Yorkshire fire truck maker targets £18.9m revenue and record growth in 10th year

Fire truck manufacturer Rosenbauer UK is set for record growth at the end of its 10th year in business.

The Yorkshire-based company is on track to achieve revenues of £18.9m in 2018, a year-on-year increase of 255%.

Founded in 2008 by businessman Oliver North, Rosenbauer UK began life as a helmet supplier called North Fire.

But it generated revenues of £1.2m in its first year and expanded to become one of the UK’s biggest suppliers of firefighting equipment.

In 2010, the company signed an agreement with Rosenbauer International to distribute the Austrian giant’s aerial fire trucks. The two businesses merged operations four years later to create Rosenbauer UK Ltd.

Founder Oliver North

Oliver said of the company’s early days: “I was working as a salesperson in the fire market when I started to question the standard of customer service.

“The only way I could personally deliver satisfaction, the way I wanted it, was to set up my own company. Although I was a little wet behind the ears, I went for it. I had no investment, but a sound strategy based on quality of service, ethics and hard work.”

North Fire caught the attention of businessman Ken Davy in 2011 and sold him a 33% share.

Oliver continued: “[Ken] became somewhat of a mentor on the numbers. We’d spend hours going through P&L statements and driving the business forward financially.”

Speaking further, Oliver said: “In terms of what’s next, I don’t intend to take my foot off the gas. I have too much energy for that.

“I always want to push myself personally, so am looking forward to exploring new avenues whilst overseeing the consolidation of Rosenbauer UK.”

Last month, Rosenbauer UK announced a new partnership with Huddersfield Town. The company’s branding will feature on the Terriers’ kits and walk-out jackets in the 2018/19 season.

Looking to promote your product/service to SME businesses in your region? Find out how Bdaily can help →