Hewden Stuart plc, the British equipment hire arm of Finning Group last week announced the sale of its hoist business to HTC Plant Ltd., part of the PC Harrington Group. All 75 staff of the business will continue.

The hoist business operates from three sites in Chawston (Bedfordshire), Dewsbury and Glasgow, with an inventory of more than 300 hoists, £6.5 million in volume (about U.S. $12.8 million), and about 250 customers nationwide.

The agreement was signed Dec. 21 and is in keeping with Hewden’s stated strategy of increasing focus on core business areas, primarily being a national provider of heavy construction equipment, particularly Caterpillar. The sale of the hoist business follows the sale of its tools business last June.