Aveling-Barford

Aveling-Barford was a British engineering and construction-equipment manufacturer associated particularly with road rollers, motor graders, dump trucks, loaders and other machines used in civil engineering. Its principal manufacturing base was the Invicta Works in Grantham, Lincolnshire, although the business also operated facilities and subsidiaries elsewhere in Britain. During its active period, the company was internationally known and exported a substantial share of its production. The company emerged from the combination of two older engineering traditions. Aveling & Porter had developed large steam road rollers and claimed a pioneering role in the invention of the road roller, while Barford & Perkins was known for smaller rollers and dairy machinery. The businesses had cooperated for many years before the financial collapse of Agricultural & General Engineers, their former holding-company environment, created the conditions for a reorganisation. In February 1934, Aveling & Porter adopted the Aveling-Barford name after taking over the activities of Barford & Perkins. Production moved from Rochester to a large site at Grantham leased from Ruston & Hornsby, whose diesel engines powered many Aveling-Barford machines. Aveling-Barford broadened its range beyond rollers. It introduced dumpers and earthmoving equipment, produced motor graders under licence from Austin-Western of the United States, and manufactured front loaders, rigid dump trucks, articulated dump trucks and site dumpers. The company's products served road construction, quarrying, mining, aggregate handling and general civil engineering. Its three-point road rollers, including the Master Pavior and the GA-to-GC range, became especially well known. Its later RD series included large rigid dump trucks, while the RXD line represented its articulated-dumper development. The company also undertook substantial wartime production, including Bren Gun Carriers, Loyd Carriers and shell-fuse components. In the post-war period it created subsidiaries for development and agricultural products, opened a factory in Newcastle upon Tyne, acquired Goodwin Barsby and later bought Hoveringham Engineering. By the early 1950s, approximately 70 percent of its equipment was reportedly exported. It received a Queen's Award to Industry in 1967 and a Queen's Award for Export in 1972, when it was described as Britain's largest construction-equipment manufacturer. Aveling-Barford became a public company in 1937 and was acquired by Leyland Motor Corporation in 1968 after a bid valued at £9.25 million. Following the creation of British Leyland, the company became part of that conglomerate's industrial-products activities. Manufacturing and corporate structures changed repeatedly during the 1970s, including the movement of tractor-shovel production to Thomas Ward's Gainsborough works and the creation of Aveling-Barford Holdings. Financial and operational difficulties intensified in the early 1980s. The business was sold in December 1983 to American businessman Reid Eschallier, but continued to lose money and entered insolvency in 1988. Wordsworth Holdings acquired the site and assets from the receivers in 1988. Later businesses continued to use the Barford or Aveling-Barford name for machinery, parts or intellectual property. The site owner Wordsworth Holdings entered administration in 2010, and the supply of parts was sold to Shellplant in 2015. Rights connected with the RXD articulated dump trucks were acquired by ST Kinetics in 2006, while Moxy Engineering pursued rights to the rigid dump-truck range; the latter project was subsequently discontinued after Moxy became part of Doosan. A modern company known as Invictas Engineering has been associated with the former Barfords site, but the original Aveling-Barford company no longer operates as an independent manufacturer.

