News

If you’ve been a customer of ours for any length of time, you’ve probably heard – or even said – the words “You’re more than just a motor factor.” 

It’s a phrase that’s echoed around our counter for years, long before we adopted it as our strapline. And honestly, it means the world to us, because it captures exactly what we’ve worked to build over more than 50 years as a family-run business.

When Sara & Keith McKenzie started the business back in 1968, the goal wasn’t simply to supply parts. It was to be helpful. To be knowledgeable. To be the place people could rely on – whether they were running a busy workshop, managing a fleet, or simply trying to get a stubborn tool or machine working again. That ethos has shaped every part of our business, and it’s why today we offer far more than people expect when they walk through our doors.

Our Range of Services: Expertise You Can Count On

One of the reasons customers tell us we’re “more than just a motor factor” is the sheer range of specialist services we provide. Over the years, we’ve invested in equipment, training, and expertise so we can support customers with jobs that require precision, certification, and technical know-how.

Some of the services we’re proud to offer include:

• AdBlue services
• Compressor maintenance and servicing
• Gas equipment testing
• Torque wrench calibration
• Chain and wire services
• Ratchet strap manufacturing
• BOC gas supply
• Brake re-lining

These aren’t the kinds of services you find everywhere, and they certainly aren’t the kinds of services you’d expect from a typical motor factor. But they’re part of what makes us who we are. Our team has decades of combined experience, and we pride ourselves on doing things properly – safely, accurately, and with the kind of care that keeps customers coming back year after year.

Our Tool Centre: Built for the Way You Work

In 2020, we doubled in size with the opening of our Tool Centre – right in the middle of one of the most challenging years any of us can remember. Despite lockdowns, supply issues, and the uncertainty of the pandemic, our team pulled together and created something we’re incredibly proud of.

Today, the Tool Centre is a modern, spacious store packed with tools, equipment, consumables, and workshop essentials. Whether you’re a DIY enthusiast, a professional engineer, or someone who simply loves good quality tools at excellent prices, you’ll find something here.

We stock:

• DIY and entry-level tools
• Professional and industrial equipment
• Workshop consumables
• One of the largest displays of toolboxes in the North
• Both new and factory-refurbished products to suit every budget
• “Internet beating” deals you won’t find online

But what really makes the Tool Centre special is the people inside it. Our team knows their stuff. They’ll talk you through options, help you compare products, and make sure you leave with exactly what you need – not just whatever’s on the shelf. That personal service is something we’ve always believed in, and it’s at the heart of everything we do.

A Family Business Built on Trust

Being family-run for over 50 years means something. It means we care about the people who walk through our doors. It means we remember faces, we remember stories, and we remember the jobs we’ve helped with.

Stuart McKenzie, Director says:

“Many of our customers have been with us for decades, and we’ve grown alongside them – adapting our services, expanding our stock, and investing in new capabilities to meet their needs.

Our team is friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about what they do. That’s why customers trust us with everything from everyday purchases to specialist testing and calibration. And it’s why they keep telling us, year after year, that we’re more than just a motor factor.”

More Than a Strapline – It’s Who We Are

“More than just a motor factor” isn’t a marketing line. It’s a reflection of what our customers have told us, and a reminder of the standard we hold ourselves to every day.

Whether you’re visiting us for a part, a tool, a calibration, or simply some advice, we’re here to help. We’re here to share our knowledge. We’re here to make sure you get the right solution. And we’re here to continue being the family-run business Carlisle has trusted for over half a century.

Because to us – and to our customers – we really are more than just a motor factor.

Whatever you’re working on next, we’re here to help. Drop into the store, give us a ring, or browse online – we’ll make sure you get what you need, right when you need it.