25 Years and Counting for Besblock (Holcim) and Merridale

One of the UK’s leading manufacturers of concrete building blocks, Besblock Ltd (now Holcim), have recently upgraded their refuelling systems with Merridale following 25 years of dependable service.

The family-founded company established in 1972 by brothers John and Robin Huxley and now ran by John’s son, Andrew, specialise in a wide range of precast concrete products, but are renowned for its innovative "Star Performer" block—a sustainable, multi-purpose solution that uses recycled aggregates and 24% less material than traditional solid blocks.

We’ve had a Merridale system in place since 2001 and never had any real problems with it in over twenty years. So, when it naturally became time to update the system, we knew we were sticking with Merridale.

In recent years, Besblock has prioritised sustainability, integrating green technologies into its operations. A state-of-the-art biomass boiler, powered by waste wood, and a large solar PV array have significantly reduced its carbon footprint, aligning with its goal to become a carbon-neutral manufacturer. This commitment caught the attention of Aggregate Industries, a member of the Holcim Group, which acquired Besblock in May 2023, further enhancing its reach and capabilities.

With two manufacturing facilities in Telford, the company produces approximately 1.7 million square meters of building blocks annually, catering to projects from hospitals and schools to housing developments and sports venues. Their vast fleet of vehicles require the very best equipment and innovative software to run effectively and efficiently.

Mervyn Smith of Besblock (Holcin) said “We’ve had a Merridale system in place since 2001 and never had any real problems with it in over twenty years. So, when it naturally became time to update the system, we knew we were sticking with Merridale.”

The upgrade, which saw an old Merridale Auditor FS replaced by a fully integrated pump and management system with the Merridale MX-I, also included a move from Merridale’s older software, FuelFX, to their newer and better performing web-based package, FuelWorks.

Merridale’s web-based FuelWorks reporting software is the software of choice when it comes to gathering, managing and reporting accurate fuelling data to fleet operators in the UK. With FuelWorks being accessible through any standard web browser, the flexibility and accessibility enjoyed by the end user is enhanced. There is no need for software to be installed onto office computers and the customer can avoid extensive training, security, and backup issues.

“The software is very easy to use, I don’t think I needed any training at all really. Merridale helped set everything up and are there to support whenever we need but it’s so straight forward that I was able to get to grips with it on my own pretty quickly.”

Because Merridale’s FuelWorks software has been designed and developed in-house by Merridale, it is often updated and improved to ensure that customers can rely on a current and capable service. Through listening to customer requirements, Merridale have implemented several key features to help make the fuel management reporting process easier for the end user.

For example, Merridale have many customers who are FORS members and are required to produce specific environmental impact information across their vehicle fleet as part of their membership. Merridale have developed their software with the ability to automatically produce, schedule and email these necessary reports to anyone that needs them, including exception reports to help identify rogue performing vehicles.

“We are required to send reports to multiple people at the end of each month, so not only do I benefit from seeing live data whenever I login to check but I also get a massive helping hand from FuelWorks when it automatically generates and sends the more detailed reports each month for me. It knows exactly what we want to know and is sent straight to my inbox for when I need it.”

With scheduled reporting, users no longer need to access the software to run reports every time they need them. Merridale will work with the customer during setup to ensure the correct settings and parameters are present within the software. From there, the customer can add any user with an email address to automatically receive a report weekly, monthly or however often they need the information.

To find out how Merridale FuelWorks could benefit your company, contact Merridale on 01902 350700 or visit www.merridale.co.uk.