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53-877: Alexander Dennis is a British bus manufacturing company based in Larbert , Scotland. The largest bus and coach manufacturer in the United Kingdom, with a 50% market share in 2019, it has manufacturing plants and partnerships in Canada, China, Europe, Hong Kong, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa and the United States. Mayflower Corporation acquired Scottish bus-makers, Walter Alexander , in August 1995 and English bus-makers, Dennis Group , in October 1998. In 2000, Mayflower and Henlys Group merged their British bus-making operations into

106-456: A Volvo B8RLE Custom CB80 for State Transit built in April 2020. The Custom Denning Element is an electric bus that can travel up to 500 kilometres, a typical range from a full charge and can seat up to 45 passengers. It features high-tech battery with powerful LED lights and driver assistance technologies and with lightweight engineered frame. It has a fully low-floor design, common in buses made for

159-468: A 70:30 joint venture with Alexander, Dennis and Henlys' Plaxton merged to form TransBus International. The factories concerned employed 3,300 staff in seven places in England ( Anston , Guildford , Scarborough and Wigan ), Scotland ( Falkirk ) and Northern Ireland ( Belfast ). Plaxton's Scarborough operations was planned to close on 3 May 2001 with the loss of 700 jobs blamed on the fall in tourism after

212-598: A basic dual-purpose fitment. In past double-deck designs, buses were built to a low-bridge design , due to overall height restrictions. Bus manufacturers have to have consideration for some general issues common to body, chassis or integral builders. In the 1990s onwards, some bus manufacturers have moved towards making transit bus interiors more comparable to private cars, to encourage public transport ridership. Other additions have seen multimedia and passenger information systems , and CCTV systems. With these developments, bus designs have been increasing in weight, which

265-402: A bus builder may be required to refit them into the new owners preferred configuration. This can include adding or removing doors, or changing the destination display equipment to or from LED, dot-matrix, or roller blind types. Some operators will rebuild a buses bodywork after superficial crash damage, or a bridge strike , again leading to odd one-off looking buses where the standard bodywork

318-478: A chassis and body builder will offer an exclusive combination of one body on one chassis, as a 'semi-integral'. This combines the expertise of the two companies, and saves the cost of making their chassis/body usable on different products. Often builders, such as Duple Metsec will assemble products into kits, for export and local assembly at a partner site. Large users of transit buses , such as public transport authorities, may order special features. This practice

371-563: A consortium headed by its former owner. In 2015 Alexander Dennis established an assembly plant in Vaughan, Ontario for orders to Metrolinx . In October 2015, Alexander Dennis signed a deal with BYD to body electric buses . From 2021, Alexander Dennis will build its own electric chassis. In May 2019, Alexander Dennis was sold to NFI Group , in a deal worth £320 million. Souter Investments retain an interest, taking shares in NFI Group as part of

424-553: A great-nephew of Hillsdon by marriage, became CEO of the company. He, his brother Paul and a long-term business partner, Chris Absalom, completed the purchase of the business from Jack Violet in 2005. In 2008, production exceeded 400 buses per year, and by 2009 the total number of buses bodied had exceeded 15,000. In May 2010, the Sydney plant moved to new premises in Villawood and in June 2012

477-402: A majority of the later chassis were built by a neighbouring company, John Dennis Coachbuilders Limited. Bus manufacturing Bus manufacturing had its earliest origins in carriage building. Other bus manufacturers had their origins in truck manufacturing. Historically, chassis designs were shared between trucks and buses, but in later years specific bus chassis have been developed, and

530-539: A new joint-venture to design and manufacture medium-duty low-floor bus (or midi bus) for the North American market. New Flyer would handle production and marketing, and Alexander Dennis would handle the engineering and testing. The joint venture was dissolved in 2017. In June 2012, Alexander Dennis acquired Australian bodybuilder Custom Coaches . However, in May 2014, Custom Coaches was placed into administration and later sold to

583-581: A range of both bus and coach chassis and bodies as well as fire engines . Included among its range of chassis were the Dennis Dart and Dennis Trident . They also produced export variants for service in Hong Kong , Singapore and other locations. Plaxton made coaches, as well as the President double decker body (built on Trident, DAF DB250 and Volvo B7TL chassis) and the single decker Pointer body, built on

