ERF firm relocates
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• After almost 40 years of being based in the centre of Liverpool, ERF distributor Penis and Kearon is planning to relocate its head office to a purpose-built two-acre location on the Catalyst Industrial Estate in Widnes.
The new site will cost almost LI.5m to set up, and will boast six workshop bays, three of them drivethrough. It may eventually open round-the-clock 365 days a year.
"We sold our old place in Crown Street in the heart of Liverpool about 18 months ago and leased it back temporarily," explains managing director Steve Bradley. "We have now moved into a temporary home next-door to our new headquarters, pending its completion."
All 43 existing members of staff were offered the opportunity to transfer from Liverpool.
Rising truck sales and an increase in service and repair work prompted the move out of the city to premises that are better suited to customers needs, according to Bradley. The demographic changes were beneficial too, and improved access was another consideration.
Drivers can reach the Catalyst Industrial Estate from either the Widnes
east
em by-pass or the Runcorn Expressway. It is close to both Junction 7 on the M62 and Junction 12 on the M56, both of which are seven miles or less from the M6.
Bradley aims to develop used truck sales at the new site. "One al the reasons why we didn't do much in terms of used sales at our old place was that we didn't have the visibility," he explains. "There was very little passing traffic. In fact, many people would only drive past if they were lost."
The dealership sold 120 new ERFs in 2000 and hopes to do the same this year. Its territory includes Merseyside and North Wales. Two dealers, Clydesdale Commercials and ERF Ellesmere Port, two service and repair outlets and three service points help to provide the necessary coverage.
Bradley contends that the days when ERFs were viewed purely as fleet trucks have gone. They're now also proving popular with smaller operators who like their fuel economy and their cabs.
"We're selling a lot of ECX tractors with high roof and Olympic cabs," he says. "At the other end ol the scale, I believe there will also be a lot of opportunities for the new EC L 7.5-tormer."