does tanfield have 2 good businesses ( smith electrics and upright)which are good value for the medium to long term hold ?

Interesting article:
Published: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 3:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Monday, September 14, 2009 at 10:29 p.m.
FRANKFURT | Sales have plunged, General Motors Co. has emerged from bankruptcy and Chrysler has been taken over by Italy's Fiat. The past year's turbulence will be reflected this week in a smaller U.S. presence at the Frankfurt Auto Show along with the new electric vehicles many hope will secure the auto industry's post-recession comeback.

GM's Cadillac brand won't have a presence in the sprawling Frankfurt Messe exhibition center when the show opens to the news media today, and Chrysler's Dodge and Jeep have moved to the Fiat SpA stand.

And GM's European brands, Opel and Saab, will only serve to remind that GM is selling them. Other notable absences include Mitsubishi, Honda and Nissan's Infiniti, which are instead focusing on the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show.

Industry observers and the public will focus on advances in electric cars and hybrids, and for improvements that might bring the vehicles into the mainstream. They'll also look for clues about forthcoming small-car offerings from U.S. carmakers aiming to improve their line of fuel-efficient vehicles.

Top new product offerings include four new electrics from Renault, with one headed for consumers by 2011, including one with no internal combustion engine at all; a hybrid Mercedes B-Class, called the F-Cell, which sports a fuel cell and an electric motor; and the first plug-in version of Toyota's Prius hybrid, meaning its batteries can be charged from a household outlet.

GM will tout its Chevrolet Volt, a plug-in electric which uses an internal-combustion engine to extend its range beyond the standard commuting distances its batteries are designed to handle.

Those cars are headed for consumers soon, but BMW AG gives a look farther down the road with its low-slung supercoupe, the Vision Efficient- Dynamics. It's a high performance, plug-in diesel-electric hybrid powered by a three-cylinder 1.5-liter turbo engine, and by not one, but two electric motors, one for the rear wheels, one for the front.

The BMW coupe is a concept car, designed to show designs and technology that might or might not be reflected in production models in coming years.

Those looking for an idea of U.S. automakers' small-car offerings can look at Ford's redesigned C-Max, as the company beefs up its small-car arsenal globally.

Ford said it hasn't scaled back at the show, as its European division vehicles are better sellers than GM and Chrysler brands.

'Ford in Europe is dominant there,' said Stephanie Brinley, senior manager at AutoPacific Inc., a U.S- marketing and consulting firm. 'Chevy has a presence but Opel is GM's volume brand.'

Opel has a new version of its Astra, its mainstay in European markets. The Astra will also give a preview of GM's plans for small cars in the United States. While GM has announced plans to sell 55 percent of its European subsidiary to parts supplier Magna International, it will keep a minority stake so it can keep developing small and medium sized cars with Opel. The Astra uses an architecture Opel developed for GM to use in small cars worldwide, including the Volt.

'There will be an electric car at almost every stand,' at this year's Frankfurt show, Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer, an industry expert at the University of Duisburg-Essen said, although it would be some time before they are on the production line and in dealer show rooms.

'Like in hybrids, the Japanese are ahead of the Germans in electric cars,' he said. 'One of the reasons is the battery technology which in Japan is systematically further developed.

'Another reason is Germans' strength in diesel,' Dudenhoeffer said. 'Large parts companies like Robert Bosch, for example, are behind the curve in batteries and electric cars,' compared to the Japanese, he said.

He said Toyota has already built its 2 millionth hybrid car this year an important link in the electric car chain while Daimler's Mercedes S400, the only German hybrid on the market so far, has built less than 200 of the cars to date.

In August, Nissan Motor Co. in Japan unveiled the Leaf, an electric car scheduled to go into mass production for a global market in 2012. And U.S. President Barack Obama committed $2.4 billion in federal grants to develop next-generation electric vehicles and batteries in the U.S.

Last month, Germany's government said it would spend about $730 million over the next three years on a plan to put 1 million electric cars on the road by 2020, including about $250 million into battery research.

The heavy batteries that take the place of international combustion engines and gasoline are expensive to produce, and countries like South Korea and Japan are far ahead in research and development. Improving them is key.

Analysts expect global production of purely electric cars to expand rapidly in the coming years. IHS Global Insight forecast that it will grow from nearly 9,500 this year to more than 58,000 in 2011.

Organizers said 753 exhibitors are on hand for the event, which will be opened to the public by Chancellor Angela Merkel Sept. 17 and run through Sept. 27.

Matthias Wissman, president of the German Association of Automotive Industry, said that 62 vehicle makers are at the show, with 82 world premieres.

