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Nortech Services Ltd, is one of the clearest examples available of just what a local independent tool company can achieve. A visit to The Toolstore, Nortech’s outlet in Hull reveals a company that delivers superb customer service, a fantastic range of products and, above all, total dedication to every aspect of its business.
The company was founded in 1983 by Tony and Beryl Cosgrove, Tony had worked for the largest tool company in Humberside as an admin director, but the recession of the early eighties caused that business to fail. However, Tony’s skill and knowledge didn’t go to waste, after a few months working for the receivers, he was approached by a local businessman who suggested starting up a new enterprise.
The first premises the company occupied, back in 1983, were modest, a portacabin ‘with the front knocked out’. Beryl soon joined the business and was kept busy answering the phone, while Tony went out knocking on doors, showing the determination to develop new business that has seen the company grow to what is today.
When the company had been operating for six months Nortech was able to move into new premises, a local shop. In 1984 it expanded even further by taking over another shop to use as a repair workshop. Still the company kept growing and its continued success led to another move, in 1987, this time taking over half an industrial unit. In 1988 the business partner was bought out and the company acquired another building.
It is clear from this rapid growth Tony and Beryl know the secret of a successful business. Following this formula for success, the company kept growing, moving into its current premises in 1998. It will come as no surprise that an important part of Nortech’s winning strategy is membership of THS which it joined in 1990 and Tony became a THS director in 1997.
Nortech not only stocks, hires and repairs all types of tools and related products but also takes pride in its claim that it can supply any product the customer needs. This approach in part explains why the company has such a wide and useful range available. With drills, abrasives, hydraulic gear, storage and containers, ladders, handtools and powertools, drills and bits, plumbing supplies and, of course, work clothes and all the other useful accessories needed to go with any of these tools the range at Nortech truly is one of the most comprehensive available.
Some of the product groups on offer from Nortech include:
Abrasives & Grinding Wheels
Nortech offers a wide range of abrasive products such as abrasive wheels, belts, discs, flap wheels, professional finishing and polishing products.
Cutting Tools
From world leading manufacturers, the widest range of cutting tools for almost every application; drills, milling cutters taps and dies, hole and band saws, blades, circular saws and reamers. G&J Hall are strongly featured products with Nortech.
Fixings, Fastenings Adhesives and Sealants
From the humble woodscrew to the latest anchoring systems, Nortech offer leading brands of fixings and fastenings for all industries. Harrison and Clough is a leading supplier in this area. For stapling solutions their stocks include ranges from Tacwise and Rapid.
Hand Tools and Fasteners
Nortech offer the finest quality hand tools at
competitive prices; screwdrivers, pliers, brushes and
garden products, gauges, hammers and levels, spanners,
sockets and ratchet accessories, wrenches and tool
storage, are a just few examples on offer from CKI,
Draper, Footprint, Wera, Teng/Toolstars, Toolbank and
Harrison and Clough and King Dick.
Machine tools and accessories
The machine tool section offers a full range of cutting tools and work holding solutions from UDCE together with grinding machines, vices and presses, plus a full range of accessories from Draper.
Pressure Washers
Nortech supply and stock pressure washing products from leading supplier Karcher.
Measuring Equipment
The world’s leading makes of measuring equipment are available from vernier calipers and dividers to micrometers and combination sets; gauges, levels and squares to tapes and rules and lasers.
Power Tools and Accessories
These include the highest quality power tools available including power drills, grinders, saws, nailers and staplers, planers, sanders, together with all the accessories from Makita, Hitachi, Fein, Jo-el, Metabo, Ryobi, SIP and Black and Decker. Routing specialists Trend as well as diamond blade specialists Sankyo are also well represented on the shelves of Nortech
Safety & Security Products
Safety and security considerations are of a high priority for many companies, Nortech is geared up with safety products such as protective clothing and equipment, footwear, head and eye protection with lighting solutions provided by Jo-el.
Welding Consumables
Nortech also supplies everything for the welder; from the welding equipment to fire blankets, electrodes, accessories and consumables.
Nortech is not just about sales, with a busy workshop making sure the company’s diverse range of hire equipment is kept in top condition and ready for work. The range available for hire covers everything from electric, petrol and diesel equipment, hydraulic and air tools as well as cordless equipment, so it is no surprise the Nortech workshop team is one of the best in the business.
Heaters running on both butane and propane gas are popular items for hire during the colder months, and these have been an established item in the hire range for years. More recently Nortech had the foresight to invest in a range of air conditioning units, which initially helped them to maintain business, balancing the seasonal nature of the heater range. With the hot summers that have become a fixture of the last few years air conditioning has proved even more popular than the company had imagined and now they carry an comprehensive range with plenty of units to meet customer requirements and demand.
Although professional users constitute a large portion of Nortech’s toolhire customer base it also has a large number of private customers. Products that are particularly popular with non-professionals are gardening products and, not surprisingly, DIY equipment. The horticultural range includes plenty of heavy duty lawncare and landscaping items - including turf lifters and rotavators - and plenty more products to meet the needs of home improvers -floor sanders, wallpaper strippers and compactors and block splitters, and of course a full range of access equipment. In fact if you can name a DIY tool Nortech probably has it.
It comes as no surprise that an important factor in Nortech’s success is attention to detail. All its hire equipment is tested to ensure it meets the highest safety standards and all the company’s staff are highly trained so customers, be they trade or private, hire or retail, can have the confidence of knowing they are being served by people able to give them the most accurate and helpful advice possible. All this can be summed up in the company’s own catchy words: “If you want to make it or mend it/Break it or bend it/Buy it or rent it today/For Service, Free Advice/And tools at the right price/Come to Nortech/We’re on Drypool Way.
Perhaps this attention to detail and keen focus on the needs of the customer are a result of the family run nature of Nortech, as well as having founders Tony and Beryl Cosgrove at the helm, their daughter Angela joined the company ten years ago, and their son in law Gary runs the workshop. This would also account for the strong team dynamic of the company, which manifests itself in the obvious pride the staff take in their work.
Nortech’s involvement in THS is, perhaps, also a reflection of this team approach, certainly Tony believes that belonging to the group has been essential: “A lot of the members work well together to help each other achieve local success. As a company we wouldn’t be where we are today without THS.”
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Airstream Communications