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636-406: A two-week pilot. Two months later in June, the company formally opened its Trident House complex, while at the same time, launched a refresh of its brand identity. After building a batch of Enviro400FCEV buses in a pilot scheme at the site in 2022, Alexander Dennis announced it would expand its Larbert headquarters by converting on-site warehouse space to bus manufacturing facilities. Production of

689-824: Is a concern for operators with the rising price of fuels in the 2000s (decade). Specialist builders may also produce bodies for executive , sleeper bus , tour bus , airport bus , or school bus uses, with special features for these uses. Builders may also adapt standard designs for these uses, and especially for paratransit use. In Israel , due to terrorist attacks on buses, general bus builders have developed armoured buses , and are investigating controlled boarding systems. Armoured buses are also used for prisoner transport . Several manufacturers and operators have invested in articulated bus designs, and even bi-articulated buses , to increase capacity without using two decks. The use of different body and chassis manufacturers can mean one bus can have up to four identifying badges –

742-536: Is an Australian bus body builder based in St Marys, New South Wales . In 1935, Stanley Hillsdon founded Cycle Components Manufacturing Company (CCMC) in Guildford , having been involved in manufacture of bicycles since 1911. In 1946 the company won the contract to manufacture reversible seats for Sydney 's tram system . In 1955, CCMC successfully tendered to body 125 single deck Leyland Royal Tiger Worldmaster buses for

795-457: Is trees striking the kerb-side top front corner. Manufacturers, or operators – post delivery, may fit a bull bar type arrangement to protect this part of the bodywork. Bus manufacturers sometimes provide loans to operators in places where financial institutions are not able to said loans. These agreements usually hold the vehicles themselves as collateral. Custom Coaches Custom Denning (previously Custom Bus and Custom Coaches )

848-560: The PMC Australia business following the collapse of Clifford Corporation . Australian Bus Manufacturing was rebranded as Custom Coaches in 2004. In 1998, Custom Coaches began bodying buses for the State Transit Authority after a break of over 37 years. By April 2013, over 1,280 had been bodied for the government operator. In late 2001, Custom Care was established as a bus refurbishment operation. In 2002, Mark Burgess,

901-583: The foot and mouth epidemic broke out. Minibus production was moved to the former Walter Alexander factory at Falkirk. However, the Scarborough factory did not close altogether, for 200 staff returned to work after the summer break. Mayflower was valued at £700 million in 1999. By March 2004, that stock market valuation had fallen to £22 million. The following month Mayflower was placed in administration, amid accusations of four years of falsifying crucial company records as to customers' payments to HSBC , counting

954-399: The midibus introduced a lighter weight bus chassis than normal trucks. Bus manufacture historically developed as chassis and body builds . Often, large bus operators or authorities would maintain separate stocks of bus bodies, and would routinely refurbish buses in a central works , and refurbished chassis might receive a different body. One of the first integral type bus designs combining

1007-527: The seating capacity within legal size constraints, the trend is now towards rear- and mid-engined designs due to the lack of need for a transmission tunnel. In the 1990s, bus manufacture underwent major change with the push toward low-floor designs, for improved accessibility . Some smaller designs achieved this by moving the door behind the front wheels. On most larger buses, it was achieved with various independent front suspension arrangements, and kneeling technology, to allow an unobstructed path into

1060-555: The 1960s and Perth 's Howard Porter in the 1970s. In 1988, CCMC purchased WA Newnham & Sons with the business renamed Newnham Custom. In 1995, a plant was opened at Arundel on the Gold Coast . Newnham Custom closed in 2001 with production transferred to Adelaide. In 2000, Australian Bus Manufacturing (ABM) in Adelaide was purchased. It had been formed in 1999 when a consortium of CCMC, Jim Bosnjak and John Hewson purchased

1113-554: The CCMC initials. In May 1981, the Smithfield Bus & Coach Works business was purchased from the Bosnjak family. Custom Coaches concentrated on bodying buses for the private sector. In 1967, CCMC entered into an agreement with Melbourne bodybuilder WA Newnham & Sons for CCMC to provide frames and other components. CCMC also supplied components to Brisbane bodybuilder Watt Brothers in

