Gray & Adams Spring Newsletter 2024

Gray & Adams News

In this issue

> Spotlight on our Spray Painting Department

> Interview with Industry Legend—Tommy Gibb

> Customer Case Study Castell Howell

> Development Pathways at Gray & Adams And so much more

Director’s Introduction

As we leave 2023 behind us and move into the warmer weather and brighter nights of spring, we look forward to the year ahead.

Our people have contributed to the success of Gray & Adams over the years. Our team are highly skilled, professional and care, not only about our customers but also their communities as evidenced at the end of last year when our Doncaster depot took part in a Christmas fundraising initiative. Read more about the success of the Christmas toy appeal on page 4.

We are also delighted to celebrate the success of our many valued young people within our business, discussing the Apprenticeship Programme offered at our Dunfermline depot (page 4). On page 10, we further discuss the developmental pathways Gray & Adams offer, and the support given by Gray & Adams to help support those looking to grow and develop with the company.

In this edition, we have several articles and case studies from our valued customers where they discuss the relationship with Gray & Adams and the benefits our solutions have brought to their operations. Read more from MacLennan Distribution on page 11 and Eden Farm on page 17. On pages 12 and 13, we spoke to Martin Jones, Transport Director of Castell Howell to curate a case study on the partnership between Castell Howell and Gray & Adams. We also have a fantastic story from Tommy Gibb on pages 14 and 15, who delves into the story of Gibbs of Fraserburgh.

On pages 8 and 9, we hear about how Gray & Adams and ECOOLTEC have jointly developed a refrigerated rigid body vehicle with the ECOOLTEC TM182 transport refrigeration unit, with Tesco being the first company in the UK to put the technology into use.

We also bring the focus back to our people, who are integral to the operations of our company. Enjoy a spotlight on our Operations Team at Doncaster on page 7, and a spotlight on our Spray Paint Department on page 16. We are eager to ensure that we invest in the best on-site facilities, training and upskilling of our teams, where possible, and are delighted to see Fraserburgh’s new Training Centre in action, with employee and supplier training taking place earlier this year (page 6). On page 5, David Smith, Group Quality Manager, talks about Gray & Adams’ commitment to quality.

Lastly, we celebrate the retirement of Murray Littlejohn, Alastair Pirie and Ian Cruikshank, as they share their experiences of working with Gray & Adams as long-serving employees on pages 18 and 19 and shine a spotlight on HSEQ Manager, Dunfermline, Kimberley Berry as we learn more about her role and responsibilities on page 20.

As we enter 2024, we would like to extend our gratitude to our staff, customers and suppliers for their unwavering commitment to Gray & Adams and would like to wish you all the best for the coming year.

James Gray OBE and Peter Gray OBE Joint Managing Directors

Apprenticeships at Dunfermline

Gray & Adams is the UK market leader in the manufacture of specialist temperature-controlled and bespoke vehicles. Founded in 1957, Gray & Adams continues to be a family-owned business with over 750 employees. The company’s HQ and main production facility is based in Fraserburgh with operational sites in Doncaster, Dunfermline, and Newtownabbey.

Joint Managing Directors, James Gray OBE and Peter Gray OBE recognise the importance of apprenticeships to the business and have overseen one of the most impressive apprenticeship schemes in Scotland at their Fraserburgh HQ.

The Dunfermline manufacturing facility shares the same vision and importance of nurturing emerging talent and attracting key skills into the industry to continue the success of its longstanding, family-run business. We are committed to creating opportunities and development paths for young people to fulfil their potential, in turn minimising the risk of potential industry skill gaps in the future.

To do this, Gray & Adams Dunfermline are offering a Modern Apprenticeship scheme in partnership with Forth Valley College, allowing an apprentice the opportunity to achieve SCQF Level 7, an industry-recognised qualification. Our Apprenticeship Programme offers opportunities to individuals looking to develop their skills within a working environment. The course, which is undertaken fully onsite, is supported by an internal verifier from Forth Valley College and mentoring from staff within the business.

There is a huge focus on continuous development and support at Gray & Adams Dunfermline, with 12 young people joining the apprenticeship scheme to date. Gray & Adams’ longstanding commitment to the apprenticeship programme is showcased through several former apprentices working their way into specialist or senior positions. This is a testament to the company’s ethos of developing and supporting their people, throughout their career journey.

Gray & Adams is committed to the next generation of industry talent, this begins with our apprentices.

Gray & Adams Doncaster Delivers Christmas Cheer

Gray & Adams Doncaster has raised over £3400 and an incredible amount of donated toys for Hallam FM & Greatest Hits Radio South Yorkshire Mission Christmas appeal and Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

The initiative was organised by Scott Sherwin and Kim Bell at the Doncaster depot and made the final delivery of the toys ahead of the Christmas break.

