Orkney Islands Council has strengthened its vehicle workshop capability with the recent installation of a BM14200 Roller Brake Tester at its main vehicle workshop in Kirkwall.
Supplied and installed by V-Tech Commercial, the BM14200 forms part of the Council’s ongoing investment in its workshop infrastructure, supporting the safe, efficient and compliant maintenance of a diverse local authority fleet operating across one of the UK’s most challenging transport environments.
Supporting a Diverse Island Fleet
Orkney Islands Council is responsible for delivering essential public services across an archipelago of around 70 islands, 20 of which are permanently inhabited. This geography places significant operational demands on the Council’s fleet, which supports services including road maintenance, waste collection, gritting, community transport, health and care support, harbour operations and infrastructure maintenance.
The Council’s fleet includes a wide mix of vehicles and plant, from light vans and pickups to minibuses, disabled-access buses, HGVs, trailers, and specialist equipment. The fleet plays a direct role in maintaining public services across both Mainland Orkney and the wider island network.
The Hatston workshop in Kirkwall is central to this operation. As the Council’s primary maintenance facility, it supports heavy maintenance, MOT preparation, specialist repairs and statutory compliance activity for the Council’s vehicles and plant. Its location at Hatston Industrial Estate also provides a practical base for supporting fleet operations linked to roads, waste, harbour and infrastructure services.
Investment in Brake Testing Capability
The recently installed BM14200 Roller Brake Tester provides Orkney Islands Council with an in-ground brake testing solution suitable for both light and heavy vehicles.
Designed for workshops with demanding commercial vehicle requirements, the BM14200 is built to support high daily throughput and can test vehicles with axle loads of up to 20,000kg. This makes it well-suited to a local authority fleet that includes HGVs, service vehicles and specialist operational assets.
The unit’s in-ground design provides a permanent, heavy-duty installation for workshop brake testing. Its robust construction, hot-galvanised steel components, and roller configuration are intended to support long service life, accurate measurement, and regular use in commercial vehicle environments.
Supporting Compliance and Operational Resilience
For a local authority fleet, brake testing is a critical part of vehicle safety and compliance. Orkney Islands Council operates vehicles across varied road conditions, rural routes and coastal environments, where reliability and preventative maintenance are essential.
The BM14200 installation gives the Hatston workshop additional capability to test a wide range of vehicles in-house, helping the Council maintain control over inspection schedules, vehicle availability and compliance requirements.
As Chris Allen, Business Director at V-Tech Commercial, explains, “Orkney Islands Council operates in a uniquely demanding fleet environment, so workshop equipment has to be reliable, robust and suited to a wide range of vehicles. The BM14200 is an excellent fit for that requirement, providing the Hatston workshop with a heavy-duty in-ground brake-testing solution that supports both day-to-day efficiency and long-term compliance. We are pleased to have supplied and installed this equipment as part of the Council’s continued investment in its workshop capability.”
By investing in workshop equipment at its own facility, the Council can reduce reliance on external testing provision, support more efficient maintenance planning and keep essential service vehicles available for operational use.
A Workshop Fit for Current and Future Fleet Needs
The investment also aligns with the Orkney Islands Council’s wider approach to fleet management. The Council is managing a varied vehicle and plant asset base while progressing improvements in fleet governance, maintenance scheduling, emissions monitoring and long-term decarbonisation.
As vehicle technologies continue to evolve, workshop infrastructure must be capable of supporting both existing fleet requirements and future operational needs. The BM14200 provides a durable, high-capacity brake-testing platform that can support the Council’s mixed fleet now while forming part of a longer-term programme of workshop improvements.
An Outcome That Strengthens Infrastructure
The recent installation of the BM14200 Roller Brake Tester at Hatston Industrial Estate represents a practical investment in safety, compliance and operational resilience.
For the Orkney Islands Council, the equipment supports:
- In-house brake testing for light and heavy vehicles
- Improved workshop capability at the Hatston facility
- Reduced reliance on external testing arrangements
- Support for statutory compliance and fleet safety
- Greater efficiency in vehicle inspection and maintenance planning
- Long-term investment in essential public service fleet operations
Through this investment, Orkney Islands Council has strengthened the infrastructure needed to maintain a complex and essential fleet serving communities across the islands.
Wondering how you can benefit from the experience of V-Tech’s commercial garage equipment specialists? Contact us today to learn how we can help you. Call our team on 0208 498 1288 or email sales@v-techuk.com
