Scotland’s leading independent lift company, Caltech Lifts, has chosen its 40th birthday celebrations as the moment to help Dundee’s hard-pressed foodbank by donating one if its vans to replace one beyond economic repair.
The family firm, founded in Dundee in 1978 by engineer Howard Renwick and now run by his sons Andrew and Fraser, first heard in June of the problem Dundee Foodbank had with its van.
On June 1 the van, which was donated by a local businessman in 2013 and had been used to collect food donations and move them between its Dunsinane Avenue warehouse and its four centres, came to a grinding halt. An inspection revealed a new clutch and gearbox costing at least £1,000 would be needed to fix it.
Saving £250 a week
After the foodbank’s trustees issued an appeal to local firms for a replacement, Caltech Lifts Managing Director Andrew Renwick offered to loan them one of the vans they keep spare to cover for ones out of use. The foodbank gratefully accepted and has been using it since, saving the £250 a week hire cost of an alternative.
Now, to mark the 40th birthday of the company, the Renwick family have given a Caltech Lifts van permanently to Dundee Foodbank.
Free servicing
They also approached Murdo Macintosh, owner of MM Auto Services, which maintains their vehicles, and asked if he could help. He immediately agreed to service the van and carry out all future servicing and MoTs on it free of charge.
Caltech Lifts is one of the UK’s leading suppliers and maintainers of lifting equipment, including passenger lifts, goods lifts, disabled access lifts and stairlifts to the Public and Private Sectors including local government as well as the health, construction, oil/energy, renewables and property sectors. It maintains more than 1,000 lifts maintained across the UK after the acquisition of Scotlifts in July.
It was founded by Howard Renwick in 1978 as Instrument and Control Engineering, calibrating, repairing and testing items such as boiler pressure gauges. Around 1985 Howard started working with a lift industry contact and realised his lifelong passion for precision engineering was ideally suited for this type of equipment. So he changed the name of his firm to Caltech Ltd — it stands for Calibration and Technology – and the rest is history. His son Andrew took over as Managing Director when Howard retired in 2013.
Rooted in the community
Speaking about the donation, Andrew Renwick said: “When I saw the foodbank’s Facebook post I was more than happy to help because I’d heard a lot about the great work they do. I’m delighted we’ve not only been able to solve their transport problem permanently but also get MM Auto Services to donate future servicing and MoTs. Thanks to Murdo for that great gesture.
“We see Caltech Lifts as rooted in the community its based in and regularly help out where we can
Speaking about the generous donation, Dundee Foodbank Warehouse Co-ordinator, Michael Calder, said: “We’re very grateful to Andrew and Caltech Lifts for the donation of this van and to Murdo for the future maintenance.
Save £5,250
“Lending us a van since June saved us £5,250 and allowed us to continue our work as Scotland’s busiest Trussell Trust foodbank – distributing 80 tonnes of food a year to people in desperate need. Caltech’s van will keep our essential service going.”
Murdo Macintosh, owner of MM Auto Services said: ”I’m delighted to be able to help keep Dundee Foodbank on the road. They do great work and deserved every support you can give.”
To offer your own help to Dundee Foodbank email [email protected] or call (01382) 698020.
Scotland’s leading independent lift company, Caltech Lifts, is acquiring respected competitor Scotlifts Scotland Ltd in a deal set to grow it to £1.9m turnover and more than 1,000 lifts maintained across the UK.
The family firm, founded in Dundee in 1978 by engineer Howard Renwick and now run by his sons Andrew and Fraser, formally takes over Coupar Angus-based Scotlifts Scotland Ltd in a cash deal on Friday for an undisclosed sum. It’s the company’s first acquisition and continues its growth trajectory started when Andrew Renwick took over as Managing Director in June 2013.
Scotlifts Scotland owner, Scott Murray, will join the management team as Caltech’s new Installations Manager and his employee and company assets will transfer over too. Scotlifts Scotland’s 50 contract clients across Dundee, Perthshire and the Highlands will also move to Caltech.
Highly-regarded
Speaking about the deal, Andrew Renwick said: “We’re delighted to have successfully acquired Scotlifts Scotland Ltd and have Scott join us because he’s built it over 15 years into a highly-regarded company with a loyal service contract base in our key operational area.
“Scott is one of the most talented lift engineers in Scotland and has built an enviable reputation across the UK for the quality of his work. As a result it’s very hard to secure him as a sub-contractor because he has a huge waiting list of multinational lift companies wanting to use him to install their lifts across the UK.
“To have Scott on our installation and repairs team full-time will significantly strengthen our engineering capability as he will be heavily involved in both a hands-on role as well as supervising other engineers and training apprentices.
Excellent engineer
“Scott’s employee is also an excellent engineer thanks to having Scott as his mentor for five years and has recently gained his NVQ Level 3 in Lift Installations.
“Having Scott on our management team will also assist us with our growth aspirations.”
Scott Murray said: “I’m very pleased to join Caltech Lifts as its reputation for excellent work and service is well known in the UK industry and this is an exciting time to be joining it. I’m looking forward to helping Caltech continue its growth path.”
Caltech Limited is one of the UK’s leading suppliers and maintainers of lifting equipment, including passenger lifts, goods lifts, disabled access lifts and stairlifts to the Public and Private Sectors.
Caltech Lifts has helped Dundee Foodbank keep its essential service running and save vital funds by loaning it a van after its own came to the end of the road.
On June 1 the foodbank van, which was donated by a local businessman in 2013 and has been used to collect food donations and move them between its Dunsinane Avenue warehouse and its four centres, came to a grinding halt.
An inspection by a neighbouring garage revealed a new clutch and gearbox costing at least £1,000 would be needed to fix the van.
£250 a week
While the foodbank’s trustees issued an appeal to local firms for a replacement to be donated or sponsored, the foodbank was forced to hire a van from a local garage at a cost of £250 a week to keep the vital meals moving.
Last Saturday Caltech Lifts Managing Director Andrew Renwick spotted the foodbank’s Facebook post appealing for a sponsored replacement and immediately offered to loan them one of the vans they keep spare to cover for ones out of use until a full-time replacement is found. The foodbank gratefully accepted.
On Monday Andrew delivered the van to the foodbank warehouse, where it was immediately pressed into action moving meals round the city. It also allowed the hired van to be returned and a £250 refund claimed for the rental booked for this week.
‘Very grateful‘
Speaking about the generous loan, Dundee Foodbank Warehouse Coordinator, Michael Calder, said: “We’re very very grateful to Andrew and Caltech Lifts for the loan of their van as it will save us £250 a week and allow us to continue our work as Scotland’s busiest Trussell Trust foodbank – distributing 80 tonnes of food a year to people in desperate need.
“We now have an offer from another business to source a replacement van and we’re looking into that. In the meantime, Caltech’s van will keep our essential service going.”
Andrew Renwick said: “When I saw the foodbank’s Facebook post I knew we had to help in any way we could because I’ve heard a lot about the great work they do. We’re sorry we’re not in a position to give it to them permanently, but are glad it will help keep things going until they can get a replacement.”
To offer help with a new van, contact Dundee Foodbank on [email protected] or call (01382) 698020.