Following the acquisition and subsequent multi-millionpound investment in LKQ Digraph, CVW was given a look inside its impressive distribution centre.
Following its acquisition by LKQ UK and Ireland in July 2023, Digraph – now known as LKQ Digraph – is undergoing a remarkable transformation. CVW was invited to the heart of the action: a behind-the-scenes tour of the T2 distribution centre in Tamworth, a vast one million square foot facility that now powers the company’s bold ambitions in the commercial vehicle sector.
A new era for HGV logistics
With a multi-million-pound investment, LKQ Digraph is aiming to position itself as the UK’s leading distributor of HGV, coach and bus parts, while drawing on LKQ’s wider experience and capability to modernise the commercial vehicle aftermarket. Central to this strategy is a significant expansion of its branch network, including five new sites across the South and East of England by the end of 2025. These locations are a mix of greenfield branches and shared spaces with LKQ Euro Car Parts, designed to get closer to customers and respond faster to demand.
But it’s the integration into LKQ’s T2 logistics centre that’s arguably the biggest game-changer. So far, around 20,000 of LKQ Digraph’s fast-moving product lines have been brought into the site. These now benefit from overnight deliveries into branches and time-sensitive dispatches to customers – a development aimed squarely at reducing downtime for fleet operators.
An additional £200,000 investment has gone into installing heavy lifting equipment at T2, enabling the storage and rapid shipment of products weighing up to 100kg – including brake discs, clutch kits, and flywheel assemblies. This upgrade means even the heaviest components can now reach workshops quickly and safely.
I was lucky enough to be shown around the T2 facility by the LQK Digraph team, and it’s just as impressive as it sounds. We were shown a demonstration of the heavy lifting equipment, with health and safety being presented at the forefront of everything that goes on at T2. Journalists watched on as a member of staff at the facility effortlessly lifted stock that would have previously taken multiple members of staff to get off the ground, and that can now be integrated into LKQ’s logistics operation as a result.
Behind the strategy
During the day, LKQ UK and Ireland COO Tony Shearer shared insight into the rationale behind the expansion, as I was curious as to why it hadn’t been done before.
“Trying to build an HGV logistics operation from scratch would be incredibly costly and inefficient,” he explained. “By integrating Digraph into our existing infrastructure – like T2 and our regional service centres – we’re leveraging scale to offer the market-leading service our customers need, without passing on excessive costs.”
Shearer added that this move was long in the making. “We’ve had an interest in Digraph for some time, but timing is everything. Now, we’re in the right phase of our journey to build this out properly.”
Preserving culture
Mergers of this scale often come with risks, particularly around cultural integration and customer relationships. But LKQ Digraph leaders made it clear to me the importance of managing change carefully.
Commercial director Dave Dimbleby, part of the original Digraph leadership team, acknowledged the transition. “There was always a real entrepreneurial spirit at Digraph – that family-run, pick-up-thephone- and-help approach. The key now is to preserve that while benefiting from LKQ’s investment and capability.” This is something the team expressed was very important to them, sometimes making financial sacrifices for the sake of keeping the personal and family feel of Digraph alive.
He also highlighted how health and safety has dramatically improved under LKQ’s ownership. “It used to be a bit of a taboo subject,” he admitted. “Now, from the moment you drive into T2 and see the sign saying, ‘Going home safe to your family is the most important thing’, it sets the tone. I sleep easier knowing our people have that level of support.”
From cash constraints to capability
The contrast between the old and new operating models was a recurring theme. “When you’re an independent business, every product sitting on a shelf is your own cash tied up,” said Shearer. “That holds you back from offering customers what they really need. Now, we have the flexibility and backing to say ‘yes’ more often.”
For the Digraph team, the transformation is both operational and emotional. “To take the business from where it was to a point where LKQ wanted to acquire us – and now to be integrated into something as advanced as T2 – is a source of real pride,” Dimbleby reflected, mentioning he teared up when the first ever order was completed.
From speaking to Dave, it was clear how enthusiastic he was about the new venture, describing himself as being ‘born in the back of a truck’, and it was also evident how this enthusiasm for CV infects other members of the team.
A platform for growth
With its new capabilities and infrastructure firmly in place, LKQ Digraph is poised to scale its service nationally. The Sunderland branch opening earlier this year set the tone, and the upcoming launch in Orpington signals momentum.
By combining deep sector expertise with LKQ’s logistics power, the company aims on delivering on its promise: faster parts, better service, and a future-ready HGV proposition for the UK aftermarket.
