FORMER SDC Trailers managing director Mark Cuskeran has incorporated a new engineering new business - and has agreed to enter into a joint venture with William Stobart, who previously headed up the Eddie Stobart transport empire.
Mr Cuskeran spearheaded the expansion of SDC to become one of Europe’s leading trailer manufacturers, prior to guiding the company through its sale to Chinese company CIMC in 2016.
His new venture MAW Engineering Limited - which is likely to lead to a number of new jobs in the Toome area - will specialise in the manufacture of walking floor trailers, truck bodies and home delivery vans.
The company has already made a significant investment by building a 50,000 square feet factory on a six-acre site in Creagh industrial estate.
He says the new company will be responsive to a gap in the market, and will allow both him and William Stobart to bring their significant experience in manufacturing, transport and logistics to the table.
And despite the uncertainty ahead of Brexit, he says he remains confident about the future.
“I'm hugely excited about this new venture, which is in a market that I know well," he said.
"We are building a state-of-the-art factory which is ideally situated to cover our customer base. William and I have decades of experience across the sector, and there is a highly skilled and well educated workforce in the area, so we’re very much looking forward to taking this venture forward.”
William Stobart, who achieved fame through the television programme about his former company, echoed Mr Cuskeran’ s optimism.
He said: “I've dealt with Mark for 20 years in this business and know his experience, contacts and business style make him an ideal person to take this venture forward.
"It’s fantastic to be involved in an entirely new venture like MAW Engineering, and I’m certain we can build a business we can be proud of and which can provide a much-needed economic boost to the area.”
