Category: News

The machinery that you use often accounts for some of your business’s most valuable assets. When you need to move it from one site to another or even within the same factory, it can be a significant undertaking. If you’re looking to save money, you might consider carrying out the job yourself or using a more generic moving service to help you. However, moving machinery should be undertaken by professional machinery movers, who have experience moving heavy machinery. Working with professional machine movers delivers a number of excellent benefits ensuring the move is as smooth as possible and limiting any damage to your expensive machine.

At Flegg, we can assist with a range of services, including delivery and installation of machinery for any factory move or medical relocation.

Experienced staff

Having operators to use the essential equipment is a must. Lifting equipment in the wrong hands can be very dangerous and lead to expensive problems and delays.

Save Money

Using machine moving experts to move your machinery can be a smart financial move too. You might think that you could save money by using your own equipment or your own staff, but this could turn out to be more costly than you had planned. If anything goes wrong, you could be left paying for the cleanup, whether there’s an injury or damage to your equipment. Additionally, it’s important to have adequate levels of insurance in place to cover the activities required to handle your machinery. When you use a machinery moving service, you should expect your contractor to have the right amount of public and employers liability insurance and any other cover that you need to protect your equipment and your company in the event of something going wrong.

At Flegg, we’re experts in moving heavy machinery and can help you with all of your machinery moving needs. Our range of services is designed to make moving heavy machinery a more straightforward task to tackle. We combine the best equipment and trained, experienced staff, to provide the best machinery moving services available. Contact us by calling 0845 458 4958 or emailing info@fleggprojects.co.uk to find out more. You can also request a call back on our contact page, and we’ll be in touch with you soon.

The government has announced that the rules for importing and exporting goods from the EU will change from 1 January 2021. Hauliers will have to observe a system more akin to current arrangements with Lichtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and Iceland. And they will no longer benefit from speedy customs privileges that currently apply to trade with the 27 member states.

The impact of Brexit on transport is, therefore, expected to be moderate, but it all depends on the type of deal that the Johnson cabinet signs. A soft exit might include provisions that make it easier for British hauliers to navigate customs once they cross the channel. A hard Brexit might lead to delays on the roads to Folkestone and Dover.

Transition Period Delays

At Flegg, we divide the impact of Brexit on transport into two periods: transition and “post-Brexit.”

The transition period will likely be a legal construction of some type, allowing companies to follow intermediate or watered-down rules so that they can prepare for real regime change after six to eighteen months.

Depending on the deal that the UK strikes with the EU, hauliers may not see significant changes in how they must operate. The finalised deal may ask for minor administrative alterations, but substantive differences may be lacking.

In the immediate transition period before full-scale tariffs come into force, we may see an influx of imports into the UK as companies and customers take advantage of any remaining duty-free period. This increase in demand could lead to an even greater trade imbalance skewed in favour of imports and put pressure on existing haulage resources, pushing up prices.

Already, we’ve seen several instances of gazumping in the industry. Lack of trailers and vehicles is leading some haulage operators to take advantage of their clients and bid up their prices so that the highest bidder gets service first.

There are also issues with sea freight. Clients are experiencing delays at major ports around the UK, due to the trade changes brought in by the government in 2020. Bad weather and COVID-19 are compounding the issue. There are delays of three to four days on the roads, and one to two weeks for sea freight.

Documentation is not leading to significant backlogs, at the moment. The overriding issues right now are the sheer volume of sea and road freight, the ongoing pandemic situation, and some instances of poor weather around the British Isles. However, we expect that will change as the transition period comes to an end.

At Flegg, we understand these issues are affecting businesses directly. Thus, we are currently working to ensure that clients can continue import and export goods into and out of the UK as routinely as possible. We have a large fleet of vehicles and drivers who will operate throughout the transition period, continuing to deliver clients bespoke and flexible solutions, based on our tried-and-tested “can-do” attitude.

Post-Brexit Delays

The type of delays we see once Brexit hits will depend on the type of deal thrashed out by the government. It still isn’t clear what form this will take or whether we will get a “hard Brexit” or not.

Michael Gove, the government minister overseeing hard Brexit preparations has indicated that heavy-goods vehicle drivers will need a permit to enter Kent once the transition period comes to an end. The purpose of the new tool is to prevent the queuing often seen along major routes in the southeast of the country. It could help avoid more than 7,000 lorries stacking along the M20 trying to reach the Channel ports.

