Describe the products that HARSH provides?
As well as tipping equipment, HARSH is now one of the UK’s market leaders in supplying skiploaders and hookloaders, having been active in the waste and environmental services sectors for over 20 years.
For sheets, HARSH is the only UK manufacturer able to offer every type of front to back or side to side sheet, and with the option of operation by electric, hydraulic, manual or even solar power.
In August, Harsh opened a new million–pound plus facility in Downham Market, Norfolk. Why?
Our previous site outside Peterborough let us test the water for havingaservice centre in the south, and it proved a runaway success right from the start – so much so that in just two years we had completely run out of space.
Now we’ve taken the next step, acquiring a much larger facility that will be able to handle almost any future business projection.
The new four-acre Norfolk facility offers a workshop space three times larger than that of the previous depot, giving the business the easy ability to accommodate all types and sizes of trucks and trailers. The new site also has more than enough space for any further expansion into the future.
Significantly, Downham Market is fully owned by HARSH, which testifies to our long-term commitment to providing customers with 100% service and support across south eastern England.
Tell us about the facilities at the new site?
Previously a VOSA test station, the 50m long twin-row workshop makes handling of any size of vehicle easy, which is particularly important for our ever growing business in trailer sheeting. Similarly, underfloor inspection pits also allow easier and speedier fitting of PTOs and pumps for tractor unit wet kits.
Before starting business, we also decided that the whole building should be re-wired and re-painted. New exterior cladding has also been added to maximise energy efficiency and bring everything fully up to date.
With such an extensive workshop, the company can also fit truck chassis with skiploader and hookloader bodywork, as well as being able to install sheeting systems on rigid tippers and trailers.
Why is the Downham Market location so important?
Given that Downham Market is located in the heart of East Anglia’s agricultural industry, it’s therefore an ideally placed service point for the many local and regional hauliers using tipping and moving floor trailers. Truck dealers too will benefit from HARSH’s ability to quickly install standard or bespoke hydraulic wet kits when selling either new or second hand tractor units.
With more storage space, the Downham Market site is also looking to further expand parts sales, with everyday high demand and fast moving items now held in stock. Other items can come overnight from HARSH’s HQ outside York.
In taking on this new facility, we wanted everything to be done properly right from the start. It’s also essential to provide the best possible working environment for our employees, and I’m happy to say that the entire team we had in Peterborough has moved over here.
General Manager, HARSH, Downham Market
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