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Exciting Year for CLS Dual Fuel

By John Aarts, sales support, Vialle Alternative Fuel Systems BV

CLS Dual Fuel believes it now has the premier national network of Approved Installers in the UK.

A lot has changed for CLS Dual Fuel Ltd in the last 18 months.

The company, a BRC autogas conversion equipment importer and distributor, has been operating from its purpose built facilities in Durham since the beginning of the year. Its new 7,000 sq ft workshop contains the latest Class VII automated MOT test lane and state of the art lifts and servicing equipment. Its staff has grown by 70 per cent across all departments, and its parts department is in the process of being automated to improve efficiency.

“It’s been a really exciting year,” said Terry Skee, business development executive at CLS. “We’ve completed the building of our new purpose designed premises, encompassing all of the latest energy efficiency measures, and we now believe we have the premier autogas network of trained Approved Installers in the country.”

CLS also believes it has the only car showroom in the UK solely selling lpg vehicles. The company buys the vehicles and converts them in its own workshop.

“We buy them and then convert them so CLS controls the quality,” said Terry. “This way we know our customers will go away happy.”

CLS has a close relationship with BRC, the Italian conversion equipment manufacturer, and Gary Bowden, CLS’ managing director, frequently travels to BRC’s head office in Cherasco, Italy.
“Gary works closely with BRC on new kits and engines, so we’re leading the field,” said Terry. “His technical expertise and in depth knowledge are the best in the industry. He’s a forward thinker, as he proved when he took a chance and invested in a new technology like lpg conversions in the first place. Now we distribute and fit the latest generation multipoint sequential gas injection systems from the world leading BRC brand.”

BRC staff come over to the UK twice per year to present to CLS staff and the company’s Approved Installers on its latest developments.

“BRC is one of, if not the best equipment manufacturer in the world, and is well respected and accepted,” said Terry. “Its equipment is tested live on vehicles in the factory. The Italians utilise and benefit from Gary’s knowledge and expertise, and he goes out to the factory two or three times a year.”

Business in 2008 is already surpassing CLS’ expectations.
“Sales have taken off like a rocket,” said Terry. “High fuel prices have added about 20 per cent, but a lot of it is down to the new premises, word of mouth and our commitment to our network. Customers can move to another area and know they can still get the same level of customer service from a local CLS technician.

“We instil our customer service values in our new staff, right from the start. The customer is king. We are here for the long haul, and if you look after the grandmother, you’ll have the daughters and granddaughters as customers in the future too.”

CLS’ new premises were built with advice from its sister company, Cleaner Air Solutions, on how to make it carbon neutral. Cleaner Air Solutions deals with renewable energy technologies, such as solar photovoltaic electrical generation and wind turbines, for domestic and commercial premises.

“Moving into renewable energy was a natural extension of the low carbon properties of lpg,” said Terry. “Gary’s foresight has seen Cleaner Air Solutions become one of only a few OFGEM approved and UKMCS accredited companies in the UK. Now it’s winning business and has played a key role in the successful completion of a solar PV generation plant in Spain, producing a massive 6.5 megawatts of solar power. We aim to be the biggest company in the UK industry in the next five years.”

Pictured Above: CLS’ new 7,000 sq ft workshop contains the latest Class VII automated MOT test lane.

Contact CLS Dual Fuel Ltd on 0191 384 9629 www.clsdualfuel.co.uk