Totalkare: From vehicle lifts to pits, and everything in-between
Six years ago, Totalkare was solely a supplier of column lifts to commercial vehicle workshops. But strong and ongoing growth ever since has turned it into a one-stop shop that can fully fit out those premises with garage equipment through the addition of multiple other lines to its range.
Upscaling of product and market reach has come via a combination of expanded relationships with supplier partners, and acquisition of other businesses. Of late, Totalkare’s parent has bought both Bradmac and Tecnik Engineering.
Bradmac is a trade-only outlet for much the same range of products retailed by Totalkare. Tecnik, meanwhile, is a pit fabricator. After purchase, it moved from Hereford to the same Black Country estate that houses Totalkare. Significant growth has followed for Tecnik, which retains its ability to undertake highly specialised work. While Totalkare built its name on lifts, bringing a pit manufacturer into the fold was a logical move, says Marketing Manager Steve Braund.
“Offering both gives us a competitive edge,” he explains. “Customers still buy pits and lifts together; around 70% of orders for pits are from clients that already use our other products. In addition, with us regularly selling equipment commonly combined with a pit, such as in-ground brake testers, shaker plates or pit jacks, adding pits to the product mix made commercial sense.”
Growth beyond vehicle lifts rapid for Totalkare
Pits are now a key part of Totalkare’s range via an approach that it employed previously when adding products. Those other existing lines include brake testers, headlight beam calibrators, tyre changing equipment, and wheel aligners. The latter are units that the business believes can significantly benefit operators, with CEO David Hall noting that for the right size of fleet and commercial garages, “there is no better investment than a wheel aligner.”
“There are big operational savings to be had if wheel alignment is taken seriously,” he continues. “A properly aligned wheel minimises fuel or energy consumption and CO2 emissions and maximises tyre life.”
Totalkare offers wheel aligners that can align all axles, including drives and steered tag units. Some in its catalogue can assess the need for action via a drive-through check, while the checking of tyre pressures can be a complementary process.
“Operators and garages are starting to take up wheel alignment, but it is about education,” adds Sales and Marketing Director Adam Bowser. Products in the wheel alignment field are supplied in partnership with manufacturer Hunter Engineering Company, a business that delivers what he says is “excellent” customer support.
Wheel service an increasing area of focus
“Wheel service is a good area of future growth,” Adam continues. Tyre changing equipment sold by Totalkare is not from Hunter, but instead comes from an established partner. “We value long-term relationships, and we find that customers want to purchase from as few suppliers as possible, although that does not mean we are reactive; instead, we pride ourselves on being proactive on new products.”
The latter puts Totalkare in a position where it is growing what it sells to existing customers, in addition to bringing new clients onboard. Reconditioned column lifts are still a key part of the business, and it is now starting to refurbish and resell brake testers.
Supply of column lifts remains the biggest component of its business despite expansion with other product lines. Growth has not been limited to the equipment catalogue, however. Staff numbers are now well over 100, with a focus in that area on supporting new products and “buying in knowledge,” as David describes it.
Expanded similarly is the amount of stock held in the West Midlands. “We have created a market that requires equipment and service quickly, and we want customers to think that way,” says David. “It works well for us, but it means that we have had to increase our stockholding. The value of products on the shelf has doubled in recent years and the amount of transport into and out of our warehouse has grown significantly.”
Some things remain constant for Totalkare
Most of the Totalkare product range is available from stock, including scissor lifts. Two items – pits and flush-floor central pillar lifts – are made to order, although Tecnik has increased its output three-fold since purchase and so pit availability has risen substantially.
Are further acquisitions on the agenda? Not in the foreseeable future, says Adam. Efforts are focused on consolidating Bradmac and Tecnic into the established business and growing what is done already.
That includes workshop fit out and the supply of pits on a standalone basis, and ongoing refinement of existing products. Smaller add-ons – such as floor paint and similar – are always of interest and further product range additions are not ruled out.
Maintaining the same business ethos that was there when Totalkare was solely a column lift supplier is also a priority. “Even as we have grown, our approach to customers is that we are a friendly bunch and easy to do business with,” says David. “We are focused on retaining our customer centric culture and being a great place to work. I want customers to hear the genuine smiles on the faces of our team.”
