Airedale Chemical invests ?500k in its distribution fleet

West Yorkshire-based chemical manufacturer, Airedale Chemical, has invested ?500,000 in three new vehicles for its distribution fleet, placing the company in an even stronger position to deliver its own-manufactured chemicals across the UK, Northern Ireland and Europe.

The company, which uniquely provides all its own transport, has acquired a road train curtain sider to store intermediate bulk container (IBC) and packaged chemicals; one rubber-lined barrel tanker designed specifically for distributing Hydrochloric Acid and Ferric-based chemicals, and one Euro Liner which conforms to European specifications for delivering chemicals such as Phosphoric Acid.

The new vehicles reinforce Airedale Chemical’s ability to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Over the last three years, Airedale Chemical has achieved growth of 15 per cent, with a wider geographic customer base and increased demand for a broader portfolio of products. Airedale Chemical’s transport manager, Graham Bird, commented: “As the company has grown year-on-year, so has our product range and, conversely, the volume and reach of our deliveries. Meeting this demand has meant our fleet has doubled in the last 3 years and with these latest vehicle additions, it is set to continue growing.”

Moving chemicals

Bolstering Airedale Chemical’s position as a leader in both chemical manufacture and distribution, is its investment in vehicles that are designed specifically to provide controlled transportation for a range of chemicals. For example, its new rubber-lined tanker was acquired to manoeuver HCL-based chemicals including Ferric Chloride, Ferric Sulphate and Hydrochloric Acid, all of which attack stainless steel surfaces so therefore require non-corrosive storage conditions.


“Until now, we had used external haulage to transport these chemical types however, the lack of control over availability and costs prompted us to invest in our own rubber-lined tanker which gives us complete flexibility over deliveries meaning we can meet customers’ requirements instantly,” said Graham.

Another significant growth area for Airedale Chemical is Peracetic Acid: a disinfectant widely used in dairy processing, agriculture, food and beverage manufacture and water treatment. Peracetic Acid is a corrosive chemical which requires extra packaged resources; its two new tractor units are purpose-designed to transport palletised and IBC chemicals, such as Peracetic Acid, in a safe and secure way.

Transporting Airedale Chemicals’ products is a team of 23 which includes two new drivers who have been appointed off the back of the new vehicle acquisitions. All Airedale Chemical drivers are highly trained to meet International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) regulations.