Scott tells us,

“Mission Christmas is a fantastic charity that does such great work all over the country so we are delighted to have been able to help in a small way and support local causes. It’s really important that every child has something to open on Christmas day, no matter their circumstances and we would like to thank everyone who has helped us contribute to this worthy cause.”

We would like to take this opportunity to thank our customers, suppliers and colleagues who donated to this initiative!

The Gray & Adams Commitment to Quality

“As we move into the Spring and Summer months, we look forward to a very busy period of the year. Quality is important to the Gray & Adams group because we value our customers. We strive to provide our customers with the best possible product, the exact specification that they ask for and provide the service they have come to expect.

External audit results over the last 12 months for the group have proved to be very positive and we continue to be fully committed to our Quality certification, ISO 9001:2015. Gray & Adams continue to work hard to ensure we not only achieve the required results but to keep on improving on every aspect of the business.

Everybody shares the responsibility for setting the standard and it’s a huge asset to the business just how accountable everyone is for ensuring that we maintain our certification and deliver the quality of product to the customer. It is very much a team effort!

Throughout the group, we work closely with our apprentices and employees, and over the last few months we have invested and built a new training centre at our head office. As a business, we are fully committed to developing all our staff and providing opportunities for them to progress, improve their skills and workmanship, and taking the company forward.

Across the group, we are consistently and regularly reviewing build manual procedures, training records and company policies which are critical to the running of the business and help keep us at the forefront of innovation.

The Gray & Adams profile is now higher than it has ever been and one of our objectives is to make sure we stay at the top for many years to come.”

Group Quality Manager, David Smith

Fraserburgh’s New Training Centre in Action

At the beginning of 2024, Gray & Adams opened a new training centre at Fraserburgh HQ.

The purpose of this new training centre is for apprentices, new starts and existing employees internal training. From induction training, small hand and power tool training, procedure and process training to online training courses. The training centre will also be used for training by our suppliers for component training and our external training providers to deliver various training courses including Abrasive Wheel, Drivers CPC, Manual Handling, Scissors Lift, Overhead Crane etc.

Two Gray & Adams employees, Craig and Kyle, travelled from Dunfermline to complete tail lift training in the new centre. We would like to congratulate them both on their successes and look forward to taking many more Gray & Adams employees through training in the new facilities.

The training centre has an upstairs classroom for delivering the theory part of the courses and a downstairs workshop for the practical side. The new training centre is located between the decal store and the main canteen and can be accessed through the completion department.

Gray & Adams welcomed the first supplier training in our new training centre earlier this year. Staff from our Fraserburgh and Dunfermline factories attended the course which was hosted by Dhollandia, one of our tail lift suppliers. The course consisted of theory elements in the classroom upstairs followed by practical elements in the workshop downstairs. The training covered the fitting of different models of tail lift and went into depth on the functions of all components.

The Dhollandia supplier training at the new training centre was a huge success and the team at Gray & Adams is delighted with how the new training centre has aided this process. We look forward to carrying out more supplier training throughout 2024.

Spotlight on the Operations Team at Doncaster

Having worked hard to achieve a reputation for quality, innovation, and first-class customer service, we place a very important emphasis on the standard and collaboration of our teams. As the lifeblood of Gray & Adams, we ensure to only attract and retain the best people across the industry.

As one of our main new build depots, Doncaster’s operation team plays a pivotal role in pulling a multi-disciplined team together to produce a superior quality produce, that meets tight deadlines and high customer expectations.

In this article, Scott Sherwin, Operation’s Co-ordinator shares a typical day in the life of the departments that are involved. He tells us,

“A typical day involves the five areas of new build production managing their teams, working from drawings and specification sheets to carry out tasks related to their part of the build and carrying out in-line inspections within their departments. It’s important to communicate their progress with the other team to aid the flow of production through the workshops.”

The main people involved in the process are,

Gary Burns

(Line Manager—Fabrication/Assembly)

30 years’ service at Gray & Adams.

Slawomir Kosmecki

(Line Manager—Panel Assembly /Assembly)

19 years’ service at Gray & Adams.

Gary and Slawomir oversee every part of the assembly process which includes the build team, door section and sub frame department.

Carl Collier

(Line Manager—Electrical ) 21 years’ service at Gray & Adams.

Carl oversees the electrical department which is extremely demanding given the new technology which is introduced every year.

Andrew Lewin

(Line Manager—completion shop 1) 22 years’ service at Gray & Adams.

Paul Lewin

(Line Manager—completion shop 2) 22 years’ service at Gray & Adams.

Andy and Paul run our two completion shops. Between the two of them, they oversee the completion of our diverse range of builds which include Trailers, rigid vehicles, home delivery vans and cold store/blast freezers.

