Northerntrack a Sad Farewell

This is one of the saddest post’s I have had to write on this blog since its inception in 2008.

It was announced last week that Leeds based demolition and attachment manufacturers Northerntrack is shutting up shop after 34 years in business.

Managing Director and founder of the company Andy Hair has said, that in the current economic climate, it has become all but impossible for a small business to compete with the likes of auction houses and those who are importing and selling cheap overseas sourced products, so they are bowing out gracefully.

Northerntrack were well known across the industry for their superb products which were painted in the distinctive purple paintwork which had become a big part of their professional identity.

The quality of Andy’s products speak for themselves as there are so many of them out there, still doing the job for which they were created for to this day, and will be for many more years to come.

This news has struck me quite personally, as Andy is one of the good guys in the industry, he has always made time to talk to me, and made me feel very welcome for a cup of coffee whenever I was in the area, I have also had the privilege to visit Andy and his wife Sue’s home on one occasion.

Andy is the type of guy who would help anyone if he could, and I have always found him to be a man I could talk to, not only about business, but personal problems too, always with a willing ear and words of wisdom. Many years ago, I was in need of a tool to pull out a number of large tree roots and in typical fashion, Andy reached out to me, and offered to create a ripping attachment for my Hitachi ZX33U that I had at the time.

He designed and fabricated what was to become known as “The Stump Raptor” in record time and dispatched it down to me in Devon to enable me to do the job, he asked for nothing in return, just some publicity which of course I was more than happy to do for him, that is the measure of the man, always willing to help and of an extremely friendly demeanour at all times.

“Andy, whatever you decide to do next I wish you all the very best, and I hope you decide to remain in the industry as we need more Andy Hair’s in the game”.

All the very best, your friend Nick.