Darwen Group
Encyclopedia
The Darwen Group was a bus manufacturer located in Blackburn, Lancashire, England. The company originated from the purchase of East Lancashire Coachbuilders
who went into administration in August 2007. After a series of developments, in June 2008 Darwen performed a reverse takeover in fellow bus manufacturer Optare
, with the Darwen name disappearing.
in August 2007, after they went into administration - Darwen saved them the next day. Darwen went about reorganising the business, making a number of redundancies and rebranding main bus side of the business as Darwen East Lancs
, the repair arm as Darwen North West
. The current East Lancs products at the time were continued by Darwen, with new brand names.
This was followed by the acquisition of Leyland Product Developments in November 2007, which was rebranded as Darwen LPD
. Further progress came in February 2008, when the parent company Darwen Holdings floated on AIM
.
In a further development, the Darwen Group owner Roy Stanley set up Jamesstan Investments, and on March 12, 2008 the Optare
Group was purchased. In June 2008 the decision was made for Darwen to perform a reverse takeover
on Optare under Jamesstan Investments. The Darwen name was dropped in favour of Optare's
The company has also announced its intention to develop integral buses, with a prototype due by June 2008. It intends to develop both hybrid
and diesel
versions, the hybrid in partnership with Enova
.
On July 14, 2008 the company was renamed Optare UK Ltd as a part of the reverse takeover of Optare.
Built for the Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart, Scania N94UB Alexander Dennis Enviro300 and MAN 12.240 chassis. A former East Lancs product, previously known as the East Lancs Esteem. It is the successor to the East Lancs Myllennium
.
This is a modified open-top Esteem. It is the only open-top single-decker bus offered in the UK although no orders have yet been taken.
Built for the Scania N230UD/N270UD
chassis. A former East Lancs product, known as the East Lancs Omnidekka
. It is a replacement for the ELC Scania N94 based model.
Built for the Volvo B9TL
, Alexander Dennis Enviro400 and Scania N230UD/N270UD
chassis. A former East Lancs product, known as the East Lancs Olympus
. It is a modified version of the double-decker Myllennium with the same enhancements as the Esteem.
Built so far on the Volvo B9TL
chassis. A former East Lancs product, known as the East Lancs Visionaire. It is essentially an open top version of the Olympus.
East Lancashire Coachbuilders
East Lancashire Coachbuilders Limited was a manufacturer of bus bodies and carriages founded in 1934 in Blackburn, Lancashire, England.In 1994 the company expanded in to new premises and commenced a programme of development that resulted in a range of single and double deck buses which was the...
who went into administration in August 2007. After a series of developments, in June 2008 Darwen performed a reverse takeover in fellow bus manufacturer Optare
Optare
Optare plc is a bus manufacturer and importer based in Leeds and Blackburn, UK. The company operates from three main business units, Bus Manufacturing, Coach Sales and Unitec....
, with the Darwen name disappearing.
History
Darwen rose from the ashes of East Lancashire CoachbuildersEast Lancashire Coachbuilders
East Lancashire Coachbuilders Limited was a manufacturer of bus bodies and carriages founded in 1934 in Blackburn, Lancashire, England.In 1994 the company expanded in to new premises and commenced a programme of development that resulted in a range of single and double deck buses which was the...
in August 2007, after they went into administration - Darwen saved them the next day. Darwen went about reorganising the business, making a number of redundancies and rebranding main bus side of the business as Darwen East Lancs
Darwen East Lancs
Darwen East Lancs was the name used by the Darwen Group for its bus manufacturing construction arm.-Background:East Lancs was originally the shortened name of East Lancashire Coachbuilders, founded in 1934 in Blackburn...
, the repair arm as Darwen North West
Darwen North West
Darwen North West is a vehicle repair business in the North West of England, offering coach refurbishment, repair, maintenance, and conversion services. It was originally a subsidiary of the bus manufacturer East Lancashire Coachbuilders, called North West Bus & Coach Repairs and based in Blackburn...
. The current East Lancs products at the time were continued by Darwen, with new brand names.
This was followed by the acquisition of Leyland Product Developments in November 2007, which was rebranded as Darwen LPD
Darwen LPD
Darwen LPD is the name for the former Leyland Product Developments company acquired by the Darwen Group in November 2007. The company is in England....
. Further progress came in February 2008, when the parent company Darwen Holdings floated on AIM
Alternative Investment Market
AIM is a sub-market of the London Stock Exchange, allowing smaller companies to float shares with a more flexible regulatory system than is applicable to the main market....
