EVENTFUL YEAR FOR HIGHLAND INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES

Highland Industrial Supplies Ltd (HIS) is gearing up to celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2025, marking four decades as a major supplier of fencing and industrial supplies across Scotland, with a strong presence in the Highlands and islands.
Connor Comrie, Business Development Manager for Fencing, shared:
“In 1985, we opened our first store in Inverness, the capital of the Highlands. Since then, we’ve grown to become Scotland’s largest independent retailer in our field, expanding with outlets in Fort William, Elgin, Turriff, Dundee, Perth, and Kirkwall on Orkney.”
Still run by the Mackintosh family, HIS has stayed true to its values of customer focus, honest value for money, and unmatched aftersales service.
Milestones in 2024
The past year has been pivotal for HIS, with key developments in fencing and beyond. Connor highlighted some of the major achievements:
•Perth Base Upgrade: HIS completed the concreting of its Perth branch, enhancing the retail experience for customers across Perthshire.
•Fort William Depot: The company opened a new fencing and construction depot in Fort William, expanding their reach across Lochaber and the Highlands.
•Product Introductions: Reintroduced 100m rabbit netting to the market due to customer demand. Launched the TJEP C-Ringer, a fastening tool from continental Europe that improves fence rigidity and finish, particularly for rabbit and netting solutions.
•Strainrite Partnership: HIS became an official distributor for the New Zealand fencing brand Strainrite, bringing innovative tools and solutions to Scottish contractors.
•Agricultural Expansion: Collaborations with L.M. Bateman, known for livestock handling and feeding equipment, and Welsh firm Hopkins Cattle Grids. Agriculture remains a critical part of HIS’s operations, particularly in the Highlands.
Fleet and Sustainability Initiatives
HIS has also expanded its fleet, reflecting its commitment to innovation and sustainability. It operates six lorries with mounted forkliftsfor hard-to-reach delivery areas, especially for forestry projects, and six additional lorries with lifting cranes, eliminating the need for manual offloading. A fleet of thirty delivery vans, including newly introduced electric vans, has been introduced to reduce emissions. The fleet covers 25,500 miles weekly, servicing a vast customer base and completing over one million miles annually. A helicopter bundling service has been introduced for forestry fencing projects, saving contractors significant time and money in remote areas.
Looking Ahead
“We’ve made significant strides forward in 2024, but we never stand still,” Connor emphasized. “We’re always exploring new products and brands to make life a wee bit easier for agricultural and fencing contractors.”
With its commitment to progress and innovation, HIS is poised for another eventful year in 2025.
For more information, visit: www.hisltd.co.uk