One of Draeger’s greatest successes is being able to offer its’ customers “a total solution” rather than just “a product”. This has never been clearer as more and more innovative Draeger ideas are becoming viable commercial offerings and state-of-the-art equipment for the very best in personal protection. As part of this total solution offering, Draeger has opened a number of dedicated Safety Centres across the UK. Located in Aberdeen, Blyth, Gatwick and Plymouth, additional Centres are also currently being discussed
In charge of this initiative is Brian Hesler, ex Fire Chief at Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service, who brings first hand experience of the need for effective training and first class equipment.
Developed to meet business demands and serve its customers better, these Centres are intended to bring Draeger closer to its customers. Combining sales and service from experienced personnel, they also offer a wide range of training courses and access to the complete range of Draeger gas detection and respiratory protection products on a short or long term rental basis.
Draeger’s Aberdeen Safety Centre, for example, has been proven to offer a very successful formula. Opened 18 months ago, it has just been granted approval to double the size of its facility to offer more training and other services alongside additional storage. As well as assisting and supporting fire and rescue services, this facility also supports general industry and, of course, Aberdeen’s core oil and gas industry which operates in both upstream and downstream market areas. Offshore safety inductions, for instance, have been carried out for up to 35 people a day prior to rig shutdowns.
Located just 20 minutes from the harbour, the Centre is run by Kenny Durward who has extensive experience in rental, service and maintenance as well as the marine, oil and gas industries. In addition to service, maintenance, face fit testing and a range of training courses, including OPITO approved H2S awareness training, this Bridge of Don site is also finding that the rental side of the business is extremely buoyant. Whether planned or in an emergency, plant and rig shutdowns require the use of different personal protective equipment over differing time frames. Offering fully maintained and certificated equipment for rental over short, medium and long term periods, Draeger ensures that essential equipment is available immediately. On-site training can also be provided at the time of rental if required.
In the north of England, the Blyth Safety Centre combines a centralised administrative base with repair workshops, services, lecture areas and confined space training facilities. Welcoming customers from all over the UK, it echoes Aberdeen’s commitment to meeting customer needs with more choice and more experience in training, service and the sale or rental of equipment.
Other specialist personnel, each bringing their own particular knowledge and experience to dedicated areas of the business, as well as these new facilities, have joined Brian’s team. Peter Silk, formerly a technical advisor to Firebuy and Assistant Divisional Officer with the London Fire Brigade (LFB), manages the new Southern Safety Centre at Gatwick. Now operational, Gatwick ,in addition to the range of services offered by Aberdeen , also offers test facilities for chemical protection suits as well as calibration and repair of thermal imaging cameras, and test and certification of compressed air cylinders.
Peter will also be responsible for the running of another new Safety Centre in Plymouth, looking after the needs of Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and the south west. Modelled on Aberdeen and covering all areas of industry, the Plymouth Centre offers the full range of services and, like each of the other facilities, can accommodate Draeger’s mobile confined space trailer and mobile display vehicle.
Representing a significant capital investment and employing around 50 people so far, these Safety Centres are at the forefront of a new era in Draeger customer service. Additional Centres are currently being discussed, as is the potential to work with partners in joint facilities. Also under development is an innovative E-learning platform which is set to take online training to a completely new level.
Brian concludes “We are still growing, still recruiting and still looking at ways to become even closer to our customers. The development of these Safety Centres was the result of in-depth customer discussions and listening to industry feedback. We are fully committed to meeting our customers’ needs and, in so doing, believe that we can help to ensure the utmost safety for those customers. A total solution offering is the key to our success and, we believe, the key to a safer future.”
For further information contact Customer Service, Draeger Safety UK Limited, Ullswater Close, Blyth Riverside Business Park, Blyth, Northumberland, NE24 4RG. Tel: 01670 561200, fax: 01670 356266, www.draeger.com.
