RFS Works
RFS Works Limited provides integrated material handling, logistics, earthworks, and heavy mobile equipment services for construction aggregates, rail freight, and marine terminal operators across the UK and Europe, deploying custom-built Ashross rail unloading machines and GPS-controlled earthworks equipment for enterprise infrastructure customers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1978
- HeadquartersHarlow, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What RFS Works does
RFS Works Limited, headquartered in Harlow, Essex with a registered office in Markfield, Leicestershire, provides integrated material handling, logistics, earthworks, and heavy mobile equipment (HME) services for enterprise customers across the construction materials, quarrying, rail freight, and marine terminal sectors in the UK, Ireland, and selected European markets. Founded in 1978 as Rock Re-handling, the company has passed through multiple ownership structures — Foster Yeoman (1988), Aggregate Industries (2007), a JVCo with GRS Roadstone (2016), and ultimately acquisition by JST Ports & Logistics in 2025, with the combined entity rebranded as PortRail Group in April 2026.
The operational platform is built on a heavy mobile equipment fleet — excavators, material handlers, wheel loaders, articulated dump trucks, bulldozers, and rail unloading machinery, including the custom-built Ashross rail unloading machines capable of offloading approximately 75 tonnes in 2.5 minutes. Supporting technology comprises Trimble GPS systems for surveying, mapping, and precision grading, cloud-based weighing systems for rock armour grading, and GPS telematics for productivity monitoring. RFS Works handles roughly 15 million tonnes of essential commodities annually across more than 200 loading points; under the combined PortRail Group, a 200-strong workforce operates the largest machinery fleet in the UK bulk materials handling sector.
Revenue is generated through professional services contracts (material handling, earthworks, mining, personnel resource provision) and equipment supply, with project-based multi-year contracts negotiated individually. The named enterprise customer base spans Aggregate Industries, Tarmac (CRH), Hanson Aggregates, Cemex, DB Cargo, Tata Steel, Forterra Building Products, British Sugar, DP World, and Heathrow Airport, alongside major UK infrastructure programmes including HS2, Crossrail, Thames Tideway Tunnel, and Battersea Power Station. Following the April 2026 PortRail Group merger, the platform is positioned as an integrated multimodal bulk logistics operator promoting rail and barge freight substitution.
RFS Works firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- RFS Works
- Legal name
- RFS Works Limited
- Website
- https://rfsworks.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1978
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- RFS Works Limited provides integrated material handling, logistics, earthworks, and heavy mobile equipment services for construction aggregates, rail freight, and marine terminal operators across the UK and Europe, deploying custom-built Ashross rail unloading machines and GPS-controlled earthworks equipment for enterprise infrastructure customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
RFS Works industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Bulk Materials Handling and Logistics Services
- NAICS
- Construction Machinery Manufacturing (33312), Industrial Truck, Tractor, Trailer, and Stacker Machinery Manufacturing (333924), Mining and Oil and Gas Field Machinery Manufacturing (33313), Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510)
- SIC
- Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530), Construction Machinery & Equip (3531), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Industrial Trucks, Tractors, Trailors & Stackers (3537), Wholesale-Construction & Mining (No Petro) Machinery & Equip (5082)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Surface Mining Equipment (Excavators, Shovels, Draglines, Dozers) (IMAKANAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Material Handling Equipment Rental/Leasing (Forklifts, Telehandlers, Reach Trucks) (TLABAFAF), Earthmoving & Excavation Equipment Rental/Leasing (TLABAFAA), Port Equipment Maintenance & Field Service (Terminal MRO for Handling Assets) (TLAHALAF), Mining, Metals & Bulk Project Cargo (TLACAIAC)
Keywords
Where RFS Works is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Harlow
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
RFS Works business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Material Handling Services: Rail freight unloading/loading, marine terminal services, barge and ship loading/unloading, intermodal container handling, managed terminal services
- Earthworks & Mining Services: Bulk and technical earthworks, quarry soil stripping, overburden removal, restoration, load and haul of minerals, mining services
- Equipment Solutions: Provision of heavy mobile equipment (HME) fleet including excavators, material handlers, wheel loaders, dump trucks, bulldozers for customer projects
- Personnel Resource Services: Supply of fully trained equipment operators, site supervision, and project managers for customer operations
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom contract pricing based on project scope |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
RFS Works product offering
Product offeringCore offering
RFS Works delivers integrated bulk materials handling, logistics, and earthworks services to enterprise customers across the UK and Europe. The company specialises in the loading and unloading of railway wagons and water-borne vessels within strict time constraints such as rail timetables and tide schedules, supported by a heavy mobile equipment fleet, custom-built Ashross rail unloading machines, and GPS-controlled earthworks. It also provides quarry restoration, bulk earthworks, mining load-and-haul, managed terminal operations, and trained personnel/operator resourcing under multi-year contracts.
