Connection ­­- Issue 2, Spring 2011

Rhondda Cynon Taf Swingo into action...

In the heart of the Welsh hills sits Pontypridd, a former industrial area.

Its namesake market town sits on the river Taff, north of Cardiff almost like a gateway to the city. It’s a region where Aebi Schmidt Account manager Les Bullock has formed an excellent relationship with the local council Rhondda Cynon Taf who recently purchased seven brand new Swingos.

Les explained; “We were invited to tender for street cleaning services and equipment by Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) County Borough Council and were put through a series of rigorous and demanding set of tests and processes. RCT have four depots in the region and we were required to satisfy the needs of each of these. As you would expect the roads and terrain in and around Pontypridd are most challenging with rows of steep and tight terraced streets, passageways and pathways and we were required to demonstrate just how well our Swingos could cope with such conditions and still provide an outstanding level of service.”

Street Cleansing Manager Steve Gammon and Transport Fleet Manager Julie Waites certainly put the Aebi Schmidt demonstration team through its paces. They led the prospective contractors through two long and complex days of challenges culminating with the final round of tendering at Rhondda Cynon Taf Streetcare Services in Pontypridd.

However, once again the Aebi Schmidt demonstration team came up trumps.

Julie Waites said; “It’s essential that we provide best value to our local residents to ensure that they not only get value for money from Rhondda Cynon Taf but that we also provide a first rate service that keeps our streets and road safe and clean.”

“Once again the Aebi Schmidt demo team came up trumps.”

> SWEEPING > WINTER > AIRPORT > MOWING

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Left to right: Alison Conroy National Sales Manager, Mike Moore Key Account Manager, Graham Whybrow Demo Driver, Andy Reilly Trainer, Doug Hall Service Engineer, David Mash, Service Operations Manager and last but not least, Wes Cripps Parts Supervisor.

Total Lifetime Care Aebi Schmidt UK launch TLC programme, including an exclusive 7 year warranty Aebi Schmidt prides itself upon the fact that the organisation and its people recognise that the relationship is more important than the deal. They collectively believe and uphold the doctrine that the provision of a high quality and affordable product and service is not achieved by over-selling and underdelivering. Head of UK Sales and Marketing Alison Conroy explained: “We believe in the quality and integrity of our products and services and it’s essential that we do what we say we are going to do.

We listen to what our customers want and deliver what the customer needs, when they need it. However, it’s also essential that we provide continuous after sales support and that’s where our Total Lifetime Care (TLC) commitment comes into place. TLC is the unique sales and service programme from Aebi Schmidt UK. The purpose of TLC

“The purpose of TLC is to help you maximise the life and value of your equipment giving you complete peace of mind. Our dedicated team of fully trained in-house support staff ensure that all your sales and service needs are met to the highest standards.” is to help you maximise the life and value of your equipment, giving you complete peace of mind. Our dedicated team of fully trained in-house support staff ensure that all your sales and service needs are met to the highest standards.”

Seven year warranties and extended warranties are available on many of the spreaders.

Alison added; “We have total belief in the product, its high quality manufacture, the state of the art paint process and most

importantly the built-in calibration capacity within the CL control box. The processes and design of the spreaders have been built upon decades of knowledge and experience.

“With happy customers in the most extreme and arduous conditions in countries such as Norway, Sweden and Germany we know our business and TLC helps ensure that we keep it too.”

Service Operations Manager, David Mash is at the heart of many such support

Aebi Schmidt 2011 Open Day, Thursday 23rd June 2011 The Aebi Schmidt 2011 Open Day will allow visitors to see the new £100,000 worth of improvements to Aebi Schmidt’s already technologically advanced workshops. The investment will see a significantly improved working environment and will treble the workshop area.

Service Operations Manager, David Mash said; “The increased workspace will allow us to provide improved service and value to our customers and clients. We will now be able to work on much larger projects such as truck

mounted apparatus and even bigger airport projects. The potential is now virtually limitless. At a time when other companies are cutting back, Schmidt are investing in the future to ensure an even better service for customers.”

The Aebi Schmidt 2011 Open Day will allow new and existing customers to come along and meet the team and see some of their extensive product range in action and also have a bit of fun in the process!

• Visit www.aebi-schmidt.co.uk for more details.

