Balloo Hire

Published on: 7th June 2017

Belfast based Balloo Hire is a leading player in the Northern Ireland tool and plant hire market. This year marks the company’s 30^th anniversary, having grown its plant and tool lines to over 6000+ units, all supplied from five locations in the province.

As part of its continuing investment in quality and customer service, the company has invested in four new state of the art delivery vehicles.  The bespoke factory order consists of two Scania P410 8×2 rear lift and steer chassis fitted with Sterling plant bodies, one Scania P410 8×2 rear lift and steer fitted with Palfinger crane and a Sterling cheesewedge body, and one P320 6×2 chassis fitted with Palfinger crane and a cabin specification flat body. Jarl James, Sales Director of Sterling, mentioned that these trucks ‘were the first to be sold into Northern Ireland’ and believes there is huge potential going forward.

The chassis were supplied by Road Trucks Ltd, who were distinguished in 2016 by winning the Commercial Motor’s ‘UK Franchised Dealer of the Year’ award. The Scania chassis have the latest Euro 6 compliant Engines and emissions reduction technology, to minimize carbon footprint and maximize fuel economy.

Commenting on the Scania and Sterling combination, Mark Grundy, General Manager of Balloo Hire said ‘we considered both to be a fit to our company ethos of only running the best products available.’ This ethos allows Balloo Hire to provide their customers with class leading equipment and ‘ensures they meet demands on time, every time.’

The professionalism and commitment to their brand is a credit to them.

Balloo Hire is a member of the UK Access Alliance, of which Sterling is an approved supplier. Access Alliance is a chain of 20 access hire companies, boasting over 55 locations and 9000 Machines. Sterling and Access Alliance have reaped the benefits of feedback and collaboration leading to continuous improvements in Sterling’s beavertail plant bodies.

Specific features on the bodies, supplied by Sterling, include removable fall arrest systems to prevent injuries caused through falling from the back of the body.  The two plant bodies feature 3.2m double flip full width ramps with a low loading angle to safely transport the wide range of plant and access platforms, Balloo Hire provide.  The crane truck features has fold forward cheesewedge ramps to allow transportation of containers and welfare units, including overlength units.

Giving better protection against corrosion, the trucks have zinc galvanized ramps and headboards which increases the working life of the bodies, which reduces the overall cost of ownership due to the higher residual values.  Mark commented that ‘it was a pleasure to deal with Road Trucks and Sterling, their professionalism and commitment to their brand is a credit to them.’

Jarl added  ‘The team are at Balloo Hire great to work with. Our partnership with the Access Alliance is testament to the first class products we build for plant and access transportation.  We’re really pleased with the look of the finished trucks and look forward to continuing the relationship with Mark and the team going forward.’