https://carwood.co.uk

Company Profile

Overview

Carwood Motor Units Ltd started as a local automotive parts business in Coventry in August 1966, since then it has developed steadily, both by organic growth and by strategic acquisition, into a European leader in its specialised fields. The Company’s main areas of expertise are in engineering (remanufacturing), technical vehicle services (Diesel, electrical, HVAC, EV) and logistics (parts procurement, storage and distribution). The company focuses on diesel fuel injection, electrical, electronic, HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning), engine, transmission and turbocharger systems for all types of vehicles, ranging from passenger cars to cable cars, from trucks to trains, from earth movers to people carriers and from battle tanks to buses Today we have approximately 250 employees, with a large proportion of highly skilled technical staff. We are proud that in an industry where knowledge and experience are highly valued, more than 30 members of the Carwood team have given loyal service to the Company for over 20 years.

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Board of Directors

Gary Carter, FIMI
Chairman & Founder of company in 1966
Kevin Mulholland, MIMI
Managing Director
Dave Hopkins
Operations & Technical Director
Nigel Pond, BA, ACA, AMCT
Financial Director & Company Secretary
Alan Baird, FIMI
Director of Group Quality
Simon Quantrell, PGDip, CAE FIMI
Deputy Managing Director

A Brief History

Starting as a small electrical car parts business in the outskirts of Coventry in August 1966, Carwood quickly developed a high-quality remanufacturing operation for starters and alternators as well as becoming a thriving regional battery distributor. Over the years the company expanded and diversified into the diesel and auto electrical markets, always striving to keep customer service at the forefront of the business. With a shrewd eye for commercial opportunities, a number of strategic acquisitions were made over the last half-century or so…

Some of the Companies that have joined Carwood over the years:
  • 1973 Gordon March (Coventry)
  • 1987 Coventry Battery & Ignition (Coventry)
  • 1987 R J Taberer (Coventry)
  • 1994 Clutch Brake & Autospares (Coventry)
  • 1999 Car Lighting Services (Reman) Ltd and CLS Vehicle Systems Ltd (Birmingham)
  • 2004 Capital Auto Services (Dudley)
  • 2008 LUCAS Rewind (Yeovil)
  • 2012 IMER Remanufacturing (Ollerton)
  • 2019 Brise Ltd. (Dartford)

  A new remanufacturing facility for rotating electric machines (mainly starters and alternators) and turbochargers was opened in Newark Nottinghamshire in September 2008 to provide additional manufacturing capacity. Subsequently relocated to Ollerton following the acquisition and integration of IMER in 2012. Carwood acquired the LSUK electrical rewind business in Yeovil, Somerset in November 2008. This has been renamed Carwood Rewind and provides a very good fit with the rest of the company’s electrical business, giving quality control over the electrical rewinding process that is integral to the high quality remanufacture of stators, rotors and other wire wound components. Importantly, the expertise and technical capability at Yeovil enables Carwood to extend its customer base to industries outside of the automotive field such as rail and industrial motors. In 2019 Brise Ltd. was acquired and integrated with the Carwood Rewind Yeovil operation, bringing motorsport electrical products into the range. To support our UK Defence Customers a new satellite warehouse and logistics facility was opened in Warminster, Wiltshire, in November 2008. During 2009 additional new satellites were opened in Colchester, Catterick and Donnington. These provide the Army with short ex-stock lead times on a wide range of parts and components and allow them to reduce their own inventory while maintaining high fleet operational status levels. In 2010 we purchased a majority shareholding in BDS Systems Ltd based in Hull who are suppliers of quality spare parts to the Bus Door industry, we changed the Name to Carwood (BDS) Ltd, taking full control in 2012 and relocating to Driffield. In 2016 Carwood became the sole UK Distributor for Italian Bus Doors brand BCE.srl. A major expansion and redevelopment of the Carwood Diesel Systems factory at Smethwick in Birmingham took place in 2012 to further expand the state-of-the-art remanufacturing processes including an industry leading ISO 14664 Class 7 Clean Room Assembly Facility. In January 2017 Carwood Telford was opened and began operations as an engine, electrical and specialised component remanufacturing centre. It houses a computerised dynamometer engine test facility and is capable of handling specialised low volume projects. Further expansion at the Coventry site took place late in 2019 with the opening of another main production workshop developed in an adjacent former warehouse and distribution facility. Carwood continues to grow steadily through working closely with customers and achieving OE standards of quality processes and products in the remanufacturing industry.

Latest News

Win top-tech with Carwood’s 12 Days of Christmas

22nd November 2023

From 4th to 15th December, visit Carwood’s 12 Days of Christmas online platform carwood.adventcalendaronline.com, every…

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Summer LIKE A Pro! With Bosch fuel products from Carwood

5th July 2023

Whether you’re cheering on the Lionesses down-under, partying your way round the festival circuit, or…

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News release – Carwood appointed as the Carbon Zapp distributor for UK & Eire

15th March 2023

The addition of Carbon Zapp test and diagnostic equipment, strengthens Carwood’s existing portfolio and provides…

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News release – Carwood’s extended range ensures more proven quality, sustainable solutions for an even wider range of vehicles

26th January 2023

New-to-range fuel pumps, injectors and turbochargers and enhanced service support provide business growth opportunities for…

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