R-B goes into administration

British crawler crane manufacturer R-B International was placed in administration on 3 July 2000. Administrators from Price Waterhouse Coopers began seeking bids for the company within days, hoping to sell the business as a going concern.

Although R-B has had some success with sales recently, its banks seemingly decided to take the money and dry up the line of credit.

So far this year R-B has delivered one CH 50 (50t capacity) and four CH 135s (135t), including a luffing tower model to Weldex (this crane was exhibited at the SED show in June). It has also taken orders for five more CH 50s and five CH 135 LTs, the latter five all for Zwagerman Material of the Netherlands.

Assets for sale do not include the freehold of the property that R-B occupies in Lincoln. That is owned by Lincoln Industries, which itself is owned by the now former chairman of R-B, Alan Schroeder, and his partners.

The leases are available as part of a purchase deal, however.

A spokesman for PWC said that several expressions of interest had been received for the business within the first week of administration.