Aveling-Barford's history combines the development of two British engineering businesses. Aveling & Porter, established in the nineteenth century, became associated with large steam road rollers, while Barford & Perkins produced smaller rollers and dairy machinery. The two businesses sold products internationally and maintained commercial links for many years. Aveling & Porter was incorporated as a limited-liability company in 1895. In 1919 its shares were transferred to Agricultural & General Engineers, a holding company whose collapse in February 1932 destabilised a large group of engineering subsidiaries. Aveling & Porter and Barford & Perkins survived the collapse more successfully than the parent structure. R. A. Lister & Co and its associate Ruston & Hornsby acquired the businesses from the receiver. Aveling & Porter took over Barford & Perkins's activities and changed its name to Aveling-Barford on 13 February 1934. The reorganised company moved production from Rochester to the 36-acre Invicta Works in Grantham, leased from Ruston & Hornsby. Ruston & Hornsby diesel engines powered many of the machines, helping the business transition from steam equipment toward diesel construction machinery. Edward Barford became a central figure in the company and served as chairman from 1933 to 1968. In the 1930s the company made dairy-cooling equipment, hotel and institutional cooking equipment, and its first earthmoving products. A 12-ton Aveling Dumper was developed in 1938. Aveling-Barford became a public company in 1937 and was listed on the London Stock Exchange in July of that year. It claimed a dominant share of British road-roller production and promoted itself as a world leader. During the Second World War its factories produced Bren Gun Carriers, Loyd Carriers and shell-fuse caps in addition to civil-engineering machinery. After the war the company created Barford Developments and Barford Agricultural subsidiaries and opened a Newcastle upon Tyne factory in 1946. In 1949 it reached an agreement with Austin-Western of Illinois to manufacture motor graders under licence. These became known as Aveling-Austin graders. Exports grew strongly; by the early 1950s about 70 percent of output was reportedly sold abroad. Acquisitions expanded the business into adjacent engineering areas: Goodwin Barsby was acquired in 1954, adding asphalt-plant capability, and Hoveringham Engineering was acquired in 1961. The latter was subsequently known as Invicta Bridge and Engineering. The company's construction machines were used on major infrastructure work, including the first stage of the Aswan Dam in Egypt, for which 54 Aveling-Barford 30-ton SN vehicles were built in the early 1960s. By 1967 the company had received a Queen's Award to Industry, and in 1972 it received a Queen's Award for Export. Its range included rollers, graders, loaders, site dumpers, rigid dump trucks and articulated dump trucks. It was described in the early 1970s as Britain's largest construction-equipment manufacturer. Leyland Motor Corporation offered £9.25 million for Aveling-Barford in November 1967, and the acquisition was completed on 1 January 1968. After the 1968 merger with British Motor Holdings, Aveling-Barford became part of British Leyland. Plans to use Leyland engines encountered reliability problems, and the company's manufacturing footprint and organisational structure were repeatedly altered. In 1975 Leyland acquired Thomas Ward of Gainsborough and moved Aveling-Barford tractor-shovel production there. Following the acquisition of Marshall-Fowler, the business was renamed Aveling Marshall in some operations. Leyland Special Products invested in the Grantham and Newcastle factories during the late 1970s, but by the end of that decade British Leyland was seeking a sale. Aveling-Barford Holdings was formed in 1978, while the business faced falling profitability and potential redundancies. In December 1983 it was sold to American businessman Reid Eschallier. Although dump trucks and road rollers remained commercially significant, the company was loss-making by 1985. It became insolvent in June 1988 and was acquired from the receivers by Wordsworth Holdings in October of that year. Subsequent businesses continued to use elements of the Aveling-Barford and Barford identity. A company called Aveling Barford (Machines) operated in the 1990s. Wordsworth Holdings later entered administration in 2010, while Invictas Engineering became associated with the former Barfords site. Parts supply was transferred to Shellplant in 2015. Separate intellectual-property transactions affected the articulated and rigid dump-truck ranges: ST Kinetics acquired RXD-related rights in 2006, and Moxy Engineering announced a proposed acquisition of rigid-dumper rights in 2007. The latter development was abandoned after Moxy became part of Doosan. The original Aveling-Barford company is therefore a historical manufacturer rather than an active standalone brand.

• 2015

  Parts supply transferred to Shellplant

  [1]Aveling-Barforden.wikipedia.org

  Invictas Engineering sold the supply of parts to Shellplant.

• 2010

  Wordsworth Holdings enters administration

  [1]Aveling-Barforden.wikipedia.org

  The later owner of the former site and assets entered administration.

• 2006

  RXD rights transferred

  [1]Aveling-Barforden.wikipedia.org

  ST Kinetics acquired rights related to the RXD articulated dump-truck range.

• 1988

  Insolvency and receivership sale

  [1]Aveling-Barforden.wikipedia.org

  Aveling-Barford became insolvent in June, and Wordsworth Holdings acquired it from the receivers in October.

• 1983

  Sold to Reid Eschallier

  [1]Aveling-Barforden.wikipedia.org

  The company was sold on 21 December to American businessman Reid Eschallier.

• 1978

  Aveling-Barford Holdings formed

  [1]Aveling-Barforden.wikipedia.org

  A holding structure was created during British Leyland's efforts to reorganise its industrial-products businesses.

• 1972

  Queen's Award for Export

  [1]Aveling-Barforden.wikipedia.org

  The company received a Queen's Award recognising export performance.

• 1968

  Joined British Leyland

  [1]Aveling-Barforden.wikipedia.org

  Following the Leyland acquisition and its merger with British Motor Holdings, Aveling-Barford became part of British Leyland.

• 1967

  Queen's Award and Leyland bid

  [1]Aveling-Barforden.wikipedia.org

  Aveling-Barford received a Queen's Award to Industry, while Leyland Motor Corporation offered £9.25 million for the company.