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relationships and was keen to point out what made TLC and Aebi Schimdt so different from its competitors: “We have fixed costs for servicing and maintenance and our contracts contain no unrealistic or hidden exclusions. Our customers can choose from three levels of contract or we can even prepare bespoke contracts tailored to contractors needs and circumstances.

With repayment terms of one to six years for sweeping equipment, and one to fifteen years on winter and airport equipment, the whole deal is effective and affordable. I work with a team of manufactureremployed engineers who provide an unrivalled skill that offers peace of mind for all our customers. Dedicated manufacturers and engineers are always available in the unlikely event of any repair or maintenance.”

ss Stop press... stop pre ibit at this

conscious decision not to exh Aebi Schmidt have taken a at the NEC on 12th-14 April. year’s CV show to be held ny of our it was decided that when ma After careful consideration and national l loca to due ns icult decisio customers are faced with diff l iona refrain from attending nat government cuts, we should ional reg r, alle sm at ng trate on exhibiti shows and instead concen in these t rke ma UK the to nt me mit events, Highlighting our com Hopdeals, Torbay, be attending APSE Aviemore, difficult times. We will still proudly fort. We also look forward to Londonderry and Cold Com anded UK exp ly new re customers to our welcoming existing and futu re. the you ing see to ard forw headquarters in June. We look

| Aebi Schmidt UK Ltd | 01733 363393 | sales@aebi-schmidt.co.uk

Did you know: The economy has also fallen victim to the recent cold conditions, suffering a £1.5 billion ‘big freeze’ shock from travel chaos, lost production and savaged High Street sales.

If the money had been invested, 9,247,842 grit bins or 75,000 snow ploughs could have been purchased.

Masternaut go the full monty!

Aebi Schmidt’s partner in vehicle tracking solutions Masternaut are raising money for the Haven who run Breast Cancer Support Centers in the UK. We recently held our sales meeting at Masternaut’s impressive head office in Aberford Leeds and took along our new SK600 Truck Mount Sweeper. We were immediately asked to help out with a calendar girls style photo shoot in aid of the Haven and of course we were more than happy to help! Thankfully it didn’t involve any of us disrobing but the brave guys from Masternaut (pictured above) donned the correct safety gear (well almost!) and gave it their all. We are proud to support Masternaut in producing their charity notebook ‘supporting a safe journey’, to purchase a copy please visit www.masternaut.co.uk/haven

Derby chooses new Swingos for city clean-up Derby City Council is aiming to save money and improve service with its investment in five new Schmidt Swingo compact sweepers.

Street Cleansing Supervisor Dennis Bell took a hard-headed decision when it came time to replace the fleet of street sweepers. “It’s a big financial outlay at a time when we are having to cut costs, so we had to be sure that we chose machines that would do the job properly, and that they would justify the cost,” he said.

Workshop Manager Mark Bishell is equally adamant that the new sweepers would spend the maximum time working, not stuck in a depot waiting for repairs. “We looked at every one of the machines that came in for evaluation and our workshop guys were impressed with the Swingo. Technically it seemed to answer all our questions about reliability and productivity, and the Swingos have performed well,” he said.

Derby, with its rich history dating back to Roman times and covering some of the most dramatic events in England’s cultural and industrial past, is pushing

hard to bring new business to the city, along with shoppers and tourists. A key factor is how clean the city’s pedestrian areas are kept – and the Swingos are playing a vital role. The new fleet tackles outlying suburbs as well as the city centre, with each Swingo working a route that geographically ‘sweeps’ the city on four separate shifts starting at 5am and running through to the evening.

Defence is the best form of attack Aebi Schmidt has a wide range of prestigious and varied clients, many of whom have a major impact on the safety and wellbeing of the UK. One such organisation is Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) which is the name of the procurement and support organisation within the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD).

Aebi Schmidt’s roving reporter Darren Heyes met up with Ross Martin, Head of Airfield Vehicles 2, Air Commodities Project Team, Defence Equipment & Support for the Ministry of Defence. Ross kindly took time out from his busy schedule to tell us about his role and his experience and relationship with the Aebi Schmidt team.

Aebi Schmidt: Can you tell us a bit about the Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) and what it does?

Ross Martin: The DE&S is charged with providing the UK’s armed forces with its equipment & support services. It has an annual expenditure of £14 billion, which equates to 43% of the UK Defence budget. It operates from a variety of sites across the UK and further afield, but its main headquarters are located in Abbey Wood, Bristol, South West England. The organisation itself employs nearly 21,000 people, of whom nearly 77% are civilians, the remainder being service personnel from all three of the armed forces.

