Summer 2024 ISSUE 24 | SUMMER 2024
In this issue
> An interview with Industry Legend – Hamish Balfour
> A spotlight on our Fridge Department
> Customer Case Study – Martin Brower
> Unlocking Potential: Embracing and Developing the Young Workforce Initiative And so much more
As we surpass the halfway point of 2024 we can reflect and recognise that our commitment to servicing our customers with innovative and superior-quality products remains at the forefront of our business.
Our people have contributed to the success of Gray & Adams over the years. Our team are highly skilled professionals and care about our customers. We are thrilled to celebrate some retiral and long service career achievements in this edition, all of whom have added value over their years with us and we thank them for their loyalty and commitment. On pages 12-14, we celebrate the retirement of John Donn, Willie McRobbie, Charles Cameron, Kathleen Burgess and Brian Irvine.
We also celebrate the 25-year, long service of Gary McKenzie (page 15). We also shine a spotlight on the Line Manager, Mark McKinnon, as we learn more about his role and responsibilities on page 24. Enjoy a spotlight on our Fridge Department on page 6, where we speak to Michael Greening, the Fridge Shop Department Line Manager who has been with Gray & Adams for almost 20 years.
As always, at the heart of our business, is our loyal customers, many of whom have worked with us for decades. We have the pleasure of featuring our partnership with GXO Costa on pages 4 and 5, Cluny Fish on page 9, Martin Brower on pages 20 and 21, and a case study from Stirling Potatoes on Pages 22 and 23.
In this edition, we celebrate the success of investing heavily in our staff at Gray & Adams to ensure continuous improvement. Five Dunfermline managers and team leaders committed to training and HSE excellence by completing the IOSH Managing the Workplace Safely course to create a team of Health and Safety Champions (page 9).
We are proud to have developed many young engineers and skilled tradespersons over the years and are committed to supporting young people. This year we celebrate the success of achieving the ‘Young Person's Guarantee’ through our support to DYW (pages 10 and 11).
On pages 16 to 18, we spoke to industry legend, Hamish Balfour, as he told us the story of Shetland Transport, and how Gray & Adams were able to complement his business over the years. We also highlight an industry legend get-together, where we had welcomed Tommy Gibb and Daniel Stewart to our HQ for a factory tour (page 19).
As part of our CSR strategy, we are proud to offer support to the local communities that we work within as part of our commitment to our heritage as a family business and our colleagues who live and work in the areas. Page 7 celebrates our support of Thornesians RUFC, where Gray & Adams Doncaster, Draughtsperson, Andrew Evans is the current Director of Rugby.
As we enter the second half of 2024, we would like to extend gratitude to our staff, customers and suppliers for their unwavering commitment to Gray & Adams.
James
Gray OBE and Peter Gray OBE
Joint Managing Directors
At Gray & Adams, we have an impressive customer portfolio and have developed refrigerated rigids for some of the UK’s and Europe’s best-known companies. All our rigids are constructed to precise and detailed customer specifications with strict adherence to the customer’s requirement for safe operation, low noise and minimal environmental impact.
Founded in London by Italian brothers Sergio and Bruno Costa in 1971, Costa Coffee is present in 45 countries around the world, with 2,800+ coffee shops in the UK & Ireland and 1,100+ globally.
Gray & Adams work in collaboration with Petit Forestier Group and GXO to meet the bespoke needs of customer, Costa.
Over the years, Gray & Adams has created a number of contracts with this partnership, but this particular contract was unique in specification and also is the first large contract, requiring a batch of 62 vehicles.
There was a major focus on delivery for this contract as the customer was using these vehicles to combine subcontractors’ delivery alongside a 3.5T delivery, into one singular delivery. The aim being, to improve efficiency, limit traffic and in turn reduce emissions.
Gray & Adams (along with GXO and Petit Forestier), designed and constructed a batch of 62,14T vehicles for Costa Coffee. Gray & Adams took an innovative approach with this vehicle design, adding bespoke specifications which are beneficial to inner-city driving.
The rigid bodywork is fitted with an eco-friendly, multitemperature electric TRS fridge unit from Carrier. As a result, the vehicle delivers fewer carbon emissions, aligning with Gray & Adams goal to decrease CO2 emissions, ensuring long-term sustainability and minimal environmental impact.
A 360-degree camera system which is fully DVS compliant was also fitted to the rigid. This not only helps with security but enhances safety when the vehicle is being manoeuvred through tight city streets.
The bodies incorporate a number of specific safety and security features due to the nature of the goods being transported within city centres.
The most bespoke element for the customer was the external side guards. Gray & Adams fitted sliding guide guards with underbody racking. This unique design allows for the safe opening of side guards, preventing endangerment of the public and allowing for safe operation on the side of the road. The side guards have also been created in a high-visibility yellow colour for safe inner-city driving.
