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What's New at Playdale - 2003 Onwards - an updated view from Hannah at 18 yrs in 2011.
It has been quite a while since I was 11 and wrote the first section of the Playdale Story in 2003. Unfortunately, since I am now eighteen, my ‘playground test engineering days' are long gone considering I am now heading for University. I was asked to pick up the story again from where I left off to give you my account of what's been happening at Playdale since 2003.
Playdale has grown
The number of employees has increased since the last story and there are now over 140 people working for Playdale. Throughout the company there has been a computer user increase from 40 to 70 users. Even when focusing upon one department, it becomes clear how the business has grown. Most significantly, the extensive portfolio of Playdale products has multiplied and now includes interactive play systems, more complex designs, and whole new ranges of brochures and scheme specific items to name a few.
Fresh New Look
New Website: The new website was introduced as a refreshing update and is a prime example of the new developments the company has undertaken. There is now a live chat facility to ask questions and get an almost immediate response from members of the sales team.
New Logo: Due to the history of timber merchants in the family the original logo looked like a wooden carving. A new logo was adopted in 2008, not only as a step forward, but to also signify that the company is not just timber based. Playdale offers a wide variety of different materials such as stainless steel which can be seen in the City range, to the new interactive play systems, such as i.play.
New Brochures: Playdale are constantly updating their brochures to keep them up to date so they can include their new products.
i.play- i.play is discussed in more detail further below.
City- This is the stainless steel range. The movers are the newest product in this range. In a section further on I have written about this product in more detail.
Natural Play- This brochure focuses on the products that will make the playground look more in touch with the scenery and blend into the surrounding natural environment. Boulders, tree trunks and mounds with tunnels through them can be used along side the playground equipment to create this effect. Click here to read about a case study, showing how this kind of playground can be created.
Primary Schools and Nurseries- Adventure trails, roleplay, interactive play and outdoor classrooms are a great idea and have proven popular within schools.
Timber- This brochure has been expanded to remain up to date, and is filled with both the new and traditional products. Playdale has worked in the Timber Industry since 1735, which is evident when looking at the previous Playdale Story from 2003.
Even More Products Now
I.play- The i.play system was developed in order to promote exercise through fun and innovative ways. Playdale worked in conjunction with Progressive Sports Technologies Ltd. which is based at Loughborough University. They are the largest sports technology research group in the world. The i.play concept won an international health award and the systems have been placed in over 50 open public parks. I've played on the i.play and it's definitely addictive to try and beat your high score, and you really do get a lot of exercise done without even realising. You can even go online and view the high scores.
Dynamic moving- Movers are part of the CITY collection as they are made from stainless steel. Nearly everybody loves the thrill of moving really quickly and certainly children, so these are a great product that you can ride, spin, bounce, rock, and swing.
Jungle Climbers- These are aimed at children over 8 years old and have 5 different configurations. Even better than the average climbing net, you can tell by just looking at it that it will be much more challenging.
Greater UK Coverage
In the previous story it states that there were 8 Area Sales Managers in 2003, this has now increased to 13, of whom are supported by 10 internal sales and marketing people. Therefore as the sales have grown, so has the sales team. I have spent two days with Area Sales Manager, Tracey, where we visited various sites in the Cumbria region. This provided me with a first hand experience of her job role, as I helped with measuring the sites where possible playgrounds could go, and recording the data we collected.
In 2008 Playdale attended the PlayFair exhibition, which is the largest outdoor Play Exhibition in Europe. It is run by The Association of Play Industries (API) of which my Dad is currently Chairman.
Offices and Factories
There have even been changes in the expansion of the offices. Portacabins have been placed on site at Haverthwaite as there was a need for more office space. In addition, there is now a stainless steel facility in the nearby town of Ulverston, where the stainless steel equipment and components are produced. In the workshop at Haverthwaite there has been many developments such as the introduction of a CNC routing machine, which cuts out the panels that are used in the playground equipment. This machine helps with innovative design and is quick to use. There has also been an increase in rope work from the popularity of certain Playdale products such as the Jungle climbers, which I have mentioned above.
Playground Planning & Design
When spending time in the different areas of the business, you begin to appreciate all the hard work and understand how different aspects of the business run together. For example, the Planning and Design Team rely upon what the Area Sales Manager tells them about the site where the playground they are designing will be going. The designs sometimes go through public consultations. For instance, children can choose and vote for their favourite picture, which is a valuable source of market research as they are the target audience after all. There is now walk-through technology where the camera can be made to fly through the 3D playground on the computer. Click here to view a video of this 3D design. The planning and design team have also begun creating 3D images of the playgrounds to print off and show to the clients. I've worn the funny 3D glasses and must say that these photos are very effective in their appearance and give the picture a whole other dimension - literally.
Materials
In terms of the purchasing and materials side, there are around 75 different suppliers for materials. Wherever possible, Playdale will try and use local suppliers. For example, some molded plastic components used to be bought from the South of England, but now a new local and smaller company is being used. However, for the more specialised materials they look to suppliers abroad to provide them with the materials of the best condition. The rope is now manufactured on site and Playdale make their own steel connectors. These can take more pressure than using just plastic connectors which makes them sturdier and able to hold more children.
Building and Looking After the Playgrounds
The installation teams at Playdale are still travelling out to install the playgrounds. The after sales department has also grown and Playdale now has employees who are qualified inspectors who are RPII accredited. In March 2010, record sales figures were made as they almost doubled with 30 installation teams working when there are usually 15. In terms of looking after the playgrounds, the After Sales team offer inspection and maintenance packages. There will always be a spare part for your playground as Playdale guarantee that no Playdale manufactured product part, regardless of age, will be made obsolete.
Playgrounds - Big and Small
Launch of i.play, Barrow Park- In July 2007 the first i.play system was installed in Barrow Park, Cumbria. The unit still remains in the park and is increasingly popular and well respected by the local children. I attended the opening event along with my grandma who always likes to know what is going on within the business. Suppose this is only fair considering that when Playdale was created, for fifteen years the boardroom did used to be her dining room table after all.
Wallace Park- This Playground was built in Lisburn, Ireland, and was Playdale's largest play area to date. With 36 acres, there was a competitive tender which Playdale successfully won. £420,000 was spent on the play area which comprised of an eight-metre mountain tower, double aerial runway, megaswing, i.play unit, and a multi use games area to name a few of the products.
Walkers ‘Park for Life' project- Playdale won this international tender with Pepsi Co. They had to design and install two new playgrounds in Reading and Leicester. The playgrounds were opened by Gary Lineker, Patricia Hewitt MP and other local dignitaries, and the National and local press also attended the big event.
What next?
Playdale have begun starting to export to other countries in order to fully break into the international market further. Playdale currently distributes their products within the UK, Ireland, Germany, Bulgaria, Spain, and South Korea.They are continuing to grow internationally with more Playdale products being exported around the world every year. My Dad told me that the "Playdale team are continually working on new and more innovative ideas to ensure that children are having fun".