Auto Solutions 2000 plans for future start with yard redevelopment
When thinking about a vehicle dismantler’s yard, most people imagine a filthy, chaotic space with mountains of semi-dismantled cars piled on top of each other and random car parts scattered around on the ground. Rightfully so, such an image may be historically accurate since that was the reality some decades ago, but the scene has most certainly changed.
The brand-new world: motivation for change
First, there are tight regulations imposed by the government. Vehicle dismantlers must ensure that they adhere to Health and Safety regulations. Given the size and weight of the stocked vehicles, an unorganised yard fosters accidents and, potentially, legal implications and fines.
Furthermore, the strictest regulations relate to the environmental impact; every yard must be registered with authorised treatment facility (ATF) and perform work in manner that prevents hazardous substances from entering the soil or causing damage in any other way1.
However, the shifting approach to vehicle dismantling operations is not solely based on legal considerations. Every vehicle recycling facility is a business, and the majority understand the importance of keeping up with the times and improving the way they operate in order to maximise their share of the market, which is worth over £1.4 billion in the UK in 2023 alone, with a predicted growth rate of 5.2% over the next six years2.
While the lion share of the turnover may go to the large, multi-site organisations, small and medium size dismantlers are also stepping up to ensure that they do not fall behind due to operational insufficiencies or lack of organisation.
Ambitious Growth Plans for Auto Solutions 2000
Auto Solutions 2000, an East Midlands based car dismantler with over 30 years of experience in the trade, is a prime example of a forward-thinking organisation that has evaluated all factors of a successful growth strategy and is raising the company’s profile through continuous improvements.
Over the past few years, the company has made significant investments in modernising its facilities to ensure both streamlined operations and, as advocates of sustainable practice, compliance with their ATF registration to prevent any damage to the environment.
Tony Patsides, General Manager at Auto Solutions, comments:
“Environmental sustainability remains a core focus, and we aim to increase our recycling rate beyond the current 95%. By further expanding our online store and exploring innovative recycling partnerships, we strive to achieve near-total recycling of vehicle parts, minimising landfill contributions.”
In addition to selling their goods online through a third-party platform, Auto Solutions, like many other car dismantlers, is also developing a parts shop as part of their rapid expansion plan.
Yard transformation to enable business growth
More sales equate to more stock to process. Auto Solutions made the decision to use racking to increase the vertical capacity of their yard to accommodate the increasing number of vehicles.
This decision was driven by more than just space considerations. Storing vehicles on steel racking provides additional benefits, including easy access to selective cars, as well as less damage to exterior vehicle parts, which can occur when stock is kept on the floor of a busy yard. Furthermore, organised storage allows yard operators to speed up handling, which helps company save the valuable operational time.
When searching for a reliable racking supplier, Auto Solutions approached Wickens, a leading industrial racking supplier in the UK that has designed, manufactured and installed numerous car racks across the country over the past 40 years.
Dave Wheatley, Sales Director at Wickens, explained:
“Throughout our time in the industry, we have seen how car racks can transform dismantling business, but there are important considerations to take into account during the planning stage.”
He continued, “It is important that the racking systems are structurally suitable for the heavy load, there is enough space to manoeuvre the forklift and that the end result is as per customer’s expectations; at Wickens, we ensure that the project management is taken care off from the initial site survey to manufacture and installation.”
Tony confirmed that yard redevelopment has had a significant impact on the business operations and commented:
“Not only does the racking enhance the look of the yard, but we now store 224 vehicles in a space previously occupied by approx. 80 vehicles. Thanks to the racking system, we now have a vehicle location system which makes the job more efficient, productive and reduces damage so more parts can be added to our inventory.”
