54 | Thwaites Diesel T T Kelly Deeks Workshop specialists key to success Thwaites Diesel has built its reputation on delivering reliable, fast-turnaround service and repair solutions across the top of the South Island. A Nelson family business that started with just three staff back in 1998 has grown into one of the region’s most trusted and capable service workshops for trucks, light commercial vehicles, and heavy machinery. Thwaites Diesel has built its reputation on delivering reliable, fast-turnaround service and repair solutions across the top of the South Island. Managing director Graeme Thwaites says the company’s one-stop-shop approach has been key to its long-standing customer relationships and continued growth. “Reliable service is what people are after,” Graeme says. “They want to drop their vehicle off and know that whatever the problem is – mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, or air-con – it’s going to be sorted. That’s what we deliver.” From their purpose-built workshop at Quarantine Industrial Park in Nelson, Thwaites Diesel offers everything from routine servicing, WOFs, and COF pre-checks, to auto-electrical diagnostics, hydraulic repairs, air-conditioning servicing, brake testing, and even light fabrication and engineering work. Thwaites Diesel’s reputation for quality has recently been further cemented with the award of a new contract to service and maintain an expanded fleet of rubbish and recycling trucks for Nelson City Council. The trucks are operated by Can Plan, a successful local waste and skip bin business that has partnered with Thwaites Diesel for nearly three decades. “This latest contract means we’re now looking after even more of their fleet long term,” Graeme says. “It’s a great example of the kind of strong customer relationships we’ve worked hard to build and maintain over the years.” Graeme’s philosophy is simple: surround yourself with good people and treat your customers the way you’d like to be treated. Some of Thwaites Diesel’s team members have been with the company since the very beginning, providing a deep well of experience and knowledge across the business. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT “Having the right people in the workshop is key,” he says. “They’re all specialists in their fields, but also able to work across a range of tasks, which is essential for offering the true onestop-shop service our customers rely on.” Over the years, Thwaites Diesel has adapted to significant changes in the industry. Graeme says advances in technology and vehicle design mean the nature of repair work has shifted. Major overhauls of engines and transmissions are now rare, with modern trucks easily achieving more than a million kilometres before requiring such work. “There’s a lot more focus now on compliance, emissions control, and electronic diagnostics,” he says. “Emission control devices, in particular, have created some real frustrations for operators, but it’s something we’re experienced at dealing with.” Thwaites Diesel’s appointment as an authorised Isuzu truck and bus service agent further strengthens its offering. The company stocks genuine Isuzu parts, invests in brand-specific diagnostic tools, and ensures its team stays up to date with the latest factory training and service protocols. The business also works closely with national truck-leasing companies, helping keep their contracted fleets in peak operating condition. For customers running mixed fleets of different makes and models, Thwaites Diesel Proudly Supporting Thwaites Diesel Nelson Ltd Full Mechanical Services Light Engineering • Tyre Services • Battery Sales & Installation As passionate car enthusiasts, we welcome vehicles of all makes and models - big or small, we do them all. Our commitment to quality & friendly service has earned us the reputation as ‘ The Best Place to Take a Leak!’ 128 Main Rd Hope, Richmond, Nelson | 03 544 1014 | rers@ts.co.nz | exhaustandradiators.co.nz
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