UK: Wagon manufacturer WH Davis expects to create 20 jobs taking its workforce to 100 people as a result of winning its first export order for 20 years.
The €44m contract which was signed in May covers the supply of 150 flatbed wagons to Ireland’s national railway Iarnród Éireann between summer 2026 and the end of 2027. This is the first firm order under a 10-year framework agreement covering up to 400 wagons.
The initial order is for wagons designed to transport 20 ft to 45 ft containers, including refrigerated containers and ISO tanks. They could also carry timber or bulk cradles. The wagons will have a payload of 62 to 65 tonnes, an increase of 33% on the current wagons, and the maximum speed will also be higher, at 110 rather than 80 km/h.
Discussions around the second phase of the contract are underway, with potential for further product development and export expansion.
Export support scheme
UK Export Finance’s bond support scheme provided an 80% guarantee for the required contract bond, which meant WH Davis’s bank, Barclays, was able to provide a total of €28·7m in bonding facilities over a three-year period.
‘UK manufacturers have huge exporting and growth potential, and WH Davis’s breakthrough into this market is a perfect example of how the right support can help unleash this’, said Gareth Thomas, Minister for Exports & Small Businesses, on August 19.
Production will be undertaken at WH Davis’s manufacturing site at Shirebrook in Nottinghamshire.
‘This is a significant milestone for WH Davis and reaffirms the strength of UK manufacturing on the international stage’, said Andy Houghton, Managing Director of WH Davis. ‘UKEF’s support has given us the confidence and liquidity to deliver on our ambitions and explore new exports internationally.’
