Boughton History
Boughton Engineering and its predecessor businesses have been involved in engineering since 1897. Its early ventures were connected with agricultural equipment, farm implements, contracting, forestry and transport. Then more recently, it became a successful manufacturer of products including wastes handling equipment, wet waste tankers, fuel oil tankers, dry waste ejection trailers, military logistics equipment and aviation fire fighting and rescue vehicles. Over the decades, Boughton has been responsible for many initiatives and developments, always maintaining its position at the cutting edge of design engineering and technology – and often leading the field with innovations which have stood the test of time. Many of these are still recognised today for establishing industry standards and best practice.
The company started in business in Bell Lane, Amersham and Boughton Engineering recently collaborated with the Amersham Museum, the Boughton family and others, to produce a summary of the company’s remarkable history and achievements. To read or download a pdf file of this project, scroll down the timeline below.
Early Years
n the early days the company focused on agriculture, forestry and transport, producing new and innovative solutions to a range of day-to-day transport problems, including the movement of waste, as seen in this picture of circa 1905.
During World War 2, the company moved onto all wheel drive conversions on commercial chassis for the military.
1950’s
With the development and growth of the waste handling market, the company produced its first skip loader.
1960’s
The boom in oil production created a new amd expanding market for the company, producing specialist pipe laying equipment.
The Container Handling Equipment Manufacturers Association (CHEM) was formed to establish a set of Industry standards, with Boughton as a founding member.
1970’s
New opportunities, such as the introduction of the Boeing 747 ‘Jumbo’ jet, gave rise to the demand for specialist chassis for aviation rescue and fire fighting (ARFF). Boughton responded by designing and building the first ever centre steer, rear engined chassis for airport fire fighting.
Concurrently, the first Boughton hookloader was introduced, along with wet waste tankers, fuel oil tankers and dry waste ejection trailers.
1980's
Major developments and changes in military logistics saw Boughton introduce a range of specialist trailers for defence applications. Concurrently, the tandem axle close coupled trailer was introduced for the waste industry, to optimise waste container and vehicle operations and increase payloads..
1990’s
Boughton developed and introduced the Kwikcova® automatic sheeting system for hookloader applications.
2000's
The company relocated its headquarters from the original Amersham based premises to a brand new purpose built factory located just off the A38 north of Birmingham at Barton-under-Needwood.
With the increase in vehicle gross weights, the company introduced the Tri Axle close coupled trailer with the option off its own Kwikcova®.
The Kwikcova® Sheeting System was further developed with the introduction of the CMd version, which features a hinged arm design for applications with low height containers.
The company refocussed on its core waste handling equipment business, further developing ejection trailers to provide the solution for the collection and handling of bulk waste and recycling and delivery to landfill sites.
Military logistics equipment and Aviation Rescue & Fire Fighting Vehicles were retained in the company’s product portfolio.
2010 onwards
Skan Group Holdings acquires Reynolds Boughton
The assets and businesses of both Reynolds Boughton Limited and Reynolds Boughton (Devon) Limited - previously collectively known as the Boughton Group - and which were in administration in April 2011, were acquired as going concerns by Skan Group Holdings Limited in May 2011. The single entity was renamed to become known as Boughton Engineering Limited.
In October 2011, the company relocated its head office, assembly and production operations to Wolverhampton, becoming co-located with Skan Group’s other specialist engineering business, Oldbury UK.
In April 2013, the Company relocated its fabrication operations from outdated facilities in Winkleigh to modern purpose built units in Bideford, North Devon.
Power-Reach® – the next generation skip loader
The all new Boughton Power-Reach skip loader range, incorporating a fully integrated Intacova® auto sheeting system, was launched at the RWM exhibition at the NEC exhibition centre in September 2013 – the first ground up design review of the type for a generation.
In 2016, Boughton Engineering formed a strategic partnership with McNeilus, the Minnesota, US based specialist truck manufacturer, to sell, mount and finish assemble its Front End Loader range for the UK market.
2017
In mid-2017, Skan Group announced the further integration of its engineering businesses, with Oldbury UK becoming a division of Boughton Engineering. Concurrently, it rolled out its major investment in a new advanced ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software system, which has fully integrated all management and business processes including sales, engineering, purchasing, finance and administration, manufacturing and production – and even parts and service – all part of Skan’s longer term strategy for the future of the business.
