Baker Plant Hire has cooked up a winning recipe for its customers by working closely with Genie dealer Workplatform over the last nine and a half years.
“We have recently purchased another package of equipment from Workplatform’s Tony Campana – two new Z45/25J RT 4wd’s that went straight out to an electrical contractor in Barnsley and a couple of GS-2632-which went to a food factory in Scunthorpe,” says Paul Layton, Hire Manager at Baker Plant Hire and Reg Baker’s (owner and founder) right hand man. Paul continues; “We haven’t seen the Z-45’s since and don’t expect to for a while yet. It’s such a useful piece of kit and invaluable to the electrical contractors that are using them. If you are in the hire industry you need Genie Z-45’s in your fleet and lots of them!”
The Beginning
Entrepreneur, Reg Baker, who also owns his own construction business called Ambrey Baker Construction, decided to open his first plant hire depot in 2001 after renting equipment himself for many years. “As a rental customer, all I wanted was to feel that I was getting a good deal whilst also receiving a good service. That’s where the vision for my company started. I wanted to offer competitive prices that included great customer support.”
Reg saw an opportunity when a national plant hire company closed its business in the Sleaford area. He knew from his construction business contacts that there was a demand for a good local plant hire company. All he needed was the right products to achieve success. That’s when Workplatform with its Genie products stepped in.
“I was looking for a machine supplier that had the same ethos as me in terms of customer support, and Workplatform did not disappoint. 
Whenever I need an access platform, I know they will do their utmost to get it to me when I need it, which is important when you’re trying to manage the needs of many customers’. The important thing for me is that the interaction doesn’t stop at the sale. Workplatforms service support is second to none and this is crucial if we are to help our customers deliver their projects on time and on budget, the way we see it is that if we don’t achieve this, we are not doing what we set out to do.”
From a starting point of two machines (a Genie GS1932 and an old Genie lift product called a V-lift), Reg’s fleet now sits at over 400 machines and is used across the whole of the UK with some even turning up in Europe this month to work on a cold store building project. Since his humble beginnings, he has never looked back and continues to invest in Genie products through Workplatform.
Speaking about why he returns to Workplatform for more machines, Reg says: “The key to our success is definitely in the fact that we only invest in high-quality brands that are renowned for their productivity, safety, and reliability – Genie being one of those brands. They’re well known in the industry and people trust them.”
Solution Driven with Invention
Reg’s businesses are looking bright. Not only are they aiming to open another depot, they are also on track to launch a new accessory for one of the core areas of their construction business (ceiling panels and insulation installation). The prototype was created last year with a local engineering firm Micari Engineering. Reg a solution driven man, developed this product to solve the problem of improving how difficult it is to install celling and insulation panels. A ‘Panel Support Frame’, was then created, making the installation process easier and safer, and the good news is it’s now available for hire. It is possible to use in all Genie slab scissors (depending on the weight of the panel to be installed). Weighing 45kgs, with a working load limit of 150kg and as with all panel installation projects requires two men for the installation. “I’m always looking for new ways to help our customers,” says Reg, “And this new installation accessory will make their job much easier”.
Community Man
Reg is also a firm believer in giving back to the local community and supports many local initiatives and clubs, including Sleaford football club, Sleaford cricket club, and the local sidecar and motocross racing amongst others.
Great Customer
Commenting on Reg’s loyalty to Workplatform over the years Jonathan Hull remarked “We’ve been working with Reg since Workplatform began nine and a half years ago, he is one of our original customers. Both our businesses have evolved in-tandem and we have seen first-hand that his professionalism and dedication to his customers is second to none. We are delighted that he has continued to work with Workplatform and that the Genie products help keep up his high standards of quality.”
About Z-45/25J RT: Comes with the optional 1.52m fly jib and is the preferred choice by many. The Z-45 cherry picker has a tight turning radius, zero tailswing and an impressive working envelope, all designed to increase productivity.
Features
- Rough terrain features for easy travel over irregular ground
- Proportional lift and drive controls for smooth precise positioning.
- Dual parallelogram lift design which allows the operator to move up and down a wall without having to extend or retract the boom.
- Rough terrain foam filled tyres.
- Zero tailswing and zero front arm swing for safer boom movements
About GS-1932: 7.60m working height and offers outdoor use for one person or internal use for two people. The compact GS-1932 is only 0.83m (32in) wide and 1.83m in length.
Features
- Solid non marking tyres prevent scuffing floors or picking up debris.
- Compact design and zero inside turning radius makes this machine ideal for areas where space is at a premium.
- Fold down guardrails make it easy to maneuver through height restricted areas.
- On board diagnostics to help operators troubleshoot and maximise uptime.
- Driveable at full height
- Swing out battery box and power trays allows for easy access to engine components
- Manual roll out deck extension for increased work space
About Baker Plant Hire
Baker Plant Hire is one of Lincolnshire’s leading names in construction and plant hire. It has 8 team members and offers an extensive range of general construction plant hire from powered access tools to excavators and dumpers, to meet the varied demands of all types of construction projects.
About Workplatform
Workplatform are approved dealers for Genie Lifts, the world’s leading Access Platform manufacturer. That means we have a thorough knowledge of the complete Genie range of platforms, lifts and booms and can offer reliable, expert advice to help our customers to choose the right access equipment for their needs.
