Rapid Access, which is said to be the largest and fastest-growing supplier of powered access in the Middle East, is poised to expand further in the region with new facilities set to open later this year in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and in Oman, as part of its ongoing investment programme and commitment to develop new markets.

The company has boosted its fleet of access equipment by 25 per cent in 2003 (over 100 machines), to secure its position as the largest specialist supplier of access equipment in the Middle East, with a locally-based fleet of more than 500 machines.
This regionally-based company currently holds its fleet of machines at seven depots located throughout the GCC: in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Dhahran and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. By the end of 2004, it expects to command a fleet of close to 570 machines, according to Chris Light, managing director of Rapid Access Middle East.
“Since we set up base in the region under seven years ago, we have expanded our fleet almost tenfold,” he points out.
Rapid Access is the Middle East operation of the UK-based Lavendon Group, which is Europe’s largest powered access rental company and sales agent for a wide range of powered access manufacturers. The group is a specialist provider of access equipment throughout Europe and the Middle East with over 14,000 pieces of equipment and 106 depots in various European countries, trading as Nationwide Access (UK) and Zooom in France, Germany, Spain and Austria.  The group – whose turnover for 2002 topped the $100 million mark – was recently voted as one of the fastest growing companies in the UK.
“This year we are looking to double our turnover, in the Middle East,” Light comments.
Expansion of its fleet and international support combines to give Rapid Access better purchasing power, better on-hand knowledge and experience, and excellent availability of spare parts from its principle suppliers, says Light.
“Setting up an operation in the Middle East has meant an investment of over $30 million. Further expansion of our fleet in 2004 calls for an additional investment of $5 million. We are willing to put in the substantial investment on our fleet because of the support we have from our clients, who not only reaffirm the increased safety and efficiency of powered access, but also the trend in the market to complete quality projects safely and on time,” he says.
As a further commitment to its investment in the Middle East, Rapid Access has added the largest access platform in the Middle East, commanding an incredible working height of 72 m, with the added advantage of a 27-m outreach.
Light affirms: “This 72-m lift is valued at Euros 850,000 ($1 million), which is a huge commitment to make in any current global market. Rapid Access is confident that this and our other vast investments in equipment in the region affirms us as not only the market leaders but also shows the confidence we have in the current and future business prospects in the region.” 
Commenting on business in the region, he says that Rapid Access is a clear frontrunner in the access rental market and enjoys a machine utilisation rate averaging 80 per cent.  The increasing demand for its services has necessitated this expansion of fleet.
“People are moving towards automated hydraulic access systems rather than conventional access methods, such as scaffolding, as they want instant, efficient and safe access.  In addition, our equipment is especially popular for hard-to-reach areas. Another benefit offered by hydraulic access is enhanced safety as workers are secured to the equipment by a safety harnes. Workers using other access methods, like scaffolding or ladders, face an increased risk of falling from heights, and Rapid Access concentrate on minimising this risk,” he points out.
Over the past seven years in the UAE,  Rapid Access has grown to become the UAE’s leading powered access company and has a fleet of around 150 machines in the emirates, with depots in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
The Bahrain depot is now four years old and is the kingdom’s only specialist provider of access equipment with a fleet of over 30 machines, and Bahraini maintenance and service staff. It has secured contracts and worked with every major Bahraini institution, and is currently the sole provider of access equipment to Alba Line 5 expansion project working closely with major contactors and project management team from Bechtel International, he says.
Rapid Access opened its first depot in Saudi Arabia, in Dhahran in January 2000 followed by its second in Jeddah in May of that year.  The company currently has a fleet of 180 machines in the Kingdom. In Saudi Arabia, Rapid Access has provided equipment to major international companies such as Fluor, Aramco, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic), Bechtel, and Technip. Previous and current projects reads like the “who’s who” of major Saudi investment: such as Hawaiyah Gas Plant, Haradh Gas Plant, PKPE (Petrokemya expansion), JUPC (Jubail United Petrochemical Company), JUEG (Jubail Ethylene-Glysol), Berri Gas Plant, Qatif Gas Plant and Qatif GOSP (gas oil separating plant), Yanpet, and many more prestigious projects, says Light. 
The Kuwaiti branch of Rapid Access, opened in 2001, holds 67 machines and is already securing contracts with companies like Kharafi National, PIC (Petrochemical Industries Company), KNPC (Kuwait National Petroleum Company), and other local civil, mechanical and electrical contractors.
