JHM Butt boosts Edinburgh Council’s vehicle testing capacity
When Edinburgh Council developed a new purpose-built two-bay fleet maintenance workshop at its Seafield Waste Depot, the facility needed to support the inspection, testing and maintenance requirements of a varied municipal fleet.
The wider fleet includes 26-tonne refuse collection vehicles, 32-tonne hooklifts and 16-tonne mechanical sweepers, while the new facility also required dedicated MOT testing capability for the council’s lighter vehicles.
JHM Butt & Co Ltd was chosen to supply and install a package of vehicle inspection and testing equipment for the new workshop.
“Prior to the workshop being installed, Edinburgh Council were having to outsource their vehicle maintenance and repair work to a third party,” said JHM Butt.
“This meant significant hours of staff time and council funding was being used, and having their own in-house facility significantly improved their workflow.”
Alongside the heavy-vehicle maintenance facilities, JHM Butt installed a Class 7 ATL MOT lift and DVSA roller brake tester, giving the council dedicated in-house testing capability for its lighter commercial vehicles.
The inspection lane also included 2-tonne and 2.8-tonne Majorlift manual jacking beams, allowing technicians to raise axles during inspection and gain better access to steering, suspension, wheel and brake components.
A commercial washpit bay was also incorporated into the workshop, allowing the council’s larger fleet vehicles to be cleaned on site. This removes the need to wait for external cleaning facilities, says JHM Butt, helping vehicles return to service more quickly while improving hygiene and making ongoing inspection and maintenance easier.
“For a municipal fleet workshop, equipment reliability is essential,” said the firm.
“Vehicles need to remain available for service, so delays caused by testing or workshop equipment being out of action can quickly affect fleet operations.
“JHM Butt supplied equipment suitable for regular professional use and developed an installation plan tailored to the requirements of the new facility. Ongoing servicing and technical support also formed part of the wider project, helping ensure the equipment could continue to meet the demands of the fleet workshop.”
The Seafield project highlights the importance of considering vehicle inspection and testing equipment as part of the wider workshop operation, says JHM Butt.
“For fleet operators planning a new facility or upgrading an existing one, factors such as vehicle types, testing requirements, equipment positioning, reliability and ongoing maintenance all need to be considered from the outset.
“By bringing these elements together, Edinburgh Council has created a purpose-built facility with dedicated inspection and testing capability, supported by the equipment and aftersales infrastructure required for day-to-day fleet operation…
“JHM Butt & Co Ltd can support projects from initial planning and equipment specification through to installation, servicing and ongoing maintenance.”