Aebi Schmidt: That sounds like a huge undertaking. But what exactly does this all entail?

Ross Martin: The ethos of the DE&S is to ensure that the UK armed forces are provided with the equipment and support services they require, on time and at best value for money. To that end, it has to remain agile and responsive to the of variety challenges and opportunities which it may face now and in the future.

The Air Commodities Project Team (AC PT), a component part of the DE&S, is led by Group Captain Tim Brandt. It is responsible for the through-life management of a diverse range of general purpose Ground Support Equipment (GSE), Airfield Specialist Vehicles,

Armament GSE (AGSE). In addition, it also manages Surface Finish (SF) facilities and equipment, a variety of aircraft structural testing equipment and aircraft avionic systems. Currently, it also acquires and manages all common airframe and engine mechanical components for the aircraft fleets of each service.

Aebi Schmidt: It’s obviously a very important role and carries a great deal of responsibility and accountability.

Choosing the right supplier is obviously vital to your role.

Can you tell me more about your recent acquisition of specialist equipment and what will it be used for?

Ross Martin: Our more most recent contract was secured and completed December last year. We bought thirty Schmidt AS990 Airfield Surface Sweeping Vehicles (ASSVs). These will be used to clean defence airfields of debris (Foreign Object Damage (FOD)) in the UK as well as overseas locations. The AS990 is due to be deployed to Afghanistan within next the few months to support air operations.

We also purchased twenty eight Schmidt CJS Airfield Snow Clearance Vehicles (ASCVs). These vehicles are used to clear military airfields of snow during winter months. It is imperative that certain airfields remain operational regardless of weather conditions. Therefore, the CJS will be deployed to high readiness airfields both in the UK and overseas. This includes RAF Brize Norton which provides the critical logistics ‘Airbridge’ to Afghanistan and other strategic overseas units. In addition, the CJS will support airfields which deliver UK air defence capability. A number of CJSs are due to be shipped to the Falkland Islands for use on Mount Pleasant Airfield. The overall value of the total contract is in the region of £25m so represents a significant investment and one that we had to be sure we got right.

It is imperative that certain airfields remain operational regardless of weather conditions. Therefore, the Schmidt CJS (ASCV) will be deployed to high readiness airfields both in the UK and overseas. This includes RAF Brize Norton which provides the critical logistics ‘Airbridge’ to Afghanistan and other strategic units.

Aebi Schmidt CPC – get qualified, stay qualified Aebi Schmidt UK is now an approved centre for Driver CPC training. The Driver CPC is for LGV and PCV drivers who drive professionally throughout the UK. It has been developed as a requirement of the EU Directive 2003/59, which is designed to improve the knowledge and skills of professional LGV and PCV drivers throughout their working life. There are two parts to the legislation: 1. The Initial Qualification must be achieved by new LGV and PCV drivers along with their vocational licence to enable them to use their licence professionally.

2. Periodic Training; 35 hours of training every five years must be attended by all professional drivers.

At Aebi Schmidt UK we currently offer an approved sweeper orientated seven hour course called Mechanical Sweeper Familiarisation. The current courses which are

available, cover driving hours, tachometer and SAFED. However, ours is the only one dedicated to sweeper operators. The course covers daily inspection including the sweeper equipment. It also covers machine adjustments and operation of the machine to obtain good cleaning results and best fuel efficiency. We also go over the best way to wash the machine in the shortest possible time to keep the operation of the machine to its maximum efficiency. Even if your drivers do not operate sweepers, it is an approved course and counts towards the required 35 hours for CPC. An individual's circumstances will determine how they acquire the Driver CPC. All new drivers who acquire a PCV vocational entitlement (D1, D1+E, D, D+E licence) after the 10th September 2008 and/or an LGV vocational entitlement (C1, C1+E, C or C+E licence) after the 10th September 2009 will have to obtain the Initial Qualification in addition to their licence to drive professionally.

New drivers who undertake a National Vocational Training programme are still able to obtain a vocational licence but can defer the Initial Qualification by up to a

By law all professional drivers must complete a total of 35 hours periodic training every five years.

maximum of one year whilst still being able to drive professionally. An example of a National Vocational Training programme would be an Apprenticeship in Driving Goods Vehicles. Drivers intending to use this concession will have to register with the Driving Standards Agency.

