Hudson Kapel trebles vehicle refurbishment capacity
Hudson Kapel has invested £3.5m in technology and staff to treble its vehicle refurbishment capacity.
The company has expanded its operations at Throckmorton, Thurleigh and Norton, hiring 50 new technicians, including panel beaters, mechanics, painters, and yard staff, to meet growing demand.
With updated systems now in place, vehicles can be repaired, imaged and sold from a single site, reducing delays and cutting the time between refurbishment and auction.
Digital auction tools and 360-degree imaging technology have been installed to streamline vehicle processing and improve accuracy, while the upgraded workshops follow a production-style layout, with dedicated zones for body and paint, inspection, and quality control.
Each stage, from mechanical checks and SMART repairs to full panel and paintwork, is handled in clearly defined bays, while technicians use handheld devices to record defects and monitor progress, supported by a workshop management system that helps coordinate tasks efficiently.
Further, new green rooms have been introduced to speed up preparation and inspection, and a purpose-built wheel refurbishment facility is under development to meet rising demand.
Simon Withey, director at Hudson Kapel, said:
“Our investment is focused on using innovation to offer smarter solutions and greater efficiency. We’re growing the business to deliver the scale and flexibility that manufacturers and fleets need. With the latest technology, we’ve created an integrated process that improves productivity at every stage.”
