Fleet conversion business grows its offering with £250,000 support package

A Doncaster-based fleet conversion specialist is heading for growth after expanding its product range with the support of a six-figure finance package from Lloyds Bank.

MIS Conversions, which provides bespoke vehicle conversions and vehicle body building services, has used the £250,000 loan to invest in its manufacturing processes and launch two additional product lines.

Established in 2006, the business already provides conversions for a wide range of vehicles including tipper trucks and beavertail trucks, which are typically used to transport heavy commercial loads such as large-scale plant and machinery.

The firm has now expanded its offering to customers to include the production of vehicle body tops, which are manufactured entirely from polypropylene sheets and cut using state-of-the-art CNC machines before being welded into shape.

The new products are typically used on the back of pick-up trucks commissioned by many of the UK’s major utility businesses and other government bodies, which require specially adapted field vehicles.

MIS Conversions has also launched its new range of towable welfare trailers, which can incorporate washrooms, kitchens, and canteen space all in one unit and are widely used in construction, rail, plant hire and civil engineering sectors.

To support its expansion, the business has used the loan from Lloyds Bank to invest in new tooling for sheet metal machinery, specialist moulding equipment, as well as a large-scale spray booth to paint finished products.

The firm is currently manufacturing 70 specialist polypropene tops for use on the back of pick-up trucks, which the firm expects will lead to a 20-25% increase in annual revenue.

It has also seen early success with the build of towable welfare trailers, with a target to produce five of these specially adapted vehicles each week.

Operating from three sites in Doncaster, which can accommodate over 700 vehicles, MIS Conversions has an annual turnover of £10m.

The firm currently employs more than 135 people across its operations, after recruiting an additional ten members of staff to support its recent expansion.

Joe Warner, sales director, said: “This expansion enables us to be more agile and offer a much more bespoke range of products to our customers, at a time when we’re seeing continued growth in demand for specialist vehicle conversions.

“Investing in new machinery and widening our offering means we’re better placed to react quickly to new opportunities and fulfil orders within much tighter lead times.

“Lloyds Bank has been by our side for a nearly a decade and we’ve received sound guidance and support throughout our growth journey to date.”

Ben Cutts, relationship manager, Lloyds Bank, said: “MIS Conversions is a thriving player in the vehicle conversion market, with a reputation for producing high-quality and innovative products.

“The business always has an eye on expansion and this latest investment in new product lines is testament to its hunger for future growth.

“We will continue to champion independent businesses like MIS Conversions in achieving their ambitions, as part of our commitment to help Britain prosper.”