Date: 14 January 2014
It is now ‘business as usual’ for the 20-strong company team at Supertrucks, who supply and fit glass-carrying bodies and ‘frails’ (racks) for rigid trucks and vans of all sizes.Supertrucks operates from a production facility in St Helens, Merseyside.It was founded in 1982, by former Chairman Peter Wright, who is staying on for the time being in a consultancy role.
The decision by West Midlands-based bodybuilder Bevan Group to purchase the business – for an undisclosed sum – comes less than a year after it launched its own glass carrying vehicle. Bevan quickly won orders for more than 70 units from two of the biggest names in the industry.
However, as Managing Director Anthony Bevan acknowledges: “When it comes to designing and manufacturing systems that allow for the safe transportation of glass by customers from the glazing and related windows and conservatories industries, Supertrucks is the undoubted market leader.”
Bevan’s financial muscle, as well as its sales and marketing expertise, mean Supertrucks has a bright future. “Supertrucks represents an exciting new addition to the Bevan Group portfolio and we look forward to growing the business with the enthusiastic support of the team in St Helens,” continues Anthony.
As well as dominating the UK market Supertrucks exports its glass carrying products, with Germany accounting for the majority of overseas sales. The company has also diversified and recently launched a light weight, low height box van for carrying dry freight, which has proved particularly popular with customers from the furniture industry.
“Supertrucks has been a very successful company for the last 32 years and enjoys an unrivalled reputation within the glass industry,” says Peter Wright. “With its high quality, specialised range of products, and a committed, loyal workforce who know exactly what is required to serve this niche market, I have no doubt that this business will prove a sound investment for its new owners.”
Its acquisition of Supertrucks caps an incredible 12 months for family-owned Bevan Group, which has headquarters in Halesowen and a second factory in nearby Oldbury.
A long-established supplier of dry freight commercial vehicle bodies to some of the biggest and best-known operators on Britain’s roads, it began manufacturing temperature-controlled bodywork for rigid vehicles a year ago, after entering into a strategic partnership with Schmitz Cargobull.
In October Bevan purchased a stake in Black Country neighbour A&R Vehicle Services, one of the country’s top accident repair and refurbishment specialists, the first step in a process that will ultimately see it assume total control.
And Bevan followed this a month later, by announcing a deal with DEL Equipment (UK), under which its highly successful after care team have taken on additional responsibilities for maintaining the manufacturer’s market-leading range of tail-lifts in the field.
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