Industrial Decontamination Services UK (IDS UK) has strengthened its UK leadership team with the appointment of two highly experienced figures from the fire and emergency services sector.
Andy Slater has been appointed UK & EU Managing Director and joins the European Board, while Dave Graham takes up the role of National Operations Manager.
The appointments come as IDS establishes its presence in the UK, bringing more than 30 years of specialist PPE decontamination expertise in Australia to the UK fire, emergency services and industrial sectors. The company is currently establishing a state-of-the-art PPE decontamination facility in Northamptonshire, due to open by the end of the year.
Andy joins IDS UK from PGI Inc, where he was Managing Director for the EMEA and Asia Pacific regions, supporting the protection of frontline personnel through advanced, technology-driven protective equipment. His move to IDS UK is a reflection of his long-standing commitment to improving firefighter safety. Andy comments:
“As an industry, it’s vital that we take action to reduce the health risks associated with firefighters’ exposure to contaminants. IDS in Australia is renowned for its expertise in PPE decontamination, and it’s exciting to be bringing such a high level of service to the UK fire market.
“Our approach combines advanced low-temperature decontamination as standard, along with specialist PPE care, all supported by live asset tracking. As a result, we can provide fire and rescue services with greater visibility and confidence in the care, condition and availability of their critical equipment.”
Andy’s transition to IDS UK will be strengthened by a partnership with PGI Inc, whereby IDS UK will assist in the fulfilment PGI’s UK operations, providing continuity of service for its customers and managing stock. He adds:
“I’m delighted to be joining IDS UK while continuing to work in partnership with former colleagues at PGI, ensuring a smooth transition and continuity of service for valued customers.”
Dave Graham joins IDS UK from Royal Berkshire FRS, where he was Operational Equipment Support Manager, with responsibility for supporting the availability, safety, compliance and maintenance of frontline firefighting equipment. As National Operations Manager, he will play a key role in establishing IDS UK’s operational capability and ensuring the company delivers a consistent, high-quality service to fire and emergency services customers across the UK. Dave comments:
“After more than 35 years in the fire service I’m excited to be joining a team that’s set to transform PPE care in the UK. The thorough cleaning of PPE is essential but it also needs to be affordable and efficient. At IDS UK we plan to keep things simple by ensuring full decontamination and a fast turn-around every time, with no hidden costs.”
IDS UK’s complete care service is designed to provide cleaning, decontamination, repair, live tracking and lifecycle care for protective clothing and equipment, from operational jackets and trousers to SCBA masks, boots and helmets. The company’s low-temperature decontamination approach is designed to protect the integrity and longevity of PPE, with the new UK facility set to provide asbestos-level decontamination to the NFPA 1850 standard every time, within 48 hours.
The service will also incorporate IDS’s end-to-end live asset tracking and trace system, giving firefighters and administrators visibility of equipment status throughout its lifecycle through the DECON Connect app.
Ben Jones, Managing Director of IDS Group, said the appointments mark an important milestone for the company’s UK expansion:
“Bringing Andy and Dave into the IDS UK team is a significant step as we establish our presence in the UK. Both bring a deep understanding of the fire and emergency services sector, from complementary perspectives. Their experience will be invaluable as we develop a service that responds to the operational realities facing UK fire and rescue services today.”
The Northamptonshire facility is the first stage of IDS UK’s UK expansion, with the company planning to establish additional sites as the business grows.
IDS UK will be exhibiting at the Emergency Services Show at the NEC, Birmingham, from 16-17 September on stand D67.
For further information visit, www.idsuk.co.uk or get in touch at hello@idsuk.co.uk. You can also follow Industrial Decontamination Services UK on LinkedIn and Facebook.
