Dewsbury-based Sewtec Automation (
www.sewtec.co.uk),
a robotics specialist, has been acquired in a management buy-out backed by Leeds-based private-equity house Endless.
The £22 million-turnover company designs and engineers automated manufacturing and packaging systems for a global customer base.
It started life at the end of the 19th century as the design and development department of the Singer Corporation, which made sewing machines.
Andrew Ross, a director of Endless, said: “For a business of its size and location, Sewtec has an impressive list of multi-national customers, who trust its team of highly skilled engineers to come up with innovative solutions to some very difficult problems. We are delighted to be supporting the management team at Sewtec with the next stage of its development.”
The Sewtec management team of Gary Day, Karl Conqueror and Paul Johnson led the buy-out to help the business grow and expand into new markets — exports make up 85% of its sales.
Mr Johnson, sales director, said: “We are delighted to be working with Endless. We have developed a sustainable growth strategy that will allow the business to flourish further, while making sure that our employees remain engaged, satisfied and aligned with our vision.”
Darren Forshaw, founding partner at Endless, said: “When we raised our latest fund, we wanted to expand our strategy to include more traditional management buy-outs; with Sewtec, we are delighted to have completed our fourth in as many months.”