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Angloco
the industry since Angloco built its first truck in 1974,” opens Alistair.“ By the time he retired, the tally topped 26 and none of those companies are around today. Although we recently celebrated our 60th anniversary, this sector is difficult; it’ s very capital intensive, cash flow is a real challenge, and it takes about a year to deliver a vehicle. Surprisingly, it’ s also highly competitive, so margins are incredibly thin.”
However, under Alistair’ s leadership since 2017, Angloco is growing faster than ever and his survival formula consists of blending bespoke and volume work, plus a longinvested service support arm. 2026 also marks another milestone: 50 years since the company’ s first export, and its products have since reached more than 80 countries.
Prior to 2017, company turnover had remained between £ 12 million- £ 15 million, and focused on bespoke, one-or-two-at-atime builds.“ I joined Angloco full-time in 2004, before becoming Managing Director in 2017, at which time we only had around 60 employees,” continues Alistair.“ We were being outcompeted though, and it was damaging our profitability and our sustainability to be able to compete on the world stage.” His response was to erect a second site in Batley, West Yorkshire, running three volume production lines, to which he attributes the rapid doubling of Angloco, followed by a major MOD contract – with no force majeure clauses.“ It was made absolutely clear that wars and pandemics were no reasons for being late,” Alistair recalls,“ and the first truck chassis arrived the same week the Covid-19 lockdown was announced. However, we stayed fully open and delivered the project, with headcount even rising to 140 in 2020 and sitting at around 200 today.”
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