VDL Berkhof

A Berkhof Axial 70

VDL Berkhof is a Netherlands-based bus and coach builder, founded in 1970 by Arthur Berkhof and his son Henk. They started with only 10 employees in a 1,000 m² factory. During the first 18 months the company only carried out bus repairs.

In 1985, the operation moves to a brand new 10,000 m² facility in Valkenswaard. The number of employees was now 132. The factory expanded in 1989 by an additional 10,000 m² resulting in a production capacity of 350 units a year.

1994 saw the acquisition of Jonckheere Bus & Coach in Roeselare, Belgium, a bus and coach manufacturer with a total sales of 400 units per year and 500 employees. The total staff number of employees of the Berkhof Groep now reached 1,200.

In 1997, the company changed its name from Berkhof Groep into Berkhof Jonckheere Groep. In 1998 the whole company was bought by the VDL Groep.

Current products

Coaches

City buses

The company has also built trolleybuses (all being low-floor, articulated) for two cities: Arnhem, Netherlands,[1] and Solingen, Germany.[2]

See also

Other VDL Group companies

Current rivals

References

  1. ↑ Murray, Alan (2000). World Trolleybus Encyclopaedia, p. 109. Yateley, Hampshire, UK: Trolleybooks. ISBN 0-904235-18-1.
  2. ↑ Trolleybus Magazine No. 252 (Nov.-Dec. 2003), p. 132. National Trolleybus Association (UK). ISSN 0266-7452.
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