Multidrive Limited

Multidrive was formed in 1983 as a division of the Brown Group of companies by the current managing director David J.B Brown. At that time the Group comprised four companies namely BDE Ltd, Artix Ltd, DJI Ltd and Multidrive Ltd, all of which specialised in the design, development, production and support of a range of off-highway and on/off highway heavy haulage vehicles and trailers.

In 1996 the companies were sold to Caterpillar with the exception of Multidrive which was retained by Mr Brown to further the design and production of a range of vehicles for commercial and military use. The range includes trucks and tankers in 4x4, 8x6 and 8x8 wheel configurations and with gross vehicle weights spanning 6t to 50t.

At the heart of Multidrive’s product line is the patented "multidrive" driveline system which is incorporated in the company’s semi-trailers and designed to deliver exceptional traction, mobility and manoeuvrability. The company’s expertise also encompasses complete vehicle systems integration along with the development of transmissions, all-wheel steering systems, suspensions, chassis, hydraulics and axles as well as cab and body design.

Based in the UK at Thirsk in North Yorkshire, the company occupies a 10,000m2 custom-designed development and production facility with planned expansion to 40,000m2 and is currently engaged in several important military programmes, most notably the Future Fuel Vehicle and Future Cargo Vehicle projects. These projects represent Multidrive’s stated intention, based on their detailed undrstanding of the customer’s expectations, to deliver a common range of highly capable vehicles to exceed the British military’s future needs to the year 2020.

Design Capability

The company’s design and development capability is geared towards producing cost effective proposals for these projects based on existing patented designs and ground breaking concepts to augment PPP objectives, provide efficient expeditionary operational logistics and enhance operational effectiveness.

As a result, Multidrive’s solutions will extend vehicle life, allow for the integration of major future developments, lead to increased fleet standardisation levels, and produce significant reductions in overall costs through wider commercial capability. Furthermore, enhanced operational and tactical logistics will ensue together with high availability and multi-role utilisation. In field situations, operators will benefit from much improved performance, durability and reliability coupled with an unsurpassed degree of personnel protection in logistic vehicles.

Military Record

Multidrive’s successful military track record, stemming from the ownership of Bedford AWD, includes the design, manufacture and delivery of a range of legally compliant, articulated 8x6 fuel and water tankers based on the company’s patented ‘multidrive’ all-wheel drive/steer system. All these vehicles are capable of operation in extreme terrain and hostile environments.

The company’s military expertise and understanding is clearly highlighted by the recent delivery of fuel and water tankers to the MoD as an Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR) for operational use in Kosovo - all within three months of the company winning an international competitive tender. This contract was secured following the MoD’s assessment of potential suppliers, vehicle capability, delivery time and cost.

As part of the contract, Multidrive is also supplying carefully quantified spares and support packages, full system manuals, safety equipment as well as maintaining on-site military driver training and on-going field support throughout the vehicles’ deployment in Kosovo.

The vehicles are designed for operational duties in hostile conditions on highways and cross-country terrain to high mobility standards. All comply fully with current European and international legislation, having passed rigorous safe handling assessments.

A combination of teamwork and close liaison with the MoD, coupled with a thorough understanding of military requirements enabled Multidrive to design and produce a vehicle that passed safe handling assessment in just over two months following the contract award.

Delivery of the vehicles was achieved within the tight time limits stipulated in the contract.

There is no doubt Multidrive’s designs are providing the military with increased operational value in terms of mobility, productivity and reliability in both on and off road situations.

Overall, Multidrive’s highly dedicated and motivated design and production engineers are widely experienced in providing achievable, affordable and innovative solutions for operators concerned with military and commercial logistics in the transportation of fuel and water, in the construction industry, road transport and recovery vehicles.