By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.
Accept
routeonerouteonerouteone
  • News
    • Show all
    • Awards & Events
    • Deliveries
    • Environment
    • Exhibitor News
    • Euro Bus Expo 2024
    • Features
    • Legal
    • Minibus and minicoach
    • Operators
    • Opinion
    • People
    • Suppliers
    • Vehicles
  • Vehicles
    • Find a Vehicle
    • ZEV Comparison Tool
    • Sell a Vehicle
    • Vehicle Seller Dashboard
  • Insights
  • Careers
  • Events
    • British Tourism & Travel Show
    • Euro Bus Expo
    • Innovation Challenge
    • Livery Competition
    • routeone Awards
  • Advertise
  • Contact
    • Share your news
    • Subscribe
    • Update Subscription Details
  • Latest Issue
  • SIGN UP
Search
© 2024 routeone News. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Totalkare: Diversification and expansion at its heart
Share
Font ResizerAa
routeonerouteone
Font ResizerAa
Search
  • News
    • Show all
    • Awards & Events
    • Deliveries
    • Environment
    • Exhibitor News
    • Euro Bus Expo 2024
    • Features
    • Legal
    • Minibus and minicoach
    • Operators
    • Opinion
    • People
    • Suppliers
    • Vehicles
  • Vehicles
    • Find a Vehicle
    • ZEV Comparison Tool
    • Sell a Vehicle
    • Vehicle Seller Dashboard
  • Insights
  • Careers
  • Events
    • British Tourism & Travel Show
    • Euro Bus Expo
    • Innovation Challenge
    • Livery Competition
    • routeone Awards
  • Advertise
  • Contact
    • Share your news
    • Subscribe
    • Update Subscription Details
  • Latest Issue
  • SIGN UP
Follow US
© 2024 routeone News | Powered by Diversified Business Communications UK Ltd
- Advertisement -
-
routeone > Features > Totalkare: Diversification and expansion at its heart
FeaturesSuppliers

Totalkare: Diversification and expansion at its heart

Tim Deakin
Tim Deakin
Published: July 18, 2022
Share
Totalkare new premises in Kingswinford
SHARE

Totalkare has grown in recent years from being a supplier of vehicle lifts to one that is now active across multiple types of workshop equipment. That, combined with an ongoing strategy for growth, has seen the supplier treble its product sales in value terms and double its service-related turnover. 20 mobile technicians are now active in the latter area of its business and it also has a dedicated installation team.

Contents
Putting a brake on testing times with new rangeLifting: All bases still covered by TotalkareTotalkare now a growing and diversifying business

As the Totalkare range has grown to include brake and headlight testing equipment, pits, workshop furniture and others – and with more to come – so has a need for space. Totalkare now calls a combined office, workshop and warehouse building in Kingswinford home, and it is in the process of adding an additional floor of office accommodation.

The supplier lists quality service and products, a growing equipment line-up and strong relationships among reasons for its expansion. Changes within the coach and bus maintenance field have also been influential. The government’s super-deduction scheme to encourage investment has helped further, CEO David Hall notes.

“Our message has become that while we are still active across the vehicle lifting sphere, lifts are not all we do,” he continues. “That has taken effect and we are now viewed more as a workshop equipment supplier.”

Putting a brake on testing times with new range

Coach and bus businesses have shown strong interest in brake testing equipment, David notes. He refers to a brake tester as “a compliance product” in view of Traffic Commissioners’ placing of great emphasis on regular such testing, and the severity of regulatory action against an O-Licence that may follow if it is not heeded.

“We have seen lots of demand for brake testing products,” he continues. “Operators previously often used third parties, but it can be difficult to obtain appointments.” In-house brake testing “can also be a revenue opportunity.”

Totalkare CEO David Hall
Totalkare CEO David Hall: The West Midlands business is seeing strong demand from coach and bus operators in its brake testing equipment

Most coach and bus operators that have purchased brake testers from Totalkare have fleets of 20-50 vehicles.

Besides giving surety of availability, an in-house tester reduces planned vehicle downtime, costs and the business’s carbon footprint.

Wheels and tyres are a further area where Totalkare sees scope to grow. Wheel alignment is key to fuel efficiency and is an area where the supplier is already active. Mounting and dismounting tyres could become an area of wider interest owing to the health and safety implications of doing so manually. Totalkare now has products that carry out those tasks both automatically and much faster than doing so by hand.

Lifting: All bases still covered by Totalkare

Although Totalkare has expanded into new markets, its core vehicle lift range remains strong. In the coach and bus sector, column lifts are the favoured solution. Totalkare meets that requirement with its T8 range.

The T8AC runs directly from a three-phase plug-in supply, while the T8DC is battery powered and thus cable-free. Typically, around 40 sets of four columns are in stock at Kingswinford. Older models are present for repair or refurbishment or having been taken in part-exchange.

Something that Totalkare is keen to stress is the importance of using six columns for tri-axle vehicles. Using four and leaving the tag axle unsupported sees the counterweight effect of the heavy driveline result in a major loading imbalance. Besides accelerating wear on the columns supporting the drive wheels, such a practice can also damage vehicle airbags on that axle and is something that should be avoided.