Thanks for that BB :)

Interesting story from the Sunderland Echo, as yet unconfirmed by TAN as far as I can see:-

"Washington firm signs 1m deal to supply electric trucks to Hong Kong

The Echo understands that Washington-based Smith Electric Vehicles part of the Tanfield Group has signed a 1million-plus deal which will give it a foothold in the lucrative Far East market.

The deal was completed at the national Low-Carbon Vehicle Event, held near Milton Keynes late last week.

News of the deal emerged during a visit to Smith's Vigo Lane factory by business minister Ian Lucas."


http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/Washington-firm-signs-1m-deal.5650826.jp

Half Yearly Report




TIDMTAN

RNS Number : 9066Z
Tanfield Group PLC
30 September 2009

?
The Tanfield Group Plc
("Tanfield", "Group", or "the Company")
Interim Results for the six month period to 30 June 2009
30 September 2009
Tanfield Group Plc, the leading manufacturer of aerial work platforms and
commercial electric vehicles, announces its unaudited interim results for the
six month period to 30 June 2009.
Summary
* Turnover of GBP29.9m (H1 2008: GBP92.8m / H2 2008 GBP52.9m)
* Operating loss of GBP11.0m (H1 2008: Operating profit GBP10.3m / H2 Operating
loss GBP9.0m)
* Net cash at 30 June of GBP10.8m (31 December 2008: GBP11.1m)
* Staff costs reduced by 40% since H2 08

Thanks Skinny - i now know why my price alert triggered this morning !
I've been waiting for a while to get back into these, but somehow not inclined to buy just yet awhile - more fallout possible from those figures i suspect.....

Thier only hope is a bid.

The Co has cash to keep going.
+ and products that have good margins
+ Customer need.
What is at issue is that (right now) their customers are unlikely to order right now and hiring is not their bag, either; with the likes of Hire-shops finding life difficult.
Apart from aerial platforms for TV/security (an area they should be exploiting, in my view.
EDIT-(2Oct09)-Sorry I left-off (read last sentence!)...oops.
So (here) is it 20p? -um, er why? Do tell.
Jowever, bear in mind the 5:1 CONsolidation, and recent pityful Dir purchase:- Halifax, your "20p" equates to 4p earlier this year.(pre-CONsolidation ).

heading for 20p.

Hmmm - in auction!

in auction again........

Conservatives make pledge on plugs for electric car owners

Tanfild makes Electric Vans.
I read that (Newpaper Article) .. . . . and it's like so many similar Political stories. The fact is that ( even if Tanfield is successful), Management is more concerned about the current demerger and lining their pockets, than any L-T viability of the Electric Car.
The reality is that a volume car-plant will gear up for these vehicles and TAN will not get a look-in.
I hold TAN yet distrust Management almost as much as the City, who paid 1.60 prior to CONsolidation....after the June09 5:1 CONsolidation that means the City ( that's your Pension Fund!) paid 8 against a current sp about 40p Yikes!
This demerger might release some Dosh and separate one loss-making business from the other...the issue is: which is which...? Er, IMHO.

Auction.
Can someone tell me if the folk that are making money(presumably) on TAN sp fluctuation - have any other investments in UK Stocks?

Tan's mistake is being a brit coy ..... our govt is very vocal in suport but help by buying a few!!!

TAN pre con = to 7.25p.
2517

Quick question if i may, how far do people see the sp falling in the near term? Do you think it can turn around? And do you think this company will have a good long term future eventually? Sensible answers please. Many Thanks in advance.

Hello Blanche
used to be a holder of these pre-consolidation, and have been waiting for the right moment to get back in - but still resisting at the mo, due to those abysmal figures.
Hangons post 271 says it all really....
Be a long time before cherry pickers are back on the menu for most hire cos, and
electric vehicles are sexy and fashionable at present, but do tan have the infrastructure to make decent profits from that divsn if sales get going ?

I'm still watching for a while, and if they stabilise around the current price (32p) then may put my little toe in - but this one is really a 'punt' now, and not what I would class as an investment.....

I agree - it is a pity to see how this dream has deteriorated. I'm glad I hold only a very small amount; not much point for me to bail out now as not worth anything anyway.

Not sure I would be buying in right now, as there seem to be so many other opportunities out there.

only too true friends or fellow sufferers

Up 12% with Buys about 50% up on Sells, -but- woefully lower than recent CONsolidation implied.

Is there room for them to demerger? - Oh come on . . . the only winners will be the City, printing "prospectuses" and any insiders that buy stock prior to the deal being a great success ( er hopeing, huh?)