Another bespoke element for this vehicle was an internal rear compartment, allowing loading from the rear. By unloading from an internal sliding door, safe unloading can be ensured.
Gray & Adams designed a number of elements for the underbody, including racking for the waste, external lighting for safe unloading and vehicle checks, and sack barrow storage.
An internal rear frozen compartment pod with a sliding door was included to allow for loading from the rear from a loading bay, ensuring safe unloading on the roadside. It also has an easily expandable lane length to allow for additional product. An additional rear air curtain is also positioned in the pod to reduce temperature loss.
The specification included racking on both sides of the vehicle to store 24 waste totes, enabling stores to remove waste with the same vehicles.
Gray & Adams has built a solid reputation for over 65 years for delivering outstanding quality across all its products and this rigid is no different.
From the exceptional build quality of our refrigerated rigids to the quality of our people and service, we have built a solid relationship with Costa, with our products now making up a large percentage of their UK fleet.
With Costa’s reputation, Gray & Adams was determined to deliver beyond customer expectations in terms of quality, innovative design and value for money.
Our customer says:
“Gray
& Adams delivered the project exactly on time without issues, enabling the end user to start a new contract.”
– Petit Forestier
“By
providing a fantastic engineering solution of sliding side guards for our drivers, they are able to work safely on the side of the road.”
– GXO
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 Fridge Department.
Michael Greening, the Fridge Shop department Line Manager has been with Gray & Adams for almost 20 years, hitting the 20-year milestone in November. We spoke to Michael who has allowed us an insight into the Fridge Department at Fraserburgh.
Michael tells us,
“During my time at Gray & Adams, I have worked in various parts of the business, building up my knowledge and expertise, and leading me into my current position of Fridge Shop Line Manager. I am responsible for overseeing a team of 14 employees, consisting of skilled operators and apprentices. A typical day-to-day for me includes being responsible for ensuring that the correct fridge units are fitted in line with customer requirements and that all corresponding equipment such as trackers, recorders, solar panels and temperature gauges are fitted accurately.
At Gray & Adams, our team of Piping Operators are qualified as certified F Gas users. This allows the team to braise pipework - connecting fridge units to evaporators and vacuuming out the system before letting the refrigerant gas in. The Gray & Adams innovation has allowed us to now work with hydrogen braising machinery which reduces the need to move heavy gas bottles within the workspace, which is more environmentally and user-friendly.
Our team works incredibly hard to ensure that our client specifications are met, delivered on time and are of a high-quality standard.”
As part of our CSR strategy, Gray & Adams offers support to the local communities that we work within as part of our commitment to our heritage as a family business and our colleagues who live and work in the areas. It is important to us that we support causes and events that are close to our employees’ hearts and that we do what we can to make a difference in the community.
Andrew Evans, Draughtsperson at Gray & Adams Doncaster, is the current Director of Rugby at Thornesians RUFC and was tasked with getting some new shirt sponsors for the 2023/24 season. Thornesians RUFC is very much a local communitybased club, running two senior male sides and three girls’ sides (U14, U16 & U18), the club also has a strong mini-junior section ranging from U6 up to U17.
Andrew tells us,
“I approached Andrew Brown before the beginning of last season to see what the chances were for Gray & Adams to sponsor my rugby club. I told him about the successes of our previous season, getting promoted into the next tier of rugby and also winning ‘The Yorkshire Vase’, which is a knockout competition that takes place during the season. I was delighted when Andrew Brown confirmed Gray & Adams would take shirt sponsorship for the Thornesians RUFC 2023/24 season.
Speaking as the Director of Rugby at Thornesians RUFC, it is without a doubt that our sponsors have made a huge contribution to the past season, ensuring that the club was financially viable to allow all teams to get the necessary equipment, medical supplies and support to maintain a good level of rugby throughout the season.”
Thornesians RUFC invited all of their sponsors to the clubhouse for a pre-match meal and presentation on the 16th of March where each sponsor was presented with a framed shirt, as a small token of thanks.
Cluny Fish are a family-run smokehouse in Buckie, offering a wide variety of fresh, local and exotic food. The company was established in 1969 satisfying local and surrounding areas with a selection of locally caught fish from the Moray Firth, one of the most progressive ports in Scotland at the time.
In 1972 they mastered the art of curing fresh Scottish salmon. Instead of using spices, they made a name for themselves by curing salmon with Rum or Scotch Whisky, along with other ingredients like sugar, carried out over oak fires. To this day they are still sourcing the very best salmon from the Shetlands, for a world audience.
Operating at a very high standard, they only select the best raw materials which expert staff handle with utmost care. Their commitment is to ensure that they provide the very best products in the best possible condition, which extends into their delivery process.
The relationship with Gray & Adams began in 1981 when Cluny Fish wanted to move away from outsourcing third-party logistic solutions, as the business grew to regain more control over delivery standards internally. They ordered a fleet of 7 1/2 tonne trucks from Dunfermline, they continued the relationship, taking delivery of a refrigerated truck last year.
