Stantone today
The right equipment.
People you can rely on.
Stantone helps businesses find, maintain and get the most from the machinery they depend on.
From forklift trucks and warehouse equipment to electric utility vehicles, golf carts, quads and compact tractors, we bring together a broad choice of machinery with practical advice and ongoing support.
Our EV Centre and showroom in Sawtry, Cambridgeshire, gives customers the opportunity to see equipment up close, explore the options and speak directly with our team. Our Northampton service centre provides our short-term and long-term hire services and the engineering support behind it, including servicing, repairs, breakdown assistance and spare parts.
We work with businesses across warehousing, agriculture, construction, leisure, education and more. Whether you need one vehicle or support for an existing fleet, we take the time to understand the job, the working environment and your budget.
It’s a personal approach, backed by decades of experience: knowledgeable people, clear advice and support that continues after the sale.
Nigel Martin
Owner & Managing Director
Nigel purchased Stantone in 2015, bringing around 30 years of experience in materials handling, including sales and general management roles with Samuk and Jungheinrich UK.
When previous Stantone owner Robert Hall was preparing to retire, Nigel took the opportunity to build on its long history and guide its next stage of growth.
In 2022, Andy Barlow joined him at Stantone. Together, they have expanded the equipment range, brought new manufacturers on board and developed partnerships to offer customers more choice.
Today, Nigel leads the business across its Northampton service centre and Sawtry EV Centre, with a focus on lasting customer relationships, practical advice and dependable support. His approach is straightforward: understand what customers need, supply the right equipment and make sure there is a knowledgeable team behind it.
Andy Barlow
Sales Manager
Andy joined the materials handling industry in 1986, building extensive experience across a variety of roles and responsibilities.
He first met Nigel around 25 years ago, and the two worked together at various companies before Andy joined Stantone in 2022. Since then, they have worked closely to develop the business, introducing more manufacturers and building new partnerships to give customers a wider choice of equipment.
Andy runs our Sawtry EV Centre, looking after sales, stock and quotations. He takes the time to understand what customers need, helping them find suitable machinery and explore the best available finance options for their circumstances.
Building strong customer relationships is central to his role. From an initial enquiry to an ongoing equipment requirement, Andy offers a familiar point of contact, practical advice and a wealth of industry knowledge.
Our History
Established in 1961
Stantone’s story began in 1961, when Stan Hall and Tony Smith founded Stantone Crane Hire. The name brought together their first names — Stan and Tone — laying the foundations for a business that would grow and evolve over the following decades.
With roots in Northampton, Stantone became an established name in forklift trucks and materials handling, helping customers source equipment and keep it working through servicing, maintenance and technical support. By 2002, the business was operating as Stantone Mechanical Handling Ltd, with Robert Hall (Stan's son) and Richard Barkworth at the helm.
A new chapter under Nigel Martin
In 2015, Nigel Martin purchased Stantone, bringing extensive industry experience and a vision for its future. The business continued to develop, becoming a CESAB forklift dealer for the Northampton area in 2018/19.
Andy Barlow joined Nigel in 2022, building on a working relationship that stretched back many years. Together, they expanded Stantone’s manufacturer partnerships and equipment range, giving customers more choice.
In 2023, Stantone became a HELI dealer and secured a major equipment deal with the Aston Martin F1 team. The business also became an HDK UK dealer, extending its offering into golf carts and utility vehicles.
Investing in the future
In 2024, Nigel invested more than £1 million in a new sales facility: the Stantone EV Centre in Sawtry, Cambridgeshire, conveniently located near the A1. The showroom created a dedicated space for customers to explore machinery, discuss their requirements and see the growing range of electric vehicles.
A further milestone followed in 2024/25, when Stantone became a Manitou main dealer, serving Northampton and Eastern England. In 2026, the business became a KYMCO ATV main dealer covering the Midlands and East of England.
Today, Stantone combines its Northampton engineering base with its Sawtry EV Centre and showroom, supporting customers with machinery sales, hire, servicing, repairs and spare parts.
The equipment has evolved, and so has the business. What continues to matter is understanding the customer, recommending suitable machinery and being there to support it.
