Scheduled works have now been completed with a resurfaced yard area, updated loading bay and other improvements.
The Yard and Loading bay areas at IPS have been resurfaced as part of a plan that started late in 2019 – after many months in the planning. The traffic areas have been surfaced with fresh tarmac, and the truck turning, forklift operating and external storage areas have had high load concrete surfaces installed. The main loading bay area has been extended and now includes three vehicle bays and a covered canopy for easier loading/unloading in all weathers. The improvements mean that more vehicles can be loaded and unloaded at the same time – and the better surface is much easier to work on, with improved drainage and a massive reduction in dust levels which will help keep everything cleaner. The yard looks really smart now – looking forward to seeing it bustling with IPS and customer vehicles again soon!
Inside the building, there have also been developments with various storage areas being reconfigured to better cope with the constantly increasing hire inventory. The lighting department has been expanded to add a dedicated prep and storage space for Dimming, Control and Special Effects equipment, allowing more much needed space for fixtures in the main lighting area.
IPS has installed an engraving Laser, which is currently being used to add QR codes and IPS logos to otherwise hard to mark equipment. This is part of a continued move towards all equipment being scanned in and out for each job. It is a long process, although is already yielding results with quicker PAT testing and more easily traceable individual items. Scanning stations have now also been installed throughout the warehouse and prep bay areas, which will add an additional level of checking to our equipment dispatch and return process. The computerised system which integrates with our HireTrack inventory management software will cut down on warehouse paperwork, as well as enabling multiple people to work on a list simultaneously.
Whilst event work is quiet, despite many staff are still at least partially furloughed, IPS have been trying to make the most of the quieter times to complete various internal projects. The ever hardworking IPS Workshop team have been back full time for a while now, ensuring that testing and maintenance are up to date, and our extensive inventory is Ready to hire. As an operation, IPS has also been taking all appropriate steps to be Covid-19 Safe, with regularly reviewed Risk Assessments in place both at the warehouse and onsite. If you have any upcoming projects that you would like to discuss – or just want to catch up, please get in touch – we look forward to working with you all again soon.
