Carrier Rental Systems is expanding its UK operations with a major investment at its headquarters in Thorpe, Surrey.

The development includes doubling the firm’s on-site plant storage and handling capability to accommodate an expanded fleet of chillers, mobile air conditioning units, air handling units (AHUs), boilers and packaged heating systems.

Additions to the fleet include 40 state-of-the-art Carrier high efficiency chillers, in varying capacities to suit different applications in buildings and industry. The company has also invested in hundreds of portable air conditioning units and additional AHUs, to extend its ability to provide a total range of solutions at short notice.

The expansion at Thorpe will also allow room for further investment in boilers and self-contained heating systems, planned for the winter period.

This development was carried out during the peak summer period, when the company’s fleet of mobile coolers and evaporative units was out on active service in the field.

Director of CRS UK, Marc White, said: “We made use of the window during the busiest part of the season to install a new mezzanine, new lifting and handling equipment and storage systems – and completely reorganise the logistics of our operation. We now not only have a much expanded and updated fleet, but are also able to deploy it much faster.”

The Thorpe site is strategically located near London and the motorway network, with rapid access to the South and West of England and the rest of the UK.

The company’s growth plans are being supported by a network of regional sales managers, giving coverage across the country, from the South of England, through the Midlands, up to Scotland and across to Ireland.

The current development is phase one of a staged expansion by the company, with further developments planned for next year.