“The biggest achievement we have had is the smoothness and efficiency of the five departments working closely together as one team, adapting to a fast-paced, ever-changing production environment, while still maintaining a high standard of build, despite the challenging market conditions with various changes in the supply chain. It is always our goal to surpass customer expectations and continue to produce solutions to the quality that Gray & Adams can be proud of.”

Scott Sherwin, Operation’s Co-ordinator

Gray & Adams is always on the lookout for experienced and dynamic individuals to join our team and take our business forward. To discover our range of live vacancies, please visit our careers page.

Strong Start in the UK: First UK Company Starts Using Lower Impact ECOOLTEC Refrigerated System

In a UK first, Tesco takes delivery of two refrigerated multi-temp bodyworks with ECOOLTEC TM182 technology within its distribution network.

Natural refrigerants have a negligible greenhouse gas potential, reducing its impact by almost 100%.

Gray & Adams and ECOOLTEC have jointly designed a bespoke refrigerated body specification.

Specialist manufacturers Gray & Adams and ECOOLTEC have jointly developed a refrigerated rigid body vehicle with the ECOOLTEC TM182 transport refrigeration unit, with Tesco being the first company in the UK to put the technology into use. The refrigerated body has the innovative and particularly sustainable ECOOLTEC technology, which is unique in heavy duty road transport up to now. The German company’s purely electrically driven system generates refrigeration using sustainable natural refrigerants exclusively. Therefore, the system neither emits any CO2 locally, nor any other gases with high greenhouse warming potential. The retailer is now using two rigid trucks with multi-temp bodyworks from specialist manufacturer, Gray & Adams.

Two 18-tonne rigid body vehicles built by British industry leaders, Gray & Adams and the purely electrically driven ECOOLTEC TM182 transport refrigeration machines now move products between a warehouse in Peterborough and the surrounding Tesco stores. Representatives from Gray & Adams and ECOOLTEC recently handed over the two vehicles to TESCO.

A multi-temp box body from vehicle manufacturer Gray & Adams with a movable transverse bulkhead system is used to split the box into two compartments, allowing the set up of two compartments for simultaneous frozen and chilled operation. Inside the body, the ECOOLTEC single discharge evaporator 1221 in the front compartment and the double discharge evaporator 1312 in the second compartment distribute the cold air. The electric energy for powering the TM182 is generated by ECOOLTEC’s G30 alternator, which is mounted to the truck engine. At the depot, the transport refrigeration system can also be supplied via a mains plug point.

Reducing environmental impact through natural refrigeration

The use of the natural refrigerants CO2 (R744) and propene (R1270) to generate refrigeration is unique in the heavy-duty commercial vehicle segment. Those have a negligible low global warming potential (GWP), instead of the fluorinated refrigerants R452A and R410A predominantly used in transport refrigeration with GWP values of approx. 2,000 (GWP calculated per 100 years on average). When conventional refrigerants leak, they have a significant environmental impact,

and as many current transport refrigeration systems do not have a fully hermetic refrigerant circuit, refrigerant can leak steadily over time. According to studies, the leakage rate for such systems is up to 30 percent per year. The total refrigerant charge in typical systems for heavy-duty commercial vehicles is up to 14 kilogrammes, depending on the exact specification. In this case, an average of around 4.2 kilogramme of F-gases per vehicle is released into the atmosphere every year. Depending on the refrigerant, this corresponds to a CO2 equivalent of around 9 tonnes per year and per unit. On the other hand, if one kilogramme of the natural refrigerant propene escapes, according to the latest F-gas revision (EU) 2024/573, less than one kilogramme of CO2 equivalent is released into the environment. Furthermore, HFC-based refrigerants belong to so-called perpetual chemicals. When they are released into the atmosphere, they are also responsible for the formation of environmentally harmful substances such as perfluoroalkoxy polymers (PFAs).

Thanks to the purely electric, locally almost emission-free and CO2-free drive, the system produces neither local pollutant nor CO2 emissions when in battery operation, and up to 98 percent fewer emissions compared to diesel-powered refrigeration systems via the alternator drive.

TESCO is committed to reducing its environmental impact, so exploring natural refrigerants was a clear choice for the business

Cliff Smith, Fleet Engineering Manager at Tesco said: “As we look to decarbonise our transport, using lower impact refrigeration will play an important role in our efforts to become net zero by 2035. With these two new innovative Gray & Adams and ECOOLTEC trucks, in addition to our electric HGVs, electric home delivery vans and solar powered refrigeration units, we are leading the way in electric haulage innovation, helping to tackle road transport emissions.”

