The Classic Machinery Network

Wrekin Construction is a medium sized English building and civil engineering contractor here in the UK, unlike many other construction companies in UK Wrekin own and operate most of the plant and vehicles they use themselves.
Their fleet is predomnately Komatsu and they also adapt items of plant in their fleet to suit a particular job they might be undertaking, such as this Komatsu excavator adapted to carry a conveyor for a mine infilling scheme.
I know its a bit of a long shot but do any other members have photos of plant operated by Wrekin?



The first image is borrowed from a brochure and the second photo I found on the net somewhere, so I take no credit for them.

Where is this company based IBH ?

Nick.

They are based in Shropshire.
http://www.wrekin.co.uk

And sadly it seems Wrekin Construction has gone under today
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7935357.stm

Well done RBS bank.

Martyn

Martyn Henley wrote:And sadly it seems Wrekin Construction has gone under today
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7935357.stm

Well done RBS bank.

Martyn

RBS ran out of money after paying fred the crooks pension sorry Sir Fred Goodwin, Gordon going to save the world Brown mate

Its bad news,Wrekin has millions of pounds worth of contracts but need money to keep them going.Taxpayers are shareholders of the banks,we should be demanding money is released to keep firms going throug tough times and keep people employed.
How do these bank staff get a bonus when everyone else gets hours cut or unemployment

It came as a bit of a shock when I visited contractjournal.com (see link below) to see that Wrekin had gone into administration earlier today It will be a great shame if Wrekin cannot pull through this, as although they had their fair share of ups and downs in recent years thanks to the (alledged) weak management of the founding Frain family, it seemed that under the current ownership of the Tamar Group they had turned the corner and were being a successfull civils, building and rail contractor.

The construction industry would be a lot better if it had more firms like Wrekin as they directly employ their staff (including labour), use their own plant and have a reputation for being non-adversal,innovative and delivering high quality work . They were also one of the founding firms involved in the Considerate Constructors scheme
I live in the West Midlands so I've seen many schemes that Wrekin have undertaken and their approach sets them far-apart and way-above many construction firms (larger and smaller).
I once spoke to a Wrekin employee who talked of the company's family atmosphere, and how he'd been at the firm over 20 years and had never thought of leaving!

This somes up the whole sorry situation:
''We [Wrekin]are owed in excess of £2 million by a major private client, a blue chip company, which has been awaiting funds from Fortis Bank since before Christmas and there is an outstanding amount of around £2.8 million owed by the Defences Estate which despite assurances that it would be looked into urgently, that has still not been paid. It’s cash we have run out of effectively''



Links:
http://www.contractjournal.com/Articles ... lamed.html
Wrekin profile:
http://www.shropshirestar.com/2009/03/1 ... recession/
http://www.shropshirestar.com/2009/03/1 ... irm-folds/
http://www.shropshirestar.com/2009/03/1 ... e-bankers/

Thats bad news as its the domino effect if Firms like Wrekin with a decent reputation start going pop as clients like the Government are slow payers and they do / did a lot of LA work and the relate quango's. All considered Good safe customers, but SSSSSLLLLLLLLooooooowwwwwww to pay. The Local news was on about how over £2 billion of retail developments are on hold in Yorkshire region alone

The other problem is nobody has the brass to buy them up, so will either get sold to foreign firms or be totally liquidated. so subies get a double hit

We need a better system for firms in trouble to stop a total collapse of industry.

So who is next

And who will pick up some of the pieces

Dave

Yesterday and today i've been keeping an eye on the press coverage of Wrekin's entry into administration and Peter Greenwood's comments about the how supine the Goverment and in particular RBS have been seem to have gained a lot of support, even if its too little too late for Wrekin.

The following from the Shropshire Star, sort of somes up why Wrekin will be such a loss:
''Recognised by the industry for pioneering change, the company [Wrekin] has combined changing methods and technology with traditional values, business integrity and skills development over nearly five decades''

Wrekin have a depot near me, it was reported in the local press last night there are around 100 jobs at risk there if a buyer cannot be found. Currently running office on a skeleton staff pending a buyer being found but in the current climate they're not hopeful.

Wrekin were in process of redeveloping the market area at Kettering, the council have said the project could be delayed by 6 months, if Wrekin are unable to finish it then other companies will be invited to tender to finish the works.