ERF Logo

Brand History

ERF was founded in 1933 by Edwin Richard Foden after he resigned from the family business Foden. Together with his son Dennis Foden and Ernest Sherratt, he established the new company in Sandbach, Cheshire. The first ERF diesel lorry was built that same year, chassis number 63 matching the founder’s age at the time.

The manufacturer operated independently for over six decades. During this period it relied on outsourced components including Gardner engines, David Brown gearboxes and Kirkstall axles. Cabs were styled by John Henry Jennings. The company maintained its Sandbach factory from 1933 until 2000, when MAN AG moved production to a new factory in Middlewich.

Key Milestones

• 1881–1932: Edwin Richard Foden’s involvement in Foden steam wagons and early diesel concepts in Sandbach
• 1933: Company founded and first diesel lorry produced
• 1933–1996: Independent British manufacturer based in Sandbach
• June 1996: Acquired by Western Star
• 2000: Acquired by MAN AG with production moved to Middlewich factory
• March 2002: Middlewich factory closed
• 2002–2007: Final models produced using MAN platforms
• July 2007: Brand discontinued by MAN AG

Erf Logo Evolution

1933–2000: Original ERF Trucks Logo

The original Erf logo was created at the company's founding in 1933 and derived directly from the founder’s initials. It appeared on vehicles produced throughout the independent period and under Western Star ownership. This branding remained consistent while the company operated its Sandbach factory.

• Design: Primarily text-based or simple emblem
• Colors: Not specified in available records
• Changes: None documented during the 67-year span
• Context: Used on trucks built in the United Kingdom before the MAN acquisition

2000–2007: Final ERF Trucks Logo

The final Erf logo appeared after the acquisition by MAN AG. Trucks were rebadged versions of MAN models with limited differentiation such as the optional Cummins ISMe engine. This Erf logo was used only in the UK market until the brand's discontinuation.

• Design: Modernized ERF Trucks branding
• Colors: Not specified in available records
• Changes: Updated to align visually with MAN TGA cab derivatives
• Context: Applied during the period when final assembly moved to MAN facilities in Germany and Austria

Ownership Changes and Legacy

Western Star acquired ERF in June 1996. Four years later in 2000 the company passed to MAN AG, which moved production from Sandbach to a new factory in Middlewich. That Middlewich factory closed in March 2002. Final models including the ECT, ECM and ECL series were built using MAN platforms.

The brand operated for 74 years before MAN ceased supply of ERF-badged trucks in July 2007. ERF is remembered as a specialist British truck manufacturer that focused on diesel power from its inception and relied heavily on outsourced British components during its independent years. The Erf logo history mirrors the company’s journey from full independence to integration within a larger European group.