Family firm keeps cool as business hots up

MD Justin Stott & Business Development Manager of RDA Julie Evans

A family firm that specialises in parts supply, service and repair of bus and coach climate control systems has relocated to Heywood so it can expand its business.

Airconco has been based on Middleton Trade Park since 2005 but having secured major new contracts in recent years, it needed larger premises. With the help of Rochdale Development Agency it has relocated to a new 8,500 square feet unit on Heywood’s Axis Point on Hareshill Business Park and after internal fit out of offices and a stores mezzanine, it now has around 10,500 square feet of internal space.

The company was formed in 1996 by Eric Stott and his youngest son, Justin. Initially specialising in car air conditioning systems it now services, repairs and supplies parts to some of the largest bus, coach and travel companies operating in the UK.

Justin Stott, Managing Director said: “We started out in a lock up in Heywood with one Daihatsu Hi Jet as our service van.

"Seventeen years later we have a fleet of state of the art service vans working across the North West, North Wales, Cumbria, Yorkshire, North East, Staffordshire and beyond keeping buses, coaches and mini-buses on the road.

"These larger premises mean we can move forward with our plans to stock larger amounts of our fast moving items and take on some new dealerships.

"We also have some other related commercial vehicle products such as truck cooling parts which we are looking to supply locally.”

The company supplies aftermarket support for world class brands including Eberspächer Sütrak, Heavac, MCC-Hvac, Sanz Clima, UWE & Webasto.

Julie Evans, Business Development Manager at Rochdale Development Agency, said: “We were delighted that we were able to work with Airconco and find new premises for them in the borough. They are now just one mile from the M66 and two miles from the M62 giving them fantastic access to the motorway network, which is of course crucial in their business.”

Mr Stott added: “I have been a Norden lad all my life and live there with my wife and young son. Most of us live locally and we have been based in the borough since we first set up and wanted to stay, as long as we could find the right premises.

"This is a great location close to home, the new building is just what we need and we are now set up to bring one or two key personell on board to push the business on.”