Boost for bus manufacturers Alexander Dennis as another order comes in.

PRLog (Press Release) - Feb. 20, 2013 - FirstGroup, the Aberdeenshire-based bus operator is wanting to extend its fleet by 460 buses and Alexander Dennis has been awarded the majority -£40 million worth - of recent orders.

The manufacturer, that in part owned by Sir Brian Souter of rivals stagecoach, will deliver 222 buses, with the remainder being outsorced by Ballymena-based Wrightbus.

Volvo UK and Optare, primarily based in warwick and leeds respectively, have conjointly secured orders too.

This represents a serious coup for the bus makers, who were hit hard by the recession over the previous couple of years, and also the 900 robust workforce, who will be boosted by the additional job security it represents.

Bill Simpson, group corporate affairs director of Alexander Dennis, said the firm currently have an associate orders book “worth nearly £300 million.” He said of the newest order: “It consolidates a fantastic working relationship we have got with FirstGroup, [and] underpins manufacturing at our Falkirk facility, along with other substantial orders we have won.”

The company have secured orders from all over the globe. In November of 2012, the company declared a deal with a major bus fleet in Hong Kong to provide over 600 buses to the city.

The makers have orders to countries everywhere on the globe, together with China, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and North America. However, it's the support of native bus and transport firms that continue to be the extent behind their growth. Chief executive of Alexander Dennis, Colin robertson said:  “We are delighted to be supplying almost 500 of FirstGroup’s total new vehicle demand this year.” He added: “If you don’t get the support of your local businesses, you don’t really go anywhere.”

Of the new order, Alexander Dennis are supplying over a hundred and forty of its new Enviro300 single deckers. The buses are becoming increasingly common since there unleash in 2007, owing to their ultra-fuel-efficient hybrid diesel engines. Each bus is additionally fitted with wifi capabilities, therefore allowing passengers to remain connected on the move.

The news reflects a remarkable change in fortune for the Falkirk makers, who were saved from administration in 2004 by an associate angel investors (http://www.souterinvestments.com/investment-opportunities...) pool consisting of stagecoach founders Sir Brian Souter and Ann Gloag, metals and transport mogul Sir David Murray and Sir Angus Grossart’s Edinburgh-based Noble Grossart merchant bank.