The UK’s leading manufacturer of specialist temperaturecontrolled vehicles, Gray & Adams was selected to work in collaboration with ECOOLTEC

“As an important customer and one of our key accounts, Gray & Adams is delighted to be able to once again support Tesco in their mission to reduce the carbon footprint across their distribution fleet. Gray & Adams is known throughout the industry for pioneering innovation across our full product range and we actively choose partners and suppliers to consistently challenge the status quo and make improvements to the environment, our customers, and the logistics industry. Having built a relationship with ECOOLTEC, we are pleased to act as their partner in the UK given our shared values of engineering innovation and dedication to sustainability.”

says Ryan Mazgaj, Sales Manager, Gray & Adams.

“The

fact that a major international retail group like Tesco has decided in favour of the ECOOLTEC technology is a great vote of confidence for us. In Gray & Adams, we have found a perfect body builder manufacturer in the UK that has the necessary expertise and is open to innovation,”

explains ECOOLTEC CEO Henning Altebäumer.

Enormous cooling capacity, high efficiency, and silent operation

Other advantages of the ECOOLTEC refrigeration unit include its enormous cooling capacity, which also fulfils the high requirements for temperature safety in the demanding food distribution with perishable goods. Despite its high performance, the energy consumption of the transport refrigeration machine is low. The system requires 60 to 80 per cent less energy than a conventional diesel-powered system for the same cooling capacity. The noise level is significantly lower than that of comparable units with diesel engines. This is of particular benefit to people in towns and cities during night deliveries, as well as to drivers. At the same time, the ECOOLTEC design pays very close attention to maximum operational safety.

ECOOLTEC/Daniel Smith—Flux Drones

Development Pathways at Gray & Adams

At Gray & Adams, we understand the importance of nurturing emerging talent and attracting young people to the industry to continue the success of the long-standing business. We are also committed to providing development opportunities and training to our existing employees, encouraging them to fulfil their potential.

In May 2023 there were 3 employees under the age of 21 at our Dunfermline Depot. This number has now increased to 16, growing by 80% in the last year, and forming 20% of the total staff at Dunfermline.

To facilitate this growth, Gray & Adams, Dunfermline, internally advertised new positions of ‘Team Leader’ with an objective of creating a structure, to assist with the development of the young people. The Team Leaders have mentored the youngsters teaching the basics upon starting with the company, developing their tool skills, and learning the different processes and procedures they should follow.

The strategically placed team leaders have found that their personal development has improved due to the exposure and responsibility they would not have had previously. By opening new doors for these employees and giving them new responsibilities, they can see new developmental opportunities for personal and professional growth within Gray & Adams.

Gray & Adams is focused on continuous development within the company and has an ethos of developing and supporting their people throughout their careers. Gray & Adams provide support to employees looking to grow and develop, and as such four employees from the Dunfermline depot have achieved Level Three ILM (Institute of Leadership & Management) qualifications. We would like to congratulate Christopher Ireland (Stores Manager), Sean Byron (Trainee Manager), Mark McKinnon (Trainee Manager) and Kimberley Berry (HSEQ Manager) on their achievement.

“Gray & Adams has a history of providing opportunities for people to develop and gain promotion from within the business. The team leaders have brought experience and passion to their roles, which could be pathways to succession in the future.”

Derek Murray, General Manager, Dunfermline

Customer Case Study— MacLennan Distribution

As the leading employer in Oban, MacLennan Distribution (formerly MacLennan Motors), has been established since 1978. As a family business first and foremost, MacLennan Distribution has retained its reputation for value and great service, putting the local community at the heart of everything it seeks to achieve and providing a vital link to the islands it serves.

MacLennan Motors was founded by Angus MacLennan on the Isle of Tiree in 1978, before relocating to their Oban depot in 2020. In 2022, Angus’ son Stewart took over as Managing Director, changing the name to MacLennan Distribution. At this time, they also purchased food distribution company Walton’s of Oban. The company has grown from the original garage into a major haulier on the west coast of Scotland with depots on the island and Oban. This increased the size of the company considerably from 10 employees to 49 employees, as well as increasing their fleet to 42 vehicles. The last two years of operating have been hugely successful for MacLennan Distribution, with them being recognised for two national awards, Transport News Scottish Fleet of the Year and Rural Family Business of the Year at The Herald’s Scottish Family Awards.

Customer Requirement

The business services essential delivery needs to those living and working throughout the mainland and Islands on the West Coast of Scotland. Often, trailers are parked up on the islands, taking in all the effects of sea salt, sand, and wind making it susceptible to rust. Therefore, MacLennan Distribution needs reliable transportation of high quality.

Gray & Adams Solution

Gray & Adams provided MacLennan Distribution with their first trailer in 2015, with a focus on quality, by placing galvanised steel on the chassis and wheels to ensure extra durability and reduce any rust impact. MacLennan Distribution found longevity in the trailer compared to the previous trailers they had used. This resulted in them purchasing a second trailer in 2021 with Gray & Adams, and a third trailer has been ordered for delivery in May 2024 to carry them through the next 10 years.

