HISTORY
1845Justus Christian Braun sets up a gun metal casting works in Nuremberg, Germany that produced cast iron bells.
1908The first refuse collection vehicle is built in the UK.
1914Braun’s company is sold to Karl Schmidt, who creates “Fahrzeugfabriken Ansbach und Nürnberg” which shortens to FAUN.
1940Laird Anglesey Ltd was founded in Beaumaris, Anglesey UK to repair and overhaul Catalina Flying Boats.
1942As specialists in aluminium alloy fabrication, Laird Anglesey Ltd diversified to manufacture of products in the defence sector during the Second World War. Products included Fast Patrol Boats, Minesweepers, Pontoons, Tank Bridges, Divers Decompression Chambers and TRACKWAY.
EARLY
1960TRACKWAY was designed and developed by the UK MOD at MEXE in Christchurch, Dorset. The aim of MEXE was to design and develop equipment determined to be necessary by the Royal Engineers in their new role supporting the British Army on the Rhine (BAOR) with the commencement of the cold war. The need for TRACKWAY occurred during an exercise in which the British army were involved in BAOR – an urgent need was highlighted for some new expedient ground surfacing materials to prevent vehicles getting bogged down at bridge heads.
1962Laird Anglesey Ltd was granted a licence by KUKA to manufacture Refuse Collection Vehicles.
1964 Between 1964 and 1968 Laird Anglesey Ltd manufactured and supplied TRACKWAY products to militaries worldwide.
1965MEXE outlined a requirement for a lightweight assault version of TRACKWAY. Laird Anglesey Ltd developed Class 30 TRACKWAY. Prototype equipment was manufactured and subjected to rigorous trials in various military training areas in the vicinity. Laird Anglesey Ltd won the contract to manufacture and supply all MGMS in high volume to the British MOD. The factory in Beaumaris rapidly commenced designing and manufacturing the high volume of equipment that was required.
1967Laird Anglesey Ltd developed some very innovative high speed routers to carry out the complex machining production of all MGMS Class 30 TRACKWAY. Production was completed and delivered to the British Army in subsequent years.
1968MEXE outlined a requirement for a heavyweight assault version of TRACKWAY. Laird Anglesey Ltd designed and developed Class 60 TRACKWAY. Prototype equipment was manufactured and subjected to rigorous trials in various military training areas in the vicinity of the factory. After successful trials, Laird Anglesey Ltd developed and manufactured HGMS Class 60 TRACKWAY for high volume sale to the UK MOD.
1970Production of the Class 60 TRACKWAY was completed, and distributed to the UK MOD. Armies overseas discovered that the British Army had new and efficient portable roadway systems that had been manufactured by Laird Anglesey Ltd and overseas clients began to place orders.
1970
ONWARDSClass 30 and Class 60 TRACKWAY systems were supplied to over 25 countries worldwide.
1975The British MOD use Class 60 TRACKWAY as Bomb Damage Repair Mat (BDRMs) on runways. The Royal Air Force funded a further very large quantity of Class 60 TRACKWAY to be deployed as BDRM’s on all RAF strategic air bases throughout Europe. The Royal Engineers were assigned the task of supporting the RAF by physically carrying out all the civil engineering work required when a runway needed to be repaired. RAF Waterbeach in Cambridgeshire became the main training establishment in the UK for the Royal Engineers and the Territorial Army (TA). RAF Waterbeach lead training in repair of aircraft operating surfaces e.g. runways, taxiways and apron areas to satisfy the requirements of NATO’s demands as laid down in STANAG 2929. Laird Anglesey Ltd promote the British Runway Repair System to interested overseas clients and Bomb Damage Repair Mats were supplied in substantial quantities to Saudi Arabia, Jordan and some European Nations.
1996Laird Anglesey Ltd was acquired by FAUN, part of the German Kirchhoff group. The company name became FAUN Municipal Vehicles Ltd. The primary focus was to using the skilled Laird workforce to produce refuse vehicles for the UK market. FAUN MV Ltd changed location to the new premises in Llangefni and opened a purpose built factory.
