Category Archives: Service plan
17 Dec |
Last Orders for 2014, Please |
Everyone gets well-deserved time off at Christmas and here at AC Services (Southern), we are no different.
In common with the rest of the industry, we look forward to those two days of not having to worry about getting into the office, getting out on the road and getting down and dirty with Rational ovens!
Hopefully by now, you will have all done the sensible thing and taken advantage of the excellent AC Services Southern maintenance packages that we have on offer and have all sorted out your Rational ovens for the mad Christmas rush.
Remember to check your supplies: if you require any cleaning products for your Rational ovens at this peak period or stock parts, then you have only until the end of this week to order them with guaranteed delivery before Christmas.
Clients have also asked us when we will be open over the Christmas and New Year period and these are also given below.
Last order dates for guaranteed delivery before Christmas
Thursday 18th December 12 noon Liquid Cleaning Products
Friday 19th December 12 noon Cleaning Tablets
Friday 19th December 12 noon Stock Parts/Brita Cartridges
Office opening hours and engineers on call
We know things might go wrong sometimes, and Christmas rarely runs smoothly for anyone. If you need any help with your Rational oven repairs over Christmas or any emergency breakdowns, here are details of our Christmas working hours.
Our office is open over the Christmas/New Year period as below. Engineers are on call when the office is open and as shown on weekends for any emergencies.
Monday 22nd December 8.30am – 5.15pm
Tuesday 23rd December 8.30am – 5.15pm
Wednesday 24th December 8.30am – 3.00pm
Thursday 25th December CLOSED
Friday 26th December CLOSED
Saturday 27th December Engineer on call
Sunday 28th December Engineer on call
Monday 29th December 8.30am – 5.00pm
Tuesday 30th December 8.30am – 5.00pm
Wednesday 31st December 8.30am – 3.00pm
Thursday 1st January CLOSED
Friday 2nd January 8.30am – 5.15pm
Saturday 3rd January Engineer on call
Sunday 4th January Engineer on call
Monday 5th January BACK TO NORMAL!
In times of emergency for Rational ovens, we’re here to help. For the South, South West and South Wales, there is one telephone number for all your Rational Service and Spare requirements so call 01454 322222.
Published Date: 17th December 2014
Category: Blog, Catering Business, Cleaning Products, News, Ovens, Rational, Service plan
Tags: Cleaning Products, service
30 Sep |
Service- Going the Extra Mile |
The phrase “nine to five” is rarely mentioned at AC Services (Southern), in fact, it is often met with puzzled looks and raised eyebrows.
That is because it doesn’t exist at the company; the old adage, the customer is always right even when he’s wrong, is a mantra adopted by all, and this leads frequently to AC Services staff going above and beyond the call of duty.
And according to MD Helen Hagger, this work ethic puts the company is an elevated position compared to its competitors. “We literally go the extra mile to make sure that our commitment to our customers meets their needs,” she comments.
She cites a recent example when a customer was left with an absent chef, an unclean Rational oven and an urgent need for cleaning tablets. Being a usual busy Monday morning, there were no engineers available to deliver the items, which were desperately required in order for the client to open the following morning with a fully working oven.
“We tried every avenue to get the tablets to the client, but it came down to the only option in the end, I would have to deliver them after work myself, which I did,” continues Helen. “As it was out of my way, I managed to negotiate a pie and a pint for my trouble!”
The client too was delighted with the service, which makes AC Services stand out in a crowd. He wrote: “Just to say a huge thank you for helping me today. As always, you go the extra mile to help in trouble. ACS are the most professional of the many service providers we use.”
Express Delivery
The nature of the business means that express or urgent jobs often come along when an engineer is already on the road to a pre-booked appointment, and says Helen, these ad hoc jobs often require specialist parts or equipment.