Gray & Adams Added Value

With a fleet containing Gray & Adams-built trailers, MacLennan Distribution is a valued customer for Gray & Adams and the business is delighted to maintain and grow the partnership.

Stewart MacLennan, Managing Director for MacLennan Distribution, commented on the Gray & Adams customer service

as efficient, quick to reply and honest. Covid-19 impacted the delivery of their second trailer, and Stewart was grateful for the direct line of communication with the Gray & Adams team, and their upfront nature in providing a new delivery timeline.

Customer Impact

The additions of the Gray & Adams trailers to the MacLennan Distributions fleet has allowed them to efficiently move high volumes of product across the islands and West Coast of Scotland. By reducing the need for multiple journeys, operational costs are reduced as well as reducing the carbon footprint of the business.

MacLennan Distribution is in the fortunate position that the hospitality sector on the West Coast will always be busy, allowing a continuous need for food and drinks in that area. They are also in a fortunate position to have strong relationships with customers and suppliers who are always looking ahead.

Our Customer Says

“On the face we want to have a really good, attractive fleet of vehicles, which are well maintained and well looked after, and that can provide a good service for us, Gray & Adams do this for us.”

Stewart MacLennan, MacLennan Distribution

Customer Case Study— Castell Howell

Castell Howell Food celebrated 35 years of business in 2023 having grown from their small rural beginnings in 1988 to becoming the leading independent foodservice wholesaler in Wales, servicing the length and breadth of Wales, the border counties and the South West of England. With the founding family still fully involved, this business has passed through the generations as seen in their leadership team, staff, customers, suppliers, partners and wider community.

As a family-run business, Gray & Adams understands Castell Howell’s values of continual growth and support while meeting and exceeding all expectations with quality products, competitive prices and exceptional customer service. As such, Gray & Adams is keen to deliver excellent service as well as quality trailers to keep Castell Howell driving forward.

Gray & Adams has a long-running relationship with Castell Howell producing their vehicle fleet, and ensuring quality and resilience for each build. Castell Howell is committed to investing in technology and innovation and working with partners like Gray & Adams who are renowned in the industry.

Customer Requirement

Castell Howell came to Gray & Adams in the Spring of 2005 with high vehicle specifications, requiring the product to be resilient. At that time, Martin Jones, Director of Transport at Castell Howell Foods, was aware of Gray & Adams as a well-respected name in the industry. He visited Gray & Adams’ Dunfermline site in 2005 and liked the methodology and the processes employed by Gray & Adams, their purposeful innovation is what made Martin choose to work with Gray & Adams.

At present Castell Howell has five Gray & Adams trailers with two to be delivered in the coming weeks. Their fleet mostly consists of around 180 rigid bodies, at least 60 of which are Gray & Adams with 10 more being delivered imminently and 26 on order for 2025.

Travelling around mid-Wales, the fleet often comes into contact with many low-hanging branches that test the strength of any trailer. Gray & Adams solved this threat by incorporating unique stainless-steel protection for the front corners of our double-deck trailers, allowing protection from the overhanging branches.

Result

Castell Howell continues to choose Gray & Adams products because of the structurally solid body that allows their fleet to have a long life and withstand the tough conditions they come across. The rigids sometimes do 40 drops a day and travel along lots of small B-roads, so the innovative ideas Gray & Adams provide allow them to do so comfortably.

Castell Howell has been in partnership with Gray & Adams for almost 20 years. This partnership has been maintained by the strong relationship between Martin and the team at Gray & Adams, where any additional support required is always met. Martin describes Gray & Adams as “consistently reliable, building a good product to a high standard and on time. When you buy a Gray & Adams product you invest in support.”

Customer

Impact

Castell Howell has full confidence in continuing to use Gray & Adams products going forward. Martin notes that “while their price point is slightly higher than other industry competitors, the quality and service Gray & Adams provide is always superior.”

Gray & Adams is providing Castell Howell with 10 units this year and a further 26 units next year, being Castell Howell’s largest order with one body manufacturer in a single year. Gray & Adams is also manufacturing Castell Howell’s first Electric Vehicle which is to be delivered by the end of the year. With Castell Howell having a fleet of 200 vehicles they have a responsibility to look at clean solutions and applications in which they can accommodate it.

Martin notes, “We are looking forward to receiving our first electric vehicle at the end of the year. It is an investment for us and we wanted to make sure it was built by the right partner to get every fine detail just right, which is why we turned to Gray & Adams for this project.”