A hard Brexit would have several implications for the haulage industry. The UK’s tariff-free status would come to an end with the existing 27 member states. If that happened, international trade volumes would likely fall as prices compel consumers to shift their consumption to domestic goods.

We would also likely see the return of customs declarations. The UK would essentially have a trading relationship with the EU, similar to the one that the US has. Rules allow the exchange of goods between the two trading blocs, but duties and paperwork apply.

Hauliers may also have to deal with the re-introduction of standards that preceded the joining of the EU. Examples include Animal Health Certificates and Phytosanitary Certificates.

When you factor in all of these issues, it could lead to more significant delays getting goods through the ports and into their target markets. However, the long-run dynamics are difficult to judge. Under a hard Brexit scenario, declining demand for freight services could combine with increasing delays because of higher final consumer prices and repurposing of resources for the domestic market.

The scenario that will likely lead to the most significant delays will be one in which the EU decides not to levy tariffs, but instead creates non-tariff barriers on UK goods. In that case, we will have both port delays and heavy demand for haulage and shipping from consumers.

Flegg is already working to minimise port delays. As a company, we have already completed many of the actions required by the government (such as acquiring a Standard International Operator License for journeys to, from and through EU member states). And we will continue to adapt as new rules become available.

Flegg is also investing heavily in short and long-term storage services for clients as a risk-mitigation strategy. The purpose of these facilities is to provide holding stock or temporary “in-transit” solutions to smooth haulage processes.

Our goal throughout all of this is to ensure that clients don’t have to spend vast amounts of money paying for freight services caught in customs and at the ports. Flegg has a “can-do” attitude, meaning that we will continue to provide clients with realistic timeframes for freight arrival. If shipping is not possible because of capacity constraints, we can offer lower-cost storage services as an interim measure, to keep the total cost of shipping down. We believe that it is better to be open and honest about what we can do, instead of over-promising and under-delivering.

How Will Freight Costs Change In The Post-Brexit Era?

We do not yet know precisely how freight costs will change in the post-Brexit era – that’s primarily a political decision. However, we can speculate on the sources of increased costs.

• Tariffs: Clients importing from or exporting to EU member states may have to pay tariffs that did not apply before Brexit. The government currently has a checklist page that allows businesses to see what their liabilities are likely to be following 1 January 2021 for importers. Exporters, however, will need to wait for more information to come forth following an agreement with the EU.
• License, certificate, marking, labelling and marketing costs: The EU currently standardises the licensing, certification, marking, marketing and labelling of most goods passing between UK ports and the rest of the continent. However, the rules may change following Brexit, creating additional administrative burdens.
• Freight delays costs: Freight delay costs at the border may increase haulage costs across the board. Clients wanting to import from the EU may discover that freight fees have gone up.

At Flegg, our goal is to ensure that clients only pay necessary costs. Ideally, any administrative changes should be manageable in such a way that keeps costs down. The cost of tariffs, licensing, and certification is legally imposed and unlikely to change until the government thrashes out a better deal with EU members. But avoidable situational issues, such as delays, are something you can modify by choosing a reliable partner like Flegg. To find out more about how Flegg is dealing with Brexit, visit this blog post.

In light of these changes, we recommend that all companies who currently import or export to the EU seek advice as soon as possible so that we can put additional requirements in place. Speaking with a contractor early is the best way to mitigate the impact of Brexit on transport and ensure that freight can move without delays.

Working With A Freight Partner

We foresee several likely effects of Brexit on the transport of foreign goods:

• An increase in the time goods must spend in port
• Delays for both shipping and road freight in the transition period
• A reduction in demand for freight services to the EU and an increase with the rest of the world under a “hard Brexit” scenario
• Increased demand for short- and long-term storage services

In light of this, we recommend that any company considering importing or exporting goods to and from the UK work with an experienced partner. Get in touch by calling us on 0845 458 4958 or use the contact form to make an enquiry. Get the help you need to avoid delays and minimise cost increases.

Almost everyone in the logistics industry knows that things are about to change. While transportation will be impacted when it comes to everything from supplies and smaller items, Brexit shipping will also impact heavy machinery coming into and going out of the UK.

Now, the government just has a short time left to negotiate any agreements and set permanent standards for the future of the logistics industry. Unfortunately, it appears those decisions will be made at the last minute, leaving many businesses who depend on the industry scratching their heads and trying to figure out the best ways to keep moving forward.

So, what can we expect?

It depends on the type of business you have and what your heavy machinery shipping needs are. Let’s break it down a bit futher.