Louie Patterson, owner of Cluny Fish, comments, “Commitment
to customer service, product safety, hygiene and quality always takes top priority. In the last 24 months, we have made a considerable investment in both the smokehouse and developing a new shellfish product offering. Working with Gray & Adams in providing refrigerated solutions helps us maintain these uncompromising service standards.”
Louie continues,
“Working with John Burnett is always a pleasure, and we are excited to develop our fleet as the business grows over the next 12 months.”
For over 65 years, Gray & Adam’s expert teams have been the key to our success, placing huge importance on HSE and training.
Training is of huge importance at Gray & Adams and represents a good opportunity for employees to grow their knowledge base and improve their job skills to provide greater career satisfaction and a more productive workplace. With a variety of training methods, such as on-the-job training, instructor-led training, product knowledge training and online courses, we aim to provide our employees with opportunities to succeed in their personal and professional lives.
At our Dunfermline depot, three managers and two team leaders have recently successfully completed a Managing the Workplace Safely course. As a commitment to the well-being of our employees, Gray & Adams is deeply dedicated to health & safety excellence. With people at the heart of our success, we must provide a safe working environment by educating our staff on policies and procedures that will allow them to carry out their work safely. By completing this course, they are provided with the necessary knowledge needed to be responsible for the health and safety of others in the workplace.
We would like to congratulate Jack Byron, Kevin Soutar, Mark McKinnon, Sean Byron and Kyle Hegg for successfully completing the IOSH Managing the Workplace Safely course. These five employees have committed to training & HSE excellence by kicking off an initiative in Advanced Safety Auditing, which involves each of them doing one safety audit per month in an area outwith their normal place of work.
“Safety culture isn’t built overnight, but with the right initiatives you can close in on excellence easily and reliably, and that’s what we do at Gray & Adams. Through our commitment to HSE and training, we enhance the competence of our employees, creating a team of Health and Safety Champions.”
– Derek Murray, General Manager, Dunfermline
“Gray & Adams are delighted and proud to support the Developing the Young Workforce scheme (DYW)
Gaining this Young Person’s Guarantee pledge aligns perfectly with the opening of our new training centre and shows our commitment to continue supporting the young people within our community.
We already work closely with the local schools and colleges and provide work experience for students. This gives them a great understanding of what work life is like and gives them the opportunity to gain long term employment in a unique manufacturing industry and of course will give them the opportunity to study and complete a modern-day apprenticeship in a variety of different disciplines across the business.
Gray & Adams has a history of providing opportunities to young people and knows how important it is to the business. It very much forms part of our commitment to continually improve the organisation year on year.
The Developing the Young Workforce scheme (DYW) plays a key part in the delivery of the Young Person’s Guarantee. This scheme will make it easier for Gray & Adams to connect with young people in schools and colleges across Scotland.
We believe it’s a team effort to support young people to prepare for the world of work and through DYW, Gray & Adams can work in partnership with education to provide young people with understanding and develop the skills they need to be successful.
Gray & Adams are fortunate to have a high number of staff who are long serving employees, they will be able to mentor, share their knowledge, workmanship and experience with these young people.
Apprenticeships are not only valuable for our young people, but they are also key for Gray & Adams and we will continue to invest in our workforce and provide the skills our industry needs for both now and in the future.”
– David Smith, Group Quality Manager
“In today’s dynamic business landscape, the quest for talent has evolved beyond traditional recruitment methods. At Gray & Adams, we recognise the critical role that young professionals play in shaping the future of our industry. That’s why we are proud supporters of Scotland’s Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) initiative, a visionary framework designed to bridge the gap between education and employment.
The DYW initiative embodies our commitment to nurturing talent from diverse backgrounds and empowering the next generation of leaders. It aligns perfectly with our core values of innovation, collaboration, and sustainability, paving the way for a more inclusive and prosperous future.
One of the key pillars of DYW is its focus on providing young people with meaningful work experiences and apprenticeship opportunities. These initiatives not only equip them with practical skills but also instil a sense of purpose and ambition early in their careers. By actively participating in DYW programmes, Gray & Adams not only fulfils its corporate social responsibility but also enriches our workforce with fresh perspectives and innovative ideas.
Moreover, the Young Persons Guarantee under DYW ensures that every young person aged 16-24 in Scotland has the opportunity to engage in education, training, or work. This guarantee promotes equality of opportunity and fosters a skilled workforce that can adapt to the evolving demands of our industry.
At Gray & Adams, we have witnessed firsthand the transformative impact of investing in young talent. Through structured apprenticeships, mentorship programmes, and collaborative partnerships with educational institutions, we are nurturing the leaders of tomorrow. Our commitment to DYW underscores our belief in the power of education, training, and continuous learning as fundamental elements of personal and professional development.
