Darwen Share Discussion Threads

[9degrees] 05/3/2008 15:39

Well done MTG - very interesting detail.
Boris Johnson ( if elected Mayor)looks as if he will increase the volume of London buses by getting rid of Bendy buses and replacing them with other types of buses - vote Boris!?

[leighbarton] 05/3/2008 12:32

MTG - Many thanks

[m.t.glass] 05/3/2008 12:21

I will (shoortly) provide a header link to this batch of vehicle postings

[m.t.glass] 05/3/2008 12:19

The Darwen Panaire is a bus body built by the Darwen Group. It was in terms of engineering an open top Esteem in all but name. A double decker open top, the Visionaire, is also produced.

So far, there have been no orders for the bus, as it was launched at Coach and Bus Live in November 2007

Width: 2.52m
Length: 10.7 to 12.2m
Height: 2.9m
Passenger capacity: 34 - 43 seated
Options: Seatbelts, CCTV and electronic destination displays.



(from the Wiki Project)

[m.t.glass] 05/3/2008 12:18

Kinetec (single decker)
The standard Kinetec is a single decker body that appears to have been influenced by the Optare Sigma body in styling and construction. Unlike the Sigma though it is of low floor design. Reviews from its launch as Euro Bus Expo 2006 were very poor. Like the Scania OmniTown the bus uses the East Lancs Esteem body, but with the chassis maker's (MAN's) "Lion's City" front.


Kinetec+ (double decker)
The Kinetec+ is a double decker bus seemingly influenced by the Optare Spectra body. The first prototype body has a low-height (4 metres) design under EU regulations, which has been criticised. However the next prototype will be of London specification with a 4.3 metre height. Like later Spectras, the body is of low floor design and has the same lower dash panel as the single decker Kinetec. Like the Kinetec, this bus again uses the chassis maker's (MAN's) front with the East Lancs Olympus body.

-Naming
Both the Kinetec and Kinetec+ were placed on display at the 2006 Coach and Bus Show with "KINETEC" lettering, but with plates bearing the alternative spelling "KINETIC". The LED displays also showed the name with an "I". This has inevitably led to some uncertainty as to the correct spelling of the model name.

(from the Wiki Project)

[m.t.glass] 05/3/2008 12:16

The East Lancs Olympus was a double-deck variant of the East Lancs Esteem bus body, available on the Alexander Dennis Enviro 400, Volvo B9TL and Scania N230UD/N270UD chassis.

The first example built on a Volvo B9TL chassis for Delaine Buses was launched at Euro Bus Expo 2006. This was meant to be a higher specification model for Ham's of Flimwell, but was not ready in time for the show meaning the bus didn't show its full potential.

At the beginning of January 2007, Reading Buses ordered six Olympus for their Loddon Bridge FastTrack park and ride contract to replace Optare Excels. They had Scania chassis and entered service - in a yellow and blue livery - in July 2007.

In London, some bus operaters purchased Olympus with Scania chassis, Transdev London and Metroline have these buses operating on routes 148 and 7 respectively. However, due to problems with the new TfL specified air-contidtioning units, some buses failed the tilt test by one degree, and entered service late.

An open-top version of Olympus, the Visionaire, was also built.

East Lancs stated that the Olympus will replace the OmniDekka on Scania chassis, which is 10.6 or 11.9 metres in length.

After East Lancs went into administration, they were bought by the Darwen Group, and the Olympus was consequently named the Darwen Olympus.

(from the Wiki Project)

[m.t.glass] 05/3/2008 12:14

The East Lancs Visionaire was a bus body built by East Lancashire Coachbuilders. It was in terms of engineering an open top Olympus (itself a double-deck variant of the Esteem) in all but name.

The first orders were made in November 2006 by Arriva's The Original Tour for a £1.6 million order for ten, built on Volvo's B9TL Euro 4 chassis. These are all now in service and are the only orders so far.

After East Lancs went into administration in 2007, the business was bought by the Darwen Group, and the East Lancs Visionaire was renamed the Darwen Visionaire.


(from that Wiki Project)

[m.t.glass] 05/3/2008 11:52

LB - I think i mentioned (somewhere above here..) that i will change the chart display once there is enough data to do so. Unfortunately the advfn default charts still relate to the older use of the same ticker - so I can't sensibly show those as the whole scale is skewed to accommodate irrelevant ancient prices. Even the five-day one wouldn't work properly yesterday. But I will keep trying various ones ;o)

The intraday one is broken so I will remove that.. bear with me while I go play around with them

EDIT: OK - for now the header display shows a 3-day line chart with shaded spread (5-day one not working - nor is intraday one), and a couple of one-month charts - one line and one candlesticks, with volume. I will look at other possibilities later.

[leighbarton] 05/3/2008 10:42

MTG - Any chance that we can have price charts similar to the ones on the TAN thread? The ones we have at the moment don't do much for me (not least because they don't seem to be updating on my screen!)

