn has reduced Econ’s demand on the national grid – the new bulbs have a substantially longer lifetime, which makes them significantly more environmentally friendly.

This move comes on back of the firm investing more than £220,000 in green technology with the installation of 800 photovoltaic solar panels on the main factory roof.

These panels with their estimated yield of 158,000 KWh/Year will offset 62.5 tonnes of carbon every year. This means that over their 25-year lifetime, they will provide a carbon saving of 1,562,566kg.

The company anticipates that this measure alone will reduce its electrical consumption by 15 per cent per year.

And a £850,000 state-of-the-art laser cutter it has just purchased is helping increase throughput in its engineering workshop as well as reducing CO2 emissions.

The new Bystar Fibre 6225 Dynamic uses nitrogen in the cutting process as opposed to carbon dioxide. As opposed to its predecessor, it uses only 50kw/hr of electricity against 98kw/hr, which will save approximately 75 tonnes of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere.

Additionally, Econ employs a small team of dedicated buyers to source its materials and parts locally as a priority.

By sourcing locally, it not only supports the local economy within Yorkshire – where the firm is based – but it also helps to reduce its carbon footprint by reducing the levels of transportation associated with delivering component parts.

The supply chain manager also has a mandate to monitor purchasing levels, to reduce excess waste and the amount of co² consumed in deliveries. It is also committed to recycling all its scrap metal too.

Beverley Shepherd, Econ Engineering’s HR and Finance Director, said: “We are continually reviewing our carbon footprint as part of our environmental policy.

“This is in line with the UK Government’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80 per cent by 2050, and the Renewable Energy Directive target of generating 15 per cent of UK energy consumption from renewable sources by the end of this year.

“We take our environmental credentials very seriously and are committed to ensuring we work in the most environmentally way possible. We are proud of our efforts so far, but we realise there is still more work to be done.

“However, with the support of all our employees – and suppliers – we know we can achieve this.

The Covid 19 situation is new to all of us and the position and advice continues to change frequently. Econ will continue to follow all the UK Government direction. We have also put in place actions to protect the welfare of our employees, our customers’ employees and for the continued success of the business. The actions are focused on protecting continuity of business for our customers and for Econ.

• General procedures:
  • No handshakes
  • Handwashing frequently and thoroughly especially before and after meeting people
  • All employees are requested to follow all the government advice in their social life
  • All non-essential travel has been postponed
  • Internal meetings of no more than four people with attention to safe distancing
  • Increasing use of videoconferencing for customer/supplier meetings

• Service:
  • All scheduled services will continue as planned
  • All installations will continue as scheduled
  • Our service field engineers will continue to operate as normal and make all your scheduled visits
  • Field engineers have hand sanitizer in their cars and use it every time they enter and leave the vehicle
  • Our field engineers will abide by any customer instructions or special behaviours requested
  • There are no field engineer social event gatherings
  • The hotline team is split between office based and home working
  • There will be a high focus on Remote Fix to customer issues
  • Additional homeworking is under consideration for support staff

• Please let us know:
  • If you have an issue that will impact on the way we support you
  • If there is any special support you may require during this period
  • If Econ employees are not following the guidelines set out above

Our aim is to continue to support your business during the current circumstances and to ensure we maintain continuity in the services we offer.

It was a pleasure to welcome Stray FM to the factory a few weeks ago. Hear how the interview went with members of the team by listening here.

A North Yorkshire engineering company that manufactures more than 80 per cent of the winter maintenance and repair vehicles used on Britain’s roads has ploughed £850,000 into a new state-of-the-art laser cutter.

The new machine purchased by Econ Engineering will not only significantly increase throughput in its engineering workshop, it will also reduce the firm’s carbon footprint.

The £850,000 Bystar Fibre 6225 Dynamic – which will replace its existing Bystar L 4025 – uses nitrogen in the cutting process as opposed to oxygen, which will increase cutting speeds by up to 600 per cent on metal with a thickness of up to 3mm and 400 per cent on materials 4mm to 10mm.

Cutting with nitrogen rather than oxygen eliminates the carbon edge on cut mild steel profiles, this in turn gives improved weldability and provides a cleaner surface for paint adherence and therefore increases the durability of the painted product. Unfortunately, the salt or brine used for de-icing our roads in cold weather, is highly corrosive for the vehicles used to apply them. Econ has worked closely with their paint suppliers to create specialist paints that protect their vehicles however, the elimination of the carbon edge is another small step to improving their longevity.

And, with the new machine using only 50kw/hr of electricity against 98kw/hr, this will save approximately 75 tonnes of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere.

