One of the north-east’s longest-running family businesses has celebrated success at a national awards event following a record-breaking heavy move through the streets of the Granite City.
McIntosh Heavy Logistics (MHL) was named Team of the Year along with its partner, Cadzow Heavy Haulage – based at Blantyre, near Hamilton, at the recent UK Heavies Awards.
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MHL and Cadzow worked in collaboration to transport a 285-tonne pressure test vessel from Aberdeen Harbour to the Balmoral Subsea Test Centre at Loirston, before the vessel was lifted into place by Global Port Services, part of the Global Energy Group.
With a gross transport train weight in excess of 420 tonnes – a first for the city – the convoy was forced to travel over the 137-year-old Victoria Bridge in Torry as the more modern Queen Elizabeth II Bridge would not have been able to bear the load.
The UK Heavies Awards – which recognise industry excellence from within the heavy and abnormal load sector – were held at Newark Showground, Nottinghamshire and saw the two leading heavy transport specialists represent Scotland to see off fierce competition from several nationwide firms.
Gary McIntosh, transport director at McIntosh Heavy Logistics, commented: “As a north-east firm, we are not used to blowing our own trumpet and can sometimes be guilty of underplaying our achievements. Having said that, I’m extremely proud to have won this national award and it means a great deal both to me personally and to the rest of the team.
“From a wider Scottish perspective, it is heartening to see both ourselves and Cadzow recognised by the judges for a first-of-its-kind heavy move and take the prize home north of the border. Our two family-run businesses have a long-standing relationship going back nearly 20 years and it is pleasing to see that continue to pay dividends when competing against some of the larger, national players.”
Jim Milne CBE, chairman and managing director at Balmoral Group, said: “We would like to pay tribute to the respective teams at McIntosh Heavy Logistics and Cadzow for their dedication and commitment in completing this uniquely challenging move. This UK-wide award win is well deserved recognition for everyone involved and an achievement that they can be very proud of for years to come.”
MHL, its parent company McIntosh Plant Hire and McIntosh Storage Solutions are all based at a 62-acre facility in Echt, near Westhill, which offers industrial warehouses, workshop premises, storage and distribution services adjacent to the new AWPR.
The company, which employs around 55 people, works with clients across the oil and gas, renewables, transport, construction and agricultural sectors.
The family-run business, which can trace its roots back to 1976, was formerly the largest earthworks contractor in the Grampian area but has since expanded to form a diverse business spanning plant hire, heavy haulage, general haulage/transport, storage and internal/external warehousing.
Gary McIntosh added: “The past six to nine months have been a challenging period and to see the partnerships we have with other companies flourishing gives me confidence that the industry is recovering.
“We’ve always prided ourselves on being at the forefront of the industry since the beginning of North Sea oil but, more importantly, it is our level of service, reliability and commitment to being there at the right time for our clients that has allowed us to be successful over the past 42 years.”
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