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1166-755: The Custom Denning brand, the Element, which is now in production. Source: The Custom CB20 was similar in design to a minivan, paired exclusively with the Mercedes-Benz 815DL chassis. Busabout had two examples in its fleet, but are now withdrawn. The Custom CB30 was available as both an 11m midibus and a 12.5m full sized bus. CDC NSW has a sizeable fleet of MAN 12.220 midibuses with CB30 bodywork while Transdev Melbourne had many full size CB30s with MAN chassis. The CB20 and CB30 ceased production around 2007 with no replacement vehicles provided. The Custom CB50

1219-643: The Dart chassis. In May 2007, Alexander Dennis purchased Plaxton, thus reuniting the two former TransBus businesses. In October 2008, Alexander Dennis signed a deal with ElDorado National to assemble the Enviro500 for the United States market. In 2011, Alexander Dennis entered an agreement with Kiwi Bus Builders to assemble its products for the New Zealand market. In May 2012, NFI Group and Alexander Dennis announced

1272-728: The European market. It is a Transport for NSW Panel 3 approved bus and is manufactured in St Marys. Following trials, the first 6 Elements entered service with Busways in late 2021, operating around Penrith . The State Transit Authority then placed an order for 10 vehicles to be delivered from December 2021 to March 2022 out of Waverley Bus Depot . Transport for NSW placed an order for 79 vehicles in 2022, which would operate under Transit Systems in Sydney's Inner West . The first Elements to operate outside of NSW entered service with Donric & Sunbury Bus Service rolled out in mid-2022, with

1325-475: The NSW Department of Government Transport. In May 1956, Jack Violet, Hillsdon's nephew by marriage, was employed as Bus Divisional Manager to oversee operations. In April 1958, CCMC bodied their first bus for a private operator, a Leyland Comet for Rowes Bus Service . Apart from six MAN SL200 and SG192s bodied for ACTION in 1982/82 as part of a contracted included when Smithfield Bus & Coach Works

1378-540: The above, offering chassis only or integral buses, or offering bodywork only as used on integral buses. The splitting of body and chassis construction allows companies to specialise in two different fields. It also allows differing offerings of product to customers, who might prefer different chassis/body combinations. For the manufacturers, it lessens the exposure if one or the other goes out of business. Larger operators may also split orders between different body/chassis combinations for shorter delivery schedules. Sometimes,

1431-498: The body and chassis was the AEC Routemaster . In the 1980s, many minibuses were built by applying bus bodies to van chassis, so called van-derived buses. Many of these have been replaced by purpose-built designs, although for smaller minibuses this is still an option. In several parts of the world, the bus is still a basic chassis, front-engined, rear-wheel-drive vehicle; however, where manufacturers have sought to maximise

1484-496: The body onto the chassis. This will involve major consideration of: Bodywork is built for three general uses: Bus bodywork is usually geared to short trips, with many transit bus features. Coach bodywork is for longer-distance trips, with luggage racks and under-floor lockers. Other facilities may include toilets and televisions. A dual-purpose design is usually a bus body with upgraded coach-style seating, for longer-distance travel. Some coach-body designs can also be available to

1537-711: The business from administrator Deloitte in May 2004. The former Alexander Belfast plant was not included in the deal and closed. Alexander Dennis ultimately inherited a number of plants from TransBus: the former Alexander factories in Falkirk , Scotland; the Dennis factory in Guildford and later the former Plaxton factories in Anston and Scarborough . The former Northern Counties factory in Wigan closed in January 2005. Dennis Group had produced

1590-514: The case where identical bodywork is applied to different chassis. This is sometimes truly identical, or only different in minor details. Mid-engined chassis designs are often identifiable by a mid mounted radiator and exhaust. Radically different bus company liveries can cause problems in the application of a livery to a specific design. Many operators will apply a corporate design in the same way to any bus, leading to some odd sight lines. Some operators are more sympathetic, and tailor their liveries to

1643-436: The chassis maker and model, and the bodywork maker and model, making non-expert recognition difficult compared to the identification of other vehicles, such as cars. Operators may also paint over, or completely remove, badges. Several bus companies have changed ownership and name many times, leading to the same bus design receiving many different name badges, most notably Transbus International . A further confusion can arise in

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1696-467: The company was purchased by British bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis . Custom Coaches was placed in administration in May 2014. On 15 August 2014, the business was purchased back by Mark Burgess and Allegro Funds and the company was renamed Custom Bus. The Royal Park, South Australia plant closed down in September 2014. In February 2018, Custom Bus was again placed in administration, resulting in

