Mon, 20 Jan 2025 | BUSINESS SALE
Sector experts Ben Bowers and his father Malcolm have returned to the lifting sector with the acquisition of Humberside Lifting Services (HLS).
The Bowers, who run Bowers & Bowers Holdings, said they had been looking for the right opportunity in the marketplace since they sold Liftertz to Speedy Hire back in 2019. The pair believe that HLS provides a good foundation for development.
Established in 2010 by lifting veteran Malcolm Armstrong, HLS offers sales, hire, testing and repair of lifting equipment as well as the manufacture and sale of bespoke lifting straps.
It provides genie lifts, gantries, chain hoists to groundwork and civil lifting and handling equipment, such as stone grabs, vacuum stone handlers and the full range of manhole equipment accessories, all available to hire.
According to its most recent micro accounts filing to Companies House as at 31 January 2024, it had fixed assets of just over £532,000 and an average number of employees during the period of seven.
Liftertz was sold to Speedy Hire in a £21.5 million deal in 2019. The Wakefield-based group had a fleet of approximately 1,300 access platforms and annual revenues of £15 million.
Malcolm Bowers previously founded Aerials for Industry Ltd (AFI) in 1998 before selling it in 2005. He started Liftertz with his son in 2007.
Malcolm Bowers retired early in 2020 but will continue to provide his expertise to HLS in key areas. "I am limited in what I can do but I will enjoy helping where I can," he said.
Ben said: "We have some exciting plans for the business including ways to improve the level of customer service as well as an improved product range for sale and hire. We are pleased to have experienced Andy Bannister, as operations director, stay with the business to help run, develop and expand HLS. In fact, all employees are continuing with the business and we will be recruiting additional team members in due course."
The Bowers have also bought the freehold on HLS's Scunthorpe premises which, up until now, has been underused and, they said, is well suited for expansion.
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