Equipment orders start for 2010


MEMS starts the New Year by placing orders for additional rental equipment, with improvements in design further 1000kVA and 1MW rental machines have been ordered within 40’ ISO containers to match the existing fleet. These units will be delivered during February 2010 and will be functional during early March 2010 ready for the pending summer season. The original MEMS design has been improved very slightly to ensure we continue to lead the industry in providing the very best super silent machines available.


MEMS new sites opens ahead of schedule

MEMS new operating facility opened its doors during November 2009 concluding a two year construction program to develop a world class rental centre adjacent their existing operating space in North Kent. This facility provides MEMS with new purpose built workshops, test cells, upfit bays, training rooms, staff facilities as well as a new state of the art 24 hour rental control centre complete with panoramic views of the entire operation. The buildings and work areas have been designed from scratch to accommodate the MEMS rental operation and have been constructed to an extremely high standard to ensure continuous operation for at least the next ten years.

The entire organisation moved into the new premises over one weekend during which time the hire operation continued to provide a seamless service to our customers during this difficult time. The new systems and technologies installed in the control centre had been placed under stringent testing procedures for some weeks before go-live to ensure continuity during the changeover. With the control room staff fully operational the mammoth task of moving 80 staff and over 500 items of rental equipment began in anger, working around the clock every available MEMS employee and vehicle was used to move the equipment into its new location all which were predetermined prior to the move. The move was completed on time and without incident and MEMS was fully operational from the new premises within 20 hours from the start of the process whilst ensuring our high levels of customer service were maintained throughout.

The offices and workshops on the old site once completely decommissioned will form stage 2 of the project and be demolished and modified to provide a new transport base for the ever growing fleet of MEMS vehicles. This site will provide workshops for basic repairs to the HGV fleet and provide covered parking for our most specialist vehicles. The refuelling zone which now controls up to five million litres of diesel per annum will be extensively updated and modified to accommodate the level of tankers using this area. The old office space has been modified into a disaster recovery centre for the business and therefore provides an alternative rental control room should the unthinkable happen.

All buildings have been linked by fibre optic cabling and investments into extensive IT infrastructure have ensured we have complete redundancy across all our services, this is further supported by dual comms rooms complete with UPS and generator back-up. All sites have a new state of the art IP CCTV system installed to ensure site security and provide the 24 hour staff enhanced safety outside normal working hours. In addition to the CCTV network the access control systems provide constant monitoring of every individual on the site including visitors ensuring that unauthorised persons are unable to enter the premises. The automatic gate systems are interlocked to ensure that only authorised vehicles can enter the sites and that without the correct authorisation will alert the control centre of any security breech.

Staff welfare has been a prominent factor in the design of the new premises with new canteen facilities, locker and shower rooms as well as new training rooms and fully equipped workshops and test bays. Ensuring safe and well equipped working areas are available for our engineers allows them to perform at their best and ensure our customers receive the very best rental equipment available.

All works across the entire seven acre site are programmed to finish in March 2010 at which point MEMS will be poised more than ever for economic recovery and be extremely well placed to benefit from this high level of investment.

The entire design, planning, management of contractors, demolition, installation and commissioning of this project was dealt with in house using MEMS staff from the outset, constant dialogue took place between the managers and the engineering / transport staff to ensure the end product met all the demands of the business both now and for the future. In summary this new facility is a credit to all the staff who played a part in engineering our future.

New MEMS Site

New vehicles arrive

Two new specialist vehicles joined the MEMS fleet in July extending the already extensive array of equipment available to support the rental operation.

A new 3700 litre fuel tanker constructed specifically for use in locations where the larger tankers are unable to manoeuvre is now operational; this is the second vehicle of this type on the MEMS tanker fleet and will shortly be joined by a further unit later in the year and extends the fleet to include tankers from 3700 – 11000 litres in capacity.





