With the pressures on spending, close scrutiny of procurement and good governance continuing to be under the spotlight, national wood pellet supplier, Y Pellets, is asking residential care home managers using biomass wood pellets as an alternative heating and energy source to fully examine what they pay for.
At a time when many wood pellet suppliers subcontract deliveries on vehicles which don’t meet EN Plus trading standards, the company, which supplies premium quality, sustainable wood pellets to homes and businesses from its 5,000 tonne storage facility in Google, has identified discrepancies in practices widely used by other contractors who are not legal for trade but may supply to private and public care home facilities.
This could mean that procurement and estate managers may be receiving up to 10% less product on delivery compared to the quantity ordered if only specifying the quality of the pellets and not the standard of vehicles making the deliveries. Additionally, for EN Plus A1 standard pellets, the actual delivery service must be EN Plus certified too for the product to be regarded as such, a key requirement for many facilities managers.
Y Pellets has recently made a significant investment in new, specially-equipped six and eight wheel delivery trucks featuring state-of-the-art electronic weighing systems and onboard technology. This latest investment will see Y Pellets further extend its distribution capability to southern areas of England and north of the border into Scotland, and strengthen its position as a rapidly-emerging, key player within the UK’s biomass fuel market.
Managing director, Neil Holland, explained:
“Our delivery lorries are 100% our own, not subcontracted, and this makes a huge difference to the quality of the pellets and the service received by the end customer. By making continuous investment, we can ensure the highest fuel quality possible and clients can reap the benefits in real terms meaning fuel cost savings of thousands of pounds.”
“Our experience has shown that whilst few in the industry have invested in the correct machinery and vehicles, the vast majority have not and therefore many subcontract deliveries to third party companies as a means of cutting costs. Procurement professionals that specify wood pellets as an energy resource for both public and private care homes know they have a financial responsibility to ensure money is spent correctly but unless all vehicles are legal for trade, there may be discrepancies in the amount ordered compared to the amount being delivered.
“This could be anything from 2-10% which for cash strapped authorities could potentially mean thousands when examining procurement and expenditure. You wouldn’t go to a supermarket, pay for ten apples but only come away with nine, and it’s no different here. Our systems can eliminate any such shortfall and therefore have a direct impact on a client’s bottom line finances.”
Y Pellets’ own fleet of delivery vehicles include state-of-the-art, electronic weighing systems that are calibrated by local weights and measures authorities and automatically send records of each delivery direct from the vehicle to the company’s head office and then onto the customer. The vehicles have been adapted to provide a highly controlled, fit-for-purposes environment for EN Plus A1 pellets during transportation as well as guarantee that the tonnage ordered is received in full by the end user.
Neil added:
“Our clients can protect the investment made in their biomass boiler system and guarantee the expected returns from renewable heat incentives well into the future.”
