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

These have a had a bit of a run up of late - I can't find any news - anyone?

There is a lot going on at the moment skinny. Just to give you a "taster", take a look at these:-

http://www.sev-us.com/

http://bdaily.info/news/business/03-03-2010/france-plugs-into-tanfield/?utm_source=bdaily-bulletin&utm_medium=email&utm_content=stories&utm_campaign=bulletin-click-throughs

http://www.transportengineer.org.uk/article/22854/Bunzls-green-distribution-drive-leads-to-Smith-electric-truck-hire.aspx

Thanks Kim.

Still a long way to go yet though skinny!

a lot going on but funnily enough it never seems to affect the price positively.

I think that will be the way it is with TAN until we see a really positive RNS quoting large volume sales either in the UK or other parts of the world, the US in particular. That could be some time away but there is no denying the slow increase in momentum is being maintained.

You must be a happy boy Kim!

Sort of skinny! I had expected an offer from SEV US but as far as I'm concerned it has come too soon and significantly undervalues TAN's EV division (potential wise). As I said though, there is a long way to go! :o)

that was bad timing wasnt it ..... any one with idea of worth of Tan after off load of Smiths electric?

That is a tough one tipton! The offer seems to value what is left as nil. In a recession free world however, TAN would have a lucrative Powered Access business and though things are picking up, I think it could be some time before that section produce meaningful profits.

Kim - there's a bit on here about Tanfield which might be of interest to you.

Thanks skinny. A good article, couldn't have put it better myself!

very helpful .... thanks

Somebody has faith in Tanfield.

Subject:
Date: Thu 1st Apr 2010 7:56:25
Region:
Market sector:
Company: Tanfield Group PLC


DJ Tanfield Group US Associate Company Gets More Grant Funding




LONDON (Dow Jones)--Tanfield Group PLC (TAN.LN) said Thursday its U.S. associate company, Smith Electric Vehicles U.S. Corporation, or SEVUS, has been awarded an additional $22 million funding grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, or DoE.

MAIN FACTS:

-The funding will be used towards the production of its Smith Newton electric truck.

-This funding is in addition to the $10 million DoE grant announced in August 2009 and is the result of SEVUS working closely with the DoE for several months.

-The DoE funding incentivises major fleet operators to participate in a nationwide demonstration program.

-Qualifying companies will receive a subsidy towards the cost of electric trucks, in return for providing operational data back to the DoE.

-The additional grant means SEVUS can now produce more than 500 of its Smith Newton all-electric commercial trucks for the program.

-Some of the funding will also help SEVUS to offset the cost of future product development.

-Tanfield owns 49% of SEVUS, with the remainder owned by private investors and SEVUS's senior management team.

-On March 10, SEVUS made a conditional, non-binding offer to buy Tanfield's Smith Electric Vehicles Division Assets, conditional, inter alia, on SEVU.S. financing.

-Shares closed Wednesday at 32.0 pence.



-By Iain Packham, Dow Jones Newswires; 44-20-7842-9269; iain.packham@dowjones.com

Wouldnt it be nice if the Uk govt was prepared to support Tan with orders rather words .... US seems to understand the difference between cash and words.

TANFIELD GROUP PLC ("Tanfield")


Notice of Results


Tanfield announces that it expects to publish its results for the year
ended 31 December 2009 on 7 May 2010.

sorry - duplicated below

US President Obama is visiting the Smith Electric Vehicles facility in Kansas City, at 12:30pm (local time) this Thursday.

We've been waiting for confirmation that this US offshoot will be buying out the UK/Europe Smith EV operations. Might this come at the same time? It would surely please the President to be able to describe it as a wholly US company.

And sometime this summer we are expecting that the company will float itself on the US stockmarket.

All of which should excite some share price movement.

Juzzle, are you sure abt the Smith- ownership?
I though TAN held an interest in Smiths, rather like they own US-based Snorkel.
EDIT, sorry I've read previous post, I agree...so this might explain TAN-rise then?...a Wad of Cash would be useful for the Balance Sheet. But is it a good deal in these times? I thought Smiths EV used to be a British Co that went to the US, dunno. +See below, I'm not sure TAN really needs Smiths, as they source bodies in the UK, Ford provided some, I read.
These days International ownership is seen positively (except in the case of British P.... wash my mouth!), so I don't see the need for Smiths to be entirely US-owned.

It is unfortunate that TAN-customer is the hire-industry and some are going out of business, putting surplus "access" stock on the market. +Tanfield was never a big player in Eco-issues, . . . . IMHO they trumpeted sales of ONE vehicle to each of about six large users. I understand they did sell a small number to the parcel-delivery industry, but this was to circumvent the London Congestion Charge.....IMHO.
Also, I am concerned about TAN source of motors/final drives. This means TAN is closer to being a fitting-out business than a "manufacturer".
"Access" equipment is the main "manufacture" as you know.
The city bought very expensive shares (that Rights issue) way back when Snorkel looked like a no-brainer. I never understood the City-excitement, back then.
I hold from recent moderately low prices, but still not yet evens.
+They have a new policy of CONsolidation...Ooops!
TAN vehicles are commercial, so I don't know what the Government can do to increasetake-up in these times.
Better for Gov. to fund research for a new Battery that would be 10x better/lighter than what we have. Batteries are still too heavy and underpower, IMHO. A factor of TEN would create a whole new industry. However, I doubt we'll ever get one. Hydrocarbons are v.concentrated energy and elec.batteries are not the way forward I guess.
All IMHO.

