CPL | From Napkin Sketch to Global Pioneer: The Story of the CPL 4×4 MEWP

If you run crews in arboriculture, power utilities, telecommunications, or estate facilities management, you know the harsh reality of off-road access. Standard commercial vans get stuck the second they hit wet grass, and heavy tracked platforms can be a pain to transport when you need rapid, multi-site turnover.

Fifteen years ago, that exact problem sparked an idea that transformed British access engineering. What started as a drawing on a paper napkin evolved into the UK’s best-selling 4×4 MEWP range, with over 2,000 units deployed worldwide.

Here is how CPL built the off-road access standard, how custom engineering pushes our capabilities, and what our latest milestone means for your fleet on the ground.

Phase 1: The Land Rover Era and Solving the Off-Road Gap (2011)

Back in 2011, founders Paul Murphy and Michela Murphy, alongside Technical Director Julian Bateman, recognised a massive vulnerability across UK infrastructure operations. Utility teams, tree surgeons, and telecom engineers were constantly fighting unforgiving terrain to reach overhead power lines and remote masts. Traditional vehicle-mounted platforms were too heavy or lacked real off-road traction.

To bridge this gap, CPL designed and launched the original 4×4 MEWP mounted on the iconic Land Rover Defender, fitted with a Socage A314 boom.

The industry response was immediate. Major infrastructure operators and national contractors, including National Grid, BT Openreach, and UK Power Networks, quickly realised that a road-legal, true 4×4 access unit changed the math on job-site downtime. You could drive straight through deep mud, set up, reach the job, and move on to the next task without hauling heavy plant trailers.

Phase 2: Expanding the Fleet and Engineering Scale (2013 to 2025)

As commercial demand surged across telecom networks and tree care operations, CPL expanded its platform partnerships to offer greater versatility and cab comfort:

• 2013: CPL launched the A314 boom on the Toyota Hilux chassis, creating a lighter, highly agile platform. CPL later became the first access platform manufacturer certified under the official Toyota Converter Programme.
• 2014: Recognising the demand for alternative chassis options, CPL partnered with Isuzu to launch the A314 on the Isuzu D-Max 4×4. It became the only UK 3.5t chassis conversion fully authorised by Isuzu, keeping warranties completely intact.
• 2018 (Boom Evolution): To support accelerating demand and enhance boom rigidity, CPL partnered with Palfinger to introduce the P130 platform across Isuzu and Toyota chassis. The design featured a lower control station positioned behind the cab to enable safer emergency operation and improve kerbside access.

During this growth period, major telecom providers like Openreach placed landmark fleet orders, while rental firms like 2rent(one of our first customers in 2011), Access Hire, and VLS added CPL 4x4s to their core offerings. Joining the international Klubb Group provided additional engineering scale, solidifying CPL as the undisputed go-to manufacturer for 4×4 pick-up mounts in the UK.

Custom Engineering Spotlight: The Heineken Wind0.0w Service

When you talk about CPL’s engineering range, people usually think about utility lines, telecom masts, and tree surgery. But if you want to know how adaptable the engineering team at Kettering really is, look back at one of the wilder custom builds CPL pulled off during the 2021 lockdown: the Heineken Wind0.0w Service.

While standard pub doors were shut, Heineken partnered with event production agency MadeUp and approached CPL with a unique challenge. They wanted to build a fully functioning, mobile pub bar inside a truck-mounted MEWP basket so they could serve draught pints directly through people’s first-floor windows across the UK.

The Engineering Behind the Pints

Taking a standard access basket and turning it into a compliant, working bar at 15 feet in the air required serious structural calculations:

• Basket Weight & Payload Calculations: CPL integrated draft taps, cooling equipment, and kegs into the basket while considering the weight of two operators, ensuring the machine stayed well within its safe working load (SWL) and tip thresholds.
• Safety & LOLER Compliance: Even though it was a PR tour, it was still a road-legal access platform operating in public spaces. CPL ensured the conversion met full health and safety standards without compromising the operational controls of the boom.
• Custom Styling: The unit was given a full bespoke vinyl wrap and custom branding to match Heineken’s campaign look.

Celebs, Windows, and UK City Tours

In April 2021, the custom CPL P130 toured major UK cities including London, Birmingham, Manchester, and Edinburgh. Winners of a national competition had non-alcoholic pints delivered straight through their living room or bedroom windows. Celebrities including pop star Sophie Ellis-Bextor were up in the CPL basket pulling pints for people at home.

While the campaign was a massive viral moment, for CPL it was a direct demonstration of custom conversion capabilities. It proved that whether a customer needs a specialised 1kV insulated basket for high-voltage power lines or a custom-built bar to pour pints through a bedroom window, the engineering team at Kettering can design, certify, and build bespoke platform solutions for any scenario.

The story of the CPL 4×4 MEWP isn’t just told in engineering milestones; it’s written in muddy fields, forest tracks, and remote utility sites across the UK. Before we introduce the next evolution of the range, here are the experiences from the people who use these platforms every week and know exactly what “off‑road capability” really means.

