International flavour for biggest stand
The largest stand at September’s Garage Expo 2013 has an international flavour.
Lancashire-based Automotive Tools and Supplies Ltd (AT&S) will exhibit not only one of the most comprehensive ranges of garage tools available but also mobile column lifts – 5.50T two-post, 50T and 20T presses – and various jacks and axle stands manufactured by Italian firm OMCN.
Peter Maddock, managing director of AT&S, is also OMCN UK operations director. He said AT&S’s original core business was selling quality tools to professionals across a broad range of the UK transport markets, but for many years has also been supplying OMCN garage equipment.
Peter explained: “The reason I want to exhibit at the show is all down to our watchwords – quality and customer service. I believe Garage Expo will become the desired showcase for quality garage equipment. The organisers have found a niche – and they are filling it.”
AT&S was founded by Peter and his father in 1981 and today operates from purpose-built offices, showroom and warehouse in Read, near Burnley. From here the firm specialises in sourcing and supplying high-quality hand tools and garage equipment.
It still sells to small, independent workshops and garages – some have been customers for more than 30 years – via “tool vans” which travel to customers throughout the north-west.
“We’re displaying one of our ‘tool vans’ – plus its huge range of products – at Garage Expo. This on-going successful formula has allowed our client list to expand greatly over the years and now includes major national companies,” said Peter.
AT&S has completed contracts with the Ministry of Defence (MoD), is currently working with Renault UK and Hyundai UK and has supplied lifts to other vehicle manufacturers, including Toyota.
“In the past two years we have won successive contracts to supply OMCN lifts and other equipment,” said Peter, “and that is down to OMCN’s manufacturing strength, our delivery and installation strategies – we always meet our deadlines – and both OMCN and AT&S’s belief in on-going customer service plus our expertise and flexibility.”
AT&S’s relationship with OMCN began 25 years ago.
“I was visiting a local garage and saw an OMCN two-post vehicle lift which was for sale,” Peter explained. “I had been thinking that the time was right to further develop AT&S to include capital equipment sales, so I took a chance, bought the two-post lift and sold it. That was the beginning of the capital equipment side of AT&S – and my relationship with OMCN.”
That relationship has grown over those years, as have those with other professional tool equipment manufacturers and, crucially, customers.
“All our dealings with manufacturers and clients are based on mutual trust and putting the customer first,” he said.
In February this year AT&S’s insistence on quality bore fruit. It was awarded the internationally-recognised ISO 9001 quality management system.
Peter added: “We only deal in quality and excellence – and that is why we chose to come to GarageExpo 2013.”
For more information about Automotive Tools and Supplies Ltd and OMCN email petermaddock@auto-tools.co.uk, call 01282 771432 or go to www.omcn.it