However, existing drivers who held a vocational licence prior to the 10th September 2008 (PCV) or the 10th September 2009 (LGV) are exempt from the Initial Qualification. This is known as “acquired rights.”

All professional drivers (new and existing drivers) must complete a total of 35 hours periodic training every five years following their “acquired rights” or Initial Qualification to keep their Driver CPC valid. Existing drivers must complete their Periodic Training by September 2013 (PCV) and September 2014 (LGV).

In the future we will be offering more dedicated courses on spreaders with snow ploughs and sweepers.

Get qualified, stay qualified!

• Contact: jeff.nuttall@aebi-schmidt.co.uk or telephone 07970 125231

Aebi Schmidt UK Ltd | 01733 363393 | sales@aebi-schmidt.co.uk |

Did you know: Transport Secretary Philip Hammond recently disclosed that transport disruption caused by snow and ice chaos during the winter cost the UK economy around £280 million a day.

Schmidt’s SK600 helps Midlothian Council clean up north of the border In the 1840s a young man called Joseph Whitworth invented a mechanical street sweeper to clear the dirty and unsanitary streets of industrial Manchester. His simple but effective early invention became a blueprint for the industry for more than 150 years but is now a far cry from the infinitely superior and technologically advanced range of road sweepers that have since been developed by Aebi Schmidt.

Aebi Schmidt: You obviously have a great deal of confidence in the Aebi Schmidt product range and its personnel. It would appear therefore that this wasn’t your first experience of working with Aebi Schmidt.

What have the DE&S purchased in recent times?

Ross Martin: Yes that’s right. We have a long-standing relationship with Aebi Schmidt and have been satisfied with our most recent purchases. For example, we have bought 12 AS990 runway sweepers, nine Liquid Airfield De-icer Sprayers (LADS) – ASP, two Stratos gritters and 47 Swingo sweepers.

Aebi Schmidt: How and why did the DE&S decide that Aebi-Schmidt became your preferred supplier?

Ross Martin: Defence requirements are published within the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU). All significant MoD contracts for either equipment or services are provided by means of competitive tendering. Through this process Schmidt demonstrated technical compliance whilst proving best value for money over the life of the equipment.

Aebi Schmidt: What have been the good things about working with Schmidt? Of course, if there are any.

Ross Martin: The MoD is committed to developing long standing partnering arrangements with industry. At the centre of this strategy is taking a whole life approach to equipment procurement and subsequent after-support. The senior management at Aebi Schmidt share this ethos and acknowledge its mutual benefits to all parties.

Aebi Schmidt: So the big question...Would you recommend Schmidt and its products to any potential customers?

Ross Martin: Over the years Aebi Schmidt has forged a strong partnership with the Ministry of Defence. Prompt delivery, quality of product and commitment to life time support has cemented their reputation as a trusted and reliable supplier to the department.

Graham Whybrow and Gary Lewis have been demonstrating gritters, snowploughs, and the sweeper range of Swingos, SK600 series truck mounts and the HotJet, for many years.

Over the years they have travelled throughout the whole of the United Kingdom and there are few cities, towns and villages they haven’t driven in or around.

Demonstrating the vehicles, usually under the hardest and most demanding conditions and most difficult locations a local authority transport manager can think of, is just part of the job. Gary and Graham are also fully qualified and experienced in training the customers’ drivers and helping them get the best out of the Schmidt products.

“It’s a big help that the products we demonstrate and train on are the best,” says Gary. “It’s a lot easier simply

Aebi Schmidt boasts the broadest range of sweeper technology products worldwide and are now emerging as a prominent provider of truck mount sweepers in the UK domestic markets with great success. The most recent beneficiaries this month were the Midlothian and Renfrewshire Councils who are now successfully operating three new Schmidt SK600s on the highland roads and highways. The SK600 mountable sweeper is especially designed for cleaning municipal streets and country roads where quick returns to the depot are more difficult than normal. This is not a problem for the SK600 as the hopper has a class-leading volume of 6.0 m³.

“Reliability and performance are always the keywords when you talk about the SK600.”

