Posts tagged: venari

Deal confirmed for Yorkshire-based Venari Group’s firefighting sector

Venari Group, a Yorkshire emergency services vehicle manufacturer, has confirmed its intention to sell its firefighting division to its former chief executive, Oliver North.

After thorough due diligence and consultation with employees, the carve out deal has been reportedly been agreed.

Once the deal is completed, Oliver North will begin vehicle production and equipment distribution for the firefighting industry, operating under the brand name North Fire.

The headquarters and manufacturing facility of North Fire will be strategically situated in Huddersfield.

Venari Group focuses on enhancing NHS production and safety standards

On the other side of this transition, Venari is gearing up to notably augment its production for both the NHS and its supporting private fleet operators.

This boost in production is anchored on a rigorous emphasis on safety standards in the ambulance market.

The acquisition of Venari’s firefighting division by North Fire was identified as crucial. It will empower its team of specialist firefighting production engineers to spearhead innovation in the fire sector independently.

A journey back to roots: Oliver North’s vision for North Fire

Oliver North, the managing director of North Fire, commented: “I’m thrilled to announce the intention to acquire the firefighting division, alongside my world-class team, being in the industry we have the most passion for.”

He added: “In 2008, I launched North Fire Limited, which was hugely successful and ultimately acquired by one of the world’s largest firefighting technology manufacturers – which remains a success to this day.

“North Fire Engineering plans to launch with more experience, knowledge and hunger to drive competition and innovation as our Fire Services continue to answer ever evolving challenges..”

Commenting on his time at Venari, North said: “

“For the past few years, Venari has consistently punched above its weight in the sector. During Covid, Venari was one of the only manufacturers in the industry to stay open to support the NHS, and over the past 18 months it has provided over 100 armoured ambulances for combat medic teams in Ukraine.

“I will therefore look back at my time leading Venari with huge pride – the production workers there are the best in their industry, without question.

He added: “My passion has always been in the firefighting sector, so this planned acquisition and the inception of North Fire feels like a return to my roots.”

IFSJ Comment

The decision by Venari Group to carve out its firefighting division is a significant move in the emergency services vehicle manufacturing landscape.

With Oliver North, a veteran in the sector, taking the reins, it indicates a renewed focus and potential growth for the firefighting vehicle and equipment production.

The strategic shift by both Venari Group and North Fire also suggests a conscious effort to streamline and enhance their respective areas of expertise.

For the firefighting community and its stakeholders, this move could usher in a new era of innovation, quality, and service.

British manufacturers Venari Group and Rotec Engineering have announced their official alliance and are set unveil their new co-branded lithium ion extinguishing technology – the Vanquish – at the Fire Service College, Moreton-in-Marsh, in February 2023.

West Yorkshire-based emergency vehicle manufacturer, Venari, has, in recent years, pivoted to engineer and manufacture countless vehicle solutions in response to increasing challenges on the front lines around the world.

Notably, Venari manufactured armoured battlefield ambulances for Ukraine on a large scale in 2022, engineered and supplied over 200 Covid test centres around the UK throughout the years before and will soon deliver the first operational hybrid air crash truck – the most technologically advanced vehicle of its type – to Cranfield Airport, all amongst hundreds of NHS ambulances and firefighting vehicles.

Evesham-based Rotec Engineering has a history in developing innovative products and processes, manufactured solely from within the UK, including firefighting extinguishing technology for military and aerospace applications. This sits alongside Rotec’s core strength,  its advanced manufacturing centre dedicated to 5-axis CNC , automation and sliding head technology.

With a rapid increase in the use of lithium ion batteries, particularly in electric vehicles (EVs), fire and rescue services, globally, have continued to look for solutions capable of supressing EV fires. Rotec and Venari have subsequently gathered their resource and expertise to create the answer to the global challenge of EV firefighting.

Throughout 2022, Rotec and Venari engineered, manufactured and tested the new technology for fire services. The resulting product – the Vanquish – will be demonstrated to senior firefighters from fire and rescue services (FRS’) throughout the UK, at the fire service college in February 2023.

Capable of being mounted on small, agile pick-up size chassis’, or retrofittable into existing large vehicles in an FRS fleet, the Vanquish is poised to become an essential tool in the ever evolving ‘toolbox’ of a fire and rescue service.

The new system expels a specific media, which will be explained and unveiled at February’s launch, at the perfect droplet size which in-turn seals and supresses the burning lithium ion.

Venari Group CEO, Oliver North, commented: “For years we have searched for an efficient solution to present to our firefighters in lithium ion firefighting. Working with the brilliant Rotec Engineering team alongside our own world-class team at Venari, we have fused together two very capable and passionate manufacturers for the good of innovation – and we can’t wait to demonstrate it to the industry.”

Rotec Engineering MD, Paul Butler, added: “We are very excited to join forces with Venari on this project. The synergy between our two companies is clear , working together we have the answer to growing concern for which we are proud to offer a solution. We are always focused on providing innovative and robust solutions, and the partnership with the Venari team will ensure this is delivered to the highest possible standard.”