New depot expands AFI network

AFI group has strengthened its UK coverage by opening a flagship depot in Birmingham, UK.

The new purpose-built, 2.2 acre site will be AFI’s largest depot in size, featuring hire offices, training facilities, a large workshop, a fully floodlit yard and dedicated cleaning area for over 300 machines in the depot’s fleet.

The AFI team in Birmingham supports customers with site surveys, placing an order, delivery and collection. AFI’s customers in Birmingham and the surrounding geographical area will be serviced here.

15,000 sq ft of workshop space is home to the depot’s engineering team. They carry out pre-delivery inspections (PDIs), services, LOLER inspections, repairs and manufacturer updates on a growing fleet of rental machines.

UTN Training (part of the AFI group of companies) has also moved to this site, bringing the hire and training facilities into one location. They offer training courses including IPAF, PASMA, IOSH, NEBOSH, New Roads and Street Works (NRSWA) courses, as well as other health & safety-related courses.

AFI director Nick Higgins said,“The purpose-built Birmingham depot is born out of our commitment to invest in state-of-the-art facilities that meet the needs of the changing landscape in the construction industry. This new flagship depot will accommodate the growing needs of our expanding customer base in the UK.”

In recent years AFI has made significant investments in facilities, hire fleet, and people. It has expanded to 30 locations in the UK, and five in the Middle East. It now have a fleet of more than 7,000 powered access machines and provides training for more than 25,000 people each year.