Midlothian and Renfrewshire’s roads have changed and developed significantly over the last 10-15 years, and the profile of the equipment and vehicles needed to manage them needs to keep pace with these changes accordingly. Schmidt’s rugged SK600 sweepers are packed with innovative features, perfectly suited to even the toughest sweeping tasks.

Midlothian Council’s Transport Manager, Trevor Docherty commented: “Our new Schmidt SK600 sweepers represent a significant, but value for money investment, confirming the council's commitment to keeping the streets clean. The new sweepers will increase our ability and efficiency to deal with dirt and grime on our streets, pedestrian zones, round-abouts and roads of our county.”

Midlothian’s street cleansing team is now scheduling an intensive programme of work in the coming months to ensure maximum benefit is gained from the new SK600s to keep the area clean and pleasant for both locals and visitors alike.

The special sweeping technology of mounted

Our new SK600s will increase our ability and efficiency to deal with dirt and grime on our streets, pedestrian zones, roundabouts and roads of our county, said Midlothian Council’s Trevor Docherty.

sweepers ensure rapid and high performance cleaning operations over long distances and as Aebi Schmidt’s Scotland Area Sales Manager David Carswell was keen to point out: “Reliability and performance are always the key words when we talk about the SK600. The SK600 has a sweeping width of 2,300 mm that is entirely mechanically swept. The swept debris is fed from the channel brush and centre mounted roller brush into the V-shaped suction nozzle. The special shape ensures that debris enters the hopper at an accelerated speed and that blockages do not occur. The suction shaft is 550 mm wide and is tapered to a diameter of 250 mm at the point of connection with the suction hose. The debris is thus transported into the hopper without damaging the suction hose.”

One of the many additional benefits of the Aebi Schmidt product range is a commitment to versatility and durability and the SK600 is no exception as David Carswell explained: “The SK mountable sweeper is suitable for use on a truck chassis with a permissible total weight of 15 to 18 tonnes. The 6.0 m³ hopper has a stainless steel base pan. The 1200 litre water tank is made of glass fibre-reinforced

plastic and is non-corrosive.”

One difficulty faced by councils and contractors across the UK is the fact that the best time to clean the streets and roads is at night time when they are free from traffic congestion. However, the noise of conventional road sweepers often makes it impractical to clean and sweep roads later in the day because of the noise and disturbance it causes to residents and householders.

David added: “The SK600 can be used for cleaning at night thanks to its noise suppression package. Furthermore, the SK600 fulfils the regulations for dust and bears the PM 10 certification, which means that they are capable of collecting and holding particulate matter sized less than 10 micrometers. The SK600 has three options for powering the fan and static hydraulics: a diesel powered auxiliary engine, the vehicle’s auxiliary drive system (PTO) and a hydrostatic drive can be used for operating the sweeper up to a travelling speed of 40 km/h. The sweeping speed is infinitely variable up to 20 km/h.”

• For more information call 01733 363391 or visit www.aebi-schmidt.co.uk

A demonstration of success...

So the old saying goes “The proof of the pudding is in the eating.” It means that the true value or quality of something can only be judged when it's put to use.

So there’s only one way to find out if a sweeper, gritter or snow plough is the best and that’s to see it in action – and Aebi Schmidt’s demo drivers relish the chance to prove just how good the vehicles are.

Always demonstrating, but never protesting, demo drivers, Graham Whybrow (below left) and Gary Lewis

telling the truth and then proving it than having to hype things up – and then getting into trouble when the product fails to deliver.

“When we raise the hopper we can show the workshop guys the reasons why Schmidt products have such a great reputation for reliability and productivity.

These technicians know what they are doing and you cannot fool them with a few fine words.”

UK Sales Manager, Alison Conroy knows that the Schmidt demonstration team is a vital part of customer satisfaction. While the Area Sales

Manager looks after the customers’ questions they are ably supported by practical demonstrations. To borrow another commonly used phrase – Schmidt’s sweeping and winter products do “just what they say on the tin”... and a whole lot more, as demonstrated by Graham and Gary.

• Why not put us to the test and compare your existing sweepers and gritters with ours. Call us to arrange a demo on 01733 363391 and give us a try!

| Aebi Schmidt UK Ltd | 01733 363393 | sales@aebi-schmidt.co.uk

The name is Bond...