[m.t.glass] 04/3/2008 23:13

I see someone has launched a Wikipedia project page for Darwen Group. I have no idea how such things work, and haven't registered. But here's the link for anyone interested



This image of an 'Esteem' bus within the group's product range is one of several featured there -



(This was the Esteem produced by East Lancs CBs. The Darwen update is a bit different apparently) See

I will add a Wiki link in the header tomorrow

[m.t.glass] 01/3/2008 10:40

Darwen Holdings was floated on AIM this week. The chairman and majority shareholder, Roy Stanley, is also chairman of Tanfield (manufacturers of electric vehicles).

Headquartered in Blackburn, Lancashire, Darwen Holdings incorporates Darwen Group Ltd and currently produces a range of premium quality diesel buses. Darwen is also in the process of developing the next generation of low emission buses, including those powered by diesel electric hybrid technology. The company eventually expects most sales to come from hybrids and is working on their development with Transport for London and two bus operators. Fuel economies will also come from the increasing use of lighter composite materials.



Darwen Group has made its first acquisition since buying East Lancashire Coachbuilders in August, purchasing specialist design, manufacturing and product development consultancy, Leyland Product Developments (LPD), for an undisclosed sum.

Based in Leyland, near Preston, LPD was established in 1994 following a management buyout of the Product Development division of the Volvo Bus Corporation. In 2004, it was acquired by Greencool Holdings Ltd as part of a strategic investment to deliver vehicle design expertise to overseas markets.

With a workforce of 40 staff and a historic turnover of more than £5 million, LPD is primarily known for designing commercial vehicle chassis and body structures. It also encompasses a manufacturing arm that carries out special vehicle conversions and prototype builds, and designs and manufactures a vehicle recovery device, the Rapid Deployment Transporter, for the RAC.

The former Managing Director of LPD, Mark Houlton, will now assume the role of Product Development Director at Darwen Group, with responsibility for developing and bringing all new products and technologies to market. Darwen LPD will remain at its existing site in Leyland for the time being, with the possibility of it being brought under Darwen Group's roof when the business relocates in early 2008.

LPD itself will be rebranded as Darwen LPD, with the acquisition enabling Darwen Group to provide a fully integrated manufacturing solution to the bus and coach industry.

Chief executive of Darwen Group, Andrew Brian, said: "LPD is renowned within the industry for its work designing chassis in confidence for market-leading brands, such as Scania and Volvo. So while we continue to develop relationships with new and existing manufacturing partners, we are thrilled to welcome the firm into the growing Darwen Group stable.

"We are excited at the prospect of building on LPD's already excellent reputation as a centre of design innovation. When we bought East Lancs in August, we talked about building a larger group. This is the first step towards achieving that goal, and a taster of further strategic acquisitions planned for 2008."

[leighbarton] 29/2/2008 13:56

JMB, thanks I have already registered my interest and have taken the cheek to copy your post onto the Tanfield board. Hopefully we will get enought takers to make it happen. I find this type of contact with mngt to be invaluable.

[jm barrie100] 29/2/2008 09:15

Aliceinwonder1 on the terrible/excellent TMF board is attempting to set up a meeting for private investors with Roy Stanley in London for March. No doubt the two main topics of conversation will be Tanfield and Darwen Holdings.

If you are interested in attending, use the link below and contact him/her off-board (press the reply option and then toggle the contact direct button while switching off the post on the board).

[m.t.glass] 28/2/2008 07:47

From Bus & Coach magazine, 27 Feb 2008

ceo Andrew Brian

AIM-listed Darwen aims for integrals

DARWEN Holdings this week floated on the Alternative Investment Market and announced it was developing a new range of integral buses, with a prototype due by June this year , as it aims at "reducing its dependency on chassis manufacturers". Both diesel and series hybrid models are planned, the latter with an eye on London. The new model will be at Euro Bus Expo in November, with series production starting at the end of the year. Enova is a key partner in the hybrid version of the project.

...Darwen took over from the failed East Lancs business in August last year, and in the 83 days to 31 October made a pre-tax loss of £1.6million on a turnover of £2.1million. The bulk of the loss – just over £900,000 – is attributed to redundancy costs associated with the restructuring of the business. The workforce has been reduced from 360, when Darwen took over the business, to 250. It has since purchased Leyland Product Developments...

Darwen says that last year it was building three buses a week, and that this figure will double to six a week by June. The ultimate aim is 12 a week, from a new factory in the Blackburn area. A site is now under consideration. The company claims to have a full order book beyond July. It is seeking production efficiency supported by more outsourcing..."



(remainder of article repeats previous stuff we know already)

[topvest] 26/2/2008 20:56

I bought a few as well. They have done the business at Tanfield and are worth backing imo. Strengths:
- Management team
- Bought a good business from the receiver
- Have the manaufacturing skills through Roy Stanley and his previous companies
- Should be able to work with Tanfield on green products
Some execution risk this year, but looks a good bet to me.

