HYDRAQUIP HOSE & HYDRAULICS STROOD GOES LARGE
HYDRAQUIP HOSE & HYDRAULICS STROOD GOES LARGE
- One of the UK’s largest trade counters
- Both the Strood & Rochester Hydraulics branches move into the 11,000sq ft building
- Larger production facilities will boost manufacturing capabilities
- Hydraulic trade counter and repair centre all under one roof
- Staff with a combined 350 plus years of experience within the hydraulics and pneumatics industry
PUBLISHED BY: Rabs Atwal PUBLISHED: 19th January 2015
Situated on the north west bank of the River Medway, The Hydraquip Group’s existing Strood team move into a purpose built 11,000sq foot building which is within eyeshot view from its previous trade counter on the Medway City Estate.
As part of the company’s nationwide store expansion plans and following four branches having opened in 2014, the Strood flagship store is the first new premises to open in 2015 with Hydraquip Crawley also to follow suit as it doubles in size with the purchase of unit 3 next door. These developments are a key reflection of Hydraquip’s strong business magnification and commitment plans which now see over 26 million of the UK’s population within a 25 mile radius of a Hydraquip Hose & Hydraulics branch.
Both Hydraquip Hose & Hydraulics Strood and it’s Rochester branch on Gas House road will join forces to operate within one of the largest hydraulic trade counters in the UK, with an updated modern yet industrial serving look. The spacious building on Gills Court has seen a complete transformation with a new trade counter, production area, offices, mezzanine and floors fitted. The red tiled floors as you enter create a strong first impression as the colour red is known to raise the energy in an environment, there’s no denying that colour and mood are inextricably linked. With offices on both floors and a large open planned trade counter, it is clearly evident the amount of planning that has gone into the framework of the building. Headed by Managing Director Duncan MacBain, “If a suitable property had become available, it had been my intention to amalgamate and move both the Strood & Rochester Hydraulics branches into one larger premises, with the benefit of providing a complete hydraulic service from under one roof. With a similar and often shared customer base, the move will improve levels of service and efficiency as the staff will operate from a purposely built working area.” The company uses its own innovative retail model, aiming to provide its customers with an outstanding service, together with value and convenience.
Behind the trade counter, the production area has seen vast improvements from its original set up at Arden Business Park, with key emphasis on reducing consumer waiting times. The larger production area will boost Hydraquip Strood’s manufacturing capabilities, in turn seeing an increase in the number of spot orders produced in timely scales. Hose trees, along with a new hose carousel that has the capacity of holding stocks of 1/4” up to 1” has been installed to significantly reduce assembly time, with stock being immediately available. The new fully kitted hydraulic trade counter offers an instant one to one service with the in house resources to allow Hydraquip to provide an over the counter service to customers requiring a pattern hose assembly manufactured whilst they wait. With the addition of Hydraquip Hose & Hydraulics Rochester conjugating with Hydraquip Strood, a dedicated workshop area complete with a new spray booth has been set up for the hydraulic repair centre which will allow the company to carry out extensive hydraulic repairs, testing and refurbishment on all types of hydraulic equipment including hydraulic cylinders, pumps, motors and ram repairs, all under one roof.
The new Hydraquip Strood unit offers a comprehensive range of over 48,000+ fluid power components many of these items are available over the counter or delivered within 24 hours. The Strood team itself have a wealth of experience of over 350 plus years within the hydraulics and pneumatics industry enabling staff to offer choices of products to customers whilst offering a personalised consumer experience. The team ran by Branch Manager Barry Thompson comments, “The new location is ideal we wanted to remain on the Medway City Estate having been here for such a long time, it’s ideal to get anywhere in the local area with a good road network customers come from a wide area and we wanted to retain the ease of access both for the customers, ourselves and our Mobile engineers. The new location being twice the size of our current location will enable us to build on the business we have created over the years and put’s us in a great position to continue our growth in 2015 and beyond”.
As well as announcing a branch launch, Hydraquip are pleased to announce they are now official Enerpac distributors, Enerpac are known as a global leader in hydraulic tools and technology. Hydraquip have built up a strong portfolio as official distributors of well known premium brands such as Aeroquip, Bosch Rexroth and now Enerpac. Focussing not only on the growth of branches and its fleet, Hydraquip have invested the time and resources allowing them to expand on their product base. As official distributors the company can provide high pressure hydraulic tools, controlled force products and solutions for precise positioning of heavy loads. Supplying products from the smallest hydraulic cylinder to complete computer operated lifting and positioning systems to provide customers with innovative solutions to increase productivity, cost effectiveness and to ensure safer and easier to perform working practices.
With the company’s strong beliefs in building long term business partnerships, Hydraquip extends an open invitation to its existing and potential customers and suppliers to visit the branch to see the set up and operation of the branch. Contact Branch Manager Barry Thompson on tel: 01634 291 245 or email: barry@hydraquip.co.uk.
Hydraquip, 4 Gills Court, Chaucer Close, Medway City Estate, Rochester, Kent ME2 4NR
T: 01634 291 245 F: 01634 290 871 E: strood@hydraquip.co.uk
