Sunward machines help TQES to make hay while the sun shines

International solar park specialists TQES are moving their expertise from sunny Cyprus to the not quite so sunny UK, with a little help from leading plant machinery manufacturers Sunward Europe.

TQES were already familiar with the Sunward brand before they adopted it in the UK, having hired a Sunward machine from Cyprus-based construction equipment supplier Greson Tools for work on a solar park there.

Back in the UK, they were properly introduced to the Sunward range by local Sunward dealer Suffolk Plant Machinery and in the past year have bought a total of nine Sunward machines.

The most recent acquisition was a SWTL 4538 compact track loader to add to their fleet of five skid steers, a six-tonne SWE 60UF compact excavator, a nine-tonne SWE 90UF compact excavator, and a 21-tonne SWE 215F medium excavator.

All of the Sunward machines are working on renewables projects, specifically at solar parks in the UK and Italy, in some cases with Sunward machines exclusively.

TQES managing director Konstantinos Vamvakopoulos said: "When Suffolk Plant Machinery explained the benefits of linking up with Sunward, in terms of value of money and finance packages, we didn't hesitate to proceed with orders.

"When the first compact track loader arrived on our first 50MW PV plant there was a lot of positive feedback from our operators, nothing negative at all unlike other manufacturer's compact track loaders. So, we proceeded with the next two orders within a month while TQES won a contract for 195MW of solar parks within the UK and another 90MW in Europe. After that, we proceeded with two excavators to support us in civil works within commercial solar parks. And then another small-size excavator and one skid steer."

He explained: "Sunward's after-sales service through Suffolk Plant Machinery is amazing, with mobile support units for speedy check-ups, and clear procedures of how to communicate for solutions."

TQES is a privately-owned technical consultancy specialising in project and quality management, and welding and engineering services for industrial sectors including oil and gas, power, renewable energy, shipbuilding and fabrication.