.
In a further development, the Darwen Group owner Roy Stanley set up Jamesstan Investments, and on March 12, 2008 the Optare
Optare
Optare plc is a bus manufacturer and importer based in Leeds and Blackburn, UK. The company operates from three main business units, Bus Manufacturing, Coach Sales and Unitec....
Group was purchased. In June 2008 the decision was made for Darwen to perform a reverse takeover
Reverse takeover
A reverse takeover or reverse merger is the acquisition of a public company by a private company so that the private company can bypass the lengthy and complex process of going public...
on Optare under Jamesstan Investments. The Darwen name was dropped in favour of Optare's
The company has also announced its intention to develop integral buses, with a prototype due by June 2008. It intends to develop both hybrid
Hybrid electric vehicle
A hybrid electric vehicle is a type of hybrid vehicle and electric vehicle which combines a conventional internal combustion engine propulsion system with an electric propulsion system. The presence of the electric powertrain is intended to achieve either better fuel economy than a conventional...
and diesel
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
versions, the hybrid in partnership with Enova
Enova
Enova can refer to:*Enova, a Norwegian government-owned corporation devoted to the promotion of energy saving;*Enova Corporation, a California corporation, parent company of San Diego Gas & Electric, which merged with Pacific Enterprises in 1998 to form Sempra Energy;*L'Ènova, a municipality in the...
.
On July 14, 2008 the company was renamed Optare UK Ltd as a part of the reverse takeover of Optare.
Products
Single-decker
- Darwen EsteemOptare EsteemThe Optare Esteem is a single-deck bus body. It has been built on Scania N94UB, Scania N230UB, Volvo B7RLE, MAN 12.240, Dennis Dart SLF, Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart and Alexander Dennis Enviro300 chassis.The Esteem was launched by East Lancashire Coachbuilders...
Built for the Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart, Scania N94UB Alexander Dennis Enviro300 and MAN 12.240 chassis. A former East Lancs product, previously known as the East Lancs Esteem. It is the successor to the East Lancs Myllennium
East Lancs Myllennium
The East Lancs Myllennium is a type of bus body built on MAN, Volvo, DAF/VDL and Alexander Dennis chassis. It was built as a single and double deck body, with double deck bodies having slightly different names .-Single decker:...
.
- Darwen PanaireDarwen PanaireThe 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. It was launched at Coach and Bus Live in November 2007. A double decker open top, the Visionaire, is also produced....
This is a modified open-top Esteem. It is the only open-top single-decker bus offered in the UK although no orders have yet been taken.
Double-decker
- Darwen OmniDekkaScania OmniDekkaThe Scania OmniDekka is a double-decker bus built for sale in the UK...
Built for the Scania N230UD/N270UD
Scania N-series
Scania N-series is a series of city bus with straight-up, transversely mounted Euro IV/Euro V engine at the rear.It is available as N230UB, N270UB as well as the N230UD and N270UD...
chassis. A former East Lancs product, known as the East Lancs Omnidekka
Scania OmniDekka
The Scania OmniDekka is a double-decker bus built for sale in the UK...
. It is a replacement for the ELC Scania N94 based model.
- Darwen OlympusOptare OlympusThe Optare Olympus is a double-decker bus built by Optare...
Built for the Volvo B9TL
Volvo B9TL
The Volvo B9TL is a low-floor double-decker bus built by Volvo Buses since 2002. It superseded the older Volvo B10TL and the Volvo B7TL.-Chassis:...
, Alexander Dennis Enviro400 and Scania N230UD/N270UD
Scania N-series
Scania N-series is a series of city bus with straight-up, transversely mounted Euro IV/Euro V engine at the rear.It is available as N230UB, N270UB as well as the N230UD and N270UD...
chassis. A former East Lancs product, known as the East Lancs Olympus
Optare Olympus
The Optare Olympus is a double-decker bus built by Optare...
. It is a modified version of the double-decker Myllennium with the same enhancements as the Esteem.
- Darwen Visionaire
Built so far on the Volvo B9TL
Volvo B9TL
The Volvo B9TL is a low-floor double-decker bus built by Volvo Buses since 2002. It superseded the older Volvo B10TL and the Volvo B7TL.-Chassis:...
chassis. A former East Lancs product, known as the East Lancs Visionaire. It is essentially an open top version of the Olympus.