Changes to Health & Safety Regulations

Many people are wondering about changes to health and safety regulations as they relate to Brexit. These concerns have become especially important in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. As of now, we don’t expect any major changes as the health and safety regulations already put in place by the UK hold companies in all industries to very strict standards.

Any changes that do occur aren’t likely to have a huge impact on shipping heavy machinery. But, negotiations may continue as COVID-19 has seen some resurgence in certain areas. Long-term solutions to keep workers in these industries safe may end up being in the spotlight more than what was first anticipated. We plan on keeping all of our clients well-informed of any changes to health and safety regulations while holding ourselves to the highest standards, as well.

There have been discussions in the works for months now when it comes to how Brexit will impact the logistics industry. The opinions, so far, have been mixed. Some people think the outcome will be bleak, while others tend to believe that things won’t change much, since freight will still have to enter and leave the UK one way or another.

If those negotiations continue to swing a certain way, one thing can be certain; prices will rise within the logistics industry as tariffs will be applied to consumables and machinery being delivered to the UK.

It can all be a bit overwhelming and confusing, and truly frustrating part is that there are no concrete answers as of yet. So, what will the biggest challenges in the industry be in a logistics Brexit world?

What Challenges Will Brexit Cause the Logistics Industry?

Though we don’t know everything, there are a few expectations when it comes to challenges when it comes to logistics and Brexit that need to be addressed.

First, we need to think about where the UK’s exports are going. Many go to the EU. After Brexit, those exports will go down significantly, which could have a negative impact on trade and a huge decline on demand. Needless to say, it could affect us right away. There won’t be as much demand for road hauling, which can lead to everything from job loss to businesses struggling to stay afloat.

Of course, that isn’t meant to scare anyone. The rate of export may remain unchanged, but companies will need to figure out practical solutions for hauling, depending on what rules are put in place.

What is Flegg Doing?

It has been our consistent goal to make sure that our vehicles and staff can keep working outside of the UK, and we’re confident we will be successful. In fact, we already have several projects lined up outside of the UK for 2021. With that in mind, we plan to consult with clients to talk about the impact of any deals that have been created in the process.

We want to remain as transparent as possible during this time and throughout the transition process. So, we can tell you with confidence that we are not planning to increase our costs for any works within the UK. But, works completed outside the UK are could increase, simply due to more overhead cost. To find out more, read about how Flegg is dealing with Brexit.

Flegg will continue to do what we do best; listen, create, and deliver solutions. While we will be the first to admit that coming up with effective solutions due to Brexit hasn’t been easy, we haven’t changed our goal of providing superior service and coming up with innovative ways to do just that. We are still waiting to see what officially leaving the EU will look like, and what the details of these deals will be. But, we want to be able to provide our customers with confidence that even though logistics may change due to Brexit, we will make the necessary adjustments to keep things running as smoothly as possible.

If you have more questions about logistics and Brexit, call us on 0845 458 4958 or use the contact form for more information.

Unfortunately, there are still plenty of unknowns when it comes to exactly how Brexit will affect the shipping industry, especially how ports will be affected. But, the big question most shippers are wondering is if port delays and Brexit will go hand-in-hand.

Let’s talk a bit more about what you can expect when it comes to port delays from Brexit. We understand this feels like an uncertain time, and while we may not have every answer, we can try to ease your worries about what you can expect.

What Delays Can You Expect?

Recently, there has been a huge influx of freight into the UK due to the impending Brexit in January 2021. That includes equipment needed to manage the COVID-19 virus. The delays you can expect are different for road freight and sea freight.

For road freight, expect transportation costs to go up. There is currently a shortage of trailers because of the influx of freight entering the UK. So, haulage firms are trying to take full advantage of the “demand” by raising their prices. That, unfortunately, can cause delays until finances are taken care of.

Sea-freighters can expect pretty major issues with delays as well, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Post-Brexit, there are still so many unknowns when it comes to what the procedures will be to enter into the UK. That includes bringing in freight.

What is Flegg Doing to Minimise Port Delays?

At Flegg, we are urging all of our clients to complete every required procedure as soon as possible to avoid delays. But, we’re taking things a step further by working with our vast network of haulers and forwarders with years of industry knowledge. We’re making sure we are completing every action necessary to operate hauling vehicles outside of the UK.