As we navigate the complexities of a post-pandemic world, the importance of nurturing talent routes has never been more pronounced. By embracing the DYW initiative, Gray & Adams not only strengthens its competitive advantage but also contributes to the socioeconomic growth of our communities. We invite fellow industry leaders, educators, and other stakeholders to join us in this journey towards building a brighter future for Scotland’s youth. Together, let’s harness the potential of the DYW initiative to create sustainable opportunities, drive innovation, and inspire the next generation of trailblazers. Because when we invest in young people today, we invest in a prosperous tomorrow.”
– Vikki Robson, Group HR Manager
Gray & Adams said goodbye to long-serving employee John Donn on the 9th August 2024. John was based at our Fraserburgh HQ and has worked for Gray & Adams for the last 48 years. We caught up with John 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?
Completion Line Manager. My day-to-day involved preparing trailers for quality inspection and coordinating final inspection lists, ensuring all customer and legal requirements were met.
What did you do before you came to Gray & Adams and why did you want to work for the company?
I went to Gray & Adams straight from school. It was a reputable local company where I could serve my time.
What was your biggest achievement while working for Gray & Adams?
To see the company grow from a local firm to a market leader. When I started there was only one building, and I have seen constant growth and development of the site over the 48 years. At the age of 25, I was appointed manager of the Panel Shop and have since managed the assembly and completion departments.
What did you enjoy most about working for Gray & Adams?
I’ve enjoyed working for a progressive company who are continually trying to improve the product to meet customer expectations but most of all I’ve enjoyed the time spent with my workmates and the friendships made.
What are your plans for retirement?
I’m planning to spend more time with my family, both old and young and pottering about - getting everyone’s jobs done and volunteering more at my church.
Charles Cameron – 50 Years Service
Charles Cameron retired on 17th June 2024, which was, to the day, 50 years of service to Gray & Adams. This is a remarkable achievement and we are grateful for the years of hard work Charlie gave the company, as well as the wealth of knowledge and experience he has passed down to younger generations.
James and Peter Gray would like to thank John and Charles for their commitment to the company and wish them all the best in their retirement going forward.
James commented,
“All together the retirees gave us 197 years service which is unprecedented in the companies history on their retirement.”
Gray & Adams said goodbye to long-serving employee William McRobbie on the 18th July 2024. William was based at our Fraserburgh HQ and has worked for Gray & Adams for the last 30 years. We caught up with William 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?
l worked on the assembly line building vans. I’ve worked there for 20 years then I moved about for a while through different departments doing lots of various jobs, before moving to the transport department. My daily routine was whatever needed doing that day then I moved to doing security fencing for the company and lots of other maintenance. I have done many other jobs in the yard over the last three years before retiring this year.
What did you do before you came to Gray & Adams and why did you want to work for the company?
Before my time at Gray & Adams, I worked at St Fergus gas terminal for 7 years as a contractor, then I went to work for Gray & Adams which was a very good opportunity at the time.
What was your biggest achievement while working for Gray & Adams?
I started as a labourer on the van assembly line and after gaining the required skills including operating an overhead crane, and becoming a team leader.
What did you enjoy most about working for Gray & Adams?
Being able to work with a team of people and providing a really good standard of work that gave me an opportunity to lead and to pass on the experience to my team and watch them grow in skills and confidence which gave me the most satisfaction in my job.
What are your plans for retirement?
I am looking forward to enjoying life and being able to have more time for hobbies.
Kathleen Burgess, Stores Office Administrator, worked for Gray & Adams before her retirement in July 2024. We would like to thank Kathleen for her many years of continued support and service to Gray & Adams and wish her well in her retirement.
James and Peter Gray would like to thank Willie and Kathleen for their commitment to the company and wish them all the best in their retirement going forward.
Gray & Adams said goodbye to long-serving employee Brian Irvine on the 19th of July 2024. Brian was based at our Fraserburgh HQ and has worked for Gray & Adams for the last 23 years. We caught up with Brian 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?
My job was driver shunter, ensuring trailers were moved around to the right department when called for by the managers. I also worked in a team loading the pre-finished containers onto the chassis every day, and making sure that we got trailers in at 5pm for the night shift to work on.
What did you do before you came to Gray & Adams and why did you want to work for the company?
I left school at 16 and did an apprenticeship with Gray & Adams on coach building enjoying all the different things involved such as welding, and joinery taught by Johnny Buchan / Robbie Strachan two great guys. I left after nine years to pull trailers around the UK. I did that for 18 years, but there was always a part of me that wanted to go back to Gray & Adams. I wanted to work there as I had many friends still there. I also enjoyed the work that was done at Gray & Adams and I wanted to be a proud part of a team that produces a quality product.
What was your biggest achievement while working for Gray & Adams?
What sticks in my mind as an apprentice, if I’m right the first double-deck trailer was for AJ Logan of Kilbirnie and we probably re-made it a few times to get it perfect.
