A&R Vehicle Services is a long-established supplier to some of the UK’s best-known operators of vans, trucks, trailers and buses, and will continue to develop with chairman Trevor Rushworth and group managing director, George Simpson, remaining at the helm. The new agreement secures the long-term employment of its staff.
With 40,000 sq ft of workshop space, including a recycled shot blast bay, specialist chassis straightening facilities, paint preparation booths and three low bake ovens, all backed by a fully-stocked parts stores, A&R is equipped to undertake a comprehensive range of assignments.
Halesowen-based Bevan Group, meanwhile, is plugging a gap in its own service offering by adding a repair and refurbishment arm capable of working to the highest standards and tightest deadlines.
Bevan Group builds dry freight box, curtainside and platform commercial vehicle bodies for some of the biggest names on Britain’s roads, and has won acclaim for its innovative, fuel-efficient designs, exacting build quality, and mobile aftercare service. Bevan recently added to its product portfolio by embarking on a new venture in co-operation with refrigerated trailer specialist Schmitz Cargobull, to build temperature-controlled insulated bodies for rigid vehicles.
Commenting on the new alliance, George Simpson, A&R group managing director, said: ‘We’re operating in a challenging and highly competitive industry, which explains why most of the big "independents" in our sector have already aligned themselves with a manufacturer. By giving us access to new markets, as well as its sales and marketing expertise, Bevan will help to take us to the next level.’
Bevan Group managing director, Anthony Bevan, added: ‘This agreement is going to benefit both businesses hugely. For our part, it’s another string to our bow. There’s definitely a demand among established Bevan customers for the kind of repair and refurbishment services that A&R offers, while we’re confident that our aftercare and vehicle graphics divisions will also be busier as a result.’