1749-405: The door and between the front wheel arches. Accordingly, these 'extreme front entrance' designs cannot feature a front-mounted-engined or mid-engined layout, and all use a rear-engined arrangement. Some designs also incorporate extendable ramps for wheelchair access. Further accessibility is being achieved for high-floor coaches, whereby new designs are featuring built-in wheelchair lifts . While

1802-628: The ease of replacement of consumable items, such as bulbs, and easily damaged parts, such as the lower panels of the body, or windows. This is to maximise the time in service for its buses, although now builders will offer whole life servicing contracts. Operators may also make decisions on a particular bus type or components based on the particular terrain operated in. Some hillier areas may select different powertrain options. Areas with many low bridges may have more single-deckers than double-deckers. Operators in humid climates may select air-conditioning as standard. A particular difficulty with double-deckers

1855-547: The original CB60 as well as new headlight styling, a slightly modified rear and minor interior changes. The CB60 Evo II is slightly taller than the original CB60. With the introduction of the Custom CB80, the CB60 Evo II ceased production in 2009, being one of Custom's most popular bodies. The Custom CB80 was first revealed to the public in 2009 as a demonstrator vehicle on Mercedes O500LE chassis, which visited various depots. It

1908-470: The original CB80. It came with LED destination displays by default, had improved stop bells (the ones on the original CB80 were notorious for malfunctioning) and other minor differences. The first CB80 Series 2 vehicles were delivered to State Transit in 2017 on Volvo B7RLE Euro 5 chassis. The CB80 Series 2 ceased production in 2019, being replaced by the Custom Endeavour. The final CB80 was 3120 ST,

1961-405: The overwhelming majority of bus designs have been geared to internal combustion engine propulsion, accommodation has also been made for a variety of alternative drivelines and fuels, as in electric , fuel cell and hybrid bus technologies. Some bus designs have also incorporated guidance technology. There are three basic types of bus manufacturer: Manufacturers may also be a combination of

2014-590: The radiator at the front, irrespective of engine position, for more efficient cooling. Chassis products will often be available in different standard lengths, even produced in articulated variants , and often be used for both bus and coach bodywork, such as the Volvo B10M . The same chassis may even be used for single- or double-decker bus bodywork. Chassis builders may also offer different options for gearbox and engine suppliers. Chassis may also be built in multiple-axle configuration . The bus body builder will build

2067-432: The sacking of 122 staff. The following month, Dunn Group purchased Custom Bus, and in May 2018, relocated its factory to St Marys . A year later, in June 2019, Custom Bus completed its 100th bus under Dunn ownership. In September 2019, Custom Bus acquired Denning Manufacturing , but the latter's branding and operations will be retained. In February 2021, they announced the production of their first electric bus under

2120-564: The same as the ABM CB64A, but only found in articulated form. State Transit also bought a large number of CB60 bodied Volvo B12BLE vehicles, including several articulated vehicles. The Custom CB60 CMAX was released in 2007, first deliveries going to Busways Western Sydney on Scania K230UB Euro 3 chassis. The original CB60 ended production around 2008. The CB60 Evo II was introduced in 2005 for State Transit on Volvo B12BLE Euro 5 chassis. The Evo II featured weight reductions compared to

2173-486: The same income twice. One outcome was that certain members of the Dennis pension fund would receive only 40 per cent of their pensions, though others would continue to receive their full entitlement. TransBus was also placed in administration. TransBus Plaxton was sold to in a management buyout to Brian Davidson and Mike Keane with the support of a private equity group. A group of Scottish investors, Noble Grossart , David Murray , Brian Souter and Ann Gloag , purchased

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2226-481: The second-generation Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV is planned to begin at Larbert from August 2023, taking the company's manufacturing footprint in the United Kingdom to three sites. Complete buses Bus Bodies Bus bodies Complete buses (or chassis/body only) Bus chassis Coach chassis Fire engine vehicles were built by Dennis Group and sold under the Dennis Fire brand until 2007. The bodywork on

2279-466: The specific lines of each bus body design in use. Often, a bus builder will embark on a rebody programme, such as the East Lancs Greenway , where an existing chassis receives a new body to extend the usable life of the bus. Sometimes this is done by a manufacturer on a piecemeal basis, leading to odd one-off designs. Sometimes, when a number of buses change hands, or operator requirements change,

