Try Before You Buy: The Benefits of Jetting Equipment Rental

The UK drainage equipment rental market has continued to grow as contractors realise the benefits of either hiring on a short-term basis to meet increased demand or taking on a longer-term rental in order to fulfil contracts.

This is particularly true of sub-contractors working under utility company framework agreements, where the on-demand hiring of operation-ready vehicles and equipment can be a good way to manage budgets based on the requirements of utility companies.

Based in Preston and formed in 2006, the JMC Group undertake a wide and varied range of civil engineering projects working both independently and in partnership with a number of major contractors. One of those partnerships is their current collaboration working for the Main Contractor on behalf of Yorkshire Water to delivery their current DG5/Other Causes programme. For the last twelve months, JMC has been using Rioned’s ready-made jetting vehicles in order to fulfil a contract that came somewhat out of the blue.

The firm’s Operations Manager, Fran Swarbrick, explains: “We were mid-project when the opportunity arose for JMC to provide both civil and specialist elements of the works.”

“While historically we’re not a jetting/CCTV/Patch/Lining company, we felt we had sufficient knowledge and experience to put together a team to deliver the balance of the programme and do it well.”

The initial period for the programme of works was relatively short, and without jetting equipment in the fleet, the best option for JMC was to look at hiring vehicles. Rioned’s standard van-pack jetter package offered a ready-made solution. JMC initially hired four jetting vehicles and have recently added another two to the fleet as the contract scope and programme has been extended.

“We’re carrying out survey and remedial works primarily on lateral drainage from domestic properties to eliminate or at least reduce the frequency of interval flooding,” says Fran.

“That’s meant working in Client identified areas, carrying out initial visual and CCTV surveys on between 500 and 700 properties. These surveys are then reviewed and from there generate the physical activities.”

“All the Rioned equipment is in use daily to undertake drain clearances, CCTV surveys and provide support the civils teams in the designated areas. All the JMC teams allocated and using the Rioned equipment are impressed with the equipment. The kit we received was brand new and the guys are over the moon with it.”

The standard van-pack hire vehicle is a long-wheelbase Transit Van 350 with exterior chevron signage for highways compliance. The interior conversion includes the installation of a dividing bulkhead, waterproof spray lining, LED lighting, washbasins, shelving and a storage cupboard that is heated for drying wet kit.

The vans are either fitted with Rioned’s AquaJet+ or UrbanJet jetting machines. While offering slightly different pressure and low figures, both machines have been designed to comfortably handle drain cleaning operations in pipes up to 350mm diameter. Both models include a hydraulically driven high-pressure hose reel with 80 metres MaxFlow lightweight jetting hose, a filling reel with 35 metres of hose and a 400-litre water tank.

The unit was designed for single-user operation and include a 5-channel radio remote that can control the pump, engine revs and emergency stop, along with the eCONTROL+ user interface for complete engine management.

JMC’s Construction Manager Craig Townend, CCTV Jetting Managers Lee Ridgeway and Pete Howick, who are on-site using the vehicles daily, are pleased with the performance of the jetters in the hire vehicles.

“I’ve been using Rioned jetters for several years and the hire equipment is ideal for what we do,” says Lee. “We’re largely working on 100mm domestic drains and use the equipment to clean the pipes before we put the CCTV in to check for faults.”

Craig adds: “Over the past twelve months I’ve had no reports of problems with the equipment from the team. We’re hoping that as the contract moves toward and into AMP 7 there will be further opportunities for JMC to continue to deliver these works with Yorkshire Water’s nominated Partners. If successful we’ll definitely be using Rioned equipment.”

Rioned UK General Manager Andrew Wilson, says that the company has seen increased interest in the longer-term rental options: “While leasing or outright purchase is still the preferred option for acquiring new equipment, Rioned’s operation-ready vehicles are a popular option for many contractors, particularly when used to fulfil interim contracts or add additional resource to their fleet. Affordable hire packages also mean that companies can try before they buy, taking advantage of full maintenance coverage, which ensures no unforeseen equipment costs.”

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