A fast-growing specialist industrial parts distributor is doubling the size of its Bolton branch with a move to new premises on Britannia Way Industrial Park.
Antifriction has invested £100,000 in fitting out the newly built property, which will replace its existing unit nearby and act as the main depot for an area stretching from Greater Manchester to the Scottish borders and West Yorkshire.
The Bolton branch, which is run by an eight-strong team led by manager John McInnes, has doubled its turnover over the past five years. The new premises will support its growth plans, allowing it to double its stock and provide a larger trade counter and dedicated customer training area.
The move is part of a £1m-plus investment programme by Antifriction which has seen it establish two new bases in Feltham near Heathrow and Ellesmere Port as well improvements to its Birmingham site and Bristol headquarters in recent years.
Antifriction supplies over 200,000 lines such as belt drives, chains, lubricants, seals, gearboxes, motors and fluid power products for process and general heavy industrial applications. Its serves manufacturing, metal processing, engineering, energy, recycling, paper and construction industries.
Founded in 1976, it is now part of Italian company Gruppo Bianchi, which is one of the biggest industrial distributors in Europe, and acquired the hydraulic hose stockist Ehrco lastyear.
John McInnes comments: “Antifriction supplies critical components to keep the wheels of industry turning. The new premises will allow us to hold a much wider range of products in stock, further cutting down delivery times to our large base of loyal clients and helping them to minimise losses in production.”
Andrew Fleming, Antifriction’s operations director, adds: “With room to expand and excellent access to the motorway network, the office is ideally placed to serve the region’s engineering and heavy industry. The rapid growth of our operations in Bolton and the North West in recent years, gaining many new customers, will enable us to continue on our growth trajectory.”
