Aycliffe Today Business Aycliffe Today Business Issue 43 | страница 23

The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 23
Employees from Stiller Warehousing and
Distribution, who help Newcastle firm
Hobbyweld move gas cylinders to people
around the UK.
L
By Martin Walker
Stiller is cooking on gas
with Hazchem freight deal
ogistics firm Stiller Warehousing and
Distribution is already reaping the
rewards of becoming the North-East
distributor of a hazardous freight
network.
The Newton Aycliffe firm has already won
more than £100,000-worth of new contracts
after becoming the regional member of
Hazchem less than a year ago.
Stiller can now transport hazardous
products around the UK and Europe after it
teamed up with established national network
Hazchem, which has 60 members around the
UK, Ireland and in 28 European countries.
Hazchem is similar to a standard pallet
and parcel network but specialises in the
movement of hazardous packaged goods,
liquids or difficult-to-handle products.
One local firm already benefiting from
Stiller’s Hazchem link-up is Newcastle-
based Hobbyweld, which supplies rent-free
industrial gas cylinders.
Stiller co-ordinates daily collections and
deliveries for Hobbyweld, using its state-of-
the-art online booking system and dedicated
customer services team, based at its
purpose-built premises on Aycliffe Business
Park.
Hobbyweld’s products include a small but
comprehensive range of welding and cutting
gases which are supplied in a high-quality,
easy-to-handle package. These cylinders are
supplied to the end user via a network of
independent retail outlets around the UK and
Republic of Ireland.
All Hobbyweld products are refilled at
their industrial gas plant in Westerhope,
Newcastle, before they’re distributed to their
network of stockists by Stiller, who collect
and deliver to all regions of the UK, including
remote locations.
Stiller commercial manager Lizzie Brophy
said: “We’re delighted to be working with
Hobbyweld and helping them to improve
their services to customers.
“Joining the Hazchem network in April
2019 opened up new avenues for us to
explore and having direct access to the
Hazchem network has proved a real game-
changer for the business.”
Paul Robson, general manager for
Hobbyweld, said: “Typically, industrial gas is
supplied on a rental model, where an end
user would pay a monthly or annual charge to
use a gas cylinder.
“While this method is both convenient
and cost effective for business users, the
low volume user may find this monthly
expenditure and complexity unwarranted.
“The only other alternative for a low
volume user historically was to use
disposable gas cartridges. In addition to
being larger and generally better value than
disposables, our gas cylinders are re-usable
and offer the user a greener option to these
“throw-away” style products.
“Stiller collects and returns empty
canisters to be refilled for another sale. Once
a customer has a need for a refill, they would
simply return to their local outlet and swap
their empty cylinder for a full one.
“The fact that end users receive a
professional quality product without a rental
charge is the primary reason our business
continues to grow.
“Typical low volume users include classic
car and motorcycle enthusiasts who use the
gas primarily for restoration, as well as small
agricultural holdings, metal sculptors and
artists.”
Hobbyweld has been working with Stiller
now for several months, and Mr Robson
added: “The relationship with Stiller had to
be developed quickly.
“Stiller offered a professional, well-tailored
solution for us – and it was very quickly
evident that they had many innovative tools
to help the new relationship. Their online
booking system was particularly beneficial
to our Hobbyweld team and brought some
immediate efficiency to that part of the
process.”
Stiller last year opened a new £2m
freight distribution centre at its 22-acre
site in the heart of Aycliffe Business Park
and also converted its former logistics
centre into a new 50,000 sq ft warehouse
to accommodate 6,000 pallets, taking the
company’s total investment in property,
facilities and people to £11m in the last four
years.
Formed in 1954, Stiller provides cost-
effective warehousing and distribution
services to businesses in the North-East
region as well as commercial property
lettings and is also a member and major
shareholder in Palletline, a national co-
operative network of 70 companies
specialising in overnight palletised freight
distribution.
More about Stiller can be found at stiller.co.uk