Our Customer Says

“We have a really good relationship with Gray & Adams. They are reliable which is hugely important to me as an operator, in terms of their delivery—if they say it will be delivered in March, they will deliver it in March—they are reliable like that. The Gray & Adams product speaks for itself in quality, as an operator, durability is highly important to me. The team at Gray & Adams are a nice bunch of people—it is a family-run business, as our we (Castell Howell) and we share those same business ethics.”

Martin Jones, Transport Director, Castell Howell

Interview with Industry Legend—Tommy Gibb

Gibbs of Fraserburgh was started by two brothers Thomas Gibb, & Jimmy Gibb in the late 19th century. At the turn of the century, the Gibbs were farmers in the Fraserburgh area, but the family branched into carting and in the summer season carried herring from the harbour to the curing yards. In due course, they moved on to motor trucks, and in the 1950s decided to go into business as general hauliers, chasing the fishing fleets for loads of fresh fish. At this point, the business was being run by Jimmy before Thomas’ son Tommy took over the management of the business alongside his brother James Gibb.

At that time, much of the long-distance fish traffic between Aberdeen and the South was by rail, using crudely insulated vans. Tommy saw the gradual development of fridge vans and saw an opportunity to specialise.

“We started with insulated demountable containers carrying meat to Smithfield market. We were one of the first into containers, carrying loads of fresh herring, and using demountables allowed us to continue offering flats for other types of loads.”

But the Gibb’s mix of fridge and general haulage work was creating backload problems and the brothers decided to specialise in operating refrigerated vans.

Each unit would have carried perishables for around half a dozen customers with few loads being for a single customer. The goods were made up on pallets, with most of Gibb’s vans carrying 22 or 24 pallets. Some of the later reefers were built to run at the maximum 13.6m length and carry 26 pallets apiece. The extra space was a bonus, as weight was not a problem with fish and meat, at times hanging 400 lambs in a van. Typically, a driver was away for five days with a load of fresh-hung meat making up to 30 drops, mostly around the London area. Fresh meat accounted for about 40% of Gibb’s business. Scotch beef was collected or delivered from slaughterhouses at the end of each week, and the driver would set off on Saturday to deliver to shops, restaurants and hotels.

Fraserburgh being more than 930km (580 miles) from London, Tommy Gibb required a reliable fleet that was capable of the hard work put in to cover the mileage. In Gibbs’ prime, the company was purchasing five new tractors and three new containers a year. Gibb purchased his trailers from Gray & Adams, which was next door to them in Fraserburgh. Tommy notes, “They were always the most reliable. They built them to our specification—creating 26-pallet vans that contained rearsteering axles to cut down on tyre wear.”

“Mr Jim Gray & Mr Jim Adams were more or less the same age, we were brought up in the same area, in the same era—we ran our businesses at the same time. Jim Gray & Jim Adams went into fridges and their business grew from there. In the 1960’s Gray & Adams built us our first tipper wagon, shortly after they evolved into insulated vans where they built 2 or 3 for us and when they built their first fridges we were there to take supply. The first fridges we took were originally Petter, we then used Thermoking fridges, before moving to Carrier fridges. We found Carrier refrigeration units to be the best with virtually no troubles—and that is essential with perishables. With so much natural concern about fresh food, we required strict temperature control. Living and working in the same area, it was convenient to get our refrigerated trailers serviced. It also allowed us to develop a strong relationship with Gray & Adams, which maintained and grew throughout the years.”

Tommy retired in 2002 and Gibbs concluded business, but it commenced again in 2016 and was headed up by Jimmy Gibb’s son James, before concluding business again just before Covid-19 hit in 2020. During their reopening, Gibb’s continued their loyalties to Gray & Adams, by purchasing their trailers again, knowing the quality they would receive would meet their specifications.

“The strength of the relationship between Gibbs and Gray & Adams from the years prior, allowed James to jump back into business with Jim Gray Senior’s sons, James & Peter Gray, with ease”.

“I have had a lot of fun since my retirement in 2002. In my earlier retirement, I bought a timeshare in Spain, which I went out to quite a lot, and I went on a few cruises. I have also enjoyed golfing with my grandson, although the practice hasn’t helped me get any better at it. I still enjoy football, my team is Fraserburgh FC and attend every home match. I turn 87 in May and luckily myself and my wife Barbara are in good health which allows us to spend a lot of time with our 3 daughters, 7 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.”

Spotlight on our Spray Painting Department

Having worked hard to achieve a reputation for quality, innovation, and first-class customer service, we place a very important emphasis on only attracting and retaining specialist and talented individuals.

Our people are the key to our success and with this in mind, it is important to ensure that we invest in the best on-site facilities, training and upskilling of our teams, where possible. An important area of our production business is our Spray Paint Department.

