PSSA Newsletter - September 2018

NEWS  |  ISSUE 20 September 2018 – 4 – PSSA Member News Allens Group Pass BSI Transition Audit Congratulations to PSSA Member Allens Group who has just announced that they have passed their BSI transition audit to the new BS EN ISO 9001:2015. Allens Total Perimeter Security has been operating successfully within the security sector for sixty years. Originally established in 1950 but with origins as far back as 1935, the company has accumulated a wealth of experience and has evolved into one of the country’s leading fencing and security contractors, providing effective security solutions throughout the United Kingdom and Europe. Fastline and Zaun collaborate Two giants of the UK perimeter solutions market are joining forces. Fastline Holdings has taken a small shareholding in PSSA member Zaun Ltd and Fastline owner Mike Fellows has joined the Zaun board. Zaun owner Alastair Henman said: “I am delighted that we managed to put this deal together after extensive negotiations and am excited to be welcoming Mike to the Zaun board.” Fellows added: “There are tremendous synergies between the two businesses. Our combined resources and specialities will be without comparison in the UK – and possibly even anywhere in the world. We see this as only the start of the creation of a combined powerhouse in the UK and international fencing market. This is very much a case of the whole being greater than the sum of the parts.” Fastline and Zaun have agreed to extremely close collaboration including a combined sales effort, the sharing of specialist skills, combined procurement and stocking, maximising the use of space, significantly increased plant utilisation and improved productivity through the use of technology and scale. Mike Fellows founded Fastline Steel Services, fencing manufacturers with particular strengths in palisade, railings and gates, based in 30,000 square feet of factory and office space in Strawberry Lane, Willenhall. They have a strong and dedicated team with additional regional offices in Liverpool and Bristol. Fastline invested in plant two years ago to roll their own palisade system and now have probably the most efficient line in the UK. Zaun specialises in woven and welded mesh fencing, manufacturing both types of panels in its 80,000 square feet of manufacturing in Wolverhampton, less than 15 minutes from Fastline. Zaun benefits from a host of modern production equipment including robot welding, tube laser cutting and plasma cutting. It makes an extensive catalogue of security rated and crash rated fencing products and boasts extensive major project and export experience. Henman concluded: “We will be looking to make quick gains for both businesses while the coming months and years will involve further investment and growth for both Fastline and Zaun, working side by side with a view to establishing both companies as the leaders in their field both nationally and internationally.” Mike Fellows of Fastline (left) and Alastair Henman of Zaun shake on creating a ‘combined powerhouse’. Gate safety vs gate security With the recent discussions about health and safety law and gate safety, PSSA representatives attended a meeting with HSE and CPNI to discuss the apparent disconnect between safety and security for high risk sites. The ongoing challenge for HVM products is that they need to protect a critical asset against a hostile vehicle which comes with the risk of striking a vehicle or person in the process but to stop this would defeat the purpose of the security gate. In attending the HSE and CPNI meeting PSSA wanted clarity that this issue will urgently be resolved. The outcome of the meeting was that a process guideline for ‘cradle to grave’ HVM is needed following a review of all safety principles of design, implementation, operation and maintenance and compliance of the Machinery Directive. CPNI will issue a scoping document which PSSA will then undertake as a project. This will ultimately form part of PSSA advisory process and should help develop an internal H&S training plan.