WFS relies on Rushlift for materials handling support at its Heathrow operation. It has now turned to the company for ground support equipment at Manchester Airport.

Rushlift has supplied a new fleet of equipment for Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) at Manchester Airport.

Over GBP2.8 million (USD4.3 million) worth of equipment was needed in less than two months, and involved over 110 units of varied specialist ground support equipment that would typically take at least three times that long to source.

Rushlift's Brian Grady says the ability to respond quickly was a key component of the deal. "Ground support means having the right equipment at the right location and to be able to respond to the demands of an industry that has severe penalties for delays.

"From our first conversation to the first delivery took just eight weeks. In that time, we dealt with over a dozen different suppliers to get their best possible production times and ensure the equipment was delivered on time."

WFS is already familiar with Rushlift, having relied on the materials handling equipment side of the company to provide support at its Heathrow operation.

"The attraction of going with Rushlift GSE was their understanding of our business aims," adds Gary Jenkins of WFS. "From our perspective, we needed equipment fast, but we also needed it to be capable and reliable. Our experience with them to date had given us an insight into their business ethos and we were delighted with the way they rose to the challenge."

The skills of Rushlift's sister company, Specialist Crane Hire, were also brought to bear with the delivery of a Trepel wide body pallet and container high loader. The loader made the long journey from Wiesbaden, near Frankfurt, to Manchester where it was carefully off-loaded using the latest mobile crane equipment.

"As a full-service rental, maintenance and asset management business, we maintain and manage a wide variety of equipment," adds Rushlift executive chairman Peter Cosgrove.

"Our ground service equipment operation follows similar business rhythms as our existing businesses, meaning we bring a wealth of experience and expertise to a sector that has yearned for modernisation. By responding quickly and professionally, we gave WFS the confidence they needed to move forward with their ambitious plans."

Rushlift Ltd is one of the UK's leading independent suppliers of materials handling solutions. Established in the 1980s as Rushlift Mechanical Handling in Bishop Auckland, Rushlift has grown quickly in the last few years as a member of the Specialist Hire Group Ltd, having acquired Lex Komatsu South Ltd, SMH Ltd and Peter Turner Fork Lifts Ltd to form Rushlift Ltd.