What did you enjoy most about working for Gray & Adams?
I found it easy to speak with my employers, I found this helped with the loss of my brother recently. I also enjoyed the many friends that I have made over the years alongside being part of a team that does a good job
What are your plans for retirement?
My retirement plans are to keep active and be involved in many ongoing community things. I want to be there to help family and many good friends in any way I can, and come in past Gray & Adams for coffee and a blether!
James and Peter Gray would like to thank Brian for his commitment to the company and wish him all the best in his retirement going forward.
At Gray & Adams, we are proud of our people, and we work hard to attract and retain talented individuals. As a result, we have a number of valued team members who have worked for the business for many years.
In this edition, we speak to Gary McKenzie who has been with Gray & Adams for 25 years and works as a Manufacturing Operative in the doors department in Fraserburgh.
What is your role at Gray & Adam’s and what are your day-to-day responsibilities?
I work in the doors department and have done so since I started 25 years ago. My daily duties involve fitting doors and locking the assembly to rear frames, fitting roller doors to frames and helping out with any odd jobs that need doing.
What brought you to Gray & Adams, and what has kept you there for so long?
Funnily enough, I wanted to be a joiner when I left school, but it never panned out. I then got an interview with Gray & Adams and have been here ever since. Working with a good bunch of guys day to day and enjoying the work I do, has meant that I’ve never needed to look elsewhere.
What has been your biggest achievement while working for Gray & Adams?
My biggest achievement has simply been being able to get along with and work with a lot of different guys over the years. Obviously, reaching 25 years is quite a good achievement too.
If you could do someone else’s job (at Gray & Adams) for the day, whose would it be and why?
Although I’d be willing to try a different job, I’m honestly happy in my current position at Gray & Adams.
What is the best thing about working for Gray & Adams?
The best thing about the job is the people that I work with daily, having a laugh at work makes the days fly by. No two jobs are the same either so the job never gets too repetitive. The fact that Gray & Adams is local to me is also a big bonus.
Shetland Transport, founded in 1983 by Hamish Balfour, provided freight forwarding services throughout the UK and Europe, primarily transporting fresh fish under temperaturecontrolled conditions from the Shetland and Orkney islands via Aberdeen to the mainland UK. The company started with a handful of employees, alongside 4/5 trailers, a 7 1/2 tonne rigid and a delivery van. The company grew over the years and by the time Hamish was ready to retire, he had 66 employees, 40 vehicles and 130 trailers.
“When Shetland Transport first started, there wasn’t a lot of industry in Shetland for return loads out. In 1977 roll-on/roll-off ferry services to Aberdeen started and soon after this launch I had the good fortune to get shares in a new-start company, Shet Link, and I was able to get ships to Shetland three times a week. At this time there were only three ferry services a week and as the years have passed it has increased to daily services.
I moved to the Scottish Mainland in 1979 and decided to get some experience under my belt, so I pretty much drove a truck for 4 years to get knowledge of the industry and experience. I lived in the Aberdeenshire area from 1979 until 1983 when I decided to start Shetland Transport.
I first met Jim Gray Snr in 1978, however, it wasn’t until around 12-18 months before I started Shetland Transport, myself and fellow director, travelled to Fraserburgh to first meet with Jim Gray Snr and discuss the Gray & Adams and the industry. Then only after 1983 and starting Shetland Transport, things really started to come about, and our need for trailers, and good quality ones, became apparent.
Fresh produce and supermarkets were not as big as they are today and the only thing coming out of Shetland was frozen white fish, and even this was limited in volume that could be generated. In the mid-80s the Norwegians arrived to the Shetlands, having had success on the West Coast of Scotland farming salmon, they brought this to the Shetlands too.
The salmon industry in Shetland now makes up around 35-40% of total Salmon in the UK. The growth of the salmon industry in Shetland brought opportunities for return loads which meant we had to invest in refrigerated trailers. In 2000 we had around 50 trailers, with 35-40 of those being refrigerated. At this time we had some Gray & Adams trailers, but the majority of our fleet was second-hand, due to managing finances for our growth at that time.
Hamish continues,
The aquaculture industry has been a big support to the economy of Shetland, and massively helped Shetland Transport’s growth. The salmon industry gave us volume and then we started to enjoy the increase in mussels, with Shetlands now accounting for 80% of Scotland’s mussel tonnage.
Today the aquaculture industry is spread across a variety of species including white fish, salmon, mussels, and pelagic fish. Herring, mackerel and white fish were the basis of the aquaculture industry and over the years it expanded with the addition of farmed salmon and mussels.”
The mackerel industry boomed in 1970’s, with Japan being one of the biggest customers, alongside European and Baltic states. While this is typically dominated by the Norwegians, the mackerel and pelagic industry also required a tonnage that would travel by road to the UK mainland and sometimes into France or Germany we were fortunate enough to have exclusive transport of that.
