Premier Pits aid inspection across the world
Premier Pits has reported further expansion of its export operations this year, with pits recently shipped to North America and even further afield.
The Lincolnshire-based company has been manufacturing and installing pits for vehicle underside access for 40 years, with more than 4,000 installed to date.
The company’s products are exported worldwide, with its pits installed in countries as diverse as the USA, Canada and Mexico; European nations including France, Norway and the Netherlands; African destinations such as Angola and Nigeria; and to Asia, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Afghanistan.
Premier’s global reach also now extends to the world’s sparsest continent, thanks to a unique project which has seen a Premier Pit embarking on a 9,000-mile journey to Antarctica.
The bespoke 6.9m Working Pit was dispatched earlier this year to the British Antarctic Survey’s (BAS) Rothera Research Station, located on Adelaide Island on the west coast of the Antarctic peninsula.
The pit forms part of the station’s vehicle garage located within the new two-storey, 4,500m2 Discovery Building, part of the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme, constructed with partner BAM.
“This has been a very special project for us here at Premier Pits,” said sales director, Dave Sylvester.
“It’s very much a once-in-a-lifetime moment for any company to supply a product to Antarctica, and we are extremely proud to have been able to work with BAS and Bam Nuttall to produce a pit that will help with the day to day maintenance of the BAS fleet of exploratory vehicles.”
The company’s full range includes inspection, authorised testing facility (ATF) and maintenance pits, all supported by a comprehensive range of accessories and health and safety equipment, such as covers and barriers, pit bridges and pit jacks.
Premier also provides a range of solutions for the washbay, including under-chassis wash pits and ramps.
The company emphasises the importance of ensuring products meet the highest manufacturing standards when selecting a pit supplier.
“You can buy in confidence knowing that every Premier Pit and Ramp complies to CE and BS EN 1090-1: 2009 + A1: 2011, BS OHSAS 18001:2007 SSIP,” said the firm.
“From the first point of contact, to the completion of the job, Premier Pits offer a complete package. Advice is given on the type of pit to install, along with the modifications and accessories required for working on specific vehicles.
“Our skilled, experienced, design engineers using the latest CAD design facilities, and are able to provide design support to architects, structural engineers, and contractors alike.”
Although all pits are built around standard basic formats they can be tailored to suit individual customer needs, says the firm, thereby making available an endless range of combinations. Among the facilities on its website is an online pit builder, allowing prospective customers to specify desired pit features and enquire for further details.
“Once delivered to the site, the pits are installed by one of Premier Pits’ own teams of skilled and experienced fitters. Before handover, we always ensure that the pit and surrounding floor is clean and tidy, with all waste material removed.
“To ensure that everything is still in order on new build projects, we revisit the site just prior to the building being handed over to the client.”
The firm says it continues to make design improvements and add new features and options, as well as improving installation methods.
Premier Pits is also distributor for the BrakeMate product, an elevated service platform for servicing heavy vehicle brake disc assemblies.
It is said to eliminate the majority of manual lifting during the disc brake maintenance process and substantially reduce service time. It also enables a single user to complete the whole process, enabling other jobs to be completed more efficiently.
Additionally available is the BrakeMate V-Splitter, which has been designed to separate corroded HGV, bus/coach and waste management vehicle disc brake assemblies with ease.
The V-Splitter allows seized discs to be split from the hub using three 10-tonne (10,000psi) hydraulic cylinders, connected to an air/hydraulic foot pump.
