Kirkby Tyres continues expansion plans

Commercial, OTR, and agricultural tyre and wheel specialist moves ahead with second stage, having opened completed first stage in its 60^th year

In late 2018, Kirkby Tyres completed ‘stage one’ of its expansion plan for its Liverpool-based distribution facility. The wholesaler, which specialises in commercial, OTR and agricultural tyres, opened new state of the art warehousing facilities, with a gala opening which also marked the company’s 60^th anniversary celebrations. Following on from this landmark year, Kirkby has begun ‘stage two’ of its expansion plans. Once completed in 2020, the full expansion will bring its total covered tyre and wheel storage space to 250,000 square feet.

Kirkby has also expanded its management team, with new marketing manager Graeme Wilcock, who has B2B experience within the distribution sector now leading a growing team housed within a new dedicated marketing office space.

Growth in personnel has been matched by investments in technology. 2019 saw the beginning of an implementation process to upgrade the company’s computer systems in order to bring about further efficiencies in key business processes and systems. Kirkby states these improvements will aid improvements in customer service.  Kirkby told Tyrepress that it has decided to look for further improvements in our warehouse technology. Using existing Wi-fi enabled infrastructure it introduced a pick note system that has resulted in a quicker goods outwards and order fulfilment process, enabling it to further extend “cut off” time for its 24-hour, next-day delivery service in UK and Ireland.

Kirkby Tyres also continues to invest in the latest product technologies, holding over-77 IF and over-79 VF agricultural tyres. Stocking 78,000-plus tyres across more than 700 patterns, and around 1100 sizes, the wholesaler claims to stock one of the widest ranges of agricultural, industrial, OTR and TBR tyres and wheels, covering every application. Kirkby adds that it is “the largest and most comprehensive distributor of off-highway tyre and wheel solutions in the UK and Ireland.”

As well as servicing the replacement market, Kirkby’s Original Equipment (OE) division supplies agricultural, industrial and TBR tyre and wheel assemblies to key blue chip manufacturing companies and smaller trailer manufacturers throughout the UK and Ireland. The division includes experienced and knowledgeable sales staff and engineers, and its on–site manufacturing and shot blasting facilities, paint booths, and fitting equipment, it offers bespoke wheel manufacturing and a complete solution to customers requiring just in time (JIT) deliveries of TBR and agricultural product.