A fast-growing firm which specialises in air compressors and blowers is aiming to establish a strong presence in Newton Aycliffe and build on impressive recent growth.
Air Compressors and Blowers (ACB) North East has moved its headquarters from Gateshead to Aycliffe Business Park after seeing turnover double to £1.2m in the last three years.
ACB, which is part of the TFG group of companies, is the only authorised distributor of CompAir and Gardner Denver products in the North East, and already has more than 300 clients on the books, stretching from Newcastle down to Wetherby and across to Cumbria.
The company, which has nine office staff and several field engineers, has a workshop in Dunston as well as new offices at Evans Business Centre, and is also a distributor of Hydrovane, Reavell and Elmo Rietschle compressed air and vacuum equipment.
After seeing turnover climb in recent years, ACB has now targeted Aycliffe Business Park as a prime new HQ – both because it’s more centrally located in the region, and because it sees it as a growth area.
Operations director Paul Sparke said: “We cover the whole of the North East region and across to Cumbria, so we see Newton Aycliffe logistically as the perfect location for us.
“Aycliffe Business Park is also a key growth area for us as well and, as the region’s only authorised distributor of CompAir and Gardner Denver products, we would hope there’ll be a lot of engineering and manufacturing firms on the park which would look to use our services.”
ACB already works for a number of Aycliffe firms including Primex Plastics, PTSM and T&S Kitchens.
And the firm has won high praise from Primex in particular after dealing with a recent incident during the night.
Paul explained: “We had a call from Primex Plastics at about 2.30am when one of their compressors broke down.
“We were on site at 8am, had a diagnosis straight away and quotes arranged, and had a new compressor delivered and installed the next working day, which minimised the downtime.
“We pride ourselves on one-to-one, 24-7 customer service and getting the job done in the quickest possible time for our clients.”
ACB has been working with Primex Plastics for 16 years, and engineering manager Graham Gilmore added: “ACB North East has the technical knowledge and support to meet all our compressed air needs with added extra.
“Engineers talk to engineers, and this gives me confidence in ACB to compile our yearly planned maintenance scheduling and when put to the test on call out we could not ask for a more reactive response to from initial phone call.
“This is where the added extra comes in – quick initial professional assessment with recommendations and turnkey solutions to meet our expectations and in the latest instance to better expectations which was fantastic giving the timescale.
“I would gladly recommend ACB North East to any interested party.”
ACB is hoping to move its workshop from Dunston to Aycliffe eventually and has long-term growth plans to create new jobs here and increase turnover.
Paul, who runs the company with fellow director Chris Hall, said: “We’ve increased our turnover for the last three consecutive years and we have ambitious plans to build on that while adding to the workforce.
“Aycliffe is a thriving hub of engineering and manufacturing and we’re inviting all companies to come along to an open day we’re hosting at Evans Incubation Centre, when they can come along to find out more about what we do the products we can supply and service.”
• ACB’s Open Day is being held on Wednesday 25th May, between 10am and 3pm, at Evans Business Centre on Durham Way South.
• To contact ACB North East, call operations director Paul Sparke on 01325 329820 or email [email protected]
