Carmichael’s history
As at 2020
Amdac-Carmichael Ltd, and latterly CSS Fire Vehicles July 2004 to 18th July 2018; Worcester UK
The notice on their website.
Please be advised that sadly after a very long trading history CSS Worcester ceased trading on the 18th July 2018
Terberg DTS UK Ltd are pleased to advise that it has purchased from the Liquidators the remaining assets, stock, IP, drawings, records and all other relevant items for business.
This purchase has been transferred to our Gloucester Fire and Rescue Division who will be responsible for supporting the activities and the provision of parts and service for the vehicles supplied by Carmichael CSS Historically.
I am pleased to advise that we have bolstered our existing highly experienced staff many of who were ex Carmichael people with addition staff from CSS.
We are reaching out to existing customers over the coming weeks to communicate the changes but ask that you do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of assistance. Carmichael Fire Vehicles.
An article Worcester News on 5th July 2018
CSS Fire Vehicles, formerly Carmichael, shuts after 160 years
THE company that built Worcester Fire Brigade's first fire engine looks set to close after 160 years of business.
All of the employees at CSS Fire Vehicles, were made redundant on Tuesday, according to a source.
The business, formerly Carmichael, in Weir Lane, Worcester, was once one of the city's largest employers.
The insider claimed that the business is set to enter liquidation later this month, although this has not been confirmed by CSS Fire Vehicles.
City councillor Richard Udall, who represents the area, said: "It's a tragedy for everybody that works there. "It was one of Worcester's largest employers at one stage, as one of the few fire engine manufacturers in the country.
"But it hasn't been able to keep up with competition - mostly from outside the UK.
"There are too many fire appliance manufacturers and not enough customers.
"It's a very competitive market and with fire authorities under constant pressure to make savings they can't buy new appliances."
A source, who is familiar with the details of the closure, said: "There used to be about 170 people there in its heyday. It's a shame, it's a historic company.
"They used to have a factory on Gregory's Mill Street and petrol stations on each entry to Worcester."
"They have had several buyouts. They are in Malaysian hands at the moment."
The insider said around 25 full-time members of staff were made redundant on Tuesday.
They added that some of the workers had been with the firm for more than 30 years.
The company's website states that it built the first fire engine for Worcester Fire Brigade in 1947.
Carmichael was started as a coachbuilder in 1849 and exported to 80 countries.
CSS Fire Vehicles was unavailable for comment.
Extracts from CSS Fire Vehicles website whilst it is still functioning in 2020.
Located in the heart of England, the original company was founded in 1849 as a coach building business by the Carmichael family. Over the next 150 years the company changed ownership several times, supporting the agricultural sector and the WW2 effort before evolving towards manufacturing specialist fire fighting vehicles by producing the first machine for Worcester Fire Brigade in 1947. We sent our first vehicle export to the New Zealand Fire Services in 1952 and by 1962 we had manufactured our first Airfield Fire Fighting Vehicle.
Today we export to more than 80 countries, producing world-leading fire fighting vehicles for airport, local authority, industrial and fire service tenders. We also build custom specialist vehicles for the private, environmental and security sectors on a project basis.
With dedication and determination, CSS is committed to delivering the highest levels of build quality and the best after sales support in the industry. That is our difference.
The CSS brand is a guarantee of quality and value. A commitment to design performance, reliability and excellent service for the whole life of a product.
Carmichael as at 2010
As at 2010 Carmichael is officially known as Amdac - Carmichael Ltd, and the company no. is 05170744. It is based in Weir Lane, Worcester WR2 4AY, UK. The registered address is Quadrant House, Floor 6, 4 Thomas More Square London. UK E1W 1YW.
The name of Amdac - Carmichael Limited was incorporated in 05/07/2004 according to Companies House. The Nature of Business (SIC(03)) 3410 - Manufacture of motor vehicles and 5020 - Maintenance & repair of motors.
Amdac appears to be a trading name of a Malaysian company called Pesaka Astana. The following is an extract from their web site.
Incorporated in 1992, Pesaka Astana a wholly-owned Bumiputra company is a major player in the heavy-duty and special purpose vehicles sector in Malaysia. Initially involved in the supply of these vehicles, the company today manufactures customized and specialized vehicles under the brand name AMDAC for a diversified clientele list.
22 November 2004. Amdac (UK), a unit of Pesaka Astana(M)Sdn Bhd of Malaysia acquired Carmichael International Ltd, a Worcester-based manufacturer of fire engine. An extract from Thomson Financial's (TF) Worldwide Mergers and Acquisitions database.