• 1961

  Hoveringham Engineering acquired

  [1]Aveling-Barforden.wikipedia.org

  The purchase expanded the group into structural steelwork and sand-and-gravel plants.

Showing the 10 most recent.

A heavy-engineering brand focused on robust machines for road building, quarrying, aggregate handling and civil construction. Its historic differentiation came from road-roller expertise, broad earthmoving capability and a strong export presence.

• Road-construction equipment

  Three-point road rollers

  Road rollers were the company's signature product family. The range included the small GA through the GB and GC models, as well as the widely recognised Master Pavior diesel roller. These machines built on the Aveling & Porter engineering heritage and were used for compacting road surfaces and other civil-engineering works. Aveling-Barford claimed a dominant share of British road-roller production during the interwar and post-war periods.

• Site and earthmoving dumpers · 1938

  Aveling Dumper

  The Aveling Dumper represented the company's expansion from compaction equipment into earthmoving. A 12-ton version was developed in 1938, and the post-war business continued to manufacture site dumpers, many of which used Fordson tractor diesel engines. The dumper line helped establish Aveling-Barford as a broader construction-equipment supplier rather than solely a road-roller specialist.

• Motor graders · 1949

  Aveling-Austin motor graders

  Under a 1949 agreement with Austin-Western of Aurora, Illinois, Aveling-Barford manufactured motor graders under licence. The Aveling-Austin machines extended the company's civil-engineering portfolio into grading and road formation. Later graders used all-wheel drive and all-wheel steering, with running gear and engines adapted to the requirements of heavy construction work.

• Wheel loaders · 1970

  Front loaders

  During the 1970s and 1980s, Aveling-Barford produced front loaders with four-wheel-drive axles. Depending on the model, they used Cummins, Leyland or Ford heavy-duty diesel engines. The loaders occupied the same general market as British-built Bray and Ford machines and were intended for loading, material handling and general construction-site duties.

• Mining and quarry dump trucks

  RD rigid dump trucks

  The RD family comprised large rigid dump trucks for quarrying, mining and heavy earthmoving. The range included the 30-ton RD030 and 50-ton RD050, with later additions such as the RD55 and RD65. An RD44 prototype was presented at Bauma in an attempt to renew the range, but the programme achieved limited commercial success.

• Articulated dump trucks

  RXD articulated dump trucks

  The RXD series was a six-wheel-drive articulated dump-truck line designed for demanding off-road construction and earthmoving applications. After the original company's decline, rights connected with the range were acquired by ST Kinetics in 2006 and related machines were marketed under the TRX Build name. The transfer illustrates how Aveling-Barford's engineering designs continued to circulate after the company ceased independent production.

• Asphalt and aggregate equipment · 1954

  Autobatch asphalt plants

  The acquisition of Goodwin Barsby in 1954 brought Autobatch asphalt-plant equipment into the Aveling-Barford group. This line complemented the company's road-building machines by supplying equipment used in the production and handling of asphalt materials.

• 1992

  Pension-scheme fraud trial

  A Birmingham court case ran from March to April 1992. In August, one pension-scheme trustee was imprisoned after a four-month process, while three other people were cleared of fraud.

  Source

• 1989

  Pension-scheme discrepancy investigated

  Lincolnshire Police investigated a discrepancy in the company's pension fund. Royal Insurance later agreed to cover the shortfall. The pension fund had originally been administered by Equity & Law, subsequently taken over by Axa.

  Source

Read more

• 2012Gravity FM Aveling-Barford tribute

  Grantham, United Kingdom

  Grantham community radio station Gravity FM produced a tribute in words and music to Aveling-Barford.

  Outcome. The tribute was sold to raise funds supporting the station's running costs and reflected the company's continuing local significance.

  Source
• 1972Queen's Award for Export

  International

  The company received a Queen's Award for Export, reflecting the substantial international share of its equipment sales.

  Outcome. The recognition documented the strength of the export business before the company's later restructuring under British Leyland.

  Source
• 1967Queen's Award to Industry recognition

  United Kingdom

  Aveling-Barford received a Queen's Award to Industry during a period in which it promoted itself as Britain's leading construction-equipment manufacturer and an internationally important exporter.

  Outcome. The award strengthened the company's industrial reputation, although later ownership changes and financial difficulties weakened the business.

  Source

• 2006

  Transfer RXD articulated-dumper rightsGeneration change

  Background

  The original company's product designs and intellectual property remained of interest after its insolvency.

  Action taken

  ST Kinetics acquired rights related to the RXD articulated dump-truck series and marketed related machines under the TRX Build brand.