Everyone has a licence to thrill at Aebi Schmidt and none more so than special agent Lorraine Bond... well she’s not really a special agent... she is in fact Aebi service d Schmidt’s Sales Ledger & Credit te vo de 35 years ing strong Controller. Lorraine Bond is one of go ll ti s d an the company’s longest serving members of staff, clocking up a hugely impressive 35 years this month. Since joining David Mash, Service Operations the workforce as a mere slip of a girl back in Manager at Aebi Schmidt UK Ltd 1976, when Roger Moore was James Bond in ensures that every contract and The Spy Who Loved Me and The Wurzels relationship maximises its full potential topped the charts with Combine Harvester. through TLC and some essential During that time she has witnessed huge maintenance options. changes and growth within the company.

Aebi Schmidt’s roving reporter turned We have some great winter maintenance Bond villain for the day Richard “The Stagg” options for total piece of mind and Aebi Stagg interrupted Lorraine’s busy day to Schmidt UK Ltd are pleased to offer service recount a few memorable moments from her options for most winter maintenance last three and a half decades of gainful equipment to suit all needs and budgets. employment.

Service with a smile...

So exactly what’s on offer?

Pre season inspections A fully trained engineer from our customer service department will visit your site and inspect, report and offer advice on any repairs and maintenance required.

Annual calibration An annual calibration by an Aebi Schmidt engineer can offer you more than just a saving on salt. Our engineer will accurately check the spreaders calibration whilst ensuring that the operator is fully conversant with its control. You will be issued with a detailed calibration certificate that complies with ISO 9002 requirements.

Full service contract A comprehensive maintenance contract for total piece of mind, including: pre-season inspection, calibration maintenance, including all parts and labour throughout the season. Call-outs during normal working hours and a post-season condition report.

The Stagg What did you do when you first joined the company? Some things you have seen must have been “For Your Eyes Only?

Bond “I was actually head-hunted to join the business and started in the service department doing secretarial work. I then

Total Lifetime Care (TLC) ensures that the customer is at the heart of every deal and every Aebi Schmidt engineer has to be selfsufficient in solving problems because of the highly important and responsible nature of their work. Aebi Schmidt’s training n chnology o programs are designed te ge ed g Cuttin vans er service to fully equip their all custom engineers with these skills and also importantly to keep up with the changes in technology and products. They stay abreast of every technical development and advance through continuous training schedules and advanced training courses at Aebi Schmidt factories in Germany, Holland, Poland, Switzerland and at their UK training centre in Peterborough.

Technical phone assistance For a small premium you the customer can have access to 24 hour technical assistance from our trained service staff at our Peterborough call centre. If, as a result of your call, an engineer is David Mash offers service required we can with a smile... well nearly! arrange for one to attend.

Spare parts Spare parts can be ordered between 7.30am and 5.00pm Monday to Friday from our parts department.

Service Manager Mark Young said “We believe that a good understanding of our customer expectations is absolutely vital in developing a strategy that will help our customers reach their

moved across to purchase ledger and then into production, before returning to the finance department.”

The Stagg What’s the biggest change you have seen within Aebi Schmidt?

Bond Two things come to mind: the move from Sutton to Peterborough, and of course, it was the end of an era when we called a halt to manufacturing to concentrate our efforts solely on sales and distribution.

The Stagg What has been your most memorable moment during that time?

Bond That’s an easy one. In 1992 I met HRH the Queen to collect the Queen’s Export Award at Buckingham Palace, it was a fantastic day and a great honour to be presented with the award in recognition of the company’s achievements.

The Stagg That really was “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” wasn’t it? You must have worked on some pretty big contracts.

What’s the largest single invoice payment you have collected?

Bond Let’s just say you could have gone to the supermarket and bought 2.5 million £1 lottery tickets with the proceeds.

The Stagg Wow that must have scared the “Living Daylights” out of you! Working at Aebi Schmidt is a serious business I know but it always seems like a fun place to work. Are there any amusing moments that spring to mind through the years?

Bond Well, when I first joined the company, they did play a few practical jokes on me, being sent to find a ‘long stay’, and one day a couple of friendly pranksters stitched up the sleeves on my coat, so I couldn’t put it on.

The Stagg Have you ever got stuck in the “Dr No”, sorry, snow?

Bond Funnily enough, yes, it was about five years ago and my regular 40 minute commute took me over three hours. How I wished I drove a company snow plough at the time.

