Auction marks the final chapter for 60-year-old manufacturing firm
The entire assets of a firm which went out of business just before Christmas with the loss of 100 jobs are being put up for sale.
The UK’s only tank container manufacturer Universal Bulk Handling International ceased trading in December.
The Ormskirk based business, which underwent a management buy-out 20 years ago ceased trading and was placed into the hand of administrators on 23 December.
The administrators have been looking for a buyer for the business which was owned by its workforce.
Universal Bulk Handling was established almost 60 years ago and employed generations of families who manufactured and supplied tank containers and road tankers for national and international customers.
Sheffield-based law firm Graywoods has been handling the administration.
Administrators from Graywoods were appointed in December 2019 shortly after the business ceased to trade.
A sale was completed of the intellectual property to an overseas business and now its entire assets are being sold off at auction.
From its 10,000 sq m site the business has been building pressure vessels since the 1950’s.
The factory includes seam and all formats of welding, plasma cutting and fabrication alongside finishing, testing and QC processes all supported by handling and infrastructural equipment.
Daniel Hey, director of Walker Singleton’s machinery and business asset department, said: “Disposals of entire manufacturing facilities of this nature occur infrequently and already we hold significant interest, not only from some of the worldwide competitors of UBH.
“Whilst this business’s focus was on tanks the majority of assets have broader industry use widening the marketplace.
“Any site dispersal auction also encompasses more general assets from transportation, to handling, storage and support. The auction taking place online, closes on the 5th March 2020.”