Amdac (UK) Limited was incorporated in 06/07/2004, company no. 05171283 according to Companies House. The Nature of Business (SIC(03)) 7499 - Non-trading company. The registered address is Rutland House, 148 Edmund Street, Birmingham. UK B3 2JR.
Carmichael International Limited; 1992 to 1998, Worcester UK
A previous name of Carmichael International Limited, company no. 03527677, was incorporated in 16/03/1998 and dissolved on 13/10/2009 according to Companies House. The Nature of Business (SIC(03)) 2956 - Manufacture other special purpose machine.
There appears to be a hole in the trail between 1992 to 1998.
Carmichael Fire Limited; 1945 to 1992 ?? ; Worcester UK.
Carmichael ?? ; 1849 to 1945 ?? ; Worcester UK.
Click here to read the best history of Carmichael I have found so far. Reproduced below by kind permission of Worcester News
CITY STOPS MAKING FIRE ENGINES
From the archive, first published Saturday 27th Aug 2005.
THE last Carmichael fire engine is set to roll off the production line in Worcester. The 150- year old firm announced it is to stop making its vehicles in the city after more than half a century.
Carmichael, which supplies rescue vehicles to airports, oil refineries and fire services worldwide, says it is shifting its production line overseas due to rising costs, placing 45 shop-floor jobs at the Weir-Lane based company in Worcester in jeopardy. The company had previously announced it was expanding nto the Far East after being brought out by the UK subsidiary of Pesaka Astana in Malaysia last November.
A Carmichael spokesman said: "Production costs in the UK mean the continued production of these vehicles here is no longer viable.
"For the last six months, since the company was rescued from insolvent liquidation, we've worked hard to bring down costs and increase productivity.
"Unfortunately, our efforts have been in vain and it now looks as though we may have no choice but to move production abroad."
About 100 people are employed at the company and it is uncertain whether any of its 40 office staff will be affected. Employees are set to be consulted over the next four weeks, when they will be given options such as voluntary redundancies.
One worker, who wished not to be named, said: "I'm very angry - it's a great British company that's been here for more than 100 years and it's been ripped from beneath us."
But the spokesman said it was hoped the firm would maintain a significant presence in the area.
"While the news may look gloomy, there's some hope for the future," he said. "We're hopeful the company can survive and, once costs have been cut to a competitive level, it can thrive."
Pesaka Astana was set up in 1992 and is a major player in the heavy duty and special-purpose vehicle sector in the Far East, supplying a range of vehicles under the Amdac name.
It's the end of an era
news that Carmichael is to cease production in Worcester will come as a shock to many, as the firm has been a household-name vehicle-maker for more than 150 years.
From its inception in 1849, producing horse-drawn vehicles, to being at the forefront of fire engine production, the prestigious firm has maintained a strong presence at the heart of manufacturing in the Faithful City.
Indeed, for decades it was at the hub of the coach-building world as it built up a national reputation for its products. The Carmichael coach-building company started off producing a wide range of horse-drawn vehicles and steadily built up its reputation throughout the Victorian era.
The firm kept abreast of technological advances in the 20th Century from its base at The Butts, Worcester, and switched to bus and coach construction, particular for major local firms of the time such as Burnhams and Owens.
The Second World War saw major changes for those on the fighting front and the workers and businesses keeping the home fires burning.
Carmichael was no exception and used its vehicle maintenance and repair expertise to help maintain the vital upkeep of ambulances and fire engines during those dark years. Immediately afterwards, the company built its first fire engine for the city brigade and in 1949 built a grand new factory on five-and-a-half acres of land at Gregory's Mill.
The move saw the firm fired up by new contracts as it constructed fleets of top-quality fire engines and crash tenders. It would mark the start of a 40-year period of huge demand for its vehicles from fire brigades and airports from Britain and overseas. However, this arm of the Carmichael operation ceased operations in 1992, with the closure of the Gregory's Mill works.
Six months later a Warwick-based group moved in and started fire engine construction from works in Weir Lane, Lower Wick, which remain the current premises. It became known as Carmichael International Ltd. It continued to supply rescue vehicles to airports, oil refineries and fire services around the world before it was acquired by AMDAC (UK) Ltd, a British subsidiary of Pesaka Astana, of Malaysia, last November. The merger paved the way to exports to more than 80 countries and it soon became a major player in the heavy-duty and special purpose vehicle sector in the Far East.
From the archive
http://www.thisisworcestershire.co.uk
© Newsquest Media Group 2005
The above article from the archive, first published Saturday 27th August 2005, with the headline ‘CITY STOPS MAKING FIRE ENGINES’ reproduced here by kind permission of Worcester News. Copyright of Worcester News acknowledged.
