Booming Overlander hit by trailer group failure
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• {railer manufacturer Overlander called in the receiver last week, despite increasing its turnover by more than 400% in the past six years.
Managing director Tom Skinner blames debts of several hundred thousand pounds from a failed trailer group which includes Graham's of Gildersome, Leeds. "To sustain that when just coming out of a quiet period was impossible for us," he says.
The company was established in 1948 and employs 130 people at plants in Kidderminster and Wolverhampton. No job losses have been announced and the receiver aims to sell the business as a going concern.
Skinner, who was formerly boss at rival manufacturer Boalloy, says Overlander is probably the oldest surviving trailer builder in the country. "I bought it in 1993," he adds. "We have had some success in building up its name and getting it into quite a profitable company" He says that since his takeover, turnover has risen from £2.5m to around 112m through acquisitions and organic growth.
Overlander includes a truck and trailer parts service; two years ago it acquired the intellectual rights and name of the Maxilode range of specialist intermodal trailers.