There are two fish markets in Shetland, one in the capital, Lerwick, which is on the east side and one on the west side at Scalloway. The Shetlands need two markets to sell fish because of the harsh weather conditions.
In the 90s, the people who were responsible for selling the fish at these markets set up an electronic auction, where you could be anywhere in the world and buy from either fish market. The electronic addition to Shetland's fish markets was a huge plus factor. Before the electronic auction, we were working with the markets face to face and through determination, I was able to get all the work off the two fish markets, allowing me to purchase more trailers from Gray & Adams to fulfil the work.
Every day between 16 and 20 of our trailers would make the 12-hour, overnight crossing to and from Aberdeen, or between the Orkneys and the mainland, a journey that typically takes up to eight hours, but can take as long as 14 hours in poorer weather conditions.
Hamish continues,
Our depot in Aberdeen, allowed us to send our trailers unaccompanied and without a tractor unit across the water from the Shetlands. This base allowed us the flexibility of tractor units to pull the trailers and came at a better price than transporting tractor and trailer together. As our trailers were unaccompanied, they were required to be chained down, and with the poor weather comes a strain on the build of a trailer. I worked closely with Gray & Adams on this over a number of years, even having Peter Gray with me on the ferry, on a rough weather night might I add. This allowed Peter to understand what we needed to achieve within the specification. From this came the ‘ferry spec’ which Gray & Adams still use today.
The Gray & Adams insuliners also benefitted us over the years. We took a number of trailers to our original spec, and having used them for a number of years, we were able to recognise where tweaks were required. For example, due to the salty air in the North of Scotland, we recognised the need for stainless steel to prevent rusting. We always stayed with Gray & Adams for our repairs as we believed that our best advert was our vehicles, and Gray & Adams allowed us to keep our vehicles in a first-class condition.
In 2017 I sold Shetland Transport to Shipping and Logistics Group DFDS. I recognised the growth of Shetland Transport, and wanted to have a plan to ensure my employees were looked after. DFDS acquired all shares and took control of the Aberdeen, Glasgow & Shetland depots. I stayed on as Managing Director for a number of years after the acquisition to ensure a smooth transitional period and stepped back from the role and retired in 2022.
I have since been enjoying retired life, getting the chance to do things that I never would have had the opportunity to do before. Being a founder and managing director, my weeks and weekends were always busy with work, so it is nice to enjoy the free time trying new thing and spending more time with my children and grandchildren.”
– Hamish Balfour, Founder, Shetland Transport
We were delighted to welcome industry legends, Tommy Gibb & Daniel Stewart to our headquarters in Fraserburgh on the 17th of July for a gettogether and factory tour.
Tommy Gibb was the Managing Director of Gibbs of Fraserburgh until his retirement in 2002 when Gibbs concluded the business. Over the years Gibbs of Fraserburgh invested in a number of Gray & Adams trailers, Tommy notes, “They were always the most reliable, they build them to our specification.”
In Gibbs’ prime, the company was purchasing five new tractors and three new containers a year. Gibb purchased his trailers from Gray & Adams, as we were next door to them in Fraserburgh. Gray & Adams is proud to have built trailers for Gibbs of Fraserburgh over the years, from their first tipper wagon to insulated vans and fridges.
Daniel Stewart has been a dear friend and customer of the Gray family since first meeting Jim Gray Snr in 1963. Daniel began his own business after leaving the forces, doing deliveries for local businesses. The business was doing well, and the company grew over a number of years. In 1968, there were changes in the industry and Daniel sold his business to Christian Salvesen but remained Managing Director. 16 years later, the business had grown to 550 vehicles and nine depots, and Salvesen was a big customer of Gray & Adams. Following Daniel’s move from Salvesen to Corby Transport, another transporter of refrigerated goods, Daniel remained in close contact with Gray & Adams.
Daniel brought his family into the Corby Transport business, and when his son became MD he confessed,
“I told him that he must only buy from Gray & Adams as there is no better product on the market. Gray & Adams are very proud of the long-term partnership, business and friendship with Daniel over the years, and enjoying meeting up to discuss innovations in the industry.”
Daniel continues,
“In 2018, Gray & Adams nominated me for a Lifetime Achievement Award at the TCS&D awards and I was delighted to have won. It was a very proud moment for me. I am now retired but I still have a keen interest in the industry and remain close to the Gray family to this day.”
We are grateful for the long-standing partnerships that Gray & Adams has with Tommy Gibb and Daniel Stewart and were delighted to welcome them to our headquarters.
For 90 years, Martin Brower has been a strategic supply chain partner to the world’s leading brands. Offering smart, sustainable solutions to help partners see around corners, avoid obstacles and build stronger, more resilient end-to-end supply chains.
Having developed a long-term and trusted relationship with Gray & Adams, they once again turned to our team to build an environmentally conscious solution to the UK roads.
