Alexander Dennisis a Britishbus manufacturingcompany based inLarbert,Scotland. The largest bus and coach manufacturer in the United Kingdom, with a 50% market share in 2019, it has manufacturing plants and partnerships in Canada,[2]China, Europe, Hong Kong, Malaysia, New Zealand,[3]Singapore, South Africa and the United States.[4]
 | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Bus manufacturing |
| Predecessor | TransBus International |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Headquarters | Larbert,Scotland |
Key people | Paul Davies, President & Managing Director[1] |
| Products | Buses |
| Revenue | £631 million(2018) |
| £31 million(2018) | |
Number of employees | 2,500 (2019) |
| Parent | NFI Group |
| Website | www |
History
editTransBus - the precursor of Alexander Dennis
edit
Mayflower Corporation acquired Scottish bus-makers,Walter Alexander,in August 1995[5]and English bus-makers,Dennis Group,in October 1998.[6]In 2000, Mayflower andHenlys Groupmerged their British bus-making operations into a 70:30joint venturewith Alexander, Dennis and Henlys'Plaxtonmerged to form TransBus International. The factories concerned employed 3,300 staff in seven places in England (Anston,Guildford,ScarboroughandWigan), Scotland (Falkirk) and Northern Ireland (Belfast).[7][8]
Plaxton's Scarborough operations was planned to close on 3 May 2001[9]with the loss of 700 jobs blamed on the fall in tourism after thefoot and mouth epidemicbroke out. Minibus production was moved to the formerWalter Alexanderfactory at Falkirk.[10]However, the Scarborough factory did not close altogether, for 200 staff returned to work after the summer break.[11]
Mayflower was valued at £700 million in 1999. By March 2004, that stock market valuation had fallen to £22 million.[12]The following month Mayflower was placed in administration, amid accusations of four years of falsifying crucial company records as to customers' payments toHSBC,counting the same income twice.[13]One outcome was that certain members of the Dennis pension fund would receive only 40 per cent of their pensions, though others would continue to receive their full entitlement.[14]TransBus was also placed in administration.
TransBus Plaxton was sold to in amanagement buyoutto Brian Davidson and Mike Keane with the support of a private equity group.[15][16]
Formation of Alexander Dennis
edit
A group of Scottish investors,Noble Grossart,David Murray,Brian SouterandAnn Gloag,purchased the business from administratorDeloittein May 2004.[17][18][19]
The former Alexander Belfast plant was not included in the deal and closed.[20]Alexander Dennis ultimately inherited a number of plants from TransBus: the former Alexander factories inFalkirk,Scotland; the Dennis factory inGuildfordand later the formerPlaxtonfactories inAnstonandScarborough.[21]The formerNorthern Countiesfactory inWiganclosed in January 2005.[22]
Dennis Group had produced a range of both bus and coach chassis and bodies as well asfire engines.[23]Included among its range of chassis were theDennis DartandDennis Trident.[21][23]They also producedexport variantsfor service inHong Kong,Singaporeand other locations.[21]Plaxton made coaches,[24]as well as thePresidentdouble decker body (built on Trident,DAF DB250andVolvo B7TLchassis) and the single deckerPointerbody, built on the Dart chassis.[25]
In May 2007, Alexander Dennis purchased Plaxton, thus reuniting the two former TransBus businesses.[26][27]
In October 2008, Alexander Dennis signed a deal withElDorado Nationalto assemble the Enviro500 for theUnited Statesmarket.[28]In 2011, Alexander Dennis entered an agreement withKiwi Bus Buildersto assemble its products for the New Zealand market.[29][30]
In May 2012,NFI Groupand Alexander Dennis announced a new joint-venture to design and manufacture medium-duty low-floor bus (or midi bus) for the North American market. New Flyer would handle production and marketing, and Alexander Dennis would handle the engineering and testing.[31][32]The joint venture was dissolved in 2017.[33]In June 2012, Alexander Dennis acquired Australian bodybuilderCustom Coaches.[34]However, in May 2014, Custom Coaches was placed into administration and later sold to a consortium headed by its former owner.[35][36]
In 2015 Alexander Dennis established an assembly plant inVaughan, Ontariofor orders toMetrolinx.[37][38]In October 2015, Alexander Dennis signed a deal withBYDto bodyelectric buses.[39]From 2021, Alexander Dennis will build its own electric chassis.[40]
NFI Group era