I hold and suspect Management never was up to their job, BUT a bouyant Market for Access and Electric Vehicles (to demonstrate their Green leanings) meant that the Company was seen as successful.

The recent CONsolidation does not bode well.

Now, the situation is dire ( I refer to UK plc), so bigger players are not buying Access-kit if they can avoid it. Also the market for EV is slim, due to "greenwashing" being a minority sport.

BUT, as always there are Opportunities where Management can find a way . . . . sadly few are capable of anything like entrepreneurship, but most are hoping "something will turn up" so don't expect anything other than marking-time.

At times such as this [TAN]-Management needs to conserve Cash and IF they can, then the future is likley to be bright as they'll be ready for the OFF! - Possible in another 4-years - but that is anyone's guess.

Tanfield Trading Statement





TIDMTAN

RNS Number : 6502B
Tanfield Group PLC
30 October 2009

?
Tanfield Group plc ("Tanfield", or the "Company")


30 October 2009


Trading Update
* SEV US Corp to develop jointly with AM General, a prototype electric postal
delivery vehicle for the US Postal Service
* SEV US Corp customers win additional $4.5m Federal grant funding for 65 Smith
trucks through the Clean City Program
* Strong demand for Newton electric truck: SEV US Corp order book now stands 255
trucks
* Tanfield confirmed as largest supplier to UK's Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement
Programme
* Renewed focus on production ready medium duty electric vans and light duty
trucks (Newton and Edison)
* Withdrawal from electric car-derived van development : Termination of US Ford
Transit Connect project

Tanfield is pleased to announce further developments from its associate company,
Smith Electric Vehicles US Corp ("SEV US Corp").
SEV US Corp, together with AM General, a leading manufacturer of military and
commercial vehicles, headquartered in South Bend, Indiana, USA, is developing a
prototype electric version of the gasoline-powered Long Life Vehicle for the
United States Postal Service ("USPS"). There are currently approximately 178,000
Long Life Vehicles in service with the USPS. AM General will manufacture the
chassis and SEV US Corp will supply the electric drive train, including the
motor, battery pack, electronics and ancillary systems.
Darren Kell, CEO of The Tanfield Group Plc, said: "With AM General we combine a
global leader in specialist vehicles with a world leader in electric vehicle
integration. The goal is to deliver an electric vehicle that is perfect for the
United States Postal Service; a vehicle that is energy efficient,
cost-effective, reduces US reliance on oil and lowers greenhouse gas emissions."
As announced on 6 August 2009, SEV US Corp won $10m in grant funding from the US
Department of Energy (DoE), to facilitate its growth towards volume production
and to build a demonstration fleet of electric trucks. In addition, SEV US Corp
customers have been awarded funding for 65 Smith Newton electric trucks,
amounting to $4.5m, through the US Clean Cities Program. SEV US Corp is applying
for more funding through the US Government "green vehicles" programmes.
SEV US Corp has commenced production of the Smith Newton electric truck platform
at its assembly facility in Kansas City, Missouri. Appetite for the Smith Newton
truck is strong in North America and SEV US Corp now has an order book of 255
trucks.
In light of the swift growth in demand for the production ready Smith Newton,
SEV US Corp mutually agreed with Ford to terminate its development project with
Ford of an electric car-derived van based on Transit Connect. In the short to
medium term, forecast volumes did not justify the investment requirement and
limited the working capital available to support the growth of Newton. SEV US
Corp believes that investing in the existing Smith platforms represents a better
use of its financial resources, allowing it to take full advantage of a
potentially very sizeable market and to gain market traction more quickly. It
was concerned that the market for electric car-derived vans would become
increasingly competitive. In North America, Ford still intends to launch its
own electric version of the Connect.
In other markets, the Board of Directors believes that the best strategy going
forward for the Company is to focus on preserving and enhancing Tanfield's
market-leading position in the medium-duty commercial vehicle sector, through
its many variants of Newton truck and Edison van platforms. Tanfield remains
Ford of Europe's official collaborator on commercial electric vehicles,
initially focused solely on the Ford Transit platform, which is marketed as the
Smith Edison.
Whilst consolidating its market-lead position in this sector, Tanfield continues
to pursue an order for the delivery of over 50 Smith Edison vans with a leading
UK retailer. Additionally, Tanfield is now confirmed as the largest supplier to
Phase One of the UK Government's Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme.
Tanfield will supply a total of 57 Smith Edison vans in the first phase.
Darren Kell added:
"Tanfield is gaining real traction with its core products in the electric van
and truck sectors across the world"