J.F. Charlton & Co.



Industry Leading Potato Bulkers

JF Charlton & Co. are a leading UK manufacturer of potato bulkers.

 

We are a family owned business with over 40 years manufacturing experience, during which time we have built up an outstanding reputation for high quality products and excellent customer service.

 

No customer is too small or too large, so whether you are an individual farmer looking for a single potato bulker, or a large multi-national carrier requiring multiple units we are confident that we can meet your needs.


Our Services

Our bulkers designs are customer driven.

 

Length

Standard length is 40ft, but this can be tailored to individual requirements.


Cubic Capacity

Standard cubic capacity is around 38m, but this can be increased depending upon specific bulker design and the construction materials used.

 

Insulated / Standard Panels

Standard Panels - FSC marked wood panels, sourced from Scandinavia, with a birch core and phenol coated to provide a long-lasting and durable finish.

Insulated Panels - One piece, lightweight, fully washable GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic) panels laid over a honeycomb, polymeric core.

 

Manual / Self Emptying

Manual Emptying - The operator is required to climb into the bulker and remove floor panels to empty the load.

Self Emptying - The interior is designed to allow the load to empty without requiring entry into the bulker. (The type of load being transported will determine the height of the opening.)

 

Paint Finish

​All of our bulkers are sprayed with anti-corrosive primer, followed by a choice of finish;

Standard - Single pack paint used on non-insulated bulkers.

2-Pack - An optional extra on insulated bulkers. Resins are added to the paint to give the bulker a brighter, longer lasting, and more durable finish.

 

Motors

We source our motors from Germany. They have a user-controlled, variable speed gearbox which allows the operator to gain a high degree of control whilst emptying loads.

 

Belts

We have been sourcing our vulcanised rubber belts from the same local firm for over 25 years. Certain non-standard crops (e.g. coffee beans) may require a PVC belt.

 

Fasteners

Our bulkers are designed to be fastened to trailers fitted with retractable twist-locks.

 

Tarpaulins

All of our bulkers come with a Dawbarn & Sons tarpaulin as standard. Dawbarn's are a Lincolnshire supplier whom we have been using for the past 20 years or more. Customers select their colour and whether insulation is required.


We have the UK's largest selection of potato bulkers and trailers for hire;

- manual & self-emptying

- insulated & non-insulated

- designs for carrying various crops (root veg, grains etc.)


Units are available for hire from as little as one week, or on a longer term basis.

 

PAT Testing

All potato bulkers come with an Electrical Safety Certificate for the motor.

 

Trailer MOT Certificate

All trailers come with an MOT Certificate.


Potato Bulker - Refurbish & Repair

We are able to refurbish or repair any make of bulker; from replacing damaged panels and worn out motors, through to a full blast clean and re-spray.


Trailers

We can build articulated trailers in any length 

(40ft is standard).

 

All trailers come with an MOT certificate.



Steel Fabrication

Our steel fabrication commissions are diverse, and have come from both the commercial and residential sectors.

- portal frame agricultural buildings

- RSJ beams for residential properties

- skip container

- roof frame for commercial premises

Blast Cleaning

We have a mobile sand / grit blasting machine, suitable for cleaning various types of machinery. 
 
Please get in touch to discuss your specific requirements.

Our Story

JF Charlton & Co. was established over 40 years ago when John Charlton, who at the time was a part owner of a haulage company, came across an early version of a potato bulker in a factory.

With an educational background in agricultural engineering John quickly realised that he could greatly improve upon the design, and so he purchased a small factory near Thirsk and began manufacturing his first potato bulkers.


John's designs quickly proved popular within the industry, including with the company whose potato bulker was the source of his initial inspiration.


Over subsequent years the company has continued to expand, and now operates out of a 5 acre site.





John stepped down from the day to day management of the company in the late 1990s, allowing his son Chris to take over. 


Chris graduated from Northumbria University with a B.Eng. in Manufacturing Systems Engineering and a HND in Mechanical Engineering, and has since put his academic learnings to good use by continuing to evolve the products we offer.



Sustainable Engineering

Here at JF Charlton & Co. we are aware of the negative environmental impact of some of our processes, and so continue to seek sustainable alternatives, where practical.


When John purchased the site back in the 1970s, he was already (unintentionally) ahead of the game when it came to climate change.  He planted a small woodland at the back of the site, both to satisfy his love of trees, and to screen the factory from neighbours.  He repeated this by planting trees at the entrance to the factory too.


He also added hedges down either side of the site, using thousands of bare root plants.


This planting has flourished over the years, and now deer and other mammals are a frequent sight in and around the factory's green spaces.


Many nesting birds have also made the factory grounds their home.

Chris has continued to add to the environmental practices that John introduced;

01

Wood Burning Stove

Our industrial sized stove keeps the factory heated during the colder months.

02

Reduce Reuse Recycle

The stove is fed using cardboard packaging and off-cuts of wood.

03

Wildlife Hedges

Home to many different species of nesting birds, as well as small creatures.

04

Solar Panels

Our roof area is large enough that the solar panels provide us with all of the energy that we use, with the excess being fed back into the National Grid.
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