editIn May 2019, Alexander Dennis was sold toNFI Group,in a deal worth £320 million.Souter Investmentsretain an interest, taking shares in NFI Group as part of the transaction.[41]The two companies had been engaged in a joint venture from 2012 until 2017.[42][43]
In August 2020, Alexander Dennis announced plans to cut 650 jobs from its UK manufacturing sites including Falkirk, Scarborough and Guildford, citing a demand drop due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[44]Bus chassis production moved from Guildford to Falkirk.[45][46]
June 2021 saw Alexander Dennis open a base inBallymena,Northern Ireland,which was described by local media as "boosting economic growth".[47]
In July 2021, Alexander Dennis announced plans for construction of a new staff office complex and museum inFarnborough, HampshirenamedTrident House.The centre was expected to be completed in early 2022.[48]Alexander Dennis also entered a business partnership with Australian electric bus supplierNexportto assemble electric city buses locally, with Australian manufacturing expected to begin in early 2022.[49]
In April 2022, Alexander Dennis commenced trials of an autonomousAlexander Dennis Enviro200 MMCworking withStagecoach Group,[50]as part of a two-week pilot. Two months later in June, the company formally opened its Trident House complex, while at the same time, launched a refresh of its brand identity.[51][52]
After building a batch ofEnviro400FCEVbuses in a pilot scheme at the site in 2022, Alexander Dennis announced it would expand its Larbert headquarters by converting on-site warehouse space to bus manufacturing facilities. Production of the second-generationAlexander Dennis Enviro400EVis planned to begin at Larbert from August 2023, taking the company's manufacturing footprint in the United Kingdom to three sites.[53]
Products
editBuses
editCurrent
editComplete buses
- Enviro200MMC(2015–present)
- Enviro400MMC(2014–present)
- Enviro500MMC(2012–present)
Bus Bodies
- Enviro400 City(2015–present)
Future
editDiscontinued
editBus bodies
- Pointer(2001–2007, originally made byPlaxton,replaced by Enviro200 Dart)
- ALX300(2001-2007, originally Alexander, replaced byEnviro300)
- ALX400(2001-2006, originally Alexander, replaced byEnviro400)
- President(2001-2005, originally Plaxton, replaced by Enviro400)
Complete buses (or chassis/body only)
- Enviro200/200H(TransBus, 2003–2007)
- Enviro200 Dart(2006–2017, Enviro200H hybrid 2008–2011)
- Enviro300(2001–2015)
- Enviro350H(2010-2013)
- Enviro400(2005–2018)
- Enviro500(2002–2014)
Bus chassis
Coach chassis
Fire engine (Chassis and crew cab)
edit
Fire engine vehicles were built byDennis Groupand sold under theDennis Firebrand until 2007. The bodywork on a majority of the later chassis were built by a neighbouring company, John Dennis Coachbuilders Limited.
Discontinued
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^"ADL CHIEF EXECUTIVE COLIN ROBERTSON TO JOIN NFI GROUP BOARD AS PAUL DAVIES TAKES OVER AS ADL PRESIDENT & MANAGING DIRECTOR".Alexander Dennis.16 June 2020. Archived fromthe originalon 29 September 2020.Retrieved23 January2021.
- ^"Alexander Dennis to create Ontario plant".The Scotsman.Retrieved11 May2022.
- ^"Contact us | Alexander Dennis".alexander-dennis.Retrieved11 May2022.
- ^"2 Indiana bus assembly plants to close, costing 190 jobs".WFYI Public Media.16 December 2021.Retrieved11 May2022.
- ^Mayflower acquisition cash callThe Times7 June 1996; pg. 30; Issue 65600
- ^Dennis Group held steadyThe Times,21 October 1998; pg. 28; Issue 66338
- ^Joint venture for Henlys and MayflowerThe Times2 August 2000; pg.
- ^Companion to Road Passenger Transport History.Walsall: Roads & Road Transport History Association. 2013. pp. 38/39.ISBN9780955287633.
- ^"TRANSBUS INTERNATIONAL PLC PROPOSED PLAXTON FACTORY CLOSURE".UK Parliament.8 May 2001.Retrieved6 January2021.
- ^Mayflower to lose 700 jobsThe Times4 May 2001; pg. 24; issue 67130
- ^"Relief as 200 jobs salvaged at threatened works".The Northern Echo.Newsquest Media Group.29 June 2001.Retrieved6 January2021.
- ^Offers made to take helm of the foundering MayflowerThe Times15 March 2004; pg. 23; issue 68023
- ^EngineeringThe Times19 April 2004; pg. 20; issue 68053
- ^Most Dennis pension holders to get only 40%The Times21 June 2004; pg. [19]; issue 68107
- ^Managers buy PlaxtonThe Times17 May 2004; pg. [19]; issue 68077
- ^"MBO heralds TransBus deal by end of this week".The Scotsman.JPIMedia Publishing. 17 May 2004.Retrieved6 January2021.
- ^Mayflower chiefs 'may be liable for pension hole'.The Times,22 May 2004; pg. 54; Issue 68082
- ^"Completed acquisition by Alexander Dennis Limited of Transbus Ltd"(PDF).Office of Fair Trading.23 September 2004.Retrieved6 January2021.