“I have lost count of the times that I have had to arrange to meet engineers en route to deliver essential items to them so that they can complete these last minute jobs. Obviously, they carry the tools and a large amount of stock they may need for routine maintenance, servicing and breakdowns, but if a client rings in a panic because a specialist component has gone wrong, then we have to source that component and make sure we get it to the engineer so that he can fix the problem in one visit.”
Germany Calling
AC Services has gained a reputation for reliability among all the Rational service partners. Helen recalls a phone call on Sunday afternoon from Rational Ovens in Germany, with a UK client who desperately needed immediate assistance.
“We are well known within the Rational network for being able to help when no other service partner is available,” continues Helen. “The challenge was more in interpreting the strong German accent and halting English, but the result was that the oven was fixed, leaving the client and Germany very happy.”
Of course, as with any business, not everything goes to plan. Expect the unexpected and you won’t be disappointed, warns Helen. However, the policy is to keep the customer informed at all times.
“If there is heavy traffic, or a road closure, then the customer is always told of the new estimated time of arrival of our engineers,” she concludes. “We adhere as much as we can to our 24 hour call-out for warranty ovens, and barring incidents, we are justifiably proud of our success rate.”
Published Date: 30th September 2014
Category: Blog, News, Rational, Service plan
Tags: AC Services, service
09 Sep |
Oven Serviced? Don’t Procrastinate! |
It’s that time of year when we suddenly realise how quickly time goes.
Summer holidays are a distant memory, kids are back at school and yes, Christmas chocolate novelties are filling the shelves where sun-cream used to be.
So here at AC Services (Southern), we are issuing you with a gentle reminder that one of the busiest seasons of the calendar is looming. Fast. Get your kitchen in order now. And that means getting your Rational oven serviced by calling our friendly team.
The Rationale of AC Services (Southern)
First of all, we know what we are talking about when it comes to ovens. Established since 1990 and specialising in Rational combi ovens since 1999, we are authorised, trained and audited by Rational.
We have a wide-ranging customer base from prestigious restaurants to high street fast food outlets; and each establishment we service gets the same standard and quality of customer service and each establishment has one thing in common, and that is a Rational oven, a leading brand that is recognised for its reliability.
We know ovens, and we also know what can, and sometimes does go wrong with them. That is why we only employ Rational-trained ‘Gas Safe’ engineers to service the counties of Avon, Berkshire, Bristol, Cardiff, Carmarthen, Devon, Dorset, Dyfed, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Gwent, Hampshire, Herefordshire, Monmouthshire, Newport, Oxfordshire, Pembrokeshire, Somerset, Surrey, Swansea, Wiltshire and Worcestershire.
When things go wrong
You may not think there is anything wrong with your appliance, it’s been fine and dandy and perfectly operational; and after all, our 24/7 hotline and our policy of responding to an emergency within 24 hours of your call will ensure that if anything goes wrong, we will fix it.
But what happens if, when something does go wrong, we can’t get to you because the roads are blocked or the weather makes it hazardous? Or someone else’s oven has to be fixed and the service engineer is tied up with that? Just don’t take chances. The solution is simple, book a service now and pre-empt any curveballs.
So we recommend that you have your oven checked thoroughly at least once a year, or if you have high usage, twice a year. Why? Because it not only protects your warranty but it saves you money: regular servicing reduces repair costs and avoids complete breakdown when you least want it, causing loss of revenue.
The 4 Rational Oven Service Options
The four main options for servicing your rational oven are:
• Attendance under warranty, an automatic one year manufacturer’s warranty from date of installation which can be extended for a further 12 months. More details
• Booking a full service where we fully check over the oven
• Ad hoc service visit, basically waiting to see, and then calling us when necessary.
• Maintenance contracts, giving peace of mind that your oven is being looked after even when it appears to be working optimally.
Simply call us today on 01454 322 222 and book a full service before the rush.
