Adlington’s half-century
25 August 2022
Adlington is the newly adopted group branding for Adlington Welding Supplies which this year is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary. The new identity better reflects the diversity of the organisation, which now encompasses the hire and sale of welding and power generation equipment, and is also exploring additional activities.
The business was founded in 1972 by engineer Bill Turner and his wife Pauline to sell welding equipment, initially being based in the garage of his home in Adlington near Chorley.
“Hire started after I formally joined the business in the early 1980s,” says Bill’s son Nigel, who is currently managing director. “Someone asked us if they could hire a welding machine on a long-term basis, then they hired another and it grew from there.” Eventually the business was handed down to Nigel Turner, his brother Howard and Mark Hunt as Bill and Pauline stepped back.
The operation expanded and more depots were opened. Adlington currently has six locations, including the Chorley headquarters, which has had to relocate to bigger premises twice and is now on a business park, its base since 1999. The other depots are in Billingham, Scunthorpe, Luton, Pembroke and Falkirk, giving national coverage.
The business was acquired in 2013 by CorpAcq, a corporate acquisitions specialist whose interests also include Campbell Plant Hire, Filtermech Plant Sales, Hessle Fork Trucks and Metcalfe Plant Hire, amongst others. It also once owned another power generation equipment hirer, Mather & Stuart, which it bought in 2009 and sold in 2016.
A particular highlight in the company’s history came in 2010, when Princess Anne visited it (pictured below).
Power generation hire and sales has grown steadily over the years and a separate Power division was established three years ago. Several appointments have been made to develop this activity, including generation hire director Gareth Macdonald who is now the group sales director.
Gary Clements joined as a director of Adlington in 2020. He has held various senior posts with 30 years’ experience under his belt. Gary will become managing director of Adlington next year as Nigel Turner steps back.
The generator fleet currently includes nearly 700 machines ranging from 6kVA to 250kVA and the larger models can be synchronised. Major markets include construction, events, offshore and other activities.
Key generator brands include Himoinsa, Atlas Copco and Pramac. Diesel welders include ArcGen and Shindaiwa machines, with specialist Mig and Tig sets typically sourced from Miller and Lincoln Electric.
“We’ll supply whatever equipment is needed and demand is growing even more given the pressures on the grid,” Nigel told me.
“During the pandemic, business boomed because of the extra demand for socially distanced site welfare facilities and accommodation that all required power.”
Adlington is set to grow. The business recently established a lifting equipment activity offering items like chain blocks and slings. It is also actively taking steps to reduce its carbon footprint. All directors and depot managers will switch to fully electric vehicles by early next year and measures are being introduced at the company’s buildings to increase environmental efficiency as it embarks on the next 50 years.
The power generation operation this year became the first hirer in the UK to add machines made by Himoinsa running on LPG. Gary Clements and Gareth Macdonald are very enthusiastic about these models which are delivering impressive results. More on that soon…
