WJA Member Spotlight – Bucher Municipal
Company name: Bucher Municipal
Company representative: Marc Rapson
Job title: UK Sales Manager
What services do you deliver to the water jetting industry?
Bucher Municipal designs, manufactures and supports a range of sewer cleaning equipment used by water companies, contractors and specialist drainage operators throughout the UK.
Our focus is on providing customers with reliable, high-performance solutions that maximise productivity, improve operator safety and reduce total cost of ownership.
Alongside the equipment itself, we support customers throughout the lifecycle of their fleet with nationwide service support, technical expertise and fast access to spare parts and engineers.
What new service developments should we look out for from you in the next year or so? Ones you can tell us about!
One of our biggest recent developments is the introduction of a market-leading 10-year warranty on our sewer cleaner tank.
This is a significant statement to the market and demonstrates our confidence in the engineering and durability of our products – quite simply, we’re putting our money where our mouth is.
We’ll also continue investing in customer support, service capability and product developments that help operators work more efficiently and keep vehicles on the road for longer.
What are the three most important elements of service delivery for your customers and why?
Reliability – Customers need equipment they can depend on every day.
Responsiveness – When support is needed, they need it quickly to minimise downtime.
Partnership – Understanding our customers’ operations allows us to deliver solutions that genuinely support their long-term objectives.
Ultimately, customers want a partner, not just a supplier.
What have been the business highlights for Bucher Municipal over the last 12 months?
It has been a positive period of growth for our sewer cleaning business in the UK.
We’ve welcomed several new customers, including Wessex Water, Compton Tankers and Veolia, all of whom we see as long-term growth partners.
We’ve also strengthened our commercial team with the arrival of experienced professionals Ian Kelley and Matt Parsons.
Perhaps most significantly, we’ve introduced our market-leading warranty package, further reinforcing our commitment to quality and long-term customer support.
Tell us something that you think anyone outside the industry will find amazing about your products and/or services or what they can achieve.
Most people never think about what happens beneath their feet every day.
Without specialist sewer cleaning equipment and highly skilled operators, the UK’s drainage infrastructure simply wouldn’t function as effectively as it does.
The scale of the network being maintained, often before problems even become visible to the public, is something most people would find fascinating.
What’s the biggest change in technology or process you have witnessed in your service sector in recent years?
The biggest shift has been customers focusing on whole-life value rather than upfront purchase price alone.
Fleet managers increasingly want equipment that is safer to operate, more fuel efficient, easier to maintain and backed by strong aftersales support.
The conversation is now much more about long-term performance and uptime.
What do you think will be the biggest changes or challenges over the next 10 years?
Ageing infrastructure, increasing environmental pressures and skills shortages will all be significant challenges.
Operators will need to do more with fewer resources, which means equipment reliability, efficiency and strong manufacturer support will become even more important.
Manufacturers will also need to continue investing in innovation that improves both productivity and sustainability.
What are you most proud of about the way your team supports your customers?
We’re proud that our support extends far beyond supplying equipment.
We have six (soon to be seven) strategically located service centres across the UK, over 75 factory-trained engineers and next-day spare parts delivery supported by more than £13 million of stock holdings.
Our customers know that when they need support, we’re there to help them keep operating.
Why did you decide to join the WJA?
The WJA is a highly respected organisation that promotes professionalism, safety and best practice across the industry.
Joining was a natural step for Bucher Municipal as we continue to strengthen our relationships within the sector and support the wider water jetting community.
What advantages do you expect to get from being a member of the WJA?
We see membership as an opportunity to collaborate with industry peers, share knowledge and contribute to the continued development of standards and best practice.
We’re also looking forward to building stronger relationships throughout the water jetting community.
What do you think are the WJA’s key achievements?
The WJA has played a major role in raising standards across the industry, particularly around safety, training and promoting best practice.
It has helped create consistency and professionalism throughout the sector.
Why is it important to have a member organisation for the water jetting industry?
The industry is responsible for maintaining critical infrastructure, so it’s important that organisations work together to promote high standards, consistency and safe working practices.
A strong member organisation helps achieve exactly that.
What key issues do you think the WJA should focus on over the next three years, and why?
Firstly, continuing to drive improvements in safety standards.
Secondly, supporting skills development and attracting new talent into the industry.
Thirdly, helping members embrace innovation and technologies that improve efficiency, sustainability and operator safety.
If Bucher Municipal were an animal, what kind would it be?
An elephant.
Elephants are dependable, intelligent and incredibly strong, but they’re also collaborative and built for endurance.
Those characteristics align closely with Bucher Municipal and the long-term partnerships we build with our customers.
What would be a final point to make?
Our equipment is built for performance and backed for the long-term. We’re committed to supporting the UK’s drainage industry with reliable sewer cleaning solutions that are backed by a market-leading 10-year tank warranty.
You can find out how Bucher Municipal can support your operation at www.buchermunicipal.com. Or call me (Marc Rapson) on 07837 485810.