EXHAUSTS UNLIMITED

EU Linco - The leading independent specialists in car parts and components in the East. EU Ltd is part of the Shortis Group of companies, which has over 70 trading sites in the UK. It all started from one brand in Norwich back in 1982 - a bespoke exhaust specialist offering delivery to garages and fitting stations in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridge with its 2 Renault-Traffics and a mini-van. Many will know the company as Exhausts Unlimited, of course times have changed. At that time, daily deliveries were a revelation to the trade, who had been used to weekly deliveries or twice a week at best. Now, nearly 30 years on, EU and Linco have 17 depots, over 200 staff and a huge fleet of 120 vans covering an area from North Lincolnshire to the Thames, offering hourly delivery to many areas.

EU (Exhausts Unlimited) were an innovator in the trade, being one of the first automotive parts distributors to utilise computers for stock management. EU (Exhausts Unlimited) introduced the 'EGO' computer system in late 1982. This proved to be an inspired decision, a great advancement on hand written invoices and the cardex stock system. As the exhaust market changed in the late 80's, an opportunity presented itself to purchase a general parts distributor in Colchester. This shift in market position led to the beginning of EU's relationship with Motaquip, which has gone to strength to strength as both companies have grown. EU is still independent, operated as part of the family owned Shortis Group, run by the father and son team of Kevin and Richard Shortis. They attribute much of the success and strength of the company to their employees: "without our excellent team of staff, many of whom have been with the company from the early days, we would not have been able to expand to become East Anglia's number 1 automotive parts distributor" says Richard. Now as EU prepares to open the doors of its eighteenth branch, the company which began life as a small exhausts specialist, has now become a widespread one-stop-shop, stocking a comprehensive range of all automotive components. October 2010.