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Windsor Access Trucks Brought Aboard at Coldstar

Opening in July 2012, Coldstar Refrigeration has made a splash in its first five years of business.

The firm offers a range of services covering the installation of refrigeration, air conditioning and electrical systems from its workshop in Enterprise Village, Grimsby. With contracts stretching from Rye on the south coast to Fraserburgh in Scotland, Coldstar can only use the best access equipment for the job.

Luckily, when Coldstar electrical manager and RNLI Cleethorpes Helmsman, Darren Weatherill, needed some access equipment, he knew exactly where to turn.

Sales manager by day and volunteer lifesaver by night, Windsor Materials Handling’s Steve Austin devotes his free time to volunteering at one of the busiest lifeboat stations on the east coast of England. Carrying a pager, Steve and Darren arrive at the station within four minutes and aim to be launched and heading to the scene within ten minutes of being alerted to an incident, at any time of day.

“We are sometimes called out at 4am,” explained Steve, who had his eye on a kayaker on the Cleethorpes horizon while he spoke. “A lot of the jobs we get are due to people not realising the importance of having the proper equipment.”

Similarly, Steve’s day job involves ensuring businesses have the proper materials handling and access equipment to improve efficiency and reduce the risk of workplace accidents. For Coldstar, the challenge was finding the right machines to help during the installation and repair of air conditioning, refrigeration and electrical systems on customer sites.

Windsor delivered two JLG scissorlifts, reaching 19 feet in height. Darren was pleased with the access machinery. “The two machines are perfect for the job,” he said. “I knew I could count on Steve. At the end of the day, if I can trust him in life-threatening situations, I can trust him to supply us with the best equipment for the job.”

Now in its 10th year of providing access equipment as part of its first-class portfolio of services, Windsor has developed into one of the largest and most innovative suppliers of independent forklift and materials handling equipment in the UK since its origination in 1977.

Steve, who is based at the Immingham branch of Windsor, said: “At RNLI Cleethorpes, the crew is like an extension to your family. It goes without saying that the number one priority for us is saving lives at sea, but it is great to get to work with crew members in other capacities too. It builds trust, which is necessary not only at sea, but throughout working relationships too.”

As the charity that saves lives at sea, volunteers at the Royal National Lifeboat Institution provide a 24-hour search and rescue service in the United Kingdom and Ireland from 237 lifeboat stations. Relying on public donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service, it is separate from, but works alongside, government-controlled and funded coastguard services. Since its inception in 1824, at least 140,000 lives have been saved by the volunteers making up 95% of the charity.

Cleethorpes Lifeboat launched 45 times during 2016 and rescued 32 people.

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Latest News Public Relations Windsor

Immingham Training Facility Opens to Reduce Forklift Accidents

With the number of distribution centres rising thanks to the growing popularity of internet shopping, the use of forklifts is becoming more common, meaning added risk for forklift-related accidents. As demand rises, businesses take on more temporary workers, making warehouses busier and increasing the risk of accidents further.

To help reduce the risk involved with driving forklifts, Immingham is now home to a new training centre designed specifically for courses on a wide range of materials handling equipment. The local branch of a leading materials handling supplier is offering courses to businesses and individuals from the new facility.

The new training facility, opened by Windsor Materials Handling, is dual accredited with both the Road Transport Industry Training Board (RTITB) and the Independent Training Standards Scheme and Register (ITSSAR), which are widely recognised in the industry.

Available in either the Immingham-based centre or on the customer’s own premises, accredited training will be delivered on all types of materials handling equipment including counterbalance, reach trucks, powered pallet trucks (PPT), rough terrain, scissor lifts and boom trucks. Windsor is also offering health and safety courses, including safety passport, as well as first aid training.

John Smith, the award-winning training manager who is fronting the scheme alongside senior instructor, Ian Kaminski, explains the importance of training. “There is a legal imperative here. Training is the only way for organisations to demonstrate that they have taken the necessary measures to ensure equipment is operated not only safely but correctly and in accordance with approved operating procedures. Businesses that conduct proper forklift safety training not only benefit from improved efficiency, but reduce the risk of injuries to operators and damage to equipment too.”

John and Ian’s combined history makes up over forty years of instructional experience across a wide range of industries including the engineering, food and construction sectors, as well as the petrochemical industry. “We offer training at all levels, so whether you are a business looking to offer your employees a refresher course, or an individual who is hoping to kick-start a career in materials handling with a beginners’ course, we will have a solution to fit your needs.”

The opening of the training centre is part of Windsor’s wider initiative to deliver operator training across the UK in an attempt to help control forklift accident rates. “Forklift driver safety is at the top of the agenda at Windsor,” says Stephen Burton, managing director at Windsor. “Forklifts are powerful tools, and if not used correctly, can result in damage to products, and even loss of life. Accidents are all too common and we have made it our aim to help customers to minimise their risks by providing sympathetic and professional training to operators; ultimately improving safety and efficiency in facilities across the UK.”

The name Windsor has been synonymous with materials handling and access systems since 1976, providing a first-class range of used and new forklifts for hire and sale. With 12 local branches throughout the UK, Windsor also offers servicing and parts for existing fleets.

For more details or to find out how to enrol on a course, visit www.windsor-mh.co.uk/training or contact the Immingham branch on 01469 577 777.