Parker Plant saved by a familiar face
"PARKER Plant, one of the best known names in quarry equipment, have been saved from closure by the return of former chairman Maurice Hutson. The Leicester-based firm went into receivership earlier this year but now 69-year-old Mr Hutson, who headed the company during a highly successful period between 1990 and 1997, has purchased the Parker Plant name, assets and intellectual property rights and is looking to revive the firm’s fortunes once again."
"‘There was a very real danger that the Parker name and property rights could have been lost to an overseas buyer,’ said Mr Hutson. ‘Now, however, we have the opportunity to use the experience of Parker people, some of whom have been with the business for 40 years, to rebuild the company, focusing on its core strengths and making sure that the mistakes of the past are not repeated.’"
"Already some 35 staff have taken up their old positions at Parker Plant’s 18-acre Canon Street site and more are set to rejoin as Mr Hutson, his works director, Jeff Lloyd, and the rest of the Parker-served management team set about re-establishing the company’s manufacturing capability."
"Initially production will concentrate on a limited range of mobile crushers and asphalt plants for the home markets, with a number of new designs being introduced over the next 12 months. Once the business is firmly back on its feet bespoke work will be reintroduced and the company’s global marketing network will be re-established."
"‘Since production restarted in mid-October we have built three RT mobile crushers, two of which left the factory last month, and we are currently building our first two asphalt plants,’ said Mr Hutson. ‘In addition, we have already had a crusher in for refurbishment and our spares and service department is now fully up and running again.’"
"Acknowledging that the market has changed in the last few years, Mr Hutson said it was his intention to rebuild Parker Plant’s reputation for quality and service, and that he would be happy if Parker Plant could attain, within the next five years, around half the turnover they achieved in 1997."
