Ford conversion specialist and engineering company MS-RT has announced that it is to establish a new £4 million vehicle conversion facility at Ford Dagenham.
Ford and MS-RT already enjoy a close collaborative relationship, and this new investment gives MS-RT the opportunity to expand its business while enabling easier access to Ford technical expertise in Dagenham and at the close-by Ford Britain Dunton Campus, the Ford Commercial Vehicles business group’s home in Europe. The collaboration will accelerate the development of current and future MS-RT vehicles for customers in the UK and internationally.
The new facility is intended to provide work for more than 50 new employees when it comes online in 2022, rising to some 120 new jobs when fully operational, helping in the regeneration of one of the UK’s most deprived areas, and is needed due to increasing customer demand for the company’s vehicle conversions. MS-RT confirmed that its existing facility in Pontypool, South Wales, will continue to operate with no loss of jobs.
“This latest Ford and MS-RT cooperation supports Ford’s vision of expanding business opportunities at Ford Dagenham in addition to continuing to produce advanced technology diesel engines and builds on our plan to grow our market presence through strategic relationships with key vehicle converters,” said Paul Baynes, manager, marketing and sales – Ford Pro Vehicle Solutions, Ford of Europe.
Edward Davies, MS-RT’s founder and director, added that the company was “delighted to be opening the new facility. “The new site will drive innovation, expand our manufacturing capability, and further strengthen our collaboration with Ford,” he said.
MS-RT creates models based on Ford’s leading commercial vehicle nameplates and has been a Ford Qualified Vehicle Modifier (QVM) since 2020, meeting Ford’s rigorous standards in manufacturing and quality control and offering full warranty support. MS-RT products are also now available through Ford’s One Stop Shop scheme, where converted vehicles are included on Ford product price lists and can be purchased by customers directly from Ford dealerships.
