Cavanna Homes purchase becomes symbol for recession survival
Monday 1st March 2010
A new piece of machinery purchased recently by Cavanna Homes has become a symbol for the company’s success in beating the recession.
The ‘Privilege’ is a new construction range manufactured by Manitou – and Cavanna is the first developer in Devon to purchase one of the machines since the start of the recession.
Eugene Rapson, Finance Director for Cavanna Homes, said: “We were surprised when Manitou told us the significance of our purchase. And we were doubly pleased when they also said the previous Manitou machine that we bought was the last one purchased by a Devon developer before the recession kicked in.”
Cavanna is the largest independent developer in the South West and has recently announced that 2009 was its second best year ever in sales of new properties.
The Manitou is a rough terrain telescopic handler which can lift heavy objects such as palettes of bricks and roof trusses up to 18 metres off the ground.
“We already have seven Manitous in operation around our developments,” added Eugene Rapson. “They help us work faster and more safely. Cavanna has weathered the recession extremely well, I am delighted to say, and 2010 is looking to be an even better year for us. We have the confidence to make investments like this, within a construction industry that has had another very tough year.”
The new machine is currently being used at Cavanna’s Foundry Mews development in Tavistock.
It was purchased from Devon’s Manitou dealer R and D Machinery at Totnes.
“We have had a 24 year working relationship with Cavanna,” said Managing Director Paul Deeble. “Manitou make the world’s number one telescopic handler, and Cavanna have always purchased the more advanced models, recognising a good investment.
“I am not at all surprised that despite the recession Cavanna achieved their second best year ever in sales. They are a clever company. But also remain very much a people company.”
Cavanna Homes was first established in 1923 by Philip Cavanna who set up the company with the slogan ‘Buildings of Repute’. The firm remains a family business combining traditional building techniques with modern technology to meet the needs of both local communities and homebuyers.
Notes to Editors: For further information or interviews please contact Annette Richman at KOR Communications on 01392 466733