Spray Painters play a key part in the build process at Gray & Adams, where an excellent level of workmanship is demonstrated. Spray painting is a sought-after skillset across multiple industries and as such, we are actively recruiting to find more of these experienced individuals across all our depots. We also run a well-established apprenticeship in spray paint for our young people who wish to start a career with Gray & Adams.

With a focus on detail, we have a number of areas across the business that require spray paint expertise. To give more insight into the work of our Spray Paint Department, we caught up with Kenny Mckenzie, the Line manager of the Paint Shop. Kenny tells us;

“The chassis paint department has 7 men in total who share a day shift and night shift work pattern. The chassis is washed and prepared prior to going into the paint booth, it then enters the booth where a Binks high-pressure paint system is used to apply an undercoat and then it bakes for up to 30 minutes. A topcoat is then applied using an electrostatic paint system. Wheels are then fitted, and the chassis is ready to be moved onto the brakes department.

Gray & Adams also have a repairs facility where body paint is part of the process. Lifting floors and completion components such as pallet cages and side skirts can also be part of the new build process.”

Customer Case Study—

Eden Farm Hulleys

Eden Farm Hulleys are a national wholesaler part of the Kitwave Group and distributer specialising in frozen food, ice cream and chilled wholesale. They have a strong distribution network of 8 depots including Peterlee, Luton, Sheffield and Bradford with a fleet of approximately 190 delivery vehicles. This enables them to service independent shops and large wholesalers and prominent high street brands, up to 6 days a week.

The Eden Farm Hulleys relationship with Gray & Adams commenced 7 years ago with the initial requirement for 18 refrigerated HGV bodies and seven trailers.

With Eden Farm’s continued focus on growth, they commissioned 2 bespoke double-deck lifting deck trailers in 2018 which had an impactful effect on time efficiency, cost savings, and their carbon footprint. The latest version of the 44-pallet lifting deck accommodated 18 additional pallets in one journey, allowing Eden Farm to complete deliveries with fewer vehicles in less time.

Eden Farm Hulleys’ Group Transport Manager, Jason Brooksbank said, “Chris Pearce understood our need to drive sustainability across the business as part of a wider commitment to our customers in reducing our carbon footprint as partners. We were thrilled with the new trailers, built entirely to our specification and remain one of the best on the market.”

The successful acquisition paved the way for the build of additional trailers and rigids as part of their replacement program with a keen focus on improved refrigeration options, whilst ensuring that their own ESG guidelines are met. As such, the reduction of refrigeration noise and the implementation of electric refrigeration options have been at the forefront of all new vehicle and trailer orders.

Looking ahead to 2025, they intend to replace a further 30 HGV vehicles and two additional trailers.

“Gray & Adams have provided fantastic support over the years in delivering successful, bespoke solutions for our business. Their knowledge and expertise has been invaluable as they continue to work closely with our operation.”

Jason Brooksbank, Group Transport Manager

Retirement Spotlight— Murray Littlejohn

Gray & Adams said goodbye to long-serving employee Murray Littlejohn on the 29th March 2024. Murray was based at our Fraserburgh HQ and has worked for Gray & Adams for the last 34 and a half years. We caught up with Murray just after his retirement to find out more about what he will miss about working for Gray & Adams and what he is looking forward to as he enters this new chapter.

What was your role at Gray & Adams and what were your day to day responsibilities?

I started as a Forklift Driver then went on to be in charge of transport for delivery. I was organising the delivery of trailers from the factory to the customer. I managed the shunting of trailers in the yard.

Two years ago, I moved down to a three day week where my role changed and I was doing whatever jobs needed to be done, driving the forklifts and doing odd jobs.

What did you do before you came to Gray & Adams and why did you want to work for the company?

I worked at a farm before I came to Gray & Adams and asked James for a job. I told James that coming from the farm, I wouldn’t like working inside, James let me know they didn’t have any jobs at that time but if any forklift jobs became available he would give me a chance. I worked elsewhere for 6 months until James called and offered me the job.

What did you enjoy most about working for Gray & Adams?

Gray & Adams was a good company to work for, I enjoyed that you could speak to the owners of the company. Jim Gray, the founder was a really nice man, I spoke to him like I’d speak to anyone, same as James, Peter and Lewis.

I worked with a really good team during my time at Gray & Adams, the drivers and shunting team that worked with me are all good guys.

Over the years I thought it was great to see how the company always grew and developed. In the time I was there, the back gates moved three different times to accommodate for the growing facilities. It was always interesting to see what the next stage would be and watch the company’s growth. This growth coming from Gray & Adams being a mass employer in the Fraserburgh area, providing lots of employment to local and neighbouring communities.

What are your plans for retirement?

I’ve got some vintage tractors that I like to potter around with, and I am helping my brother-in-law out with little jobs here and there. My grandchildren will also keep me busy I’m sure with jobs they need done.