Lifting platforms retain a following in coach and bus, and Totalkare has issued multiple quotes for them to the sector this year, including for a 13m galvanised example. An attraction of a platform lift is the ease and speed of its operation, while it is also easily moved to new premises if needed. Sales Director Adam Bowser describes it as “a pit in the sky.” An in-ground lift, which uses hydraulic columns, is due to market soon.

Totalkare now a growing and diversifying business

In line with its diversification, David observes that Totalkare’s market proposition is now about offering “a full package” of well-supported workshop equipment. The business has paid close attention to service, he continues; in addition to field engineers, the parts supply process has been overhauled to ensure that it is as efficient as possible. That includes automatic demand planning to ensure that items are available.

Totalkare site at Kingswinford
The Totalkare premises at Kingswinford have brought increased space for office accommodation, equipment held in stock, and for parts holding

Another move to strengthen service has been the appointment of two product specialists.

They work with lifting and testing, respectively, are involved with all aspects of the sale and operation process for their respective equipment streams, and are likely to be joined by others in the same role that will champion different areas of the business.

“We will continue to invest money to ensure that we are ready for the future,” David continues. “Our priority is to make sure that customers are happy with products and service. A lot of that comes through doing simple things: Answering the phone when it rings, having parts in stock and turning up when we say we will.”

A further example of Totalkare’s ‘full service’ approach is its project management capability when civil engineering work is required for equipment installation, while it has a strong and adaptable funding offer that includes contract hire and finance in addition to traditional purchase.

A service package can be incorporated into a monthly charge, of which repair and maintenance is popular among coach and bus operators. “Our one-stop approach is bringing us new customers and it is also allowing us to do more business with those that we have already,” David concludes.

Share This Article
Facebook LinkedIn Threads Email Copy Link
ByTim Deakin
Tim is Editor of routeone and has worked in both the coach and bus and haulage industries.
Previous Article Bus shelter design needs 'rethink', says report after survey BSOG reform in England: Why is it progressing so slowly?
Next Article The Big Lemon’s all-electric milestone
- Advertisement -

Latest News

Temsa HD12 and HD13 delivered to Cresta Coaches under Asset Alliance rental deal
Temsa pair join Cresta Coaches on Asset Alliance rental agreement
Deliveries
Go-Ahead London – Managing Director
Careers Jobs
andy burnham tfgm £15.6 billion (1) The funding announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves today (4 June) has been allocated to several combined mayoral authorities to use on rail, tram, road and bus infrastructure. Transport for Greater Manchester revealed today that part of the £2.5 billion it will receive will go towards making the Bee Network fully battery-electric by 2030. An as-yet undecided portion of that will support a planned investment in 1,000 new zero-emission buses over that period, the mayoral authority said. That is part of plans to build the UK's "first fully integrated, zero-emission public transport system", with trams and trains also set to benefit. Liverpool City Region's already announced BRT system is among the projects to which its £1.6 billion will be allocated. Under those plans - due for realisation by 2028 - a high-speed network will be served by articulated buses which are modelled on the 'Glider' in Belfast. It is due to link Liverpool city centre with John Lennon Airport, and Liverpool FC and Everton FC's respective stadia along three routes. Although the model of bus has not been confirmed, a Van Hool Exqui.City on loan from Belfast was last year used as a demonstrator. That 18m vehicle can accommodate around 30% more passengers than a typical bus and has three sets of double doors. The funding will also go towards buses elsewhere in the city as the region heads towards franchising services by 2027. Liverpool Mayor Steve Rotheram with a 'Glider' which was on loan from Belfast last year - an example of the sort of bus which could serve the new BRT Bus services in the East Midlands region will be boosted by the funding, thanks to the £2 billion handed to it today by the government. Some of that allocation will be used for a rapid transit network on the Trent Arc between Nottingham and Derby. Between the two cities, the Freeport, Infinity Park Investment Zone and Ratcliffe-on-Soar will also benefit from the improved bus services. South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority's newly announced commitment towards bus franchising has been boosted by £350 million in funding as part of that region's allocation. The funding for West Yorkshire will help build new bus stations in Bradford and Wakefield. Likewise, the Tees Valley Mayoral Authority will put its sum towards a new £15 million bus station in Middlesbrough. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander says: "Today marks a watershed moment on our journey to improving transport across the North and Midlands – opening up access to jobs, growing the economy and driving up quality of life as we deliver our Plan for Change. "For too long, people in the North and Midlands have been locked out of the investment they deserve. With £15.6bn of government investment, we’re giving local leaders the means to drive cities, towns and communities forward, investing in Britain’s renewal so you and your family are better off."
TfGM’s all-electric bus plan boosted by new £15.6 billion package
News
Local Transport Minister opens First Bus electric depot in Hengrove
Local Transport Minister opens First Bus electric depot in Hengrove
Bus
- Advertisement -
-

routeone magazine is the indispensable resource for professional UK coach, bus and minibus operators. The home of vehicle sales and the latest bus and coach job vacancies, routeone connects professional PCV operators with complete and unrivalled news coverage.

  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • GDPR Policy
  • Sustainability
  • Advertise
  • Latest Issue
  • Share Your News
routeonerouteone
Follow US
© 2024 routeone News | Powered by Diversified Business Communications UK Ltd