Premier Pits completes ownership transition
Mel Burrell (centre), former owner of MBE Fabrications, with new owners David Myles (right) and Anuj Kapoor (left)
MBE Fabrications Limited, the specialist manufacturer behind Premier Pits and Premier Substructures, has completed a change of ownership following its acquisition by MBE Capital Private Limited.
The transaction enables founder and managing director Mel Burrell to progress his planned retirement, while supporting an orderly handover of the business to new owners David Myles and Anuj Kapoor.
Based in Spalding, Lincolnshire, Premier Pits is a specialist manufacturer of prefabricated steel vehicle pits, supplying the commercial vehicle, passenger service vehicle and rail sectors. The business has a long-established presence across the UK and a growing international customer base, with pits already supplied to 17 countries.
The firm says the new ownership will build on the capabilities, experience and reputation already established by the MBE team, with a focus on continued product development, innovation, ambitious growth and further expansion across Europe, the US and wider global markets.
David Myles said: “MBE / Premier Pits is a specialist British manufacturing business with a strong reputation, experienced team and well-established customer base. Our immediate priority is continuity, supporting the team and taking time to understand the business properly as we build on what Mel has created.”
Mel Burrell said: “I am pleased to have completed the transaction and to see the business move into safe hands. I will be supporting David and Anuj through a short handover period and wish the team every success for the future.”
The business will continue to trade as MBE Fabrications / Premier Pits, with its existing team, customer relationships and specialist manufacturing capabilities remaining central to the company’s future development.
Premier Pits supplies and installs prefabricated inspection pits across the UK and further afield, in addition to a variety of related workshop and washbay products.
Its full range includes inspection, authorised testing facility (ATF) and maintenance pits, all supported by a comprehensive range of accessories and health and safety equipment, such as covers and barriers, pit bridges and pit jacks.
Although all pits are built around standard basic formats, says Premier Pits, they can be tailored to suit individual customer needs via an endless range of combinations. Among the facilities on the company’s website is an online pit builder, allowing prospective customers to specify desired pit features and enquire for further details.
“Once delivered to the site, the pits are installed by one of Premier Pits’ own teams of skilled and experienced fitters,” said the company.
“Before handover, we always ensure that the pit and surrounding floor is clean and tidy, with all waste material removed.
“To ensure that everything is still in order on new build projects, we revisit the site just prior to the building being handed over to the client.”
The firm’s safety portfolio includes a hinged pit cover designed to enhance the protection of workshop employees. The patented Premier Hinged Cover is an air-operated fall restraint made up of 2.5m steel mesh panels which are controlled through pneumatic cylinders linked to a central control box. The cover not only safeguards against falls, says Premier Pits, but also serves as a handrail for the pit’s stairs, thereby assisting with safe entry and exit.
The company additionally provides a range of solutions for the washbay, including under-chassis wash pits and ramps – and distributes both the BrakeMate product, an elevated service platform for servicing heavy vehicle brake disc assemblies, and Thread Saver, a tool range for repairing damaged axle threads and wheel studs.
