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Truck and Track June/July 2017 20
BUSINESS NEWS
The high-flying Bevan Group has completed its acquisition of
Black Country neighbour A&R Vehicle Services. Bevan is best
known as a commercial vehicle bodybuilder and provider of
planned and emergency aftercare services covering bodywork
and ancillaries such as taillifts, cranes and roller shutter doors.
A&R Vehicle Services, meanwhile, is a major accident repair and
refurbishment specialist and service provider to operators of trucks,
trailers, buses and vans.
The Bevan Group acquired an initial shareholding in A&R Services
in 2013, with the intention of taking full control in the medium
term and has now achieved this goal. To provide continuity for
established customers, RonRushworth, a co-founder of A&R Vehicle
Services in 1989, and his fellow Director Colin Bannister will retain
day-to-day responsibility for the running of the business.
With 40,000 ft2 of workshop space, including a recycled shotblast
bay, specialist chassis straightening equipment, paint preparation
booths and three lowbake ovens, all backed by a fully-stocked parts
store, A&R is geared up to undertake a comprehensive range of
assignments.
Bevan Group Managing Director Anthony Bevan reports: “Our
customers have been benefiting from A&R’s accident repair and
refurbishment services since we purchased our initial stake in the
business four years ago.
“But, given the outstanding quality of its people and facilities, as
well as the reputation it enjoys within the industry –which explains
why we’ll be retaining the A&R Vehicle Services trading name – we
have also recognised the huge potential for growth which it offers.
“The fact that we have finally assumed
complete control of the business means
we can now bring our sales and marketing
expertise fully into play, to make the most
of these opportunities.”
The six-acre A&R site offers ample space
for expansion. As a result, the new owner
has embarked on the process of relocating
its Bevan Specialist Products team from
their factory in Stone, Staffordshire, to
Wednesbury.
Bevan Specialist Products was formed in
2015, following another acquisition, and is
focused on the manufacture of tipping and
beavertail bodies, and traffic management
vehicles. The move means that, for the
first time, vehicles will be built as well as
repaired and refurbished at Darlaston
Road.
Bevan takes over the reins at A&R Vehicle
Services
A&R Vehicle Services’ highly trained technicians work in accordance with all relevant legislation on specialist equipment such as
chemical tankers. Facilities include the Hydro Test Centre shown here.
Supply chain specialist FowlerWelchhas appointedSeanNegus
in the new role of Head of Operations – Ambient. The position,
which will be based at the company’s state-of-the art Ambient
NDC in Heywood, was created as the company has increased
its focus on growing its ambient service. The role will cover all
aspects of the operation, covering commercial, warehouse and
transport operations.
SeanNegus joins FowlerWelch as a highly experienced professional
in the logistics and supply chain industry, having held a number
of senior roles with Safeway
and the Brakes Group across
logistics, commercial and
supply chain development.
Commenting on Sean’s
appointment, John Kerrigan
– COO for Fowler Welch,
said: “We are very pleased to
welcome Sean to the Fowler
Welch family and have seen
great vision and understanding
of the business’s objectives
from him already. Sean brings
with him a wealth of knowledge and experience and a strong
network of contacts across the sector, from his involvement with
cross-industry projects and links to key trade associations.
“Most importantly, Sean’s background gives us unprecedented
insight into the future requirements froma customer’s perspective.
We are therefore very positive that he will continue to build on
Fowler Welch’s successes.
“The growth of our service offering and coverage within the
ambient sector is a key part of the company’s strategic plan, and I
am confident that Sean will add real value to this aim through his
leadership of the already strong management team at Heywood.”
■■Fowler Welch provides flexible and cost-effective supply chain
servicesforambientandtemperature-controlledproducts.Drawing
on over 25 years’ experience, Fowler Welch serves major names in
retail and manufacturing on both sides of the supply chain. The
company employs sophisticated vehicle fleets, warehousing and
IT systems to add value to customers’ operations. It has facilities at
Washington (Tyne and Wear), Teynham and Paddock Wood (Kent),
Portsmouth, Heywood (Greater Manchester), Spalding, Newton
Abbot and Desborough.
Sean Negus
Fowler Welch recruits its first Head of
Operations for ambient