[buzzzzzzzz] 26/2/2008 17:44

M.T

Followed your lead and picked up £50k's worth today, hope it's the right thing to do?

[m.t.glass] 26/2/2008 10:52

Yep. That would be nice. I did get an email reply saying they would do so and get rid of the old Downing Healthcare data. (Though Darwen themselves could have chosen DAR, or DARW or DG. as the company epic, none of which has old data attached.)

I will try out a few other charts.
EDIT: I've ditched the default set in favour of a single 5-day chart for now, and will display additional charts once there is enough data.

[radarlove] 26/2/2008 10:36

The sooner ADVFN sort out the charts the better.

[greek islander] 26/2/2008 09:57

Interesated in this one would have liked to get in at IPO but it was off my radar somehow until yesterday.
Not surprised to see MTG here.
Looks like a lot of the oild faces from TAN.

[m.t.glass] 26/2/2008 08:55

- a flat start to Day Two

[stegrego] 25/2/2008 19:07

Oops looks like i missed the bus here and should have jumped on this morning at under 32p early doors.

Ah well

[tevezunited] 25/2/2008 18:31

MT greetings delighted to have picked up a load at 34p earlier today. Hope you read the independent,Tuesday.

[crosswire] 25/2/2008 17:55

Aim debut for Darwen hybrid bus manufacturer
By James Wilson

Published: February 25 2008 02:00 | Last updated: February 25 2008 02:00

A company behind thousands of Britain's double-deckers is set for a stock market debut today, hoping bus operators' need to cut fuel costs can spur interest in its plans to produce more hybrid-engine vehicles.

Darwen Holdings bought historic East Lancashire Coach Builders, which was set up in 1934, and other assets out of administration last year and is set to be admitted to Aim worth about £15m.

The executive chairman and majority owner is Roy Stanley, known to Aim investors as the chairman at Tanfield, the builder of electric vehicles. Tanfield's shares - priced at 8p on flotation on Aim in 2003 have since risen to 88p giving a market capitalisation of more than £250m.

Mr Stanley says buses have been made in "a very crafted way" but says Darwen will cut costs by adopting a "more automotive approach" with more outsourcing and standardising of production. "I have felt for some time there is a great opportunity to do something quite radically different in the bus industry," he says.

In November, Darwen bought Leyland Product Development, a chassis design company that Darwen says will help it derive higher margins from producing its own integrated chassis and bodywork. It has previously bought chassis from the likes of Volvo and Scania.

About 1,000 buses are sold in the UK each year, with the market leaders being Alexander Dennis and Wrightbus.

Darwen produced 170 buses last year but has increased production to a rate of about six per week and hopes to make 10 a week by the end of this year, when the company is expected to make pre-tax profits of about £2.4m from sales of some £30m.

The Blackburn-based company is expected shortly to move into bigger premises. Staff levels have fallen from 350 to 250 under Darwen's ownership as the company seeks greater productivity.

Darwen says there may be scope for some collaboration with Tanfield on smaller vehicles, but says double-deckers will at best be low-emission, rather than zero emission, with an emphasis in the next decade on cleaner diesel engines with hybrid power.

The company eventually expects most sales to come from hybrids and is working on their development with Transport for London and two bus operators. Fuel economies will also come from the increasing use of lighter composite materials.

Andrew Brian, chief executive, says Darwen can increase sales as the biggest bus owners start to renew their fleets, a decade or so after the last round of significant investment. The Olympics in London may produce extra demand for vehicles while legislation to make getting on to buses easier for disabled passengers should also increase sales.

[crosswire] 25/2/2008 17:50

Bus maker Darwen Group goes public
25th Febuary 2008

The bus maker Darwen Group, which recently acquired Leyland Product Developments following its purchase of East Lancashire Coachbuilders, is set to be admitted to the Aim market with a value of about £15, the FT reported on Friday 22 February.

Based in Leyland, near Preston, Leyland Product Developments was established in 1994 following a management buyout of the Product Development division of the Volvo Bus Corporation. In 2004, it was acquired by Greencool Holdings Ltd as part of a strategic investment to deliver vehicle design expertise to overseas markets.

Darwen's chairman and majority investor Roy Stanley is also the chairman of the electric vehicle builder Tanfield/Smith Electric Vehicles, which is already Aim-listed.

Mr Stanley told the FT (22 February) that Darwen aims to innovate by increasing outsourcing and standardising production in a "more automotive approach" than has been typical of the bus sector, while its acquistion o Leyland Product Developments will help cut costs by building chassis in-house. Darwen expects most of its sales will eventually be of units powered by diesel-electric hybrid powertrains.

Darwen produced 170 buses last year but has increased production to a rate of about six units per week and hopes to make 10 a week by the end of this year, when the company is expected to make pre-tax profits of about £2.4m from sales of some £30m.

The Blackburn-based company is expected shortly to move into bigger premises. Staff levels have fallen from 350 to 250 under Darwen's ownership, to improve productivity.

(www.darwengroup.com, FT, 22 February