With delays happening in ports all over the UK, Flegg is trying to stay on top of what comes next, even though it’s a difficult thing to predict. That includes having a concrete idea of accounting for the cost of importing and exporting from the EU, as well as whether customers will need to pay duty on entry. While it’s frustrating not to have answers already, it depends on the Brexit deal details.

One of the only things we can tell our clients for sure is that we have seen many businesses importing stock prior to the deadline. Other than that, we haven’t been able to get much information yet as to what the Brexit deal will look like. But, our drivers will continue to operate outside of the UK and offer the same bespoke solutions we always have. We have prided ourselves for years on our ability to adapt and have a “can do” attitude. Port delays due to Brexit won’t change that.

How Will Brexit Change Things?

Everyone has their own opinion about Brexit. But, without getting into the political side of things, we can say that the one thing industry leaders agree on is an increase in costs when it comes to freight, including machine transport.

At Flegg, we have (and will continue) to do all we can to be as transparent as possible with our customers, and make and we’re excited to already have a few projects in the works outside of the UK for 2021. As of now, we don’t expect to increase our prices, but that, too, is something that depends on any changes in overhead costs due to Brexit. Find out more about how Flegg is dealing with Brexit.

Though it might seem like things are up in the air right now, we will continue to listen, create, and deliver solutions to all of our clients. If you have more questions or want to know more about what we can do for you, call us on 0845 458 4958 or use the contact form for more information.

Preparing for Brexit

The last few years have been challenging for businesses and organisations that import, export and sell to customers abroad. The convoluted processes and ongoing discussions have created a degree of uncertainty, and even now, months into negotiations, it is not clear what will happen when the transition period is over. At Flegg, we have made it our mission to prioritise preparing for Brexit, and we have taken several steps to ensure that we will be able to provide the best possible service for our clients during the transition phase and the period that follows.

The discussions related to trade deals and agreements with the European Union have contributed to issues, which we have tried our best to adapt to and work with to continue operating the best possible service. There has been an influx of traffic at ports to try and beat the deadline, but we have a can-do attitude, and we have made arrangements to ensure as smooth and seamless a transition as possible. We have always endeavoured to provide flexible, tailored services for our clients, and our drivers and fleet will continue to operate outside of the UK once the Brexit transition stage is complete.

How can businesses that import and export prepare for Brexit?

All companies that import or export to the EU are advised to seek advice as soon as possible to ensure that they are ready for life after the transition phase. The UK government have outlined the requirements for importing from the EU and for exporting from Great Britain. Ensuring all the boxes are ticked will help to prevent delays and disruptions. We also recommend outlining clear expectations when liaising with transport contractors and making sure all documentation is complete.

Conclusion

There is no doubt that Brexit has contributed to uncertainty for businesses. At Flegg, we have prioritised preparing for Brexit, and we are confident that we can continue to provide an excellent service for our customers both during and after the transition phase.

If you have any questions or concerns, or you’d like to find out more about the services we offer, call us on 0845 458 4958 or use our contact form.

Flegg Projects have recently acquired an additional 6000 sq. ft of warehouse space to help UK businesses struggling to find room for stock, heavy machinery and fragile equipment.

According to the UK Warehousing Association (UKWA), 85% of their 750 members have received Brexit-related requests for warehouse space. About 75% were not able to take on the new business.

Our new capacity suits long or short-term storage of stock or machines in transit, and we’ll be offering flexible terms and prices.

In addition to storage services we also offer the following:

• Container loading/offloading
• Lifting/handling capacity of up to 125-tons
• Export packing

So whether you’re looking for a short term home for your in-transit freight or a longer storage period for stock items; Flegg is capable of handling and securely storing your valuable assets.

We’re expecting this rare storage opportunity to be very popular, especially when customers need to trust a specialist with their heavy, awkward or fragile machines.

Contact us today to reserve your space.

If you’re expecting the delivery of your valuable new asset, you may be wondering how to prepare. It’s essential to install and commission new equipment safely, and on schedule, so we’ve put together a checklist to help you make sure that happens.

Here’s our machine mover’s guide to preparing your site for the arrival of your new machine.

Make sure your contractor has sufficient insurance

If you’ve engaged a company with proven experience to undertake the work safely, they probably have ample insurance in place. However, it’s best to check beforehand.

Your contractor must have the right type of insurance, to include possible damage to your site and machine, plus adequate cover for the value of your new asset.

Flag any known issues

It helps you and your contractor if you warn them of any known issues. For example, have any previous machine installations been delayed? Has anything been damaged? Have any past deliveries caused problems for you or your neighbours? Has there been any near misses?

