Service and support strengthen Powervamp's proposition for aviation ground power, emergency lighting and engine starting
While Powervamp Ltd is probably known best as a manufacturer of state-of-the-art product lines for aviation ground power, emergency lighting and engine starting, the company's service and support capability has now emerged as one of its key strengths.
"Customers working in mission-critical fields such as aviation, or in the emergency lighting sector, need our products to remain in consistent prime condition," says director Jake Mearns. "They know this requires professional installation and commissioning, regular checks, and the availability of a fast-reacting service team.
"We have built up our servicing operation to provide all this and more. We now offer probably the most wide-ranging servicing capability available in any of the markets we operate in, and we find that we win, and retain business partly on the basis of our servicing credentials."
The dedicated service team is based at Powervamp's extensive premises at Barton-le-Clay in Bedfordshire, one of two major sites in the UK (the other is at Weston-super-Mare).
Powervamp also offers a detailed site surveying service. In preparation for installing emergency lighting power, Powervamp engineers can assess the electrical loading in order to recommend an appropriate static inverter. In a number of cases where companies or government bodies have embarked on an energy-saving exercise, Powervamp has been approached to calculate the cost saving achievable by installing more power-efficient equipment.
Commissioning is another key function for the servicing team. Ground power unit operators such as major airports, and emergency lighting customers such as football stadium operators, sometimes arrange their own installation; but Powervamp engineers can still play a vital role in checking that the work has been done correctly - verifying that electrical loads are within stated tolerance or that the installation environment is appropriate. The process can include safe disposal of life-expired items with full compliance certification.
Powervamp can go even further - offering a complete turnkey installation and commissioning package, either using its own staff or calling on approved specialist contractors with experience and training in Powervamp products. "We offer customers a single point of contact," says Jake Mearns, "with the cost saving and peace of mind that this brings."
Product support is the core capability of the servicing operation. Skilled engineers can handle repairs and maintenance right across the range, whether products are returned to base or need attention on site. UK-wide travel is part of the proposition.
"For instance," says service and projects manager Will Tipler, "if a ground power unit (GPU) fails at an airport, carefully planned aircraft schedules can be thrown out the window, whilst the operator could face hefty bills for hiring in a diesel generator. Preventive maintenance is the obvious way forward, and is available through our various servicing contracts. However, if an unforeseeable situation occurs, our job is to get a technician on site as quickly as possible to assess the situation."
Powervamp recently secured a multi-million pound contract to install and commission a large quantity of its Sidewinder cable carrier systems at the world's busiest airport, London Heathrow. The airport has also taken out a servicing contract to ensure the product's longevity and reduce any potential downtime caused by an unforeseen situation.
An increasing number of Powervamp customers now take out an ongoing maintenance contract with the company, which can cover work on competitors' equipment as well as on products made by the company itself. Activities range from routine battery checks and discharge monitoring to swap-outs of faulty materials and components.
"The technical principles are broadly the same from one make to another," says Will Tipler, "and our engineers have wide collective experience across the board. This can be invaluable when competitors may have discontinued product support, or even gone out of business." Jake Mearns adds: "Not only do we have appropriate skills, we also have a large stock of replacement components and the experience to fit them."
To ensure that its service engineers have all the skills they need, Powervamp runs a comprehensive induction and training programme. New recruits are required to spend time on Powervamp's assembly line in order to gain knowledge of product assembly. Staff are also trained extensively in servicing, and repairing, the range prior to working in the field.
Powervamp's flexible approach means service engineers may occasionally be asked to work on the production line, while production staff may be switched temporarily to servicing tasks if the need arises. Members of the design team and the research and development team are sometimes drafted into servicing too. "We have given ourselves the best possible chance to cope with the fluctuating demand levels across the business," Will Tipler says.
Even Powervamp's relatively straightforward automotive jump-starting equipment benefits from the company's servicing capability. Whilst most of these items are sold as maintenance-free products, the company runs a full return-to-base (RTB) warranty and repair service for the range from its site in Weston-super-Mare. This includes diagnostic testing, battery capacity checks and component replacement.
Jake Mearns comments: "Not only does Powervamp's stand-alone servicing operation underpin our commitment to our entire product range, it also helps to introduce us to new users who may not have been aware of us before. It's a win-win proposition both for us and for our customers, and has been a key to the company's reputation for quality and service."
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About Powervamp
Powervamp Ltd is a world leader in aviation ground power, its largest market. Its portable power units can start anything from small turbine-powered single-engine aircraft to passenger jets, and can also provide ground power for running on-board systems and avionics. Its products are in wide use throughout the world.
Powervamp is also one of Britain's leading suppliers of power systems for emergency lighting in offices, industrial premises, public buildings and sports stadiums.
Founded more than 20 years ago, Powervamp originally specialised in battery-powered jump-starter units for the automotive industry. Its compact, durable, self-contained hand-portable starter packs remain must-have equipment for car, truck, bus and plant equipment operators and breakdown recovery specialists throughout Britain and abroad.
Powervamp also produces a wide range of ancillary equipment such as power supply units, inverters and portable heating and fuelling systems. A separate division provides airshow, "aircraft on ground" and related services throughout the world.
Powervamp Racing supplies a range of high-performance automotive batteries and related equipment for rally, kit, enthusiast and classic cars.
A high-resolution picture is available at www.wordspreeweb.co.uk/powervamp/servicing.
For further information, please contact:
Ed Roller
Powervamp Ltd
22 Bridgwater Court
Oldmixon Crescent
Weston-Super-Mare
BS24 9AY
Tel: +44 (0)1934 643000
Email:info@powervamp.com
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Powervamp's servicing capabilities range from bench-testing and repairing automotive engine starters to on-site repairs of aviation ground power units and emergency lighting systems, site surveying, compliance checking, commissioning and full turnkey installation. .
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