Colin Trewhitt, Econ Engineering’s Factory Manager, said: “The purchase of this new laser cutting machine represents a significant investment for Econ, but one that will bring significant benefits.

“On average, we laser cut some 9,000 components every week, ranging in size from 100x50mm to 5500x1800mm, in aluminium/stainless steel and mild steel, and between 25 and 30 tonnes of steel plate.

“The new machine will not only allow us to cut faster but will also use a fraction of the power, which was a key consideration for us.”

Colin added: “This new technology can individually etch each component with an identification number – even on stainless steel – which will help us to meet the ISO 9001:2015 for parts identification. We expect this to increase our productivity both in the factory and within our service division, as it removes ambiguity around part identification.

“Additionally, we are now exploring the viability of creating our own on-site nitrogen generation plant compared to our current method of buying in bulk.”

The family run firm, which was set up in 1969, is the country’s largest producer of winter maintenance vehicles. It also has a hire fleet of more than 800 vehicles.

Two new Econ multispreads on DAF chassis have joined East Lothian’s fleet of utility vehicles as the council gears up for winter.

The Scottish county, known as the ‘golf coast’, is primarily made up of farmland and has a strong agricultural industry which relies on the 600 mile network of largely rural roads.

In harsh winter conditions the council’s fleet will grit up to 400 miles of its network and up to 20 miles of pathways, with over 900 grit bins provided for especially remote areas.

In order to maximise the efficiency of its 18-strong fleet this winter the council has replaced two of its older Econ multispreads with newer models.

With three QCB units, 13 multispread and two demount spreaders, East Lothian’s fleet can operate all year round, using the same vehicles for road maintenance and winter servicing tasks.

“Multi-purpose vehicles have always been our preference as they offer greater versatility and don’t have to wait half a year to get started,” said Bruce Moffat, service manager at East Lothian’s transport and waste services department.

“The new vehicles have been working on road maintenance projects since August and now the gritting season has begun we can just fill them with salt and send them straight out.”

He added: “Choosing to update the fleet with Econ was an easy decision to make: the majority of our vehicles are Econ, our drivers are already comfortable with the systems, and we’ve been very happy with Econ’s support.”

The two multispreads have also been fitted with alternative DAF cabs as the council aims to further increase the efficiency of its fleet.

“To really get the most out of the two new vehicles we chose two different cabs from DAF, one day cab and one crew cab. In these eco-conscious times having a crew cab is particularly useful as it allows us to take a full team to work on sites, without using another vehicle – saving time and using less fuel,” said Bruce.

A 24-strong fleet of brand new Econ gritters will be taking to the streets of Wiltshire this winter to keep the county moving whatever the weather.

Wiltshire Council has leased the Econ fleet and is  ready to tackle any fresh Beast from the East or extreme weather system that might hit the county this winter.

As well as the most up-to-date technology, the new winter fleet is also fitted with the very latest low emission engines. The Econ gritters will be used on Wiltshire’s primary network of A and B roads, covering 726 miles and spreading approximately 150 tonnes of salt each time they are sent out. Wiltshire Council has more than 11,000 tonnes of salt in stock strategically placed at six storage sites throughout the county.

Bridget Wayman, cabinet member for highways, said: “We have invested in this brand-new fleet of gritters to help keep Wiltshire moving during the cold winter months ahead.

“Our message is simple we’ve planned well and we’re ready. This new Econ fleet will make a real difference and, alongside our meticulous planning and strong links with communities, we can ensure we are ready for whatever the weather may bring.”

Mick Buckler, divisional manager at Ringway Wiltshire said: “”Ringway is delighted that Wiltshire Council has chosen to make such a positive investment in a new gritter fleet. This enables us, as contracting partner to the council, to continue to deliver an excellent winter service for the residents and communities of Wiltshire; keeping roads clear and safe and the travelling public moving effectively on major routes.”

Supported by highways staff, a dedicated team of Wiltshire Council duty engineers monitor the weather 24/7 during the winter season and 24 drivers are on standby to be called into action at any time. There are also weather stations in key areas to provide real-time information and accurate forecasts to ensure gritters are sent out at the right time.

Econ sales director Andrew Lupton said: “Econ has worked in partnership with Wiltshire Council for many years to ensure that the county’s road network is equipped with the most effective winter maintenance vehicles possible.