When warned, your contractor can plan to reduce the risk of damaging your machine or affecting your production schedule.

Complete a risk assessment

Review the delivery route and target location. Assess things such as the following examples:

• Floor loadings
• Overhead obstructions
• Pinch-points along the route
• Electrical, chemical or fire hazards

Share your findings with your contractor.

Notify your staff and neighbours

We’ve found that it helps to warn everyone who might be affected. It helps them to prepare, which is good for your relationships, and you could get some useful feedback that allows you to avoid hidden problems.

Feedback could help you to avoid common issues such as scheduling conflicts and production downtime, and shared spaces can sometimes cause a problem. If you share an entrance and parking area, it’s best to speak with your neighbours as early as possible and again the day before.

Clear the delivery route and working area

Make sure you clear vehicles, skips, materials and products, from the delivery route, from where the delivery vehicle will need to park and wherever your contractor will need to transport your new machine.

In addition to safety for all, including your machine, obstructions cause delays that can affect production schedules.

Over to You

We all want our new machines to be delivered safely and on time, and that’s usually the case in our experience.

However, in our 40 years of moving machines, we’ve noted how important it is to plan well and prepare. We always do, but that hasn’t always been true of the site receiving a new machine.

Hopefully, the steps above will help you to make sure that your next delivery goes smoothly. Do let us know if you would like some help with it.

Flegg Projects are delighted to announce the launch of Flegg Medical, providing worldwide medical equipment installation and logistics services.

Flegg Projects already has over 40 years of experience in the transport, handling and installation of heavy yet delicate machines. We’re now pleased to welcome a new team of experienced engineers with the specialist skills required to handle medical equipment.

We’re enabling our new colleagues to provide the best possible service by investing in new fully equipped tackle vans. Support will be provided from our existing commercial vehicle fleet which is designed for safely transporting equipment such as MRI and radiation therapy systems.

Mark Marshall, Commercial Director, commented, “We’ve provided services to the healthcare industry in the past, and it’s a market that we were keen to expand into. Over the past 18-months, our business has invested time and cash into our quality systems and recently achieved safe contractor accreditation. This has enabled us to offer our services directly to the original equipment manufacturers. We already have most of the vehicles and equipment required in our existing fleet so combining our infrastructure with the knowledge and experience of our new team will mean a high-level service is available.”

The new Flegg Medical division is proud to be serving a leading producer of medical equipment, and the hospitals and clinicians using their technology to save and prolong lives.

Did you know that there’s a way to vet contractors for health and safety standards without anyone having to complete or process paperwork?

The work of appointing contractors for projects or services can be taxing enough without having to dig into their safety record and policies. Few of us would choose to be familiar with the Health and Safety (Offences) Act (2009) and the Corporate Manslaughter Act (2008), but we all know why we need to conduct our business safely and responsibly. As much as we would prefer to do business without the time and cost of due diligence, we like accidents, audit failures and reputation damage even less.

Imagine then that your tender process doesn’t involve hours of health and safety vetting, but still assures you that the contractors you choose have a high standard of health and safety practice. That’s the low-effort, high-confidence experience offered by a third-party accreditation scheme.

Safer and Simpler

Safe working practices have always had a high profile at Flegg Projects, and we recently went through the process of evaluating and joining such a scheme. It’s good for us because it reassures those who don’t already know of our commitment to health and safety, and it benefits our customers by reducing the time and expense of their tender processes.

After reviewing several providers, we chose Alcumus SafeContractor because they’re closely aligned with the HSE and aren’t sector-specific, which means that you can use the same scheme even when projects need a variety of disciplines.

Thousands of organisations in the UK are members, including Linklaters LLP, Greggs, and many other SMEs and FTSE 100 companies.

We have our Mick Alvey to thank for managing the SafeContractor process for Flegg Projects. We achieved the accreditation at the end of May, and Mick gave only positive feedback about working with Alcumus:

“I found application process straightforward and the online interface easy to understand and interact with. Alcumus staff were always on hand and more than willing to help with any of queries I had. I would be more than happy to recommend Alcumus to anyone looking for SC accreditation.”

We’re also very grateful to Mick and the other members of the back-office team for their support and attention in achieving our accreditation. As a SafeContractor member, we’ve demonstrated our commitment to health and safety and further reduced costs and timescales for our customers.

You can sign-up to the SafeContractor scheme here so that you can vet the credentials of potential contractors and ensure that you’re only working with those who’ve met the standard.