Williams Scotsman working on 'sustainable' portable builldings

Michele Cunningham, vice president, marketing and business development at Williams Scotsman, told IRN that Williams Scotsman and Algeco were working together on a number of different environmentally friendly structures.

She said there would be three levels of ‘green’ products: the lowest level where existing units could have simple refits of equipment; a middle version for new units using new materials and incorporating technology to maximize the use of recycled materials etc; and an ‘uber-green’ version where the unit would address a wide range of sustainability issues, including materials and heating and cooling efficiency.

“There are some sectors where we have their hearts and minds, but not their cheque books”, acknowledged Ms Cunningham, “But we also have some sectors – maybe high profile buildings – where they are going to want to go for the full expression [of sustainability].”

Ms Cunningham said the use of environmental modular buildings would not occur quickly and that it was important for Williams Scotsman and Algeco to have “early adaptor customers who share that vision.” Algeco in France has already developed some pre-prototype buildings, said Ms Cunningham.

The sustainable buildings concept is just one of the areas where Williams Scotsman and Algeco are cooperating since the two companies merged early last year. Managers from the two companies met in Orlando, Florida earlier this year to discuss synergies between the two, with sustainable buildings being just one of the topics covered by 14 working groups.