UK Forks & Vibroplant

Vibratory Roller & Plant Hire Ltd was set up in 1954 after Geoffrey Pilkington persuaded his father Fred that the hire of vibratory rollers, an emergent technology, would pave the way to the companies future. At that time plant hire was viewed with a certain ambivalence, and in the 1950's non-operator plant hire was very uncommon.

In 1959, with the first section of the M1 motorway opening, the company went from strength to strength.

In 1960, with Geoffrey becoming managing director, the company changed its name to Vibroplant and adopted the V logo. It also expanded it's portfolio of non-operator plant hire moving into pumps and air compressors. It also expanded geographically with additional depots opening across the North of England and Scotland.

Over the next 12 years, organic investment drove consistent profit growth and in 1973 the company floated on the stock exchange. The decision to do this meant that the company's potential could be fully exploited and the acquisition of specialist products could be achieved.

Over the next 25 years, Vibroplant grew and acquired various new products and explored different markets in the UK and internationally. In the late 90's the marketplace demanded that customer service was a key factor in the decision process of hiring plant equipment. To fulfil this customer need Vibroplant took a bold step and re-focused its energies on the parts of the existing business that would excel in this new demanding market.

Coinciding with the exit from general plant the Group decided to change its name. Vibroplant was a brand too closely associated with the general plant business. Vibroplant went and Vp took its place, although an adjusted V logo still remained. At the same time Vp was reclassified in the stock exchange listings under support services rather than construction to reflect its new diversified outsourcing bias. UK Forks is the sole surviving element of the general plant hire product range and has prospered with its specialist focus.