Published Date: 9th September 2014
Category: Blog, News, Ovens, Rational, Service plan
Tags: Maintenance, Rational Ovens, service
22 Jul |
Long Distance Service at the Old Vine Hotel |
Picture the setting: a Grade II listed 18th-century inn within sight of the iconic Winchester Cathedral and the vibrant city centre, with an award winning restaurant serving succulent delights such as risotto of English asparagus, butternut squash, spinach with Grana Padano cheese or the self explanatory King of Pork Pies. Now imagine what would happen if the oven breaks down!
For some establishments this fate would be catastrophic in proportion, but for the Old Vine Hotel, oven breakdowns hold no such fear. The hotel, which was established in 2005, has enjoyed the services of AC Services (Southern) since the installation of a Rational SCC 61G four years ago. The fact that AC Services is based in the South West and the Old Vine Hotel in Hampshire is of no consequence to either party, as Ashton Gray, one of the directors at the hotel explains.
“We installed the oven a few years ago as a replacement for an old range and since then, it has been invaluable in opening up new cooking and catering options for us,” he comments. “The one problem we encountered, however, was sourcing a company to help us should anything go wrong.”
Problem? No Problem
As standard, Rational ovens have a two year warranty, but general wear and tear and unforeseen problems often arise, as with all large appliances so having someone to hand was a priority.
“Unfortunately, we were unable to find anyone locally who met our criteria in terms of providing the required level of support,” continues Mr. Gray. “So we looked further afield and AC Services (Southern) had exactly the right credentials.”
Regardless of the problem, small, medium or large, AC Services prides itself on its immediate turnout and repair service for those in the area it covers of Southern and South West England and South Wales, whether it is a planned service agreement or on an ad hoc basis, as with the Old Vine Hotel.
“Our oven is the workhorse of the kitchen. And without it, we are in trouble. So we have to rely on someone who knows what they are doing and who can do it as soon as possible. That’s AC Services – always reliable, always expert,” concludes Mr. Gray.
The Old Vine stands on a historic site that has seen the building change for Saxon and Norman Royal Palaces to become a tavern in the mid-14th century and now a well-established and award-winning hotel.
The Old Vine’s reputation has been built on its use of local produce and the quality of its food, and the kitchen has won in the Hampshire Hospitality Awards for the past six years. And although AC Services (Southern) does not fall into the category of local produce, it still provides the highest standards of excellence and quality that the hotel owners demand.
Published Date: 22nd July 2014
Category: Blog, Case Study, News, Service plan
Tags: Case Study, Hotel, Rational Ovens
11 Mar |
Cleaning Up at Castle Drogo With AC Services |
Catering at Castle Drogo is a piece of cake, if you have the right equipment that is!
And catering manager, Susan Hooper is delighted with the performance of her two Gas 61 Rational ovens
“The performance of these ovens certainly lives up to the reputation you would expect from Rational!” is her professional verdict.
In charge of the catering facilities and all the logistics involved in the role, it is vital that the performance of her equipment remains optimum at all times.
To that end, a labour-only service agreement with AC Services is the only way to ensure her ovens are always functioning.
National Trust
Castle Drogo is a National Trust Castle, Estate and Gardens in Drewsteignton in Devon. Designed by the famous early twentieth century British Architect ‘ Edwin Lutyens.’ This Grade I listed building is currently undergoing conservation on a grand scale to make the Castle watertight.
The kitchens are located within the Visitors Centre away from the Castle and the catering is well recognised, not just for the meals served to visitors but for its private function facilities too. Castle Drogo receives over 100,000 visitors each year and the modern catering facility is always very busy and extremely popular. They are also a well-known venue for private functions, training events and corporate meetings. Seasonal food is prepared daily, using locally sourced ingredients from the surrounding Devon area.
In order to keep the catering at its highest possible standard, the Rational Ovens are serviced routinely twice a year. “We installed the ovens five years ago,” explains Mrs Hooper, “and it is imperative to us that they are regularly serviced and maintained. The labour-only contract with AC Services ensures that the ovens are given a thorough check every six months.”