This 11.5m urban command trailer features a unique tri-lane layout that allows 3 temperature regimes to be carried fully independently on the trailer. This not only reduces the risk of an accidental misload and damage to the product but also ensures greater driver safety by allowing the product to be removed from the back via the tail lift.
The trailer features a tri-deck command steer system which allows for safer manoeuvring in restaurant car parks and public areas.
The trailer also has the advantage of being able to carry larger loads thus reducing the total carbon impact of the operation.
The trailer also features the following safety devices; there is a specific tail lift loading crew light for operation early in the morning or late at night, it also includes four scene lights which allow the pooling of light around the trailer so the driver can safely observe any people or obstacles in periods of poor light or at night. The trailer is also equipped with a reversing camera and brigade reversing alarm for safety.
The electric standby is fitted at the rear and features an interlock valve so that the vehicle cannot be driven away with the standby plugged in.
The Dhollandia column tail lift has a power closure function to assist operators and reduce the potential of back injury as well as featuring full vertical protection buffers to prevent damage to the tail lift during loading.
With reference to the customers’ environmental standards, the trailer includes an extra 240-litre fuel tank for recovery of used cooking oil which is later processed into biodiesel. There are also a number of barrel carriers on the trailer to allow packaging and food recycling from restaurant outlets.
The used cooking oil tank is filled by a built-in pumping system that can withdraw the oil from the restaurant outlets.
Martin Brower has been working with Gray & Adams for almost 30 years and in that time, has built a strong partnership based on trust, quality and a shared synergy around keeping quality at the heart of their service.
Gray & Adams has had a hand in building many of Martin Brower’s refrigerated fleet.
With Gray & Adams having won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation in 2020 for its double deck trailers, the business went on to develop an evolved partnership with Carrier Transicold which has the potential to significantly move the whole industry forward towards a greener future.
In 2021, through close collaboration with Carrier, the businesses worked together to collectively bring the first ever fully electric trailer to UK roads: The Vector eCool.
The Vector eCool, the UK’s first all-electric refrigerated trailer system was fitted to a new 13.6-metre demonstrator trailer to showcase the cutting-edge technology to a range of cold chain customers throughout the industry in 2021.
With sustainability and greener solutions as a strong focus for the automotive sector in general, and Martin Brower in particular, this innovation offers a new, carbon-reducing solution to an industry-wide problem.
“Whenever we have a challenge to solve, or an innovation we’d like to incorporate into our fleet, we will speak to Gray & Adams to come up with a workable solution – they help us to engineer problems out of our trailers as often as they help us to incorporate a new feature, and they always have one eye on incremental improvements too.”
Gray & Adams began working with Martin Brower’s to build the tailor-made triple temperature trailer with a Vector eCool engine to its detailed specifications to ensure maximum value from the investment.
From the outset, Gray & Adams worked to maximise the environmental benefits of the eCool system on the trailer itself. The tri-axle trailer features aerodynamic cappings to reduce drag, whilst bespoke sideguards allow access to the battery system. Even with the axle generator and battery pack, it is lighter than a standard diesel unit with a full tank of fuel.
In terms of the electric refrigeration system, the Vector eCool utilises a new energy recovery and storage system which converts the kinetic energy generated by the trailer axle into electricity, which is then stored in a battery pack powering the refrigeration unit. When at depot the trailer is plugged in to recharge.
The significant reduction in carbon emissions from the refrigeration system was a key factor in the purchasing decision as it clearly supports Martin Brower’s sustainability strategy and net zero ambitions.
With a quieter engine, the reduction in noise pollution also adds value to Martin Brower’s urban delivery operations, and the experience of its customers, by creating less noise as the vehicle makes deliveries in urban areas.
With a reputation built over 65 years in operation and a tried and tested experience of its products, Martin Brower believes that Gray & Adams builds one of the best refrigerated trailers on the market, with a quality that is built to last.
From the exceptional build quality of our refrigerated trailers to the quality of our people and service, we have been able to maintain a collaborative relationship with Martin Brower that has stood the test of time. We understand the intensity of the Martin Brower business, design and deliver exceptional products and provide outstanding back-up support when needed.
Our products have been tried and tested by Martin Brower and the feedback shows that the product really serves its time, with durability and lifespan which ensures the best value for money from its investment. As part of our commitment to continuous improvement, we make sure our products and services evolve alongside our customer operations.
The carbon-busting environmental impact of the eCool, combined with the quality of the build, ensures that this innovation offers Martin Brower a product to help them meet their ambitious sustainability targets.
Gray & Adams is also proud to have ISO9001 certification and use this as the basis of all quality policies and processes to ensure a high standard and the continuous improvement of our products and services.
What Our Customer Says:
“I believe that Gray & Adams make the best trailers in the marketplace and our fleet engineers and drivers are always excited when they arrive. We also get great feedback from our distribution centres which allows me to go home feeling like I’ve made a positive difference and that’s what it’s all about for me.
