05.03.2010

R&B Mantis closes

UK, based self erecting tower crane rental company R&B Mantis, has closed and is being liquidated. The Fen Ditton based company’s customers will in future be covered by Mantis Cranes Ltd of Crook, Durham.

R&B Mantis was established in 2004 by the Rose family who are also into construction and development. Mantis Cranes, the Irish based manufacturer took a minority stake in the business a few years ago and worked with the business cross hiring between its UK based rental operation on a North South basis.

As the slow down in the building market hit crane rental, R&B struggled to survive and has been considering its options since mid February. A creditors meeting on Monday confirmed the placement of the business into liquidation.

Mantis Cranes has purchased some of the cranes from the R&B fleet and has hired Doug Rose to look after its business in the South. Prior to the failure of R&B the two companies had over 100 cranes between them. After the recent additions Mantis Cranes now has a fleet of around 75 units.