Repair specialists’ expansion boom

LIFE is returning to part of the rolling road in the former Seddon Atkinson site at Higginshaw thanks to commercial vehicle repairs specialist Tony Nanyn.

Mr Nanyn, from Dobcross, and his sons Adam and Mark, have invested £500,000 to relocate their Car & Commercial Vehicles Services business from Argyle Street, Derker, to the Woodstock Business Park.

They have taken 20,000 sq ft of space — including part of Seddon Atkinson’s famous rolling road on which commercial vehicles were assembled — into which they moved on June 1.

Mr Nanyn (53) set up C&C in Argyle Street 27 years ago in partnership with Mike McCafferty, who left after eight years to pursue his own business interests.

Several years ago, Mr Nanyn took a back seat and allowed his sons to develop the business, but he was soon back in harness helping out as the levels of business grew.

Now that the move is almost complete, he hopes to soon assume a role as non-executive chairman with Adam (29) currently the production director, taking over as MD and sales manager Mark (31), also from Springhead, assuming more managerial duties.

After a tour of the new premises, Tony said: “It’s true I did try to take a back seat, but the work levels were too much, the business was too busy. The place was manic.”

He described how the former premises could house only six vehicles and that staff would often spend up to two hours arranging vehicles on the production floor so that repairs could start.

All that is in the past and C&C is set to boom. Turnover is expected to rise from £1 million to £2.5 million purely on the back of the extra capacity that has been generated in terms of floorspace.

In addition to the extra working area, £80,000 has been invested in a 60ft spray booth and a further substantial investment has been made in a Black Hawk power jig, believed to be one of only two in Greater Manchester, which can re-align huge tractors and rigs.

“Staff are enjoying the luxury afforded by the extra space and we have also been able to take on jobs that previously would not physically fit into the workshop,” added Tony.

“We have taken an order to refurbish 50 trailers and we are also receiving work from Manchester Airport, Sainsbury’s and ServisAir since we moved.”