I’m a massive fan of Gray & Adams’ work. They provide us with the right kit for the job every time. We get a lifetime of value from their products and services, and they make me look good to my team, which is a bonus!”
Angus-based company, Stirling Potatoes, like Gray & Adams, is a family-run business. The Upper Dysart Farm has been home to the Stirling family for four generations, as they have farmed there for over 30 years. Managing Director, Andrew Stirling runs the operation alongside his wife Anita, and their children Jessica, Hannah and James.
At Upper Dysart Farm, the family farms potatoes, vegetables and cereals, as well as processing and packing this produce, before it is supplied to retail. Andrew bought over the business in 2008 and it has been on a constant upward curve since then. The company began supplying to schools, hospitals, care homes and in majority public sector in its early days and has now expanded into supplying and packing Aldi’s potatoes in Scotland. Stirling Potatoes learned how to cook and supply ready-meal companies on a large scale, providing a 30+ day shelf life, unlike any other product. This innovative product has allowed the company to create highquality, honest, home-style products, sealing in the good nutrients of the farm fresh produce without unnecessary additives.
Managing Director, Andrew, first saw innovative technology being used during visits to processing facilities in Sweden and Germany. Realising it could provide the family with produce to sell via a vending machine at their own farm shop, as well as offer retailers a way to cut waste, he invested in the packing technology, as well as an on-farm production line that can pack 500 packs every hour. Unlike any other products in the market, Stirling Potatoes has an advantage with massive food waste saving and packing waste saving for retailers, drastically cutting the amount of food sent to landfill.
Stirling Potatoes had been aware of the Gray & Adams name and reputation in the industry. When the time came to replace his truck, the company that was supplying the chassis also recommended Gray & Adams. Andrew, knowing the reputation of Gray & Adams bodywork as being of the highest quality, decided to choose Gray & Adams to work with.
The company opted for a 26-tonne truck specification, the aim being to replace their two previous trucks with one. Stirling Potatoes wanted to streamline the use of the vehicle and combat the challenge of load size and drivers. To allow for one larger vehicle reduces staff requirements and also allows for larger loads to be transported to multiple retailers.
Stirling Potatoes Managing Director, Andrew tells us,
“Gray & Adams provided excellent customer service. They were very approachable and understanding. I knew what I wanted from them, and they made the process very easy. They were great to work with”.
Stirling Potatoes has been going from strength to strength over the last number of years, introducing innovations in product and technology. When asked about the future plans of Stirling Potatoes and Upper Dysart Farm, Andrew tells us,
“Following on from our successes, I am eager to grasp every opportunity I can and run with it. I am invested in finding innovative solutions in my own industry to better our business and appreciate the shared value of innovative excellence in Gray & Adams. I am grateful for the relationship we have built and the further understanding of the trailer industry they have provided me. I look forward to seeing where I can take my business and wouldn’t hesitate to use Gray & Adams again in the future”.
In this edition of our staff spotlight, we speak with Mark McKinnon who has been working with Gray & Adams in our Dunfermline depot for 16 Years.
What is your role at Gray & Adams and tell me about your day-to-day responsibilities?
I recently gained promotion into the position of Line Manager, with responsibilities for chassis preparation, rear doors and tail lifts. Our team prepare three chassis per day, complete three sets of doors and fit three tail lifts, all within the hours of the dayshift.
I have twenty-two people in my team and I am assisted by four team leaders who help me ensure our plan is completed on schedule each day.
brought you to Gray & Adams?
I had heard about Gray & Adams and had seen the products produced on the road. I felt that my mechanical and welding skills would be beneficial when manufacturing with the company. I am very proud of the work we do in Dunfermline, but also take pride when seeing the quality produced by other depots, when on motorways or in town.
What has been your biggest achievement while working for Gray & Adams?
My biggest achievement has been attaining the role of Manager, being successful in gaining an ILM Level 3 award and passing an IOSH Course in managing the workplace safely. Integrating young people safely into the department over the last year has also been an achievement we are all proud of. I have two sons, Kieran and Aiden who are both at Gray & Adams with me and I strongly believe that young people are the future.
If you could do someone else’s job (at Gray & Adams) for the day, whose would it be and why?
I am not shy to admit I have ambition someday to be the manager with responsibility for all production, but that would be more than just a day. I’m fine doing what I do for now and have no wish for Graham to retire that quickly!
What is the best thing about working for Gray & Adams?
That’s a hard one, as there are so many things I could list. For me though, it’s the trust Gray & Adams have in me, empowering me to do my job motivating and guiding my team daily. It’s more than just a job for me, it is a career.
We have a tremendous team ethic here at Dunfermline, with one clear objective, to safely produce our quality products, efficiently and on schedule. There is nowhere I’d rather be!
