VP expands Groundforce with pile cropping acquisition

Vp plc has expanded its Groundforce trenching and shoring division by acquiring Mr Cropper Ltd, a company that rents pile cropping machines. The price was £4.6 million (€5.5 million).

Mr Cropper is a market leader in the rental of pile cropping machines in the UK. It rents its machines to the groundworks and construction sectors, with two locations in the South East and Midlands. The business was established 13 years ago.

The company rents eight types of pile cropper for pile dimensions of up to 1100 mm. The croppers are typically suspended from excavators in the 6 to 25 t classes.

Jeremy Pilkington, chairman of Vp plc, said; “The specialist nature of the business is an excellent fit for Vp and Mr Cropper will provide complementary activities in support of our other businesses operating in the ground working and construction sectors."