History
The heritage and history of Briggs Group
Briggs Group was formed to provide a corporate governance and oversight structure for the growing framework of businesses that have come together as part of our acquisition strategy.
This timeline shows both our origins within materials handling and also the more recent history of Briggs Group.
2006
Briggs Equipment in North America expanded into the UK market in 2006, with the purchase of the materials handling business of Finning. This was the sale of Caterpillar equipment and established the Briggs name in the UK.
2010
In 2010 the selling of Caterpillar MHE product was replaced with the Yale dealership agreement.
2012
With the acquisition in 2012 of Barloworld Handling, bringing with it the Hyster dealership agreement, we achieved a landmark moment by representing both brands from one of the world’s premier manufacturers.
Briggs Group’s relationship with Hyster-Yale continues and is supported by a substantial range of complementary equipment from prestige brands that enable a much broader and richer conversation with customers.
2017
The unveiling in 2017 of a bold 5-year Plan saw a period of unprecedented commercial success with Briggs Group achieving substantial growth in unit sales within its new equipment activity for Briggs Equipment. Our Executive Team also delivered a programme of M&A expansion focused on businesses that complement the core expertise of asset management and engineering services. Either representing the sale or hire of industrial equipment and / or the sale of engineer hours, these businesses have created one of our industry’s most compelling propositions.
2017
Briggs Group acquired Irish Lift Trucks in the Republic of Ireland.
2018
Briggs Group acquired Hitec Lift Trucks in Wellingborough.
2019
Briggs Group acquired Hiremech Ltd in Tottenham, London.
2019
Briggs Group acquired United Plant Services.
2019
Briggs Group acquired Northern Forklift in Glasgow.
2019
Briggs Group acquired Balloo Hire Centres in Belfast.
2020
Briggs Group acquired Gwynedd Forklifts in Conwy and Oswestry.
2021
Briggs Group acquired Laois Hire in Portlaoise.
2021
Briggs Group acquired JB Plant Hire in Omagh and Dungannon.
2021
Briggs Group launched Qualitas Asset Compliance.
2021
Briggs Group acquired Forkway in Amersham.
2022
Briggs Group acquired Galway Plant & Tool (“GPT”) in Galway.
2022
Briggs Group acquired Blulift in Limerick.
2022
Briggs Group launched Asset Maintenance Services (“AMS”).
2022
Briggs Group acquired Access Plus and TrainingPlus in Irvine, Scotland.
2022
Briggs Group launched Future Events Hire in Ireland.
2022
Briggs Group acquired Aerial Platform Hire in Ireland.
2023
JB Plant Hire was merged into Balloo Hire.
2023
Briggs Group acquired Neckar Forklifts and Maxim GB in Windsor.
2023
Following a sustained and successful period of expansion, the Executive Team established Briggs Group as the corporate parent and governance framework for all our businesses serving the economies of the UK and Ireland.
2024
Blulift merged into Aerial Platform Hire.
2025
Hitec Lift Trucks merged into Hiremech.
Our parent company allows us the freedom to determine opportunities for growth and success that are the right fit for us