Ford Pro conversion partner MS-RT to open new £4m facility

Ford Pro commercial vehicles partner MS-RT is to create a £4 million facility at Ford Dagenham to meet growing customer demand.

MS-RT became a Ford Qualified Vehicle Modifier last year and fuses Ford commercial vehicles with a “sporting edge”.

The investment provides the opportunity for MS-RT to expand its business while enabling easier access to Ford technical expertise in Dagenham and at the nearby Ford Britain Dunton Campus, the Ford Commercial Vehicles business group’s home in Europe.

Paul Baynes, manager, marketing and sales – Ford Pro Vehicle Solutions, Ford of Europe, said: “This latest Ford and MS-RT cooperation supports Ford’s vision of expanding business opportunities at Ford Dagenham in addition to continuing to produce advanced technology diesel engines, and builds on our plan to grow our market presence through strategic relationships with key vehicle converters.”

The new facility is intended to provide work for more than 50 new employees when it comes online in 2022, rising to more than 120 jobs when fully operational.

MS-RT will continue to operate its existing facility in Pontypool, South Wales, with no loss of jobs.

MS-RT products are available through Ford’s One Stop Shop scheme, where converted products are included on Ford product price lists and can be purchased directly from Ford dealerships.

The new facility will be located in an existing building at Ford Dagenham used last year to build medical ventilators for the NHS as part of Ford’s involvement in the Ventilator Challenge UK.

Under Ford's strategy to grow its market presence through strategic alliances with key vehicle converters, earlier this month it signed a memorandum of understanding with Venari Group to build a new, lightweight ambulance.

It is intended to be produced at a new facility in Ford Dagenham from next year. It is anticipated it will create around 100 new jobs.