COMLINE WAREHOUSE EXTENSION SIGNALS LONG TERM LOCAL INVESTMENT, EUROPEAN GROWTH AND BUSINESS EXPANSION FOR LUTON BASED AUTO PARTS COMPANY

Luton, UK, 17th February 2010 – Comline, leading parts supplier for European, Japanese and Korean cars and vans, is celebrating the culmination of a £200,000 investment plan with the opening of a warehouse extension. This extension will add an extra 20,000 square feet of space and create ten new jobs. Euro MP, Richard Howitt, officially opened the warehouse extension on 12th February.

Comline’s marketing director, Malcolm Rosher, commented: “Expanding our warehousing facility like this is really great news for Comline. At a time when the wider automotive industry is being hardest hit, the fact that our business is thriving both in the UK and across Europe is true testament to the hard work put in by our whole team. The 70,000 sq ft of space that we now have will allow us to bring to fruition some exciting development plans and introduce new product lines. Wiper blades have just been launched and proving a great success.

“Our business is growing, our customer base is expanding and by signing up to ten year leases on our new warehousing facility, we are sending out the clearest message yet that Comline is gaining in strength and is rapidly becoming a force to be reckoned with in the European Aftermarket.”

The £200,000 investment has bought the company new high spec, floor to ceiling racking for pallet storage, new industrial vehicles such as forklift and electric pallet trucks and new alarm and CCTV systems.

The company has seen rapid expansion and significant business growth since it transferred its Headquarters in 2005 from Wembley. Space occupied has risen from 8,000 sq ft to 70,000 sq ft, employee numbers have grown from 20 to 50 and turnover has increased from £4.6 million in 2005 to £12 million in 2009.

Comline are gearing to double sales again within the next few years.

At the official opening, Euro MP, Richard Howitt, said: “This investment will keep Comline growing in Luton for at least the next ten years. The company’s growth will see half of all income coming from trade with Europe in the next three years. At a difficult time for the automotive industry, it is good news that some companies are able to expand and take on new workers.”

This new range from Comline includes a complete range of OE style metal harness blades including standard single blades and vehicle specific twin packs. In addition the company is also launching a range of direct fit blades incorporating the latest flat blade technology, both as direct replacement or retro fit, as well as curved blades, rear blades and refills.  All Comline blades, including the new flat blades feature pre-fitted universal clips for ease of installation and are packed in environmentally friendly recyclable cardboard packaging.

The Comline range has some 124 part numbers, which carries TÜV approval, and as well as offering a complete range of OE style replacement blades, including both standard blades, spoiler blades and curved style blades, the latest generation of flat blades includes up-to-date applications for the new Ford Kuga and Fiesta, BMW X6, Mercedes CLC, Citroen C3 and Berlingo, as well as Volvo’s new XC60 amongst others.  In addition, a range of retro fit flat blades allows the drivers of older vehicles to upgrade to the latest technology and benefit from the improved screen contact and wiping performance that flat blades allow.  We are able to provide our distributors with the most up-to-date catalogue in the market, which as well as the latest application data, also includes detailed drawings of adapters and fitting guides.

The UK range is already available from Comline and this will be followed by a left-hand drive range for European distributors in February 2010.  For further information contact the Sales Team on 01582 578888

Comline on TecDoc!

From October 1st Comline go live on TecDoc.

Distributors and installers right across Europe will be able to view the entire Comline Catalogue on the class leader TecDoc Catalogue status.

This represents another major achievement in our growth and development plans.