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About ALTIGA Limited

Home Aircon Repairs in Warwickshire

ALTIGA has been owned by Susan Niner since August 2017.  Susan has over 19 years of experience in the refrigeration and air conditioning industry, starting as an administrator, and working her way up to ownership of the company.

The company has historically been refrigeration based, specialising in traditional mechanical systems for process, retail and industrial applications.  As air conditioning has gathered momentum over the decades, ALTIGA has expanded their expertise and operates a fully encompassing service for all refrigeration and air conditioning equipment.

ALTIGA has an unrivalled reputation for customer service.  Our PPM service contracts provide a range of call-out timeframes and a genuine 24/7 breakdown service.

Meet the boss!

Susan Niner - ALTIGA Limited

M.D. Susan Niner has been working at ALTIGA since 2004, so that's 20 years this year!

Susan bought the company back in 2017 from Robert Howes, who was the second owner after his father started the firm back in 1947.  Susan worked up from an Office Administrator to a Service/Maintenance Co-Ordinator, then later expanded the role by becoming AAT qualified and managing the accounting/business side.

Susan spent many summers in the office with no manager, as they were both out 'on the tools', so very quickly learnt to manage things single handedly.

Susan is technically a fully qualified engineer, obtaining the C&G 2079/1 F-Gas qualification back in 2017, she is also NEBOSH qualified, enabling competent management of health and safety.

ALTIGA also employs a female Office Manager – April Burrows, based on her competency to effectively run the service department and manage HR within the workplace.

Contact Susan

Timeline

1947
Bertram Howes (Snr) leaves Frigidaire in Coventry to establish Rugby Refrigeration Limited. The original base was 36 New Buildings, Coventry.
1951
The business was relocated to workshops at The Hollies, London Road, Stretton on Dunsmore (the home of Bertram Howes).
1959
The business was relocated again when Bertram Howes moved to Sedlescombe, Dunchurch Road, Rugby.
Throughout this time Bertram Howes operated as a sole trader. His main custom from the mid-1950s was the Rugby Co-operative Society. The balance of the business comprised of servicing and repairing refrigeration systems in local independent butchers, grocers, farms and residential properties.
1963
Bertram Howes (Snr) was joined by his son Bertram Howes (Jnr).
1968
Following an apprenticeship with Carter Thermal Engineering, Robert Howes (the younger son) joined the business.
1972
The business relocated to a purpose-built retail shop and workshop in Newbold on Avon.
The shop primarily sold domestic refrigeration equipment (chest freezers). The business continued to expand with more industrial clients (Rolls Royce/GEC etc). The engineering sector was starting to use machines requiring refrigerated oil coolers.
1978
Robert Howes bought the shares in the company held by his brother and father to take control of the company. Bertram Howes (Jnr) left the company.
The company continues to expand taking on its first (non-family) employees. There was also a steady shift towards the air conditioning sector and a move away from domestic refrigeration.
1988
By now the Rugby Refrigeration Company name was not indicative of the type of work or location we operated in. Robert made the decision to change the name to ALTIGA Limited.
With some twelve employees the business continued to expand particularly in the air conditioning market. The ethos of the company was and still is to provide a personal service to all customers with named points of contact (not just a number). The company has continued steady growth with particular emphasis on Health & Safety and the environmental impact of all its operations, providing all customers with expert advice on these aspects of their equipment.
2017
The company had now been trading successfully for 70 years. Robert Howes decided to sell his shares in the company and retire, to Susan Niner and Kevin Salter. Susan an employee for 13 years and Kevin having recently joined the company.
2019
The shares were taken over solely by Susan Niner after Kevin decided to move on.

Accreditations

ISO 9001:2015Daikin certified installerCHAS AccreditationREFCOM Gas CertifiedFSB member