Design is a critical part of your project. You can’t ignore it. And, if you want to maximise your investment in Layher Allround® , you need to make sure you’re getting the most comprehensive design first time round.
A poor design, or a lack of understanding of the Allround® product will lead to problems with your project. This in turn will mean that you’ll have to consult Layher to get things sorted – and in the meantime, you might have delayed the project and reduced your customer’s confidence in your ability to do the job at all.
So, it’s my opinion that you should get this part of your project right from the outset. And the best way to do that is to use Layher’s expert design team, which has been providing experienced design and product support to customers for many years.
In my long experience with Layher Allround®, I found that using external designers gave me a particular set of problems. While external design companies undoubtedly always do their very best to support their clients, and provide a value service to the industry, I found that they just weren’t – and couldn’t be – as conversant with the product as Layher’s own designers. So I often needed costly design changes, going back to Layher anyway, and managing the subsequent delays to the project.
The potential savings available to you by getting your initial design right is worth the cost at the design stage – and using Layher’s service is, on balance, more competitive than going to an external designer in any event. Today, Layher’s technical design and support service is, in my opinion, the very best on the market, with no real comparison. In this article, I’ll look at what Layher offers and why you should take advantage of its service.
Design that’s focused on your success
When I’m talking to scaffolding contractors about how to make the most of their investment, I always start with telling them that Layher’s design team takes into account the equipment you have – both in the yard, and equipment being returned from other projects.
A Layher designer will ask you to look at your stock mix, advise them via their design request form of your desired bay sizes and the materials you want to use, and then use design principles that ensure you don’t have to make any unnecessary additional purchases or adjustments. Layher uses both CAD and VR designs – the LAYplan Suite – which can be provided to you if needed, so you can visualise exactly how the design will look, and calculate your equipment needs precisely. The company’s design team of 11 experienced engineers, led by Technical Director, Anita Singh, and working from four locations across the UK, is available to all Layher customers – at cost price only.
In my opinion, this is a bargain, and I think makes absolute sense for contractors to use it. Here’s why:
Unparalleled product expertise
If you’re using Layher Allround® system scaffolding, or any other Layher product range, you’re simply not going to find anyone else with the depth and breadth of product knowledge. This service effectively gives you a product expert that’s dedicated to helping you make the best use of your equipment.
This is important, because moving into using system scaffolding is a big investment. There are efficiencies to be had, and the more help and support you can get with everything from design to logistics, the better placed you are to maximise the financial benefits more quickly. Layher offers the most comprehensive design support in the system scaffolding market.
It’s important to note here that Layher Allround®, just like other original manufacturer proprietary system scaffolding, is a unique and specialised product, each with its own brand. They are categorically not generic rosette systems, and to say otherwise – no matter your position or reputation in the industry – is simply misleading. To get the most from your Allround® product, and to meet strict health and safety requirements, I’d always recommend that you use a brand expert to do your design.
Turnkey service
From supporting you with an initial client enquiry to giving you on-site support, the Layher technical team offers an end-to-end service. For your business, this means you’re never left on your own, wondering how to manage your system offering – there’s someone to help you at every stage of every project, if you need them.
Can-do attitude
When you buy Layher, you become part of the Layher family. That means that nothing is too much trouble. The engineering team is ready to help you find a solution, understand your equipment’s potential and provide additional services to give you 100% confidence in running your system offering.
Customisation
While you’ll be able to manage most projects with your standard Layher equipment, there may be times when you need solutions parts, or have a more complex project to design. That’s where being a Layher customer really proves its value. The team can design parts that are tailored to your needs – something you won’t see anywhere else in the marketplace – and turn round the manufacturing process very promptly. They can also support you with complex design and materials calculation so that you can take on more ambitious projects.
What’s more, using this design approach ensures consistent quality across your build – using the team’s knowledge of the precise capacity of each product or component.
Engineering expertise
The Layher engineering team is highly qualified and experienced. Because they are dedicated to Layher’s products and have an in-depth understanding of the products, you can completely rely on them to give you the support you need.
Crucially, not only do they understand the product – they understand the commercial environment that you work in – across a wide range of industries – and have a comprehensive knowledge of the differing requirements you may come across. So all designs, advice and support are focused on helping you realise the value of your investment.
Layher’s commitment to engineering excellence isn’t just about its current product range – it’s about innovation and continuous development, so you benefit from the drive to design and deliver the best quality products across the board. And that’s not just from Layher UK – it’s from the wider Layher design family.
Layher people
Every Layher customer is part of the Layher team. The business has clear company values and a culture that demonstrates its commitment to personal and product development. Once you’ve invested in Layher, you have access to outstanding levels of support.
Your success is Layher’s success
As a market leader in system scaffolding, Layher understands that its business is about far more than just selling equipment.
Layher focuses on your growth and your commercial achievements – its core values of Service, Support, Solutions and Supply mean that it takes a 360° approach to working with you from your initial enquiry onwards. That includes working with you – with no upfront charge – when you are effectively speculating on a project, such as bidding for a larger contract. Layher is happy to speculate with you, helping you to put the best proposition forward.
I know from personal experience that Layher really is your partner – it’s not just a slogan.
Using Layher’s design service
There are some strategic design partners who use Layher’s software, but in my opinion, the people who understand Layher’s products best are the in-house engineers. They live and breathe the product every day, they have the experience to know what works best in a wide variety of projects, and they are the first to see how Layher’s product innovations can help clients to do even more.
Either way, you’ll need to pay for your design services. Layher charges its design services at cost. There’s no profit being made here, and in fact, the business is unlikely to recover the full cost of its expert team. So you get an affordable service that’s backed by the product expertise you need in order to see a clear return on your investment.
It doesn’t matter what type of project you’re working on. Layher’s team is highly experienced across all sectors, including:
- Oil, gas and offshore
- Construction and street works
- Events
- Rail and highways
- Housing and new-build residential
- Specialist projects
This experience means that the team has an in-depth understanding of project requirements and challenges, including speed, timelines, document control, health and safety, public interface and site support.
So, my question to scaffolding contractors who use Layher Allround® – or who are thinking about investing in it – is ‘why wouldn’t you’? You access the best Layher product knowledge and engineering expertise on the market for a fair price – and by doing that, you can maximise the returns on your system investment and build a secure and profitable business unit.
