News

Wheelbase Engineering has snapped up the intellectual property rights, designs, drawings and production jigs for the demountable equipment of the former Ray Smith Group (RSG). The purchase, from administrator Baker Tilly, follows the demise of Peterborough-based RSG three months ago. Although Wheelbase Engineering is a major producer of demountable systems, RSG was the market leader.

Wheelbase Engineering is already a market leader in  chassis modifications and manufactures a wide range of trailer chassis for specialist bodybuilders to add superstructure. In recent years it has added a number of existing RSG and other demount-system manufacturer customers to its clients, and the acquisition should reassure them all of full compatibility with existing demountable equipment.

Wheelbase's managing director Simon Pickles confirms that the company has the full engineering drawings, customer specification and manufacturing jigs necessary to ensure full interchangeability with existing contact and straight-lift systems.The deal also provides the Blackburn-based chassis engineering specialist with the largest presence among the users of swap-body systems throughout the UK.

Pickles also believes it will reassure clients that Wheelbase Engineering intends to continue supplying a full range of new swap-body equipment and spare parts, fully compatible with the existing RSG demountable systems already in service in  their fleets. "There may be former customers looking for new demount/tail-lift equipment previously built by RSG," says Pickles, "but with this acquisition, we can replicate any existing demount installation, tail-lift and swap-body equipment package previously manufactured and supplied by RSG."