Econ Engineering Explained
Econ Engineering Limited is the UK's largest manufacturer of winter and road maintenance vehicle bodies, founded as a supplier of agricultural equipment under the name of Agriquipment Ltd on 9 December 1959 by W. George Lupton in Otley, West Yorkshire.[1] As of December 2021, they produce more than 85 per cent of the UK's winter service vehicles, leasing them to councils and highway authorities.[2]
The first Econ prototype salt spreader was finished in 1970 and the machines were launched at the 1972 IWM exhibition in Torquay.[3] The name Econ comes from a Bradford-based company who manufactured industrial heating units called “Econoheat” bought by WG Lupton to balance production whilst developing the salt spreaders.
Econ Engineering manufacture all of their machinery at a custom-built site on the outskirts of Ripon, North Yorkshire, constructed in 1980.[4] In January 2022, Econ reported a turnover of over £40m, boosted by continued investment in the business including satellite facilities in Alloa, Scotland and Cardiff, Wales.[5] This was followed by the opening of a new service site in Sowerby, Thirsk in April 2022. Equipped with 24 service bays, the site cost £7m, with Highways Magazine calling it 'a tour de force of productive investment'.[6] Sustainability was a priority at the site, which has 114 solar panels, LED motion-sensored lighting and a water recycling system.[7]
History
- 1959: Agriquipment Ltd was founded by WG Lupton on 9 December in Otley, West Yorkshire.
- 1961: Patent granted for the world's first flail mower designed by WG Lupton.
- 1965: Agriquipment Ltd was sold to the Oliver Rix Group and production was moved to AC Bamlett in Thirsk.
- 1966: The Lupat Flail Mower goes into production at AC Bamlett and continues until 1969.
- 1969: WG Lupton parts ways with the Oliver Rix Group to found Econ Engineering Ltd based at an old vaux brewery site in Ripon. The Lupat Flail Mower was re-purchased from Oliver Rix and production moved to Econ in Ripon.
- 1970: The first Econ prototype salt spreader was built.
- 1972: The salt spreaders are launched at the IWM exhibition in Torquay.
- 1975: Econ introduce road speed related spreading to discharge salt at the same rate irrespective of travelling speed.
- 1979: Planning was secured for a new purpose-built factory on the outskirts of Ripon.
- 1981: Econ bought Atkin's of Clitheroe (then the largest UK spreader manufacturer) from the Cammell Laird Group.
- 1984–1986: The acquisition and merger of Spencer's of Market Harborough and Acklift of Southwell saw the creation of a street lighting division, the addition of Taskers of Andover, Taylors of Consett, Lister Farm Machinery and L&K Sprayers create a burgeoning agricultural division.
- Late 1980s: The agricultural and powered access divisions are dismantled and sold off following the 1980s boom and bust.
- 1991: The Hot Box highway maintenance equipment is released.
- 1993: Econ QCB system is developed and launched.
- 1994: Unibody multipurpose body and salt spreader is released. Econ leaves the agricultural market completely and continues in the highway and winter maintenance sector.
- 1995: Pre Wet spreader is released.
- 1996: The Low Throw spreader is released for urban spreading.
- 2003: The Econ factory site was expanded to include a large refurbishment centre at the north of the site.
- 2004: Econ installs the most advanced paint facility in England to increase anti-corrosion performance.[8] SPARGO control system goes into production allowing remote salt-spreading adjustment on the move.
- 2005: The acquisition of MHS's hire fleet doubles the size of the Econ fleet to 160 units.
- 2008: SPARGO IS goes into development, an electronics GPS control unit that allows sat nav style route directions and preplanned automatically varying salt spreading patterns.
External links
Notes and References
- The Independent 13 November 1996 The Independent - True Grit Article
- https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1531141/brexit-news-uk-gritter-driver-shortage-british-engineering Gritter driver shortages tackled with advanced tech – 'pride in British engineering
- News: Econ shows true grit this winter. 9 February 2016. Yorkshire Post. 22 October 2013.
- https://www.yorkshiretimes.co.uk/article/Yorkshire-Manufacturer-Recognises-Talent-During-National-Apprenticeship-Week "Yorkshire Manufacturer Recognises Talent During National Apprenticeship Week"
- https://www.insidermedia.com/news/yorkshire/turnover-tops-40m-at-gritter-manufacturer "TURNOVER TOPS £40M AT GRITTER MANUFACTURER"
- https://www.highwaysmagazine.co.uk/Econ-on-the-move-in-Sowerby/9675 Econ on the move in Sowerby
- https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/business/econ-engineering-installs-114-solar-panels-to-roof-of-new-ps7m-building-3515727 Econ Engineering installs 114 solar panels to roof of new £7m building
- News: Econ's investment to maintain high quality . 13 May 2019 . Newsbank. Harrogate Advertiser . 10 December 2004. registration.
