Click and collect

Following the launch of the concept in the UK earlier in the year (as reported in PBM’s Februar y issue), Fibo Intercon has provided an update on the number of UK builders’ merchants implementing the firm’s touch screen batching plants for local collections of concrete, mortar and screed

Back in Februar y, it was Thorncliffe Building Supplies that opened the first UK Fibo Collect facility at its Ewloe branch in North Wales The independent merchant subsequently ordered machine number two for its Dyserth site (pictured) whilst in May, the business hit a record day of sales with 9 1m3 sold to collect customers

In March, Car vers Building Supplies committed to becoming the first English customer to launch the fully automated selfcollect concept at its branch on Little Lane in Wolverhampton with the facility set to be operational by the time this issue of PBM lands on your desks Conveniently situated next to the City’s ring road, Car vers is wellversed in ‘drive through’ concepts

For those unfamiliar with the stor y, back in Februar y 2012 the business suffered a devastating fire which destroyed warehousing, offices and stocks The following day, MD Henr y Car ver released a statement vowing to ‘ regroup and rebuild a bigger and better Car vers ’ and it was from the following summer ’ s redevelopment that the firm pioneered its Drive Through Trade

Warehouse a concept that features a centre drive lane with parking on either side, allowing vehicles to pull up next to materials and be quickly picked and loaded, all while undercover

The new collection station forms an exciting continuation of this offering for customers. Purchasing Director Richard Boult said: “We are delighted to bring local customers in Wolverhampton access to this new ser vice. The collect concept gives our customers a hassle-free solution to an ever yday challenge that is ultimately more cost-effective ”

In April, Cartmore Building Supplies signed up to become the first Scottish merchant to install a machine at its branch in Lochgelly. Established in 1986, the independent merchant moved to new premises in May 2021 where it opened a stunning landscaping display in May 2022. The display, which spans over 1000m2 has received significant recognition by winning the UK Builders Merchant award for the ‘Best Hard Landscaping display in the UK’, seeing off stiff national competition to put Fife on the map as being the home to the ver y best in the categor y.

The new Fibo Collect drive-through collection station will form an exciting new offering for its customers with Director Gordon Banks commenting: “We are constantly looking to improve our offer to customers and following on from our superb, award-winning landscaping display, our agreement with Fibo will add another dimension to the services Cartmore can offer”

The machine was installed as this issue was being put together and you can see a video via the shortcode rdr.link/mav015

In May, Fibo Intercon also revealed it has expanded the concept to include loose aggregates, meaning that customers will soon be able to choose “exactly the right amount of loose materials all on the same touch screen terminal.” n For more information on the Fibo Collect concept, enter the shortcode www.rdr.link/mav016