Maybe I should have a word with the workshop guys and ask them if they could convert a demountable plough I could use on my Ford Focus!

The Stagg Maybe ask them next time As “You Only Live Twice”. So what does the future hold for you?

Bond Retirement... not quite yet... I’ve only been here 35 years. It would be nice to have a little more leisure time to indulge in my passion for American muscle cars, we currently have a ’56 Chevy, a ’34 Standard and a ’56 Truck, all polished to within an inch of their lives. I bet you didn’t know that!

• You’re right Lorraine we can all “Die Another Day” can’t we? It seems like “The World is Not Enough” for you and Aebi Schmidt. It’s been a pleasure, here’s to a few more decades in the business!

Service flexibility on the move has the detail of the specific job to be done, but also has all or any history of both that specific vehicle and the customer’s other vehicles. David added “Once the engineer has completed his job, a print out of the work will be given to the customer. The master copy of this work is simultaneously sent back to the office for billing or quotation. In most cases an invoice or contract costing can be sent to the customer within 24-48 hours.”

business objectives. You have to really challenge yourself and dig down and understand what is going on with your customer. The ability to see what the key issues are and understand what’s going on with the customer – that level of visibility is fantastic.”

One of the major recent benefits to customers over recent months has been the introduction of the new SEMA (Service Manager) tool.

Service Operations Manager, David Mash explained how it all worked: “SEMA was implemented 12 months ago to provide an up-to-date information transfer between the Peterborough Service Department (back office) and the mobile service engineers. When an initial service request is given to the back office via the customer, a notification is raised. The SEMA

tool then looks for engineers with the correct parts on their vehicle to carry out the job in the quickest time. Once identified, the notification is then automatically sent to the engineer. A second message is then sent to the engineer’s tracking/messaging tool to route him in the quickest way to the customer. The engineer once on site, not only

What are the benefits of SEMA? 1. Real time allocation of jobs.

2. Product history at engineer’s finger tips.

3. Printed documentation with the customer/driver immediately.

4. Greater stock accuracy due to quicker updates.

5. Next day billing.

6. Greater vehicle transparency.

7. Ecological impact – less paper usage.

The ability to see what the key issues are and understand what’s going on with the customer – that level of visibility is fantastic.

Alison of Arabia helps our heroes I just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who generously contributed to Help for Heroes as a result of my 100km trek in the Sahara in October last year.

Thank you, you helped me to raise almost £3,000 and the group

• Tel: 01733 363 336 • Fax: 01733 363 363 • Email: parts@aebischmidt.co.uk

of 51 people were well on their way to raising around £500,000 between us so thank you once again for your fantastic support.

• Alison Conroy, National Sales Manager

s so hot even Deserted... it wa e hump! th t go ls me the ca

Shows you can see us at in 2011 Hopdeals - Goole • 18th - 19th May APSE - Aviemore • 23rd - 26th May PAWRS - Torbay • 7th - 9th June Londonderry Garage - Northallerton • 13th - 14th July Cold Comfort - Coventry • 20th - 21st September Peterborough Open Day • 23rd June NOTE: Aebi Schmidt will not be attending the 2011 CV Show. We will instead reinvest in our customer service and alternative promotional activities for the benefit of all our customers and clients.

Your contacts at Aebi Schmidt National Sales Manager Schmidt products Alison Conroy 07901 911003 Area Sales Managers Schmidt Products Les Bullock 07799 071612 David Carswell 07970 125206 Simon Stringer 07870 267209 Robert Irvine 07971 359387 Allan MacLeod 07799 071611 Sales Manager Aebi Products John Taylor 07850 123455

Sales Support Manager Katherine Daunt 01733 363395 Key Account & Training Manager Mike Moore 07748 931762 Service Managers Schmidt Products Donald Kerr 07970 125227 (Scotland) David Mash 07970 125226 Service Aebi Products Richard Barnard 07860 613261

AEBI SCHMIDT UK LTD Southgate Way, Orton Southgate Peterborough PE2 6GP Tel: 01733 363 393 • Fax: 01733 363 377 Email: sales@aebi-schmidt.co.uk Published by Aebi Schmidt UK Ltd. © Aebi Schmidt UK Ltd 2011.

For additional copies of this newsletter, or to be added to our mailing list please contact Katherine Daunt. katherine.daunt@aebi-schmidt.co.uk Tel: 01733 363 395