BS7121 Part 4 Update

Throughout 2008, representatives of ALLMI have been working with representatives of the Construction Plant-Hire Association, the Modular and Portable Building Association, and the Health and Safety Executive, in order to produce a new draft of ‘BS7121 The Code of Practice for the Safe  Use of Cranes - Part 4: Lorry Loaders’.  Significant progress has been made since the Working Group held its inaugural meeting in January, and the intention is to have the first draft ready for submission to the British Standards Institution (BSI) by early 2009.  ALLMI Executive Director, Tom Wakefield, comments “We’re very pleased with the progress of the revision so far and I think the make-up of the Working Group has proved invaluable.  With such a high level of expertise and experience from all areas of the lorry loader industry, we feel that the new Standard, when eventually published, will accurately reflect the changes that have taken place with regard to legislation and product development since the current Part 4 was written.  The introduction of various categories of lift should provide much needed clarity in this area of lifting operations, and should enable a more proportional approach to lift planning and risk assessing.  However, ultimately the success of the project will rely on the industry adopting the Standard and interpreting it correctly, and as the industry Association, ensuring that this happens will be one of our main aims when the Standard is released.”   

ALLMI's New Preferred Supplier for Oil & Lubricants

At the recent General meetings held for ALLMI’s manufacturers / service agents and Operators’ Forum members, EMO Oil, Shell’s largest UK distributor, delivered presentations on the wide range of high quality oils and lubricants they can offer at extremely competitive prices, as part of a newly formed agreement with ALLMI.  EMO will also offer members a range of additional products and services including spill containment products and absorbents, telemarketing support, technical updates, assistance with legislation compliance, training / seminars, and national waste collection services, which include site surveys and which extend to products other than oil, e.g. filters, batteries, etc.  Alan Johnson, the ALLMI Director responsible for forming the agreement, comments “the agreement with EMO can provide extensive benefits for members.  Not only does it give them access to top end oil and lubricant products at a discounted rate, but the peripheral services that members can take advantasge of should prove invaluable to any business.  The EMO sales team will now be contacting members to discuss their requirements and we look forward to seeing ALLMI’s relationship with EMO developing significantly over the coming months.” For further information, please contact EMO Oil on 0800 371910.  Alternatively, please contact the ALLMI Office.

New Technical Manager for ALLMI

ALLMI has recently announced that it will soon begin the recruitment process for appointing a dedicated, full time Technical Manager for the Association.  As part of a restructuring process, the ALLMI Technical Manager will replace the Technical Director’s position.  ALLMI Chairman, Mark Rigby, comments “having a full time Technical Manager will significantly improve the service we are able to offer members in relation to their technical enquiries.  In addition, the person appointed will chair the ALLMI Technical Committee meetings and undertake any technical projects, as well as playing a role in the auditing of member companies and training providers.”  Alan Johnson, formerly ALLMI’s Commercial Director, has agreed to temporarily take over the Technical Director’s role, with one of his main duties being to manage the recruitment process for the Technical Manager. 

Board Appointment for Operators' Forum Chairman

At the ALLMI General meetings held in October, ALLMI’s members were informed that the position of Operators’ Forum Chairman would now include a seat on the ALLMI Board.  ALLMI Chairman, Mark Rigby, comments “we see this as a very positive step forward for the Association.  Appointing the Operators’ Forum Chairman as a Director of the company should improve the flow of information throughout the Association and bring the two divisions of ALLMI much closer together.  In addition, we’ll be looking to the Operators’ Forum Chairman to assist with the development of the buyers co-operative in relation to any products or services that would benefit Forum members.”  As the current Operators’ Forum Chairman, Steve Frazer Brown will attend the next ALLMI Board meeting in December.  He comments “I am honoured to be invited on to the ALLMI Board of Directors and I believe it will bring about an even closer relationship between manufacturers, importers, service companies and end users.  Under the stewardship of the current Board there is no doubt that ALLMI has increased its strength in recent years and I believe this appointment is a natural progression in developing the Association further.”

Engine Management Systems Update

Over the past year, ALLMI has been working with crane manufacturers, installers, bodybuilders and truck manufacturers, with a view to resolving the problems surrounding the wiring into and the programming of Engine Management Systems (EMS).  Key to the success of this project is the EMS specialist Working Group, which held its first meeting on the 9th September at Scania’s UK Headquarters in Milton Keynes.  The first item on the agenda was the issue of collating truck, crane and PTO electrical information so that it can be easily accessible from one source.  It was established that a series of web links and PDF files will be uploaded to a secure, password protected area of the ALLMI website, which will be done in conjunction with a series of email bulletins to ensure that interested parties are continually kept up-to-date.  The Working Group then drew up detailed lists of all the information required from each party involved in the process, and work on collating this is now well underway.  Agreement was also reached on the development of a new ALLMI Guidance Note, which will provide information for customers on what specifications to ask for when purchasing a chassis for loader crane use.   The possible content of a feedback form was also discussed, the purpose of which will be to assist in communication between the crane installer and the truck dealer.  The first draft of this form is due to be presented at the next Working Group meeting on the 13th November.  The final issue was to look at the production of chassis looms for connecting cranes.  Here it was noted that a Standard is currently being developed for the exchange of information between chassis manufacturers and bodybuilders, a subsection of which is the electrical and hydraulic components of loader cranes.  The ALLMI Technical Committee will now be submitting a proposal for this Standard in relation to electronic interfaces.  Following a very productive meeting, ALLMI’s Service Director and EMS project leader, Ismo Leppanen, commented ‘I’m pleased with the progress we’ve made.  Everyone in the Working Group has a strong desire to see this project through and to come up with practical solutions that will help all parties involved with the installation of loader cranes and the programming of engine management systems. ‘

Further Growth for ALLMI Training Schemes

2008 is seeing another period of significant growth for ALLMI’s lorry loader and slinger / signaller training schemes.  At the recent General meeting for manufacturers and service companies, it was reported that ALLMI had trained 2,756 lorry loader operators between February and September, which was an increase of 18% on the same period for 2007.  Members were also informed of an even greater level of growth for the slinger / signaller training, the uptake of which had increased by over 50% from 2007.  ALLMI Executive Director, Tom Wakefield, comments “the growth that we’re experiencing is a testament to the quality of the training schemes and the work of the ALLMI Training Committee members who continually review and develop the content.”  For further information on ALLMI training, please click here.