We do have a caravan too so I would like to find some time to go away. We enjoy heading down towards Yorkshire and enjoy visiting Thirsk so I would like to go there soon for a trip.

I will not be a stranger at Gray & Adams and wish the company all the best. I look forward to seeing how the company grows over time.

James and Peter Gray would like to thank Murray for his commitment to the company and wish him all the best in his retirement going forward.

Retirement Spotlight— Alastair

Pirie

Gray & Adams said goodbye to long-serving employee Alastair Pirie on the 1st of March 2024. Alastair is based at Fraserburgh and has worked for Gray & Adams since April 9th 1990. We caught up with Alastair just after his retirement to find out more about what he will miss about working for us and what he is looking forward to as he enters this new chapter.

What was your role at Gray & Adams and what were your day to day responsibilities?

I was the Assistant Line Manager of Profiles. Along with checking work was correctly done, included me also fitting back door frame profiles, exterior cappens and also interior work. Then I moved to assemble and completion of lifting floors, which was a new challenge that I very much enjoyed.

What did you do before you came to Gray & Adams and why did you want to work for the company?

I did my apprenticeship as a Ships Carpenter, the company eventually shut down.

My wife’s uncle Billy Duthie got me the job at Gray & Adams, he assured me it was a great place to work, and after 35 years I would agree.

What did you enjoy most about working for Gray & Adams?

Over the years I have worked in a few different departments and met a lot of people whom I have enjoyed working with. During the past five years I have had numerous health issues, the company and employees showed me a great deal of concern and support, which was very much appreciated.

What are your plans for retirement?

Spending lots of time with my grandchildren, hopefully some relaxing holidays, and doing some DIY around the house.

Gray & Adams would also like to celebrate the retirement of Ian Cruickshank who worked for Gray & Adams in total for 11 years in the Maintenance Department.

Ian started with Gray & Adams as an Apprentice Fridge Engineer before leaving the company to pursue another career. After a number of years however, Ian decided to return to Gray & Adans, and stayed with the company until his retirement on the 29th March 2024.

James and Peter Gray would like to thank Alistair and Ian for their commitment to the company and wish them all the best in their retirement going forward.

Staff Spotlight— Kimberley Berry

In this edition of our staff spotlight, we speak with Kimberley Berry who has been working at Gray & Adams Dunfermline since 2022.

How long have you been working with Gray & Adams and what is your day-to-day role?

I started working at Gray & Adams, Dunfermline in September of 2022, in the role of HSEQ Manager. My role has evolved slightly since starting with the company, and I now take on a number of HR responsibilities as well as the health and safety aspect of my role.

A typical day for me can look very different each day of the week, taking on the extra HR responsibilities means my time is split between HR and Health & Safety. I also spend a lot of time on site, sorting maintenance by looking at breakdowns in equipment and ensuring the general health and safety is as it should be. I also induct all the new starts and provide young person risk assessments.

What attracted you to the company initially?

I was in an HSEQ role previously before I came to Gray & Adams, but it was much further away from home, and I had to travel a lot. Gray & Adams is local to me, which is what drew me to the company initially. I am also about to go off on maternity leave also, so being a local company, will provide me with comfort when returning to work in 2025.

Tell us about your greatest achievement whilst working for Gray & Adams

Gray & Adams gets audited twice a year, and so every six months, the team and I put in hard work towards the audit. When we achieve a good audit result, it’s a nice feeling knowing all the hard work paid off and is a good boost internally within the team. I also introduced a new employee

performance tracker system for use in the business, which has been running since October 2023. This new system tracks the employee’s length of service, attendance, timekeeping, four skill competencies and training. This formal tracking system is a fair way to help management to assess pay grades and look at how to progress employees within the company.

In the workshop we have introduced new Health & safety boards which have everything from risk assessments to training matrices in the one place. We are also about to share new incident packs which will be located at the safety notice boards and contain everything required for dealing with an incident. It’s so important to get everything documented and backed up with photographic evidence in the unfortunate circumstance of an incident occurring.

If you could do someone else’s job (at Gray & Adams) for the day, whose would it be and why?

I would like to do something totally different to my current role, something hands-on in the manufacturing side of the business.

What is the best thing about working for Gray & Adams?

What sets Gray & Adams apart from other companies is the staff and employees, they are a good bunch of people. The office environment has a really positive feel to it, and everyone gets on which is quite rare to find. Everyone gets together and works as a team; Dunfermline is a close-knit team.

What does your future look like at Gray & Adams?

I am heading off on Maternity leave at the end of April but look forward to coming back to the business after my leave in 2025. It will be hard not seeing everyone every day, but I am looking forward to this new adventure of mine along with some sunnier weather.