“The council shares our belief in the importance of technology and innovation in keeping winter roads safe and has taken great care to specify that their 24 Econ vehicles are fitted with the most up-to-date technology available. High-tech features such as touchscreen controllers will help to maximise the vehicles’ efficiency and safety, while low emissions chassis minimise environmental impact on Wiltshire’s roads and verges.”

M6 Toll gets winter-ready – with Econ vehicles

Econ’s history with the 27-mile M6 Toll, stretches back to the days before Britain’s only major toll road was opened to vehicles. Even before the first asphalt was laid, a fleet of Econ gritters were drafted in for testing, and Econ winter maintenance vehicles continued to patrol the West Midlands highway from its launch in 2003 until 2010.

This winter a fleet of brand new Econ gritters are back on the M6 Toll. The best of British engineering will be helping to keep the 50,000 drivers who regularly opt to avoid M6 congestion in Birmingham on the move throughout the worst of the winter weather conditions.

Made up of four brand new 6×4 19-plate Mercedes 2635 Arocs, the M6 Toll fleet feature high-tech bespoke control boxes and state-of-the-art touch screen controls. The specialised kit equips the Econ gritters to contend with the motorway’s super-sized carriageways, ensuring that salt is spread everywhere that it needs to be to keep the road surface safe and clear.

Steve Warren, M6 Toll motorway maintenance engineer manager, said: “We chose Econ to provide our gritters for this winter because we had a very positive experience with them over the seven years that we had previously worked with the company.

“Not only were the gritters themselves reliable but Econ’s service engineer was always excellent. Crucially, they could also provide a back-up vehicle that we can use in the case of a major breakdown that necessitated one of our gritters to be off the road.”

Steve added: “Econ was the only firm that fulfilled all of our criteria and it is a real pleasure to be working with the team again.”

Owned and operated by Midland Expressway, the M6 Toll announced its 250 millionth journey in October. With traffic for 2018 standing at 18.2 million journeys, the toll road plays an important role in alleviating congestion in and around Birmingham, as well as reducing environmental pollution levels.

Our support teams will be available on the following days during the Christmas period.

The team at Econ would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

December 2019

GRITTER TOUR SPREADS WORD OF ECON ENGINEERING’S 50 GOLDEN YEARS

A unique golden gritter is back at its Ripon base after a three-month tour spreading the word of Econ Engineering’s 50 years of manufacturing winter maintenance vehicles.

To mark its golden anniversary, the Ripon-based firm – which supplies 80 per cent of the winter maintenance vehicles used on Britain’s roads – created “Goldie”, a one-off golden gritter which visited local authorities, contract partners, schools and trade shows in England, Scotland and Wales ahead of winter.

During its 12-week country wide tour, Goldie clocked up more than 5,000 miles travelling the country’s highways and was seen by thousands of people, including Council Leaders and Highways Chiefs. Goldie also attended a series of plough days – where local authorities either train new drivers or re-fresh existing drivers on the workings of the plough before winter sets in – as well as naming days, where councils invite school children to name their new gritting vehicles.

Econ Engineering is the country’s largest producer of gritters and road mending vehicles, has a hire fleet of more than 800 vehicles, and employs a 220 strong workforce.

Amongst the events attended by Goldie were the Ceredigion County Council’s gritter drivers’ training day at Aberystwyth, Kent County Council’s winter maintenance day; and Truckfest – Europe’s largest trucking festival – at the Cheshire Showground.

Earlier in the year, Goldie took pride of place at the Annual Cold Comfort Conference & Exhibition in Harrogate – an event which has been at the heart of the UK winter service sector for over 25 years and remains the only conference in the UK focused on delivering insight and best practice in the sector.

Econ sales director Andrew Lupton said: “Goldie has been a fantastic ambassador for Econ Engineering and the UK tour has been a great success.

“To mark our 50^th anniversary, we wanted something that really shouted what we do – and have been doing successfully for the past five decades – hence Goldie.

“The tour was a superb opportunity for us to catch up with existing clients as well as meeting potential new partners, looking to either purchase one of our fleet of winter road maintenance vehicles or go down the hiring route, which is increasing in popularity year on year.”

Andrew added: “We are incredibly proud of our achievements over the last five decades. From our North Yorkshire base, we not only ship our vehicles all over the country, but around the world too.

“Whilst it’s always great to look back on our past successes, our focus is very much on the future and developing and adapting our fleet of vehicles to meet – and beat – customer expectations.”

This year marks our 50th year of manufacturing! We would like to invite you to our open day on Saturday 11th May, at our factory in Ripon. More details below.

To assist with catering and planning please email 50@econeng.co.uk to advise of numbers of attendees.

50th Poster