The Direct Group - History

From its original base in Leek, Staffordshire the range of service exchange powersteering racks, pumps, boxes and rams were produced and distributed DIRECTly.

Major suppliers such as ZF GB and SRS (Burman) were delighted to combine their OE range with the DPL remanufacture schemes to ensure sound market growth.

IS09002 (BS5750II) were gained in 1994 just one year after conception. With this accreditation and boundless energy from the Directors and staff produced the larger contracts of the British Bus (now Arriva) and Stagecoach Group. Both as sole suppliers.

The success of our own remanufacturing preceded sound growth in other products such as propshafts, waterpumps and steering joints. Now with an increased range of components the van sales fleet of vehicles visited and further established a larger customer base, which included the large PTE's and the one-man bands.

Undoubtedly, another reason for the companies early success was due to the London Transport Company (LT) formally giving us approval to supply from November 1993 powersteering racks for their Titans and Nationals at that time LT was the Bus Industries "Bench Mark" for quality. If we could resolve the inherent problems of the steering rack we could over come any problems within due course LT reported "These are the best racks we have ever had".

With the onset of approval from large bus companies we were able to penetrate distribution of our product into Hong Kong with approval from KMB a much-prized customer.

During 1996 we decided to market a range of rectofit replacement pumps made under our own specification to replace beyond economical repaired aluminum pumps. These pumps and fan motors were redesigned to outlive the previously supplied pumps with many advanced features, further showing companies intentions to invest in quality.

With several more contracts including approval and supply contracts to the ministry of defence and the renewal of all group contracts enabled us to have the new factory built in Cheddleton, NR Leek Staffordshire.

Direct Limited (DL) was formed after we recognised the opportunity from the director's previous backgrounds to utilise the excellent engineering facility and experienced workforce to again quickly penetrate the Industrial Hydraulics repair and supply market place. The client base, which includes oil, Councils, rail and production companies etc. have already established a forward thinking and reliable base with positive growth prospects for the future.

June 2002 saw the Direct Group take further advantage as we introduced Direct Development Engineering Ltd (DDE) to the group. With the innovative development of CAD technology combined with the wealth of engineering knowledge, which will be able to produce quality engineering to the standards expected from the former founded group.

2006 saw the conception and integration into the group of "Direct Hydraulic Services Ltd". The group's ever expanding customer base needed expert On-Site teams to tackle the most demanding hydraulic Systems, Direct Hydraulic Services was the solution.

The Direct Group endeavors to be forward thinking and looking for accredited opportunities, we pride ourselves with supplying a quality product DIRECTly to the customer with the aid of new modern forward thinking with the level headedness and grounded wealth of experience from the Directors and Staff.