- ^Sir Angus jumps the busSunday Herald26 December 2004
- ^Kemp, Kenny (29 May 2019)."Scotland's £7.5m of good faith invested in Alexander Dennis".Insider.Retrieved6 January2021.
- ^abc"Our History".Alexander Dennis.Retrieved6 January2021.
- ^Taylor, James (31 August 2013).A-Z of British Bus Bodies.ISBN9781847976390.Retrieved6 January2021.
- ^abGoundry, Andy (6 October 2013)."Whatever Happened To Dennis Fire Engines?".AutoNews.Retrieved6 January2021.
- ^Macdonald, Corinne (12 August 2019)."Plaxton stages coach rally and raises £1,800 for charity".The Scarborough News.JPIMedia Publishing.Retrieved7 January2021.
- ^Harrison, Matt (15 May 2018)."5 modern British bus designs that have stood the test of time".Transport Designed.Retrieved7 January2021.
- ^"Plaxton bought by ADL".Bus & Coach Professional.Plum Publishing. 14 May 2007. Archived fromthe originalon 4 November 2014.Retrieved7 January2021.
- ^"Alexander Dennis buys Plaxton".The Herald.Newsquest Media Group. 15 May 2007.Retrieved7 January2021.
- ^"Alexander Dennis signs deal to build buses for US market".The Herald.Newsquest Media Group. 7 October 2008.Retrieved7 January2021.
- ^120 Enviro200s on the way to New ZealandBus & Coach Professional11 January 2011
- ^Enviro buses roll into townBay of Plenty Times27 June 2011
- ^"New Flyer In Bus Joint Venture".Diesel Progress.10 May 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 31 May 2012.Retrieved7 January2021.
- ^"ADL aims for North American growth".Bus and Coach.Plum Publishing. 11 May 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 4 November 2014.Retrieved7 January2021.
- ^Enviro200 joint venture terminatesBusesissue 748 July 2017 page 21
- ^"Bus firm Alexander Dennis in major Australian deal".BBC News.7 June 2012.Retrieved7 January2021.
- ^"Consortium buys Custom Coaches".Coach & Bus Week.27 August 2014.Retrieved7 January2021.
- ^Burgess buys back Custom CoachesAustralasian Bus & Coach18 August 2014
- ^Kalinowski, Tess (3 February 2016)."GO double-deckers to roll out of Vaughan plant".The Star.Retrieved7 January2021.
- ^World NewsBuses Worldwideissue 201 April 2016 page 44
- ^Falkirk-based Alexander Dennis signs bus deal with China's BYDBBC News22 October 2015
- ^BYD ADL partnership accelerates electrification with the design and assembly of electric bus chassis in the UKAlexander Dennis 11 January 2021
- ^Souter Investments Completes Sale of Alexander Dennis Limited to NFI GroupSouter Investments 28 May 2019
- ^Murden, Terry (28 May 2019)."Alexander Dennis sold to North America firm NFI".Daily Business.Retrieved6 January2021.
- ^"Alexander Dennis sold to Canadian firm for £320m".BBC News.28 May 2019.Retrieved6 January2021.
- ^Reilly, Jonathon (20 August 2020)."Union claims Camelon bus firm used pandemic as 'cover' to cut 650 jobs".Falkirk Herald.JPIMedia Publishing.Retrieved6 January2021.
- ^Peat, Chris (20 August 2020)."ADL to move chassis production to Falkirk".Bus & Coach Buyer.Retrieved6 January2021.
- ^Enviro chassis production moves to FalkirkBusesissue 787 October 2020 page 8
- ^"Leading global bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis sets up permanent base in Ballymena".Love Ballymena.3 June 2021.Retrieved11 May2022.
- ^Williams, Mark (19 July 2021)."ADL to open new 'centre of excellence' honouring Dennis heritage".Bus & Coach Buyer.Retrieved24 August2021.
- ^"UK heritage centre and Australian partnership for ADL".Coach & Bus Week.27 July 2021.Retrieved24 August2021.
- ^Glover, John (25 April 2022)."Stagecoach begins live-testing of self-driving buses on Scottish roads".Business Insider.Retrieved11 May2022.
- ^"New facility (Trident House) and new brand identity for Alexander Dennis".Sustainable Bus.15 June 2022.Retrieved15 June2022.
- ^Crawford, Alex (15 June 2022)."Alexander Dennis 'looking ahead' with brand identity refresh".Routeone.Retrieved15 June2022.
- ^Peat, Chris (6 April 2023)."ADL to expand Larbert facility".Bus & Coach Buyer.Retrieved6 April2023.
- ^abc"New Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV and Enviro100EV feature next-generation electric driveline and future-proof battery system | Alexander Dennis".alexander-dennis.Retrieved3 November2022.
External links
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