Ability Handling is pleased to announce it has acquired SEV Materials Handling, a division of SEV Automotive and Plant Ltd.
 
Smith’s Electric Vehicles established SEV Materials Handling in 1993, which was a dealership for Doosan in the North East of England and TCM in South Yorkshire. Stephen Fisher, former MD of SEV Group, joined Ability Handling in late 2014, and is looking forward to further developing the business: “Ability Handling has been one of the most respected suppliers in the region and we will be building on this success with a combined hire fleet now at our disposal of around 400 trucks.”
 
The combined revenues of both companies at acquisition totals over £3.5m and Ability Handling has taken over SEV’s owned and financed forklift fleets, service contracts, relevant staff under TUPE transfer, its depot in Sheffield, stock, tools and plant. Also part of the deal is SEV's UK wide industrial electric vehicles business which serves hospitals, prisons, leisure parks and industrial facilities.

As part of the growth plan the current Ability and SEV depots in South Yorkshire will be merged onto a single site, with additional depots being established to expand services to a wider geographical territory. Additional employment opportunities will also be created in the region as plans go ahead to augment the current workforce of 30 with more engineers, sales and support staff. Further significant investment is being made in new fleet trucks, computer systems, vans, specialist equipment and employee training.

"We have already seen significant organic growth and this acquisition and planned investment puts Ability Handling at the forefront of its sector in the region and marks a major step forward,” said Roger Hardman, MD of Ability Handling.
  
Geoff Allison, MD of SEV Automotive & Plant Ltd comments: "This has been a strategic move that has been well planned and executed. This now represents a great opportunity for Ability Handling to grow the Materials Handling business and for SEV to focus on its core business of Mobile Fleet Maintenance Services."