Meet Our Directors

SIMON EASTWOOD - Managing Director

To gain experience before joining the family firm, Simon completed a technician's course at the Engineering Industry Training Board. This gave Simon a foundation on which to grow his experience by joining Street CraneXpress in 1980 and working in each department including the shop floor, sales and accounts before working full time in internal sales and admin at both Street Crane Company and SCX. Within a year of gaining the qualification of Member of the Institute of Administrative Managers in 1984, Simon was placed in charge of Crane and Hoist and his brief was to integrate them into the core business and thereafter to grow the business. In 1987 Simon took over the running of SCX in its entirety upon the retirement of the Director in charge and has cultivated SCX to provide a unique combination of mechanical handling services, products and solutions. In 1995 Simon commenced a MBA at the University of Sheffield and graduated in 1997. His hobbies include running, scuba diving and skiing.

ANDY WHITWORTH - Projects Director

Andy joined the Street CraneXpress group of companies in 1991 to concentrate on developing the area of specialist projects within the materials handling sector whilst utilising the extensive resources of the manufacturing/service facilities within the group. Prior to his appointment, Andy served 14 years with a leading manufacturer of overhead travelling cranes, but was still heavily involved in the special projects sector. His area of expertise varies tremendously from Theatre to Nuclear and Aerospace to Stadia. Overall Andy has served some 26 years in the industry with the majority being involved in major handling schemes. His overall responsibility is for the sales / design team, ensuring successful implementation of a project from the original concept through to the handover.

STEVE DAVIS - Operations Director

Steve graduated with an honours degree in Engineering Technology from Leicester Polytechnic and then spent a number of years as a Field Engineer on oil, gas and water construction projects in the Middle East, South Africa and Scandinavia. Upon his return to the UK, he joined Swisslog, a global supplier of integrated logistics solutions and gained 15 years experience in project management roles, predominently on materials handling projects in the automotive sector. Projects included the BMW Mini final assembly systems in Oxford. A Chartered Engineer, Steve joined Street CraneXpress Ltd as Service Director in March 2004 and was appointed Operations Director in May 2008.

KEVIN WALTON - Access Director

Kevin is a Chartered Engineer and a Civil Engineering honours graduate from Newcastle University. Kevin founded Integral Cradles Limited and has served as the solely responsible access director since the formation. Prior to founding Integral Cradles Limited, Kevin gained a range of experiences resulting from senior management and commercial development roles within internationally renowned construction projects both in the UK and Hong Kong. His experiences as part of the development team and contractor, Canary Wharf Group in the docklands of London allowed Kevin to develop important knowledge and market relationships that have enabled Integral Cradles Ltd to become the premier access solution provider in the UK. Integral Cradles Limited became part of the SCX group in 2005.

RAY FLETCHER - Crane & Hoist Director

Prior to joining Street CraneXpress Ray completed a Mechanical apprenticeship with a Sheffield based engineering company. Ray then progressed into a sales related role, working for a construction and engineering plant hire company, and covering the north of the UK from a sales perspective.

Ray joined Street CraneXpress in 1991 to work for the Crane and Hoist division as Area Sales Representative, predominently covering the North of England. This was mainly the sale of spares and smaller components, which later progressed to working with the service department. This role incorporated the sale of crane refurbishments, crane upgrades/modernisation and larger projects covering the whole of the UK.

In 2003 Ray was appointed Sales Manager for standard projects and was responsible for managing all Regional Sales Engineers. Ray was appointed Director (Designate) for the Crane and Hoist Division in 2008.

RAY JEFFREY - Maintenance Director

Ray started in the Suspended Access industry in 1979 as a Fitter's Assistant.

Ray remained with Cradle Runways International for 18 years, during which time he was promoted to Mechanical Fitter, Chargehand Engineer, Supervisor, Maintenance Sales and finally Maintenance Contracts Sales Manager.

He then left Cradle Runways International to take up the Sales Director position at Introland Ltd, before being promoted to Managing Director of Introland Ltd, 2 years later.

Ray decided to relinquish his position with Introland and set up his own company - Guardian Cradle Safety Services Ltd in 2003. Guardian. Guardian Cradle Safety Services Ltd became a part of the SCX Group in 2008. The company has been renamed to Guardian Cradle Maintenance Ltd, Ray has stayed within the company and now holds the position of Maintenance Director.