UK Acquisitions For Certex Expected To Increase Market Opportunities

9th January 2017

Logistics BusinessUK Acquisitions For Certex Expected To Increase Market Opportunities

Wire ropes and lifting gear distributor, Certex UK, has acquired cargo control business Pritchard Tyrite and its sister-company TRS Motorsport Equipment in a deal that is expected to open up important market opportunities.

Best known for its range of lashings, curtainsider straps and tarpaulins, Pritchard Tyrite is one of the UK’s leading importers, manufacturers and distributors of cargo control equipment. Pritchard Tyrite’s focus on the transport sector neatly aligns with Certex’s wider focus on wire ropes and lifting gear in the offshore, ports, crane and other major markets.

Pritchard Tyrite’s sister company TRS Motorsport Equipment, in turn, is a manufacturer and distributor of FIA approved motorsport safety harnesses, road harnesses, vehicle accessories and carbon fibre products. TRS is a pioneer in motorsport safety with a distinguished history and a solid distribution network.

The acquired companies have an annual turnover of £3m and 17 employees at the head office in Basingstoke and manufacturing site in Huddersfield. They will be managed by Certex but also establish the first UK base for Certex’s sister-company, cargo securing products and services supplier, Forankra.

Both Certex and Forankra are part of Axel Johnson International’s business group AxLoad. The parent company, Axel Johnson, is a $13bn turnover family business employing more than 22,000 people worldwide.

Certex has an extensive presence in Scandinavia, The Netherlands, the Baltics, Russia, Germany, as well as the UK. In addition to specialist lifting products, inspections and maintenance, its team is highly skilled in providing bespoke, high specification lifting services for the processing of steel wire rope assemblies to customers in the manufacturing, construction, renewable energy, offshore, oil, gas and shipping industries.