A new 23ton crane lorry has also joined the fleet complete with a Fassi front mounted remote controlled lorry loader, this unit has been built to MEMS specification complete with a lifting and steering rear axle on a short wheel base design to aid deliveries in city centres and areas where space is at a premium. This is the first crane lorry on the fleet to hold a front mounted crane and is the start of a new era of MEMS operating vehicles. MEMS now operate crane lorries rated from 23tons – 60tons along with 44ton articulated tractor units and an entire fleet of purpose built tri-axle HGV trailers.


New Rental Products

MEMS new 500 kVA rental solution has arrived and is operating in the field, this new unit for 2009 has been constructed to MEMS rental specification which ensures all machines not only comply to the latest environmental regulations but also to the highest industry specifications and requirements. In addition to these units, trials are taking place on a fully off-loadable 800kVA rental package in a very small footprint size predominately for our utility clients where size constraints are routine. It is expected that these units will be in operation by late summer 2009.


Dartford Power Cuts

On Monday 20th July 2009 approximately 200,000 homes and businesses in the Dartford area were affected by a power cut due to a fire that was started adjacent four 132kv supply cables into the area. The fire totally destroyed these services and left EDF Energy Networks with a huge and unprecedented power outage the likes of which London had never seen. Due to the complexities of repairing the cables EDF Energy began the task of back-feeding as many customers as possible along with the decision to temporarily generate the remaining customers whom could not be back-fed.

A call was made to MEMS just after lunchtime on the 20th July and deliveries of equipment began that evening with the first of what would be the largest generation project in the history of MEMS. By the early hours of Wednesday 22nd July 2009 MEMS had delivered and positioned over 70 generators complete with cables and accessories to ensure they would operate for the expected fault duration. A disaster plan was created which resulted in MEMS supplying fuel to these machines on 24 hour continuous shifts to ensure the integrity of the supply for the 60,000 customers who where on generation.

EDF Energy Networks worked against the odds to restore supply during the day on Wednesday and with the fault repaired and tested successfully MEMS then had to reverse the entire operation and remove this enormous amount of equipment from the area as soon as possible. By the morning of the 25th July all equipment had been returned to MEMS and the Dartford area was once again returned to normal.

During the outage MEMS provided rental generators with an output in excess of 50MW, circa 12km of rental cable and 150,000 litres of fuel all delivered and managed by the rental coordinators at Gillingham.

“Although this was a challenging time MEMS performed as expected and showed absolute commitment to provide their customer the premium levels of service they required, all MEMS staff involved excelled and operated as a highly skilled team which was a pleasure to witness” stated MEMS Managing Director: Glen Jarvis


MEMS provide emergency power to Coca Cola after fire

After a major fire at Coca Cola HQ UK offices in Hammersmith caused disruption to the tube network and destroyed transformers and LV switch boards, MEMS were called upon to undertake an urgent assessment of the buildings electrical design obtaining their critical power requirements. Coca Cola had an immediate requirement for power to ensure business continuity and instructed MEMS to provide temporary power at various locations across the site, this required extensive investigation and planning of the system design and layout of the site.

Once instructed it was safe to proceed by fire officials, MEMS delivered various temporary generators, distribution equipment and flexible cable to begin the installation utilising two engineering teams, within hours of site attendance the temporary power installations were tested, commissioned and supporting critical services.

MEMS Support services were implemented to ensure continuity of the supply including a comprehensive fuel management program supported via remote monitoring and a dedicated project manager to ensure reliability and control the planned maintenance requirements.

“This was another opportunity for MEMS to demonstrate its expertise and understanding in providing large critical temporary power installations with only hours notice. Crucial to our success is the ability to respond swiftly utilising our own equipment and staff without the need to involve third parties”

Iain Maxwell, Sales Manager of MEMS Power Generation.


CAUGHT UP IN CABLE THEFT?

MEMS Power Generation are taking proactive steps to combat the increase in cable and equipment theft in the UK rental market. With the implementation of SmartWater technology MEMS are the first rental company to use this method of property marking and are leading the industry towards more effective measures of theft prevention.

SmartWater is a property marking technology which identifies every item of MEMS rental equipment with a unique DNA style code, therefore should theft occur MEMS equipment can later be identified by any police force across the UK using routine procedures.

