Moving into municipals
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• Vertex Holdings believes the knowledge of hydraulics and electronics it has acquired as a specialist repairer of car transporters can be put to good use in the municipal vehicles market. That's why it's taken on a Seddon Atkinson franchise: the Iveco subsidiary is now a leading producer of refuse collectors.
Based at Barking in Essex, and trading as South East Commercials, the new dealership covers a huge territory. "It includes the whole of Essex, out as far as Harwich, central London north of the Thames, and extends to the west of London too," says dealer principal Mike Hamilton.
"The majority of municipalities still service their own fleets, so what we're doing is providing parts support," he adds. "We're putting stocks of parts into their workshops and keeping them replenished."
Although local authorities are key targets for South East's zo employees, hauliers aren't being neglected. Hamilton hopes they'll be attracted by the servicing facilities at the site. Based just off the Ar3, on the River Road Industrial Estate, it's open around the clock, seven days a week.
As well as repairing and maintaining trailers and trucks, it can shotblast vehicles, has its own paint shop and offers a 24-hour recovery service.
"There is massive demand in this area for the package we can provide," says Hamilton.