Heathline Commercials Limited drives on with £500,000 workshop investment

A commercial vehicle servicing and repair firm has strengthened operations with a £500,000 investment.

Heathline Commercials Limited has opened a new service and repair centre.

Bosses say the 6000sq ft unit on Cramlington’s Bolam Business Park has significantly improved the company’s facilities and services while ensuring vehicles remain on the road during the COVID-19 emergency.

The business – whose nine staff manage servicing and repairs for individual owner drivers right up to medium-sized commercial fleets – had intended to hold a grand opening to mark completion of the five-month project.

However, due to social distancing measures around coronavirus, it opened the doors without fanfare and got down to work.

Specialising in the servicing of commercial vehicles, MOT preparation and inspections to DVSA standard, it is also one of the North East’s leading centres for tachograph repairs and calibration.

As well as a dedicated paint bay and two modern workshop inspection pits, the building has been fitted with an authorised testing facility in anticipation of future plans to become an MOT centre.

Heathline – which is a sister company to Moody Logistics and Storage – also offers breakdown services, minor body repairs and carries an extensive range of spares for all makes of truck, trailer, bus, van and horsebox.

Gavin Cape, engineering director, said: “We were all looking forward to officially opening this modern building and showing it off to our many customers, but delays meant the completion date ended up coinciding with the coronavirus lockdown.

“We serve a number of businesses running commercial vehicles across Northumberland and Tyneside, so any further delay was not an option and we needed to open to ensure these essential vehicles remain on the road.

“Our staff are obviously following safe working practices and our customers know we are open, and business is growing.

“It may not be what we planned, but like a lot of businesses we are just getting on with things.”