Pre-emptive Service
The service is comprehensive: from checking parts to printing out emission statistics and temperature advice, nothing is missed. “These are invaluable checks for us,” continues Mrs Hooper. “On the last visit, we were advised to replace the panel for the steamer, not that it was urgent, but there was the potential for it to fail. So the decision was made to replace it.
The same potential risk with an ignition controller was picked up on a previous service visit and was replaced accordingly. These are problems that are undetected by us, but the service engineers knew what to look for, and as we cannot take the risk of anything potentially going wrong, this pre-emptive service is perfect.”
Castle Drogo’s kitchen is in constant daily use. Thanks to the team at AC Services and the superior quality of the Rational ovens themselves, quality food is always on the menu at Castle Drogo.
Published Date: 11th March 2014
Category: Case Study, Service plan
25 Feb |
Money Is No Object … Until Things Go Wrong |
Wouldn’t life be easier if money really was no object? Sadly, unless you run the country, this is simply not the case. Most of us have just finished paying off the remnants of the Christmas excesses but guess what? Easter, the next major holiday on the calendar, is just around the corner.
For those who are in the catering business, Easter heralds the end of the winter and the start of the summer, and almost certainly, increased trade. Easter begins on 18th April with Good Friday when pubs, clubs, bars and restaurants will be looking to serve large numbers of customers throughout the holiday season. Now is the time to make sure that your Rational oven is in tiptop condition, and that means using the service and maintenance programmes on offer.
Why Bother With Service Agreements?
There is a very good reason why companies offer service agreements and maintenance programmes, even the biggest names in the industry, such as Rational. You may think that your oven is working perfectly, but unless it is serviced properly and maintained then you are not in a position to know if anything is wrong until it goes wrong. And then it’s a case of “can open, worms everywhere!”
Rational offers a two-year warranty on new appliances and when that period is up, then the company’s service partners have a number of maintenance options. Why is this recommended? Simply to cover any eventuality. Ovens can and will go wrong for many reasons. Imagine the following scenario, you have a room full of hungry guests and the oven suddenly goes on the blink. First you have to find an engineer quickly. Good luck with that. Second, you have to pray that any parts that are needed are in stock. Thirdly you have to pay out a lot. Need I say more?
No-one can predict the unpredictable but planning for it is a rational decision. There are a number of scenarios that can happen if your oven fails suddenly for whatever reason:
1. You lose customers
2. You lose money
3. You lose reputation.
Time has a tendency to run away with us so contact a service engineer and have your appliance checked out now by a reputable and proven company, such as AC Services Southern with 30 years’ combined experience as an approved Rational service partner, installing, servicing, and repairing ovens.
Remember, procrastination is the thief of time, (and business, and money) and before we know it, Easter will be upon us. The wrong kind of egg will be on your face if the Easter Sunday roast is ruined through a faulty oven!
Published Date: 25th February 2014
Category: Blog, News, Rational, Service plan
17 Dec |
Planned Maintenance Keeps Rational Ovens on Top Form |
Just off the M4/M5 motorway junction at Cribbs Causeway near Bristol, a stylish, brewery-owned hotel is setting the standards for contemporary business accommodation. And it’s also a great example of how planned maintenance can add real value to a business.
The award-winning Aztec Hotel and Spa is one of six four-star hotels in the Shire Hotels Group owned by Daniel Thwaites plc, the family-controlled brewing and pub company based in Blackburn, Lancashire.
In the last five years, the hotel has won multiple awards for business tourism and hospitality, green tourism and tourism excellence. It was also one of the first hotels in the country to offer free Wi-Fi and will shortly be the first again to provide business guests with superfast broadband.
Excellence
As well as state-of-the-art business facilities and fine ales, the Aztec’s reputation for excellence also extends to its restaurant, complete with large open log fire for cosy winter dining and an alfresco terrace overlooking a pretty water garden for those romantic summer evenings.
Head chef Mike Riordan is responsible for producing up to 600 meals a day. Working in the kitchens alongside his dedicated staff is his team of Rational ovens, all 20-grid models, all of varying ages and all maintained by our team here at AC Services.
