N E WS
Teamwork – Doornbos UK depot manager Steve
Buxton with his team at the firm’s Billingham premises.
POWERING
ON
W
ith a multi-million-pound
turnover and a client
list that boasts some
of Teesside’s biggest
industrial players, you might think the
team at Doornbos would want to rest
on their laurels. But think again.
For one thing, the Billingham-based
firm does, and does well, is continually
drive forward to stay ahead of the
markets it serves.
If you haven’t yet come across the
name, you’ll be in for a surprise when
you realise its reach from a base on
Billingham’s Cowpen Lane Industrial
Estate.
Dutch-owned, the UK arm is
celebrating 20 years serving clients in
industries all over the country – and
further afield.
Led by UK depot manager and
Normanby lad Steve Buxton, Doornbos
specialises in the rental and sales of
high-pressure water jetting and vacuum
equipment, servicing and repair and
product and safety training.
24/7 expert advice is guaranteed
and comes with pride in the job that
allows clients like industrial plant
building company Altrad and waste
services firm Veolia to get on with their
jobs safely, efficiently and quickly.
The company is on the threshold of
expansion and has launched into 2020
by investing £4m in new equipment,
taking on three new apprentices and
signing a contract to become the
UK and Ireland dealer for WOMA,
WORDS: JOANNE BARRETT
PICTURES: TOM BANKS
Billingham business set for growth as
it celebrates its 20th year in the UK
a German firm which specialises in
manufacturing ultra-high pressure
water jetting equipment.
Doornbos is a fourth-generation and
family-owned business, which started
out as a fruit and veg haulier in Holland
more than 80 years ago. They then
branched out into transporting access
machinery – equipment such as forklifts
and cherry pickers – before opening a
branch in the UK and moving into water
jetting and vacuum equipment.
Teesside’s industrial heritage
brought the Doornbos brand to
the North-East where Steve was
approached to build and run the UK
business.
“We’ve moved from a cabin at
Dawson’s Wharf to Portrack and came
here to Cowpen Lane Industrial Estate
seven years ago – we’ve outgrown
everywhere we have been. Our next
step is to move again and purpose-
build a depot to serve the business,”
says Steve.
The company is home to 18 staff
including specialist engineers, an admin
team and apprentices. Primarily rental,
Doornbos provides all manner of
equipment to clients – many of whom
work on shutdown and maintenance
projects at large-scale industrial plants.
“Around 80% of our work is
industrial, supplying the machines for
shutdown periods at the likes of SABIC
and Suez plants,” explains Steve.
“We have a lot of equipment and
there’s always new kit coming through
which people expect us to have. No
day is the same – one of the strengths
of our business is that we can turn
things around quickly, safely and
efficiently for clients.”
The next step, he says, is a likely
branch into access machines and plans
are also in the pipeline to open a base
in the London area.
Big-hearted, the Teesside company
also prides itself on its local roots –
giving back to local charities such as
Zoë’s Place Baby Hospice and the
Great North Air Ambulance. They have
also proudly sponsored Guisborough
Rugby Club under-nines team this year.
Employing local apprentices has also
been key.
“One of the things we are most
proud of is giving local people
opportunities and jobs, and people
tend to stay with us,” adds Steve.
“You can’t send someone to college
to learn what we do, so we teach
them ourselves. We’re all local and
we always try to put something back.
We work hard and pride ourselves on
doing a good job.”
Subject to the Covid-19 situation, Doornbos will hold open days at its Billingham
plant on June 24 and 25, offering the opportunity for businesses and local people
to find out more about the company. All welcome.
The voice of business in the Tees region | 31