Viridor saves money with Speedshield installed on its forklifts.

Recycling and waste management firm Viridor will save about GBP220,000 (USD340,000) over the next five years after installing Briggs Equipment's Speedshield system.

Skelmersdale-based Viridor wanted to reduce wear and tear to its six 2.5 T diesel forklifts supplied by Briggs that work in demanding conditions. Viridor head of procurement Ashley Houghton says before installing Speedshield, the company suffered about GBP15,000 (USD23,205) of damage to trucks and other property on-site each quarter. "This was primarily due to us not being able to accurately monitor the behaviour of our drivers and the efficiency of our trucks.

"Now that we have Speedshield on all our machines, we are able to gain real-time information on individual truck performance and monitor our outgoing costs."

Three months after installing the system, Viridor has seen damage costs reduced by 73% from around GBP15,000 (USD23,200) every quarter to around GBP4,000 (USD6,200). Over the length of the contract, the company can save up to GBP220,000.

Briggs engineer Steve Culshaw explains that Speedshield provides real-time information on individual truck performance and a range of safety features, including automatic cut-out in an accident or other emergency.

"This cut-out system is also activated if the truck's engine is left idling, helping to reduce fuel costs as well as improve safety," Culshaw says.

Before Speedshield was introduced, the trucks consumed around 6,000 L (1,585 gal.) of fuel a month. This has now fallen to around 4,000 to 5,000 L (1,057-1,320 gal.) a month.

Viridor plans to work with Briggs on the installation of Speedshield to trucks operating at the firm's other facilities in the UK.