THE SIXTIES
18
(above)
Geoffrey Pilkington
THE APPOINTMENT IN 1960 OF GEOFFREY PILKINGTON
AS MANAGING DIRECTOR OF VIBRATORY ROLLER AND
PLANT HIRE (NORTHERN) LIMITED WAS PIVOTAL TO
THE COMPANY’S SUCCESS IN ITS SECOND DECADE. HE
QUICKLY PROVED HOW MUCH OF AN ASSET HE WAS.
Losing no time in flexing his business muscles, Geoffrey
immediately explored new opportunities in the non-operator plant
hire market. His passion was obvious, his enthusiasm infectious,
and his ideas exciting. Fred was proud of his son’s acumen and
happy to let him step into the limelight while he took a more
background role.
In a relatively short space of time, Geoffrey demonstrated his
determination to: (1) establish the company as market leader in
non-operator plant hire, and (2) raise its profile to be recognised
as the best in the business.
At the time, lengthy company names in the construction
industry were the norm; Geoffrey took an inspired gamble by
opting for a short, snappy one. He changed the company’s rather
laborious name to the more memorable moniker of Vibroplant,
and relaunched it with a new brand image.
