Besco snaps up Econolite
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• Besco Bodies has acquired the aerodynamic bodybuilding specialist Econolite for a "nominal consideration".
Under the deal, Besco acquires the Econolite name, goodwill and designs, and will transfer production of Econolite bodies to its Northampton assembly plant.
All production of bodies at Econolite's East Dereham, Norfolk base will stop soon: staff are being offered a transfer to Northampton.
Besco's managing director Donald Wilson says his company will take on some 2500,000 worth of orders for Econolite bodies, and he plans to use the Econolite brand name: "The name is very good," he says. "We may use it for Besco's existing aerodynamic bodies."
Econolite's founder, Mike Longe, will be employed as a sales consultant by Besco on a part-time basis. He will spend roughly half his week selling Besco products, and half working in East Dereham for his other company, Windfoil, which designs and manufacturers truck air deflectors and air dams in GRP.
Although Besco has not bought any stake in Windfoil, the two companies will work together more closely in future. "We will use Windfoil for some of our future design work," says Wilson, "though we will also continue with our existing design contractors, Richardos." In return, Windfoil has undertaken not to produce any bodywork.
The Econolite deal should bring Besco runny new customers, says Wilson: "There are only three customers that both companies were actually dealing with, so we inherit a good list." Wilson plans to build on Econolite's overseas links with bodybuilders like Moeyerson, which licenses Econolite to build its pillarless sliding doors in the UK. Wilson says Econolite was put up for sale "because it wasn't being as successful as it ought to be". Besco's interest in aerodynamic vehicles has grown steadily since last year's motor show, when the company displayed a Leyland Daf Freighter belonging to NCCS, fitted with an aerodynamic body. Wilson says tests of the Besco Freighter against a conventional Freighter show fuel savings of up to 35%.