Established in 1933 by Edwin Richard Foden, who had left Foden - the company founded by his father - because he believed the future lay in diesel rather than steam power and based in Sandbach in Cheshire, the company made their own chassis and cab with engines from Gardner, Cummins, Perkins, Detroit Diesel and Caterpillar. The company was bought by Canadian truck maker Western Star in 1996. However, after PACCAR's purchase of both DAF Trucks and Leyland Trucks increased competitive pressure, and Western Star was approached by Freightliner corporation, the decision was made to sell ERF.