10.10.2007

AFI takes NE Access

AFI-Uplift has acquired North East Access Ltd the powered access rental company based in Hebburn, Tyne and Wear.

North East was founded in 1995 and has a fleet of 140 boom and scissor lifts and a strong local customer base. The company is owned by Malcolm Hession and is a memeber of the Access Link.

The purchase price has not been disclosed.

AFI says that it will merge its own North East depot with the North East depot to form a larger location with an expanded fleet. Hession is expected to join the AFI management team.

AFI corporate development director Nick Selley said: “This is our third significant expansion – following our merger with Uplift Power Platforms and our acquisition of Alan Drew in 2006. Once again it is a tangible demonstration of our confidence in the future of both AFI as a successful business and the UK powered access rental sector as a whole.”

“Existing AFI customers will gain from our now having a stronger presence in the North East and NEA customers will benefit from having access to one of the most modern powered access rental fleets in the UK,” he added.

AFI’s revenues are expected to exceed £30 million this year, compared with £20 million in 2006. The company’s current depot network covers Birmingham, East Midlands, Haydock, Hull, Liverpool, London East, London South, London West, Manchester, Milton Keynes, North East, Peterborough, Scotland, South Wales, South West, Southampton and Wakefield.

The addiiton of the North East fleet should put AFI back into second place in the Cranes&Access UK/Ireland top 30 access rental companies.