Vehicle specialists join forces in deal for Chorley family firm

A Chorley commercial vehicles specialist has been acquired, for an undisclosed sum, by a subsidiary of a German group.

CP Davidson was established in 1991 with a reputation in the hire and contract hire segment for the municipal market in the UK for refuse collection vehicles, skip and hook loaders, and provide complete repair and maintenance contracts.

It has been taken over by Faun-Zoeller UK as part of its UK strategic plan.

Municipal vehicles and systems company Faun-Zoeller UK is based in Redditch, near Birmingham, and is part of the Kirchhoff Group.

It said the addition of CPD will help add to its offering, customer base, technology and service network of both organisations, which are complementary and will help further improve customer support.

The Davidson family is no stranger to the group and has been involved with SEMAT and ZOELLER since 1998, supplying bodies and lifters to local authorities.

This will allow FZUK to expand its growth of ECOTEC products into the public and private sector market and gain access to the hiring segment in the UK.

Philip Davidson will remain managing director, reporting to Simon Hyde, CEO, and help formulate the growth plans and activities for FZUK and CPD.

Simon Hyde said: “We welcome the Davidson family into the group and believe this will be a great success. It will help thrust the strategic plan of FZUK and provide a compelling offering to both clients. We see this as a great partnership and are excited for both teams to work together in the future.”

CP Davidson & Sons has engineered some of Britain’s finest municipal vehicles. Philip Davidson said: “While this choice was not easy, we firmly believe it is the best course of action for the future of our company and all of our valued employees.

“Faun- Zoeller is a highly reputable and leading waste management company specialising in manufacturing high-specification waste collection vehicles and bin lifters. Faun- Zoeller has expressed a strong interest in expanding their operations, and they are dedicated to maintaining the same level of quality service that our customers have come to expect from us.

“We firmly believe this change presents exciting new opportunities for our company and employees.”