Receivership For Colway and Motorway

EWS, the parent company of Colway, Motorway, Automotive Waste Solutions (AWS) and Waste Tyre Solutions (WTS) has called in the official receivers, KPMG. EWS has long been an established leader in the field of waste tyre management and Colway retreads have for many years been perhaps the best known retread on the UK market. The brand’s image bolstered by a strong presence in motorsport, in particular off tarmac activities such as rallying and 4×4 events.

The Motorway brand had a lesser market share in truck and light truck retreads. AWS and WTS are both strong players in the growing waste management sector. In a statement from WTS MD, Michael Fishwick, it is made clear that although all four businesses were elements of the EWS group, the operations had been trading as separate entities since April 2001, as a reflection of the different demands of the waste management and the manufacturing businesses.

Fishwick says, “It is very disappointing to see our sister company, Colway, go into receivership but now we must look to the future of the waste business. With over 45% market share, WTS is the clear market leader in the collection, recycling and management of used tyre casings. Since its launch last year, AWS has rapidly established itself as the market leading company in the management of all waste streams in the automotive sector.

The philosophy for both companies has been to provide a high level of customer service, compliance and environmentally sound management of customer’s waste products and that service will continue without interruption.” All elements of the EWS Group are being advertised for sale by the receiver, and there is every likelihood that a management buy-out of the AWS, WTS businesses will take place very shortly. The team making that bid has expressed no interest in the Colway or Motorway businesses.

The AWS and WTS sectors recently moved into their own office complex at Newton Aycliffe and are in the process of relaunching themselves with a new green, caring image showing the environmental benefits of a properly managed waste management policy. The waste management sector of the EWS Group would appear to not only have a future, but be eminently suitable for operation as stand-alone businesses. The retread industry in the UK has been in decline for some years.