When you orchestrate one of the largest events in the northern social calendar that sees millions of people across the globe tune in to watch and an extra 150,000 attend in person, it’s imperative that every detail is checked and then double checked.
With so many people to entertain and look after, the organisers of this year’s Grand National needed to know that their suppliers were equipped and able to meet every possible challenge that came along.
While Liverpool’s Aintree Racecourse hosted its 161st running of the Grand National in April, temperature control and power equipment rental solutions provider Energyst CAT Rental Power, was celebrating its 15th year as a major supplier to the event.
Energyst rental solutions, with UK headquarters in Wolverhampton, is a pan-European company providing turnkey rental solutions for power generation and temperature control. Energyst was formed by Caterpillar and 10 of its CAT dealers in Europe to be the exclusive CAT dealer in Europe for rental power and temperature control solutions. This pan-European approach gives a consistent solution based offering to some of the largest customers in Europe.
Respected supplier
The company, working directly for leading UK structures supplier Arena Structures, is a respected supplier of heating solutions to the world famous event. For the past six years, the Energyst team at Aintree has been led by Steve Reeves, the company’s events key account manager.
Explaining Energyst’s role at Aintree, Steve said: “Work starts in earnest three weeks before the event. We have a team of four installation engineers that rises to six just before the big weekend. Our responsibility is to design, plan, project manage, supply and install all temporary heating for the event.
“As you can imagine, with 150,000 people attending as well as owners, riders and event staff, this is an exacting task. Our work encompasses the installation of temporary heating to the main triple decker structure which covers three floors and stretches some 135m. We also install heating to the John Smith’s structure and the Cloisters, both of which are used for corporate hospitality. In addition, we supply heating into the owners’ and trainers’ areas, so as well as visiting guests we also have to think of the stars of the show – the riders and horses.”
Flexible and aesthetic solution
To pump heating to all venues on site, the team supplied hot water systems, internal fan coils and air-to-air heaters. The air-to-air heaters were supplied into the building through overhead ducting and internal stacks.
Steve Reeves said: “When you’re faced with the actual size of some of the structures we were responsible for heating, you soon realise that the pipe work is integral to your job and the installation of this was intricate and labour-intensive job. It’s easy to see why we go into the job three weeks in advance. However, this is all part of our service and it’s essential that the customer gets an excellent job every time.
Energyst will work with Arena Structures on a number of high profile events in 2008 including The 2008 Artois Grass Court Championship and the Harrogate Home & Gift Show. Ron Smith, the company’s projects director said: “Energyst is an ideal supplier to work with. They understand the events business in its entirety and are both efficient and professional.”