• “A cracking bit of kit, a massive time saver and makes many jobs much safer.”  Dan Richards, Melius Innovations
• “4×4 MEWPs can adapt to various tasks thanks to their flexible configurations and extendable booms. This versatility reduces the need for multiple types of equipment on-site, streamlining operations and cutting costs”  Access Hire – Kelling Group.
• “This technology allows us to trench at large areas very quickly, which would normally take many months; it has taken only a few nights. We needed a solution and technology to do this very quickly, and this has been head and shoulders better than anything else we’ve ever used.” Andy Whale – Openreach Chief Engineer

With thousands of operators trusting CPL’s 4×4 platforms to reach the most challenging sites, the bar for innovation keeps rising. Those expectations, and the realities of modern infrastructure work, directly informed the creation of the next chapter: the CPL KA14.

Phase 3: The CPL KA14 and Total Onshore Manufacturing (2026)

Now in 2026, CPL has taken its biggest leap yet: the launch of the third-generation 4×4 MEWP, the CPL KA14.

Co-engineered alongside group partners Isoli (Italian access specialists with over 80 years of engineering heritage) and Klubb Group, the KA14 features a brand-new, in-house articulated boom built specifically for modern infrastructure demands.

CPL KA14 Feature Specification

• **Working Height: **14.2 metres
• **Maximum Outreach: **6.5 metres
• **Basket Capacity: **240 kg (1kV insulated options available)
• **Base Vehicle: **Isuzu D-Max 4×4
• **Licence Category: **B+E compliant (standard driver’s licence)
• Boom **Manufacturing & Conversion: **Fully designed, built & certified in the UK

What the KA14 Delivers for Your Sector

• Arboriculture: Designed with an impressive departure angle and heavy towing capability, allowing tree care crews to pull wood chippers or trailers directly onto site while navigating rutted forest tracks.
• Utilities & Telecoms: A commanding 14.2m working height and 6.5m outreach clear taller utility poles and modern streetlighting setups with absolute basket stability.
• Facilities Management: Operating on a standard B+E driver’s licence avoids HGV training delays, allowing any trained operator to take the wheel immediately.

Discover The CPL KA14 - UK Built, Internationally Trusted

Learn more | Configure your perfect KA14

Elevating Northamptonshire: Driving Local Jobs and Talent

This manufacturing expansion is an exceptional win for our customers, but it is an equally transformative opportunity for our local region. Bringing the entire boom supply chain fully in-house directly stimulates the Northamptonshire economy.

Our commitment to building the boom locally means we are actively:

• Creating Skilled Jobs: We are expanding our production lines, creating sustainable, high-quality manufacturing, engineering, and assembly roles right here in the county.
• Fostering Local Talent: CPL has always prioritised hiring local people. By keeping our manufacturing footprint firmly in Kettering and the surrounding areas, we are providing long-term career paths, technical and specialised engineering training for the next generation of British builders.
• Strengthening the Supply Chain: Manufacturing locally means we keep investment within our community, supporting regional businesses and building a robust hub for engineering excellence in the heart of England.

This is a proud moment for our team, many of whom have spent years turning this design into a reality. We are proving that heavy industrial manufacturing can thrive, expand, and lead the global market right from the UK.

The most significant part of this milestone? This brand-new boom will be solely manufactured here in our UK factories. For the first time, CPL is exporting its own intellectual property globally, utilising the extensive networks of Klubb Group and Isoli to supply Europe and markets worldwide. We are no longer just transforming commercial vehicles for the domestic market; we are a global manufacturer.

Why the Localised Supply Chain Matters to Your Fleet

The KA14 is more than just a new boom design; it marks CPL’s evolution from a premier vehicle converter into a full-scale OEM boom manufacturer.

By bringing boom manufacturing in-house right here in Northamptonshire, CPL has eliminated reliance on overseas shipping corridors. For fleet owners and procurement managers, this onshore supply chain delivers three massive advantages:

1. Short, Predictable Lead Times: No waiting months for overseas boom shipments.
2. Direct OEM Aftersales and Parts: Spare parts, LOLER servicing, and technical support come straight from the manufacturer in Kettering.
3. Regional Investment: Manufacturing locally creates skilled engineering jobs, strengthens the regional workforce, and preserves British manufacturing talent for the long haul.

From a sketch on a napkin in 2011 to exporting British-built IP across the globe in 2026, the CPL 4×4 MEWP continues to set the benchmark for working at height on demanding terrain.

Check out the Isuzu D-Max 4×4 KA14 cherry picker now.

Ready to Upgrade?

The right platform depends entirely on your terrain, footprint restrictions, and required working height.

Upgrade your fleet’s capabilities, or just need advice on the best platform for your next project? Check out our full range of innovative access platforms to find the ultimate match for your team.

Check out the Configurator and spec your CPL KA14 MEWP. | Contact our team for assistance selecting your next access platform.