Having spent many years working closely with the Police, SmartWater has established itself as one of the most powerful criminal deterrents available with a 100% conviction rate. Scrap metal dealers are also very aware that any stolen metal marked with SmartWater can be traced to the criminal and themselves and are reluctant to accept metals from unknown sources rendering the metal thieves with no disposal route.

With the implementation of SmartWater and bespoke remote telemetry & tracking systems which are monitored from their 24/7 manned control centre MEMS are proactively reducing customers exposure to equipment theft along with the cost and inconvenience associated with this type of crime.

MEMS provide disaster recovery services to Tooley Street London after major flood:

On Sunday 27 April 2008 Tooley Street London was struck by a burst water main incident resulting in 7 Million gallons of water surging into the street resulting in basements being flooded as well as switchrooms and transformer substations. Subsequently a major supply transformer failed due to being submerged underground and the entire area experienced a total power failure. Being one of London’s key business centre’s the clients affected had an immediate and urgent requirement for temporary power whilst the repair works were undertaken by the relevant Utility companies.

MEMS received their first call on the Sunday afternoon and after completing detailed site assessments began to supply extensive rental power and distribution equipment to restore power to the critical services required by these key clients. The initial equipment was dispatched Sunday evening with approximately 5000kVA of generation and enough flexible cable to reach the LV incoming breakers on the roof, some twelve floors above.

Further calls where received from other clients affected in the area and a further 4000kVA of power required for an adjacent building was dispatched during Monday evening. Numerous teams of engineers were required to install the huge level of cable required with some runs requiring 2400 meters of cable being taken up stair wells and across the roof to access the LV connection points.

In addition to the above equipment MEMS have supplied 50,000 litres of fuel storage on site with 100’s of cable covers and numerous accessories to allow a project of this magnitude to happen within a matter of hours from the first call being received. Round the clock babysitting of the entire project has been implemented with MEMS providing a comprehensive fuel management program to ensure all machines and equipment continue to provide power to these business critical services.

“This project demonstrates MEMS expertise in providing large power project solutions within a matter of hours, the huge levels of equipment held ready for this type of emergency and the commitment and experience of our staff and engineers allows us to provide a first class service even under the level of pressure being experienced” Managing Director of MEMS Power Generation; Glen Jarvis


ACQUISITION OF NEW PREMISES

As the growth and development of the generator hire operation continues to demand more space the purchase of an additional 3 acres of adjacent industrial land has been agreed. This strategic acquisition will allow MEMS to extend its existing operation organically and without business disruption to operate out of a purpose designed 7 acre facility complete with extensive workshops and yard space area to facilitate the ever growing rental fleet.

The completion of the deal later this year will see the start of an extensive construction and civil engineering program to provide the facilities required to support the growing needs of the business. With the rental fleet growing by over 35% this financial year alone and the transportation fleet by similar levels the requirement for both engineering workshops and secure yard space is clear to see.

Once fully operational (programmed for 2010) MEMS believe they will have the best generator rental facility in the UK providing them the tools to further increase both their availability of equipment and ability to take on even the largest of rental projects. The focus on customer service and maintaining their reputation as the premium supplier will only be enforced further by this development and represents an exciting time for the company.


TARGETS ACHIEVED FOR RENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE & DEVELOPMENTS

The rental control centre and training suites are now open and functioning well; the level of training commitments we have with both our own disciplines as well as those where outside training support is required the training rooms are always being occupied.  Our appetite to be the industry leader drives us forward with training and research and development into new products and solutions, we are currently testing seed units for two independent generator manufacturers to ensure their products are suitable for the marketplace.   
They choose MEMS as their partners due to our extensive testing facilities and our ability to ensure a quality product is provided which can meet our specification and build quality requirements.  The manufacturer’s perspective is such that if MEMS approve their product then the rest of industry will also assume their requirements will have been met or more likely exceeded and order the products for themselves.

MEMS Power Generation 08452 230 400