Mike, who has been with Shire Hotels for 20 years and head chef at the Aztec since it opened ten years ago, says that in spite of the heavy and relentless workload, his ovens have always stepped up to the mark.
“On a busy weekend we could be serving 150 breakfasts, 150 lunches, another 60 to 100 for dinner and then a banquet for 200,” he said. “With that sort of workload, planned maintenance is essential and it means we have very few problems.”
Maintained
Recently, one of the Rational ovens, an older model with at least 18 years under its belt, suddenly stopped working. He called the help line and one of our engineers was there inside two hours.
“Really that oven should have been replaced by now,” said Mike, “but it just keeps going and that’s all down to the fact that we look after them well here and clean them regularly and make sure that they are properly maintained.
“It’s one less thing to worry about,” said Mike. “I know that if we keep servicing the ovens, they’ll keep working. We couldn’t risk it any other way.
“These Rational ovens are the Mercedes or BMW of the kitchen – you need to make sure that the servicing is done by qualified engineers – and that’s what AC Services provide. I know that if we have a problem, they have all the right parts on the van and can usually fix first time. And even if they can’t complete the repair, they will always find a way to keep us going until they do.
Published Date: 17th December 2013
Category: Blog, Case Study, News, Service plan
19 Nov |
Rational Oven Repairs without a Service Contract |
An oven breakdown in a professional kitchen can be costly, not just through immediate lost business, but through longer term damage to reputations too – especially if the breakdown happens in the middle of a function or a busy service. So, most kitchens minimise the risk by taking out maintenance contracts to ensure that their ovens are kept in top condition. But there are some situations, and some organisations, where a maintenance contract just doesn’t fit the bill.
The truth is that relying on an oven without a service contract is a bit like driving without a seatbelt. If you are going to do it, you’re probably better off in a Rolls Royce than a Fiat 500. While we would always argue that prevention is better than cure, if you do choose not to have your ovens regularly serviced, having a Rational oven is the next best step to keeping those risks under control.
Stood out
As the Rational Service Partner for the South and South West and South Wales, you would expect us to say that. But there is a good reason why we chose to work with Rational. We spent our first nine years from 1990 servicing and repairing all kinds of professional ovens and other catering equipment. But we soon realised that one manufacturer stood out. Not just because they had the best products and the best technology, but their quality was amazing too. So we decided to focus exclusively on Rational oven repair and maintenance.
The other good reason is that your first two years are covered by a generous warranty, so long as you have registered your oven with Rational UK. Then there’s Rational’s ServiceDiagnostic System which is built-in to all the latest SelfCookingCenter® Whitefficiency® ovens. This constantly monitors all critical components and will warn if things are going awry.
Trained
You can also manage your risk by making sure that any Rational oven repairs are carried out by a fully trained and authorised Rational Service Partner. Your local repair man may be a competent engineer but he won’t have the right tools, the right training or the right diagnostics to make a lasting job. We invest heavily to ensure that our engineers are trained by Rational and that they have all the right tools and spare parts needed. That way we can usually fix a problem first time – in fact our first-time-fix rate is around 95%. On top of that, replacement parts are guaranteed for a year.
And here’s another tip to help you avoid a kitchen melt-down. As any doctor will tell you, don’t leave it until it’s too late to call in the specialists. Most faults start by showing some symptoms. If it’s a recent oven it could be as obvious as a warning on the display panel or it could be a slight noise or unusual behaviour of some kind. That’s the time for a Rational oven repair, not when it’s developed into a full-blown and catastrophic failure. Very often, one of our qualified engineers can identify a failing part before it actually fails and replace it before it damages other components, or worse, your reputation.
So, if you are going to drive without a seatbelt, make sure you drive a Rational oven and that your Rational oven repairs are carried out by a qualified and authorised engineer.