The Rapid Access Qatari depot, also opened in 2001, holds 35 machines, and is set to expand further through continuing to supply equipment to projects such as Ras Laffan tank farm, Q-Chem, RasGas (Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company) and Dopet ((Doha Petroleum Construction Company) through contractors such as Kellog, Brown and Root.
Rapid Access currently operates a comprehensive fleet of the most modern and innovative powered access products, all of which are CE marked, regularly third-party tested and inspected and are fitted with the latest safety devices, Light says.
“As our coverage extends throughout GCC countries, we can maintain a high level of unit availability and respond rapidly and efficiently with both equipment and technical support,” he points out.
Rapid Access’ fleet includes: self-propelled scissor lifts – 7 to 17 m reach; self-propelled boom lifts  – 11 to 35 m; and truck-mounted boom lifts – 17 to 72 m.
Rapid Access is also the sole Middle East agent for the following leading manufacturers of powered access equipment:
Genie (US), providing access solutions from 5-m electric scissor lifts up to 40-m four-wheel drive heavy duty diesel self-propelled booms;
Denka Lift (Denmark), which provides unique eclectically-powered indoor equipment that can reach to a height of 30 m and drive through doorways of only 90 cm, whilst weighing only 2.5 tonnes; and
GSR truck-mounted boom lifts (Italy) and Skyking Trailers (UK), providing highway access solutions from 15 m up to 27 m.
Rapid Access is able to draw upon the experience gained on major oil and gas projects, especially meeting their unique needs for safety and testing procedures, after providing access equipment during construction, testing and commissioning of many major projects in the region.
According to Light, the other benefits offered by Rapid Access are:
• Availability of engineers round-the-clock;
• All-terrain heavy-duty equipment with specifications adjusted for harsh environments;
• Indoor battery-powered maintenance equipment for light industrial works, building maintenance and cleaning.
• Largest fleet of specialist powered access equipment in the Gulf to meet any requirements, including high-volume projects;
• All Rapid Access equipment meets ANSI and CE manufacturing and operating standards and is third-party certified for safe working loads and safe working practices; and
• Standby/replacement equipment available, if needed to cover breakdowns or emergency requirements.
Rapid Access places great importance on recruiting and retaining high-quality personnel and invests heavily in staff training. This ISO-certified company’s operating safety standards are dictated by ANSI (US) and it conducts personnel training (both employees and client operators) under endorsement of IPAF (International Powered Access Federation) and UK standards, he says.
“At Rapid Access, we take safety very seriously and always do our best to provide a safe service to our customers,” Light emphasises. “All equipment available on hire from Rapid Access undergoes a strict inspection programme where any machine that fails the inspection is removed from the hire register until it has been repaired and passes a repeat inspection. Each machine also undergoes a thorough examination by an independent external assessment company at least once every year.”
Rapid Access also offers a free-of-charge formal hand-over or familiarisation service to customers hiring a self-operated machine.
Rapid Access is committed to establishing a strong presence in the region. It, therefore, provides comprehensive after-sales support with regular preventative maintenance visits by its trained mobile engineers, strong support from its principals and a comprehensive stock of spare parts,
Its service and preventive maintenance schedule also includes operator training, 24-hour breakdown coverage, routine servicing and maintenance checks, pre-delivery checks, and after-sales support from its locally-based team of engineering and administration staff.
 The company has supplied its equipment to a number of major projects in the region including:
Alba’s coke calcination plant, Royal Flight hangar erection, newly-constructed Hidd Bridge and Bapco refinery, all in Bahrain.
Its equipment is currently in use at Qatif, Riyadh, Berri, Abqaiq and Juaymah for Aramco, and Petrokemya polyethylene facilities in Jubail, all in Saudi Arabia; Ruwais refinery (Bechtel/CCC), oil tank erection at Musaffah, Abu Dhabi (Korean Heavy Industries/Hyundai Engineering), aircraft maintenance for Emirates airline, Dubai airport terminal, Qidfa Power Plant and Shweihat Power Plant, all in the UAE; Mina Abdulla, PIC urea warehouse, Arraya Centre, Santa Fe Drilling, and Bayan Palace in Kuwait; QatarGas sulphur recovery project, Ras Laffan desalination plant, RasGas Alpha (offshore maintenance) and Q-Chem in Qatar.
Sales enquiries can be sent through rapidacs@emirates.net.ae and additional information can be obtained from its website www.rapidaccess-gulf.com.