A top-performing sales manager from BMW Bolton left his role last year to set up a successful alloy wheel repair business.

Frustrated with the lead times for diamond cut wheel refurbishment affecting sales at his showroom, Jamie Baxter spotted a gap in the market.

“Once the wheels are off a used car it’s going down in value for a dealer every day. You can’t test drive it, you can’t show the car to a customer, you can’t service it or photograph it,” Baxter said.

He found a company that had developed a lighter portable lathe, rather than the regular unit which weighs almost three tonnes.

“From that moment I knew I was going to walk away from my job and start up my own company,” explained Baxter.

The unit is mounted in the back of a Mercedes Sprinter van enabling Baxter to service dealers, car supermarkets, bodyshops and independent garage across the North West.

In the first year of operation DA Tech’s ‘Diamond Smart’ van service has repaired more than 2,500 diamond alloy wheels and interest from private clients has led to the investment of £100,000 in a purpose-built repair facility in Adlington.

DA Techs now has four staff and this year is planning to invest in at least one more mobile van.