Published Date: 19th November 2013
Category: Blog, Ovens, Rational, Service plan
22 Oct |
Rational Oven Maintenance Plan Keeps Golf Club on Course |
A Gloucestershire golf club and banqueting suite is taking no more chances after an oven broke down in the middle of a busy wedding celebration.
On the evening of Saturday, February 19th, 2011, as a couple and their guests celebrated a luxurious wedding supper at the Brickhampton Court Golf Complex, they were blissfully unaware of an unfolding crisis in the kitchen.
The popular private golf club, which can seat up to 120 banqueting guests, has an enviable reputation for its home-cooked food, but that night, their main Rational oven broke down in the middle of the busy service, leaving the chef and his team to complete the meal using a standard range.
Pressure
“We managed to complete the service without affecting our guests at all,” said Natalie Dyke, Operations Manager at the golf complex. “However, we didn‘t want to go through that experience again,” said Natalie, “so we took out a Silver Rational Oven Maintenance Plan with AC Services and we have had no problems since.
“We rely heavily on the Rational oven for all our catering in the Club House both for the bar menu and for events,” she said. ”That night made us realise just how much.”
Natalie contacted AC Services the following day, and their engineer responded that day to fix the fault.
Superb
“They give us a superb service and always fit their visits in around us which isn’t easy as the kitchen is so busy. And the engineer always comes on time!”
The Silver Rational Oven Maintenance Plan covers all labour costs if the oven should break down again. But that’s unlikely now, as the plan also provides for two preventative maintenance visits every year when our Rational-trained engineers check all the major components and rectify any potential problems before they fail.
Set in rolling Gloucestershire countryside between Cheltenham and Gloucester, Brickhampton Court Golf Complex features the 18-hole Spa Course and 9-hole Glevum Course as well as a 28-bay driving range and two golf shops . The luxurious Club House with its extensive bar menu and banqueting facilities is renowned for its home cooked and locally sourced food.
Published Date: 22nd October 2013
Category: Blog, Case Study, Catering Business, News, Service plan
01 Oct |
‘Tis the Season to be Jolly Sensible and Get your Rational Oven Serviced |
There’s every chance that this Christmas season is going to be a great one for the restaurant trade. Even if the green shoots of recovery are not exactly bursting through the hard-packed soil of recession, there is a sense that things are looking up; that folk will be inclined to splash out a bit more this time around and that all those office parties will be a little less constrained by the grey-suited men in accounts.
If that thought has got you a little bit excited at the prospect of a bulging reservations book and orders flying across the pass like greyhounds from the trap, let us just sound a note of warning – more of a nag in fact, aimed at those lovely customers of ours who love to leave things to the last minute.
Reputation
Don’t forget to get your Rational oven serviced!
You’re soon going to be rushed off your feet. You’ll have 101 things to worry about and the last thing you need is an oven to go down in the middle of a busy service taking your reputation with it.
If your ovens are not already serviced under one of our maintenance contracts, and it’s been more than 12 months since they were last given a good overhaul, now is the time to do it.
Most of the Rational ovens we look after get very heavy use – sometimes 24/7 without a break. If any oven can stand up to constant use like that, then it’s a Rational oven. But even the very best equipment needs to be serviced from time to time and, especially with complex and sophisticated systems, it is best to get it serviced by qualified specialists.
Audited
Our engineers are trained and audited by Rational themselves and work to the same high standards used to manufacture the ovens. They can quickly identify and replace parts before they actually fail and make sure that your ovens are in top condition for the Christmas rush.
The best advice of all is to take out a maintenance contract (which includes two services per year) with us – it will not only protect your investment in expensive kitchen equipment but your restaurant’s reputation too. And it means you won’t ever have to worry again about servicing . You can choose from Silver, Gold or Platinum Plans – just give us a call and we’ll advise you which one best suits your needs.
So, our advice is, don’t risk your reputation. Give us a call now and we’ll schedule your Rational ovens for a service before the Christmas season starts.
Published Date: 1st October 2013
Category: Blog, Catering Business, News, Ovens, Rational, Service plan