Believe it or not, we’ve been delivering materials handling solutions for over 40 years, and this year we’re also celebrating our tenth year way up high!
How it all began: The JLG Story
John Landis Grove formed a partnership with two close friends and bought a small metal fabrication business in McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania. With a crew of 20 work-ers, they built and sold the first JLG aerial work platform in 1970. Many of the basic design elements of that orig-inal lift are still being incorporated into products today.
A legal imperative
Grove actually founded JLG Industries after his retirement (from his first business, Grove Industries). In 1979, the company opened a facility to produce and assemble scissor lifts. In less than 3 decades, the equipment went from R&D to a legal necessity, playing a vital part of the Work At Height Act 2005.
Reaching new heights
JLG became in 2006 part of Oshkosh Corporation. The first scissor lifts had a platform mounted on a scissor-like mechanism and could extend up to 30 feet. By 2016, JLG had launched the 150-ft platform height 1500AJP, its tallest and farthest-reaching articulating boom lift ever.
Access Anniversary
“Like much of our business, it started with customer requirements,” says Windsor MD, Jonathan Burton. Celebrating 10 years of sup-plying access equipment, thoughts have naturally turned to how things have changed, and how quickly the time has gone. “As we looked into it, we saw that we were able offer a great service and add a string to our bow. Now we have customers that know us primarily for access,” adds Jonathan. With the hire fleet also increasing year-on-year, the number of access customers is also at a high. “We’ve had great success. After a decade, we’re still innovating with hire terms, rates and ways of doing business. It’s the Windsor way!”
A supplier of caravan and motorhome parts based in Grimsby has reached new heights with a helping hand from the Immingham branch of Windsor Materials Handling.
Established in Grimsby in 1992, Magnum Motorhomes & Caravan Supplies is a family run business specialising in building materials and accessories for caravans and motorhomes. Operating from a facility working as both a warehouse and a customer-facing retail environment, the business needed a new way to retrieve stock from the high racking.
Previously using ladders to access the out of reach and bulky items, Magnum managing director, Ken Carter approached Windsor Materials Handling for advice on the best form of equipment to serve the busy wholesaler-style shop.
“With up to ten customers browsing the aisles at once, Magnum needed a compact solution to ensure optimum safety and space to walk around,” said Windsor sales manager Steve Austin. “After taking multiple factors into consideration, I recommended a JLG Toucan Duo vertical mast lift.”
The compact dimensions and low stowed height of the Toucan Duo allow access to confined space areas, while the six-metre working height, 130kg platform capacity and great turning circle make it ideal for the application at Magnum Motorhomes.
“When Steve first recommended the Toucan Duo, we were sceptical because it was only available brand new, but when we trialled the piece of equipment we knew it would have to stay,” said Magnum managing director, Ken Carter. “We reallocated a few of our stock locations to ensure it had a clear path to all the high racking. The machine has revolutionised our day-to-day operation, it’s extremely rare we ever get the ladders out now!”
Magnum was founded when Ken Carter, after years of building caravans for Abbey Caravans, decided to begin 
building his own motorhomes and selling surplus caravan parts. Since then, the business has manufactured all types of conversions, from coach-built to panel vans, race units and even a 52-seater coach. More recently, Magnum has become well-known for being one of the UK’s largest stockists of building materials and accessories for caravans and motorhomes.
Windsor’s Immingham branch is based just a 15-minute drive from Magnum’s store, meaning the business also receives a fast response when advice or an engineer is needed – especially beneficial during busy times.
“We supply to trade, public and DIY enthusiasts,” continued Ken Carter. “While we do get especially busy during spring when we start to experience more sunny days, we are also busy throughout winter with customers aiming to get their motorhome ready for the warmer months.”
Ken believes introducing the JLG Toucan Duo to his shop has sped up the order fulfilment process, as workers can retrieve items at any level with simplicity. Magnum employee Tom was especially pleased with the new equipment. “It does exactly what it says on the tin, I don’t know how we managed without it! It’s firm, stable and you feel safe on it. It is a magic bit of kit and I’m really surprised at how well it works in small spaces.”
Now in its 10th year of providing access equipment as part of its first-class portfolio of services, Windsor is a unique player in the materials handling and access industry, having remained independent throughout its 40 years of operation. Ken Carter concludes: “I can’t fault Windsor at all, they have provided a great service. The engineers are flexible and Steve is always on hand whenever we need advice.”
JLG’s 10MSP mobile stock picker is still one of the more popular ways to carry out simple facilities management tasks. Here’s one of the many positive reviews we’ve received from Sunderland technology company, Heat Trace … “Thank you for your on going support. Since using the 10MSP unit in our warehouse we have found the unit to be an excellent machine, reliable and would have no hesitation in recommending it.”
