Building up in Birmingham
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This year's SMMT Commercial Vehicle Bodywork show has raised its stature with a move to the NEC in Birmingham, With more than 3,600 show visitors attendance was 76% up on last year, reflecting a general uplift in the industry. But while orders are there to be had margins are slimmer than ever so manufacturers have to be leaner and meaner to get the rewards.
There was news of several large orders, such as Vaile Sinclair's 150 VW-based narrow luton vans for Caradon Everest; 40 Lawrence David trailers for Magnet and 45 York curtain-sided trailers for John Raymond, Bodybuilders such as Cartwrights, JC Payne and Vaile Sinclair have expanded and improved their production facilities, but the recession continues to take its toll.
Long established Wilsdon & Co closed down last December and GRP Massey recently divested itself of its Market Weighton ele ment. Now trading as Massey International Coachbuilders it is working under a corporate voluntary arrangement with creditors and with bank support in place is set to trade out of the crisis. Paneltex of Hull has benefited and continues to grow: like LDV it owns some of the Wilsdon intellectual and design rights. MarshaIls' Bedford dray was ready to rub shoulders once again with truck manufacturers, but only Mercedes, Ford and LDV were in the arena.
While cranes have to meet CE requirements, manufacturers of welfare and other hydraulic lifts have a two-year breathing space.