Temsa Sales UK expects further growth as 150th coach delivered
The Temsa Sales UK dealership expects further growth after recently delivering its 150th new coach from the Turkish manufacturer in little more than two years, Director Andy Garratt has said.
His comments follow the decision by him and fellow Director Kevin Procter to sell four coach operating businesses to the Go-Ahead Group. They continue to jointly own the Travel Caledonian coach holiday undertaking, but Andy says that the recent deal with Go-Ahead will allow more time to be devoted to expanding Temsa Sales UK.
The 150th new vehicle registered by the dealer is a HD12 (pictured, above) handed over to Your Coach Hire of Berkshire. The milestone sits against the business having supplied its first coaches in 2022. Temsa deliveries will continue throughout 2024 and there is already what Mr Garratt calls “a large quantity” of orders in place for 2025.
Further stock examples of the MD9 midi and the full-size HD12 and HD13 are due this year. “We want to be in a position where we can always offer stock,” says Andy. “Not overstocked, but where we are able to satisfy customers’ needs."
The other vehicle focus for Temsa Sales UK rests on it hope to introduce a high-capacity coach. Details of that potential model are still to be confirmed but it is expected to be a lower-height example with 3+2 seating to give a capacity of 70 or more.
On growth of the dealership so far, Andy says that parts and service support has been as important as vehicle availability. “We put our heads on the block and ordered a large stock of parts from the beginning,” he notes. Those components extend to some other marques in addition to Temsa
“We have learned more about parts requirements and lines that move quickly, which has led us to increase levels where necessary. We are also looking to expand out staff number, including service engineers.
“Kevin and I have both long been operators, so we understand the need for service and parts. Recently we received a call on a Sunday after a customer’s coach was damaged. On Monday morning the necessary items were pulled together and dispatched to the operator that day.”
In addition to interests in Temsa Sales UK and Travel Caledonian, Kevin has retained his Procters Coach and Bus Sales business. It will continue to be overseen by Joe Cunningham.
Temsa Sales UK expects to receive “a good amount of used stock” arriving over the coming months and Mr Garratt advises that he and Kevin are always interested in speaking with operators that are looking to sell vehicles.
Gas-fuelled Scania Touring coach would be sold in UK if required
Scania would offer the Touring coach with a liquid biogas/liquid natural gas (LBG/LNG) powertrain in right-hand drive format for the UK market if that new variant was sought by a customer here, it has confirmed.
The manufacturer already has strong experience with biogas in bus applications. The Touring variant can run on either LBG or LNG or a mix of the two and it represents what the manufacturer says is “a circular and economically viable solution for sustainable long-distance transport.”
In that segment, the gas-fuelled Touring complements a Scania Irizar i6S Efficient LBG/LNG that was presented at Busworld Brussels in 2023, and a Scania Beulas double-decker.
Head of Product Management, People Transport Solutions, Carl-Johan Lööf describes use of LBG/LNG in a coach application as improving sustainability “without a massive investment or negative impact on operations.” He adds that gas gives equivalent power and torque to diesel.
The gas-fuelled Touring delivers a claimed range of more than 1,000km with standard tanks. It is powered by a 13-litre OC13 engine developing 410bhp and 2,000Nm of torque. Mr Lööf adds that gas power reduces noise levels and operating costs.
Biogas is fossil-free and renewable that reduces well-to-wheel CO2 emissions by up to 90% when compared diesel. Technology developments in recent years have allowed the gas to be cooled and transformed into an energy-dense liquid, which Scania says offers a more viable solution for long-distance transport.
Sustainable Transport Business Manager Jonas Strömberg adds: “These solutions are truly circular, and I would say that our 13-litre gas powertrain is the most sustainable and viable option on the market for long-distance operators.
“It is better for the environment, quiet, smart, and perhaps most important, available here and now, allowing long-distance operators to take a huge step towards sustainable transport.” The manufacturer adds that all its gas engines can run on the fuel in liquefied and compressed forms.