Cartwright has announced plans to further expand its group of companies by entering the fast expanding conversions market with the launch of Cartwright Conversions.

The new company will operate from a dedicated site near the M18 at Dunscroft, near Doncaster, and opens for business this month.

This latest development by Cartwright, which has enjoyed a record year in terms of volume sales and turnover, aims to capitalise upon the strength of the Cartwright brand and the company’s engineering skills.

Cartwright Conversions aims to become a major player in the industry, particularly serving the utilities, construction, civil engineering, rail and telecommunications markets, and is confident its flexible approach will enable the new company to swiftly make its mark in this growing specialist sector.

The Cartwright Group subsidiary is headed by the company’s Group managing director Mark Cartwright, who will be supported by a sector experienced senior management team, with new appointments including David Healy as commercial director, Gary Stephenson as head of engineering and Melissa Healy as marketing manager.

The company’s new Doncaster location has two production lines and about 30 bays together with an office annex and stores and is supported by 20 engineers in the group.

The 30,000 sq ft building has been purposely designed for Cartwright Conversions’ flexible build programme.

Healy said: “The Cartwright brand is synonymous with quality, innovation and flexibility in all areas of its business model and as a result has built a strong image over recent years for manufacturing and more.

“Cartwright Conversions is being launched from a totally separate location near Doncaster as a clear message to the industry that this is a dedicated operation which will offer a different approach in response to the flexible needs of the market, whether a customer requires a one-off vehicle or has a fleet of 500.

“The LCV market is growing each year and more and more fleet managers are concerned by health and safety. Vans need to be racked out properly with the right kit so that employees are safe and more efficient.

“As demand has increased lead times have become longer in the industry and we believe there is definitely an opportunity to compete for market share.

“Indeed, we bring to the market a number of exciting features. Firstly, our build flexibility. Our Doncaster plant allows us to build multiple repeat vehicles in a line.

“We also have up to 30 bays so we can build different vehicles at the same time which obviously wouldn’t work on a production line. This flexibility allows us to build one vehicle in a bay or 500 on a line.

“Cartwright manufactures for a wide range of customers and it made sense for the company to now expand its offer to include everything below 3.5 tonnes as well as continuing to build its traditional manufacturing products. It is undoubtedly an exciting opportunity for the company to extend its product and service portfolio.”

Plans are already well advanced to launch the company’s new range of vehicle racking systems including the new Mini and Mobile racking systems. These will be exhibited on a separate Cartwright Conversions stand at the Commercial Vehicle Show at the NEC from April 26 to 28.

Exhibits on display on the dedicated Cartwright Conversions stand will also include the restyled Welfare Vehicle, which is now lighter with more load space.

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