Motorway maintenance firm Blakedale has invested in its Chorley HQ to increase traffic management vehicle build, service and repair capacity.
A year-long investment at the site is now complete which enables the firm to increase its Impact Protection Vehicle (IPV) production and traffic management vehicle service and repair capacity.
Capacity has increased from two to eight IPVs per month thanks to expanding to four vehicle build bays plus taking on additional repair facility, building a dedicated parts store and installing a new HGV inspection pit and vehicle lifts.
This expansion coincides with Blakedale’s growing order bank of over 150 vehicles which range from 3.5-tonne traffic management spec dropsides and LP13 vehicles to 18-tonne IPVs.
To coincide with this investment in Chorley it has grown its bodybuilder network to five partners as it expands the number and type of vehicles it can build, service and repair.
The expansion also provides Blakedale with servicing and repair capacity to support third party fleets with crash cushion inspection, maintenance & repair and other specialist vehicle repairs.
Expansion at Chorley has also enabled Blakedale to set up a dedicated area to assemble the 10,000 road marker posts that include snow poles and bollards that it produces on behalf of local authorities and highways construction companies nationally each year.
Blakedale MD Jon Taylor has begun a search for a southern HQ to grow its traffic management vehicle build, service and repair capabilities.
“The investment in Chorley will help increase capacity across all areas – from new vehicle production to vehicle servicing and repair.
"The increased production space also means we have been able to improve workflow and processes which will lead to further efficiencies across all areas of the business,” explained Jon Taylor, Blakedale’s MD.
“We have a strong order book in place, and we are well placed to help support the industry with a one stop shop for specialist vehicles, products and repairs.
"In 2025 we will also turn our attention to growing our footprint in the south where we already have several customers,” he added.