Product overview
RFS Works Limited operates as a unified platform providing integrated bulk materials handling and logistics solutions, combining multiple specialized services under one offering. The portfolio includes six interconnected service pillars: Material Handling (encompassing rail, marine, and construction material handling plus Ashross rail unloading machinery), Logistics Services (terminal services and bulk/intermodal haulage), Earthworks & Mining (bulk earthworks and specialized mining services), Equipment Solutions (heavy mobile equipment fleet), Rock Re-handling (specialized rock armour services), and Associated Services (operator training and GPS/surveying technology). These services work together to deliver end-to-end solutions from initial site setup through completion, handling and moving large volumes of materials for major contracts across the UK and Europe. The company is part of PortRail Group following acquisition by JST Ports & Logistics.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Material Handling
Quantifiable outcome
- 15 million tonnes of essential commodities handled annually
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use RFS Works
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
RFS Works technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
RFS Works partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- PortRail GroupcoreRFS Works Ltd was acquired by JST Ports & Logistics and merged with PortRail Group operations, now rebranded as the combined PortRail Group entity. RFS Works is now part of this integrated bulk logistics powerhouse uniting two established UK industry leaders.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
RFS Works competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Flannery Plant Hire: UK national plant-hire specialist operating a large fleet of excavators, dozers, and dump trucks supplied with CPCS-trained operators on multi-year infrastructure contracts. Directly comparable to RFS Works' earthworks, equipment-solutions, and operator-supply model, and a true UK plant-hire competitor.
- Speedy Hire: UK-listed plant, tool, and equipment hire company providing operated and self-hire machinery to construction, infrastructure, and industrial customers. Comparable to RFS Works' equipment-solutions and associated services, though Speedy's catalogue is broader and less rail/aggregates-specialised.
- Vp plc: UK specialist equipment rental group providing excavators, telehandlers, and ground-care equipment to construction and infrastructure customers. Compares to RFS Works' heavy mobile plant rental-with-operators model, though smaller in bulk aggregates handling.
- Hargreaves Services plc: UK industrial services group providing bulk earthworks, materials handling, and infrastructure support to rail, construction, and energy customers. Closely comparable to RFS Works' earthworks, rail, and bulk materials handling service mix.
- Mick George Group: UK earthworks, demolition, and aggregates contractor operating its own fleet of excavators, dump trucks, and crushing equipment to serve construction and infrastructure customers. Overlaps with RFS Works on earthworks, muck-shift, and aggregate handling.
- Ashtead Plant Hire (Sunbelt Rentals UK): UK arm of Sunbelt Rentals (Ashtead Group) operating one of the largest UK plant and tool hire fleets, supplying excavators and material handlers with operator services. Competitor in heavy mobile equipment hire though broader and more national-scale.
Broad incumbents
- Breedon Group plc: UK's largest independent construction materials group producing and distributing aggregates, asphalt, and ready-mixed concrete with integrated contracting services. A major RFS Works customer and adjacent operator that owns the upstream aggregate supply chain.
- Aggregate Industries (Holcim): Holcim-owned UK aggregates, concrete, and asphalt producer and contractor with its own nationwide logistics. Former owner of RFS Works and still a key customer; provides vertical-integration context that frames RFS Works' market.
- Ashtead Group plc: FTSE 100 equipment rental group operating Sunbelt Rentals in the US/Canada and A-Plant in the UK. A scaled incumbent whose UK plant-hire business competes with RFS Works for major infrastructure equipment-rental contracts.
Others
- JST Ports & Logistics: Acquiring parent company of RFS Works as of 2025 and combined entity rebranded as PortRail Group from April 2026. A UK ports and bulk logistics operator enabling RFS Works' rail-to-port integration rather than a market competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
RFS Works social profiles
Digital presenceRFS Works compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance7 records
RFS Works financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
RFS Works leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
RFS Works funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
RFS Works M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about RFS Works
What does RFS Works do?
RFS Works delivers integrated bulk materials handling, logistics, and earthworks services to enterprise customers across the UK and Europe. The company specialises in the loading and unloading of railway wagons and water-borne vessels within strict time constraints such as rail timetables and tide schedules, supported by a heavy mobile equipment fleet, custom-built Ashross rail unloading machines, and GPS-controlled earthworks. It also provides quarry restoration, bulk earthworks, mining load-and-haul, managed terminal operations, and trained personnel/operator resourcing under multi-year contracts.
Is RFS Works a public or private company?
RFS Works is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was RFS Works founded?
RFS Works was founded in 1978. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is RFS Works based?
RFS Works is headquartered in Harlow, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does RFS Works make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Material Handling Services are the primary driver. The others are earthworks & Mining Services, equipment Solutions and personnel Resource Services.
Who are RFS Works's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Flannery Plant Hire, Speedy Hire, Vp plc, Hargreaves Services plc, Mick George Group and Ashtead Plant Hire (Sunbelt Rentals UK). Broad incumbents are Breedon Group plc, Aggregate Industries (Holcim) and Ashtead Group plc. JST Ports & Logistics is listed as an others.
Does RFS Works have an API?
No public API is recorded for RFS Works.
What industry is RFS Works in?
RFS Works's product category is Bulk Materials Handling and Logistics Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAKANAA, Surface Mining Equipment (Excavators, Shovels, Draglines, Dozers), with a secondary code of TLABAFAF, Material Handling Equipment Rental/Leasing (Forklifts, Telehandlers, Reach Trucks). Its NAICS code is 33312 and its SIC code is 3530.