Oldbury set to expand UK manufacturing content

Oldbury UK, the West Midlands-based vehicle, equipment and trailer specialist, has announced plans to increase its current levels of local content engineering and manufacturing. Concurrently, it is to offer a hire, in-service refurbishment and life extension package, to meet operator demand during the current market downturn. In addition to its own range of products, the company is the UK importer and distributor for ARB step-frame trailers, heavy-duty low loaders, goose-necks, extendables and specialist carriers.

Oldbury Managing Director, Richard Skan says, “In the current climate, we recognise that fleet operators are looking seriously for greater flexibility and options such as hire, life extension and in-service refurbishment of their existing inventory and equipment. The configuration, engineering capability and skill sets within our facility at Wolverhampton can easily accommodate work of this type – even if it is relatively cosmetic – and we can provide a range of standard trailers on period hire for evaluation or whilst customers’ units are with us for rework. Even in a depressed market, companies are very conscious of the visual state of their fleet when it comes to annual inspections, appearances and reputation.

“Alongside these additional services, we are looking closely at scaling-up to undertake more UK-based final assembly and manufacturing content across all our super-strength products, particularly for the construction, defence and extraction industries. The weakness of the pound has had the effect of making our added value work and local content more viable and competitive in the market place – and this is giving us the opportunity to grow the amount of work we do in Wolverhampton and creating more jobs,” says Richard Skan.

Oldbury’s dedicated engineering facilities include extensive fabrication areas, heavy lift overhead craneage, spacious preparation and pre-finishing shops - and an unusually large twin bay paint booth. Most recently, its vehicle finishing facilities have been involved in applying specialist finishes for defence applications.