New tech and staff triples refurbishment capacity at Hudson Kapel

Hudson Kapel has trebled its refurbishment capacity across its central UK sites after investing in new technology and growing its head count.

The company has expanded its operations at Throckmorton, Thurleigh and Norton, hiring 50 new technicians, including panel beaters, mechanics, painters and yard staff.

As revealed in April, Hudson Kapel has invested £3.5 million in the expansion of its refurbishment and remarketing services.   

With updated systems now in place, it says that vehicles can be repaired, imaged and sold from a single site, reducing delays and cutting the time between refurbishment and auction.

Digital auction tools and 360-degree imaging technology have been installed, and the upgraded workshops follow a production-style layout, with dedicated zones for body and paint, inspection, and quality control.

Each stage, from mechanical checks and smart repairs to full panel and paintwork, is handled in clearly defined bays.

Technicians use handheld devices to record defects and monitor progress, supported by a workshop management system that helps coordinate tasks efficiently.

New green rooms have also been introduced to speed up preparation and inspection, and a purpose-built wheel refurbishment facility is under development to meet rising demand.

Each vehicle follows a structured journey, beginning with service and warranty checks and followed by detailed inspections before work is approved and carried out, says Hudson Kapel.

Once complete, vehicles undergo a final quality control check using an in-house quality management system. The system tracks results and identifies areas for training.

Simon Withey, director at Hudson Kapel, said: “Our investment is focused on using innovation to offer smarter solutions and greater efficiency.

“We’re growing the business to deliver the scale and flexibility that manufacturers and fleets need.

“With the latest technology, we’ve created an integrated process that improves productivity at every stage.”

The expansion also includes increased storage capacity.