Fruehauf boosts senior management team as £30m investment programme takes off

Tipping trailer and truck body manufacturer Fruehauf has strengthened its senior management team with the appointment of three new directors, following its acquisition by MV Commercials in October last year.

Robert Roe takes up the position of MD, Paul Maguire has become production director and Don Wallace the new engineering director at the Grantham-based manufacturing company.

Fruehauf was bought out of administration by MV Commercials last September after falling foul of what the administrator described at the time as a toxic mixture of Brexit, Covid-19 and a global shortage of materials.

Since the acquisition, MV Commercial has announced a multi-million pound investment in Fruehauf with production at the company's 67-acre Grantham site focusing on tipping trailers initially, with several new products scheduled for launch during 2022.

The company is also growing its workforce, which has seen an additional 30 new staff join since October, with plans to reach 200 by the year end.

Announcing the appointments, Steven Cairns MD of MV Commercial, said: “The new additions to the team come at a critical time in the development of the company.

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“We have instigated a three year £30m investment programme which will see a significant development of the site along with the introduction of new trailers and bodies to the product portfolio.”

Roe joins with over 30 years’ experience within a Japanese centric multinational manufacturing and supply chain environment. Most recently he had regional presidential (CEO) responsibility for Komatsu marketing support in Australia.

Commenting on his appointment he said: “The potential for Fruehauf in the UK is significant and at present we are concentrating on growing the team to enable an increase in production to meet the demand for both trailers and bodies. In fact, we estimate growing the labour force to 200 by the end of the year, an increase from 120.”

Maguire, who also joins from Komatsu, will oversee what the company says is the “significant” upgrading of production with the addition of a new shot blasting facility along with new plasma machine technology and several energy efficient measures including laser lighting.

Wallace has extensive experience in all areas of engineering, also including time with Komatsu operations in Australia. His primary focus will be on overseeing the development of the range of tipping trailers and truck bodies currently offered to the UK market.

Tom O’Rourke, chief executive of MV Commercial, who is now based at the Fruehauf HQ, commented: “We have had very positive feedback from the market since the acquisition and it is important that we continue to grow our operations in order to meet the increasing demands of the sector.

“The site at Grantham lends itself to further development, and it is our intention to continue to work closely with the market to deliver the products required, and as quickly as possible.”