  Aftermath

  The RXD lineage continued outside the original Aveling-Barford corporate structure.

  Source

• 1988

  Transfer assets to Wordsworth HoldingsM&A

  Background

  Aveling-Barford entered insolvency after financial problems connected in part with a 1986 debenture.

  Action taken

  Wordsworth Holdings bought the company from the receivers in October.

  Aftermath

  Later businesses continued parts of the Barford operation and identity, but the original independent company did not return as a major manufacturer.

  Source

• 1983

  Sell the company to Reid EschallierM&A

  Background

  British Leyland was seeking to dispose of the business after years of restructuring and deteriorating profitability.

  Action taken

  Aveling-Barford was sold on 21 December to American businessman Reid Eschallier.

  Aftermath

  The company remained commercially active in dump trucks and rollers but was loss-making by 1985 and became insolvent in 1988.

  Source

• 1975

  Move tractor-shovel production to Thomas WardStrategy

  Background

  British Leyland was reorganising its construction-equipment operations after acquiring Thomas Ward of Gainsborough.

  Action taken

  Leyland moved Aveling-Barford tractor-shovel production to Thomas Ward's Gainsborough works.

  Aftermath

  The decision changed the distribution of manufacturing across the Leyland industrial-products group and was followed by further renaming and restructuring.

  Acquisition price for Thomas Ward. £3 million (September 1975)

  Source

• 1968

  Accept Leyland Motor Corporation acquisitionM&A

  Background

  Aveling-Barford was a large construction-equipment manufacturer, but was operating in an industry increasingly shaped by larger industrial groups.

  Action taken

  The company accepted Leyland Motor Corporation's offer, with completion on 1 January 1968.

  Aftermath

  Aveling-Barford became part of British Leyland after the Leyland and British Motor Holdings merger, leading to further restructuring and production transfers.

  Acquisition offer. £9.25 million offer (November 1967)

  • JCB — JCB was also interested in taking over Aveling-Barford, but did not complete the acquisition.

  Source

• 1949

  Manufacture Austin-Western motor graders under licenceProduct launch

  Background

  Aveling-Barford sought to extend its established road-building presence beyond rollers.

  Action taken

  The company reached an agreement with Austin-Western of Illinois to manufacture motor graders in Britain under licence.

  Aftermath

  The resulting Aveling-Austin graders broadened the product range into road grading.

  Source

• 1934

  Combine Aveling & Porter and Barford & Perkins operationsStrategy

  Background

  The collapse of Agricultural & General Engineers disrupted the companies' former ownership structure, while Ruston & Hornsby and R. A. Lister & Co sought to preserve viable engineering operations.

  Action taken

  Aveling & Porter took over Barford & Perkins's activities, adopted the Aveling-Barford name and moved production to Grantham.

  Aftermath

  The reorganisation created a broader diesel-powered construction-equipment manufacturer.

  Source

• 2010

  Wordsworth Holdings enters administration[1]Aveling-Barforden.wikipedia.org

  Bankruptcy

  Wordsworth Holdings, which had acquired the former Aveling-Barford site and assets, entered administration.

• 2007

  Moxy pursues Barford rigid dump-truck intellectual property[1]Aveling-Barforden.wikipedia.org

  M&A · Product generation

  Norwegian manufacturer Moxy Engineering announced plans to acquire intellectual-property rights for the Barford rigid dump-truck range. The proposed subsequent range was not brought to production.

• 2006

  ST Kinetics acquires RXD articulated-dumper rights[1]Aveling-Barforden.wikipedia.org

  M&A · Product generation

  Singapore-based ST Kinetics acquired rights connected with the Aveling-Barford RXD articulated dump trucks and marketed related machines under the TRX Build brand.

• 1988

  Aveling-Barford becomes insolvent[1]Aveling-Barforden.wikipedia.org

  Bankruptcy

  The company became insolvent in June 1988 in connection with financial obligations including a debenture taken out in 1986.

• 1972

  Aveling-Barford receives Queen's Award for Export[1]Aveling-Barforden.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Aveling-Barford received a further Queen's Award recognising its export performance.

• 1967

  Aveling-Barford acquired by Leyland Motor Corporation[1]Aveling-Barforden.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Leyland Motor Corporation offered £9.25 million for Aveling-Barford. Completion followed on 1 January 1968, bringing the construction-equipment maker into the Leyland group.

• 1967

  Aveling-Barford receives Queen's Award for Industry[1]Aveling-Barforden.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The company received a Queen's Award to Industry during a period of strong manufacturing and export activity.

1. 1Aveling-Barforden.wikipedia.org