Morris Minor Owners Club

Just found out that Hadrian Panels are going under, so where will that leave us Morris Owners for panels once the stocks have run dry?

ESM have purchased all of the LMC Hadrian tooling so the panels will continue to be made. See details on the ESM news page: http://morrisminorspares.co.uk/news.php

There is also a mention on "Latest News" on the Bull Motif Website posted Dec 22nd 2011 stating:

"Due to the increasing difficulties we were facing with supply from LMC Hadian we have decided that the best way to ensure a constistent steady supply of panels was to start manufacturing our own range of high quality panels to the exact specifications."

Regards
Declan

" high quality panels to the exact specifications " sounds good. Probably not from Sri Lanka then ?

Lets hope the hard working people at Hadrian find work soon.

Good point - was it a big organisation?

''High quality panels to the exact specification'' I laughed ----- Well I suppose there's always a first time!

bmcecosse wrote:Good point - was it a big organisation?

Two factories, one in the NE (Hexham) the other SW (Westbury, Wilts) and a catalogue the size of a phone directory covering panels for virtually any car on the road in the last 30 years, so I'd guess a reasonably sized outfit. The Minor side was almosta sideline for them when they bought out Henric in Nottingham years ago. I understand the rest has been bought by another company, wether they will continue from the same locations or there will be reorganisation I don't know.
They had an unusual policy on deliveries - their own van was sent out during the night when the roads were quiet doing all the drops, so the goods were waiting outside in an agreed place by the start of the next day. I guess it was more time efficient and enebled them to offer free delivery. I used to supply them certain panels for Minor vans and usually ordered similar values of other panels so it was a good arrangement for myself...
I guess it's a sign of the times, as insurers write off more and more cars due to high costs and labour rates, and the DIY car repairing market steadily diminishes. They will be missed.

Oh dear - most unfortunate - but hopefully as you say someone will keep it going, probably just in one factory though. Hard to justify two sites - much better to work one site 24/7!!

Yes, I guess there will be scope for rationalisation. I sometimes had to wait for parts to be transferred from the Northern Branch to the Southern branch before they were dispatched on the Southern van, and vice versa when in I was based in Sheffield, so it can't have been an ideal logistical scenario. I understand that originally they were a factory in the NE and then expanded with a Southern premises, presumably to help distribution. The Minor panels were all made at the Westbury site though.

What kind of price would a set up like that sell for Ian ??

I thought ESM had purchased all the Minor tooling

So they have. Rest of the company has gone elsewhere. Hopefully its a good thing that the Minor panel production is now inthe hands of a Minor specialist, rather than a small sideline of a much larger company.
How much? Who knows. I looked into valuing a company some years back and it is an involved and complex thing, even for a small business.

L M C Hadrian as a company has been bought out by the Imperial Panel Company, only problem is they are one of most expensive panel manufactures in the market, so all the non Moggie panels will have a huge price hike. Thank you ESM, in your forsight for buying tooling to carry on production.

They will also need the press(es), equipment to change the press tools and the knowledge and ability to keep the tools in good order....

Just want to correct a few points recently raised regarding LMC Hadrian. LMC Hadrian only manufactured at Westbury Site, although they did open a northern site for just over a year but this didn't work out. LMC Hadrian made Morris Minor Panels long before they bought Hendric out. As for the work force all are out of work now. The tools have gone to 3 different places obvioulsy the minor ones to ESM. As for all machines and presses they have been cut up and put in scrape bins. Most of the knowledge regarding the machines and tools go with the redundant work force particularly 2 chaps.

Oh dear - thanks for that sad news.... So - I wonder just how ESM expect to use the tools, and maintain them. I would have expected them to take at least one press with the tools..... Let's hope they are in contact with the lads with 'the knowledge'. It's not just 'anyone' who is permitted to set tools in a Power Press! I wonder where my Certificate has gone......

Did you get my pm?

Pm to whom les?? I have nothing from you. Roy

Thought it unusual for you not to reply, Roy, will pm again!