2332-534: The transaction. The two companies had been engaged in a joint venture from 2012 until 2017. In August 2020, Alexander Dennis announced plans to cut 650 jobs from its UK manufacturing sites including Falkirk, Scarborough and Guildford, citing a demand drop due to the COVID-19 pandemic . Bus chassis production moved from Guildford to Falkirk. June 2021 saw Alexander Dennis open a base in Ballymena , Northern Ireland , which

2385-676: Was described by local media as "boosting economic growth". In July 2021, Alexander Dennis announced plans for construction of a new staff office complex and museum in Farnborough, Hampshire named Trident House . The centre was expected to be completed in early 2022. Alexander Dennis also entered a business partnership with Australian electric bus supplier Nexport to assemble electric city buses locally, with Australian manufacturing expected to begin in early 2022. In April 2022, Alexander Dennis commenced trials of an autonomous Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC working with Stagecoach Group , as part of

2438-418: Was designed using 3D modelling. It is still Custom's lightest bus body and has lightweight plastic ducting. Composite materials are used extensively in the bus. It also has several innovative features such as the wireless stop bells, front wheel hump design to maximise seating space and the positioning of the rear engine grilles to maximise advertising space. The CB80 Series 2 brought a range of improvements to

2491-629: Was in production from 1999-2006, replacing the Custom CB30 and the Custom Coaches 550 and being succeeded by the Custom CB60. There were two variants, the high floor CB50 ordered in small numbers by several operators and the low floor CB50HCL which was more popular, with Premier Motor Service ordering 10 on Volvo B7RLE chassis. The CB50HCL had a window line similar to the Bustech VST . The CB60

2544-516: Was not available. Bridge strike buses are often converted to open top buses , or into single-decker bus . Older buses are often converted to shunters , tow trucks , tree-loppers, training buses, or canteens. Often, large operators with different types of buses will settle on a standard bus design for their fleet, to produce savings in maintenance and driver training. These operators may either sell off non-standard types, or consolidate them in one operating location. Operators are often concerned with

2597-531: Was notable in the Transport for London bus specification, and predecessors. The Association of German Transport Companies was defining a VöV-Standard-Bus concept that was followed between 1968 and 2000. The chassis combines: Chassis will often be built as complete units, up to the point of being drive-able around the factory, or on the public highway to a nearby bodybuilder. The chassis can be front-engined, mid-engined , or rear-engined . Most chassis will mount

2650-502: Was produced between 1999 and 2009, succeeding the Custom Coaches 550 and being replaced by the CB80. Some of the first CB60s were produced by ABM in 1999 for Torrens Transit on MAN NL202 chassis, followed by many other examples. ABM produced many variants, the ABM CB62A was a CB60 with modified rear with Mercedes-Benz Citaro headlights and a modified front destination board mounting. The ABM CB64A

2703-645: Was purchased and 19 Scania K112TR coaches bodied for the State Rail Authority in 1985/86, CCMC built bodies exclusively for private operators after the completion of the Leyland Worldmaster contract for the next 37 years. In 1962, control of CCMC passed from Hillsdon to Violet. At some point, the business was renamed Custom Coaches Manufacturing Company, upon the suggestion of Kathleen Metcalfe, sister-in-law of Violet and niece of Hillsdon and wife of Ray Metcalfe, another employee, in order to maintain

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2756-544: Was similar but with the CB60 headlights while the ABM CB60A was similar to the standard CB60. Custom Coaches modified the CB60 in a similar way to the ABM CB62A for State Transit Authority in 1999 for their Custom Citaro vehicles (on Mercedes O405NH CNG chassis), but with the standard CB60 rear. The Custom CB60 Combo was introduced after Custom Coaches dropped the ABM branding. It is

2809-497: Was supplied by Mercedes to State Transit as a replacement unit after a Mercedes O500LE CNG Custom Coaches CB60 Evo II was destroyed by fire near Hillsdale. Following privatisation, the demonstrator is now M/O 4878 with Transdev John Holland Buses . State Transit was the first operator to order the CB80, a batch of 100 on Scania K280UB chassis were delivered in 2011. All vehicles are dual door and in Transport for NSW livery. The CB80

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