The merchant has launched its first Fibo Collect self-service batching plant, giving tradespeople access to freshly mixed concrete, mortar and screed with loads as small as 0.25m³.
Beesley & Fildes has launched its first fully automated Fibo Collect batching plant at its Widnes branch, creating a new drive-through collection service designed to make smaller and medium-volume concrete, mortar and screed orders faster, easier and more cost-effective.
The striking new machine allows customers to order exactly the quantity of material they require, starting from just 0.25m³, before collecting it directly from the branch using a trailer, flatbed vehicle or mortar tub.
For loads below 0.8m³, the complete automated mixing and pouring process can take less than five minutes.
The Fibo Collect machine has the capacity to produce up to 16m³ of material per hour, while a range of concrete, mortar and screed recipes can be produced to suit different applications.
For Beesley & Fildes, the investment represents a new approach to one of the construction industry's most familiar challenges: how to source relatively small quantities of freshly mixed material without the time involved in mixing it manually or the restrictions that can accompany conventional ready-mix deliveries.
There is no need to pre-book a standard collection, helping tradespeople fit material collection around their working day rather than the other way around.
Customers follow four simple steps:
- Place the order at the Beesley & Fildes Widnes trade counter.
- Collect a unique barcode for the required mix and quantity.
- Position the vehicle, trailer or mortar tub beneath the Fibo Collect conveyor.
- Scan the barcode at the touchscreen terminal, and the automated mixing process begins.
The machine manages the recipe and quantity, helping to deliver consistent mixes while reducing the manual processes normally associated with preparing material on site.
Customers can select from different concrete, mortar and screed recipes, with additives available where appropriate to adjust factors such as workability and setting time.
Craig Halpin, Branch Manager at Beesley & Fildes Widnes, said: "Anyone who works in the building trade knows how frustrating it can be when you need more concrete or mortar than is practical to mix by hand, but nowhere near enough to justify a large delivery. That is exactly the problem we wanted Fibo Collect to solve.
"A customer can come into the Widnes branch, tell us what they need, collect their barcode and have the material mixed ready for them within minutes. They only buy the quantity their job requires, and they can collect their other building materials at the same time.
"For our customers, it is really about giving them back time. Five or ten minutes saved here and there makes a huge difference across a working week, particularly for smaller builders and tradespeople who are moving between several jobs. We think this is going to become an incredibly useful part of the service we offer here in Widnes."
The Widnes installation forms part of Beesley & Fildes' wider commitment to investing in services and technology that make building materials easier and more convenient for customers to access.
James Beesley, Commercial Director at Beesley & Fildes, said: "The role of a builders' merchant is changing. Customers quite rightly expect us to do more than simply have products sitting on shelves or in the yard. They want us to help make their businesses more productive, reduce wasted time and find better ways of getting materials onto site.
"Fibo Collect is a great example of that philosophy. We are taking sophisticated automated batching technology and making it accessible to the everyday builder, landscaper and tradesperson from a local builders' merchant branch.
"There is also an important efficiency and sustainability element. Giving customers greater control over the exact quantity they purchase can help reduce surplus material and unnecessary waste. If somebody needs 0.35m³ for a job, the aim is that they can buy 0.35m³ rather than having to find an alternative designed around much larger volumes.
"We have always believed that independent merchants should be prepared to innovate. This is a significant investment for Beesley & Fildes, but ultimately the test is very simple: does it make life easier for our customers? We believe this does."
