Planet Platforms (Northern) buys BEL and adds forklift training

UK manufacturer and distributor of access equipment, Planet Platforms (Northern) Ltd, has added forklift truck training to its access training division following the acquisition of BEL. The decision to purchase BEL formalises a long term working partnership between the two organisations.

Planet Platforms believes that BEL's fork lift truck training courses complement the range of services currently offered. The enlarged training division will now include courses aimed at novices and existing operators of trucks, pickers and sideloaders, together with the established range of powered access platforms.

Richard Harland, managing director of Planet Platforms (Northern) Ltd, said: "This is an extremely positive development that gives breadth and depth to our offering, allows us to extend our reach and creates a ‘one stop shop' for our clients, who are always at the heart of everything we do."

BEL and Planet Platforms (Northern) Ltd already operate from the same site in Wallsend. BEL will be rebranded to form part of the Planet Platforms family and the training team will continue to be led by founder Jim Wrightson.

Planet Platforms sells a wide range of new and used powered access platforms, designs and manufactures bespoke access platforms for the rail, air, transport, petrochemical and nuclear sectors and markets a full range of Upright light alloy scaffolds.