ASSEMBLY LESS PHYSICALLY DEMANDING THANKS TOBROCO-GIANT SKID

Choosing GIANT is an investment in ‘our boys’

The diversity of work at Foreco as well as the safety, welfare and working conditions of ‘the boys’ were decisive for Arjan in his choice of the all-rounder from GIANT. ‘The work is getting heavier outside and we wanted to have a machine that makes the work easier for the boys.’ The usefulness of the Skid and with it the improvements in daily working conditions immediately became clear to Arjan. The various attachments can be changed quickly. Paul Verwegen, general manager at Foreco Houtconstructies, added: ‘Work with a Skid becomes more manageable and lighter. The physical load when performing assembly work decreases enormously. The colleagues are very enthusiastic and for attracting new staff it is another plus point. You work with nice equipment and the work is a lot less strenuous.’

Paul explains how diverse the work at Foreco is. ‘Foreco specialises in the production and assembly of sheds and the assembly of complete wooden façades from inner building shell to the wooden façade cladding on the outside of office buildings, houses, etc. We also produce and assemble yard fences, pergolas, carports, and decking. We do this for the B2B market throughout the Netherlands.’

Up 4.5 metres with smart solutions

With the expansion of the Skid on tracks product portfolio, TOBROCO-GIANT now offers customers a choice of six Skids. Of the three tracked models, the 25hp diesel version is the strongest in its class. With all the work that regularly takes place in construction projects, there are certain features of the Skid that Arjan appreciates most. ‘The flexibility, you are small, you can get to everything and it easily fits on a trailer, you have everything with you right away.’ Arjan explains what was decisive in choosing the Skid on tracks. ‘We chose the Skid on caterpillars because we have to drive through backyards a lot and construction is getting wetter. That's why we chose tracks instead of wheels anyway. Also thanks to tips from Luuk, your representative. The Skid on tracks is stronger than on wheels.’ That TOBROCO-GIANT continuously develops, innovates and thinks along with the customer is evident from the many smart solutions the leading company comes up with for customers. To install yard fences, storage sheds and pergolas, we need a height of 4.5 metres. Since space is often limited here and the Skid provides the solution, Arjan asked TOBROCO-GIANT to develop an extension, the lifting jib, for the Skid that can reach the height. The attachment also had to be able to position the material accurately and possess a quality mark. Arjan: ‘TOBROCO-GIANT did not have this jib at all. We sat down and drew together with Luuk, representative at TOBROCO-GIANT, to see what we actually needed and wanted. And then this attachment came out, with seal of approval. The quality mark was really a prerequisite. Because we also have to be able to justify ourselves to colleagues and our customers.’ Paul: ‘Besides VCA, we now hold safety culture ladder 3 and we are proud of that and in this we want to keep improving continuously.’

Skid highly flexible!

It regularly happens that Foreco receives very specific requests from its customers to realise certain projects. The properties of the Skid, not only play an important role on the work floor, but also ensure behind the scenes that the costs of a project are significantly reduced. Arjan: ‘For example, we are currently working on a renovation job and no cranes can stand there, space is very limited. But the Skids can get there. And so then we can think along with our customer. How are we going to build storages there? Then we start working with a Skid. Because then we can drive through the firebreaks.’

Asked if Paul could take on a job without owning this machine, he replies, ‘No, or you would have to hire a telescopic crane, but then it is regularly necessary to temporarily close a road which is exactly what the surrounding area does not appreciate. And the renovation market in particular is an emerging market. Arjan adds: ‘You notice that the work goes faster. Especially also because you install pergolas. We can prepare everything on the ground. The brackets and anchors are attached beforehand and then you hoist it up in one go. So yes, it saves a lot of time and therefore money.’

For the construction of playgrounds, the Skid is not currently being used says Arjan. ‘But now that we experience how multifunctional the Skid is, we will definitely use it more widely.’ Currently, Foreco does have a mini-excavator in that department. ‘But when you see how easy the work now goes with the Skid. It may well be that we will be up against our colleagues from the Foreco Playground Equipment department (IJreka) to say, take the Skid for a week and test it out.’