From US press:-

KANSAS CITY, Mo., July 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- President Obama today addressed workers at the Smith Electric Vehicles plant to discuss the state of the economy and jobs. Smith Electric Vehicles is the nation's top manufacturer of battery-electric trucks and was recently the recipient of a Department of Energy grant to help offset future vehicle development costs and incentivize customers to participate in a commercial electric vehicle demonstration program.
Following the President's remarks CEO Bryan Hansel released the following statement:
"The administration has demonstrated its commitment to electric vehicles with the president's executive order last year requiring all federal agencies to set a plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the Department of Energy's funding of promising electric vehicle technologies, like the Smith Newton.
"The $32 million in DOE funding is a game changer for our business, as it is for the wider industry, allowing us to rapidly scale up production, drive down costs, increase demand and create more high-quality manufacturing jobs."
Smith Electric produces the Newton, which is the only all-electric medium/heavy-truck offering on the GSA Schedule. The truck delivers a top speed of 50 mph and offers end users battery ranges from 50 to 120 miles on a single charge. It operates at peak effectiveness in urban applications that demand heavy stop and go driving. A single overnight charge provides more than enough range for most urban delivery routes.
Said Hansel: "The best way to understand this truck's capabilities is to get in and drive it and this grant will give more potential customers that opportunity. By eliminating concerns over fluctuating fossil fuel prices, commercial electric vehicles give business owners unprecedented cost certainty as they look toward managing the next five-to-ten years of their fleets."
Current Smith Newton customers include AT&T, Coca-Cola, Frito-Lay, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and Staples.
About Smith Electric Vehicles U.S. Corporation: Smith Electric Vehicles U.S. Corporation (Smith) (www.sev-us.com) is an all-electric zero-emissions commercial truck manufacturer. The company licenses its proprietary technology from Smith Electric Vehicles in the U.K., the world's largest manufacturer and industry leader of commercial electric vehicles.
SOURCE Smith Electric Vehicles U.S. Corporation


Also:-

Obama Touts Government Investment in Electric Vehicle Factory

President Barack Obama said a $32 million government grant to a maker of battery-driven trucks is an example of how government funding can help businesses generate jobs as the nation recovers from a brutal recession.
Government doesnt have all the answers, and it cannot generate the jobs or growth we need by itself, Obama will say today after touring the Smith Electric Vehicles factory in Kansas City, Missouri. But government can lay the foundation for small businesses to expand and hire, he will say, according to a text of his prepared remarks released by the White House.
Obama is on a two-day trip to Missouri and Nevada to stump for his economic policies and raise money for Democratic Senate candidates. Tomorrow hell also give a speech on the economy in Las Vegas.
The economy, jobs and the deficit are likely to be top issues in the November elections that will decide control of Congress. Obama today defended the $862 billion economic stimulus measure Congress passed soon after he took office, which Republicans have criticized as wasteful. And as he has stepped up his defense of his own policies, he has increased his attacks on Republicans.
Political Calculation
There are those who argue that we ought to abandon our efforts - and others who have made the political calculation that its better to obstruct than lend a hand, Obama said in his speech text. They ought to tell the workers of Smith Electric that wed be better off if your jobs didnt exist.
The U.S. economy is struggling to recover from the worst recession since the 1930s, with 83,000 private jobs added in June and unemployment at 9.5 percent.
Without the government action, Obama said the economy faced a nosedive that threatened to drag us into a second Great Depression. He said he expects energy investments alone to generate 700,000 jobs over the next few years nationwide.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2010-07-08/obama-touts-government-investment-in-electric-vehicle-factory.html Page 1 of 2
Obama Touts Government Investment in Electric Vehicle Factory - Bloomberg 08/07/2010 19:08
The administration has highlighted governments investment at Smith Electric, which was matched by $36 million of the companys money, as an example of how the government can help the private sector create jobs.
The Smith Electric factory will eventually employ about 70 people and build about 500 battery- powered commercial trucks per year, Matt Rogers, an adviser to Energy Secretary Steven Chu, told reporters yesterday.
Purchase Capital
The intent of the funding here is to enable Smith to purchase the capital equipment necessary to get this manufacturing assembly line operational, he said.
The company plans to build as many as 20 factories around the country. This is a microcosm of precisely what needs to keep happening, said Jared Bernstein, Vice
President Joe Bidens top economic adviser. Later today in Kansas City, Obama will attend fundraisers for Missouri Democratic Senate Candidate
Robin Carnahan in Kansas City. Tonight hell raise money in Las Vegas for Harry Reid of Nevada, the top Democrat in the Senate,
and tomorrow hell give a speech on the economy before returning to Washington.