BRUSH Group expands with double UK acquisition

Loughborough-based BRUSH Group, an energy engineering solutions company, has acquired iDESo Group, home of industrial switchgear specialists Allenwest Ltd and Baldwin & Francis Ltd from Longacre Group, the UK-based evergreen B2B investment company, in a deal which will see the Group’s switchgear manufacturing capabilities increase significantly.

The takeover boosts BRUSH’s product range and aftermarket service capabilities and enables the Group to develop a nationwide OEM-agnostic service platform that will both benefit and allow growth beyond BRUSH’s established, predominantly DNO,customer base.

Allenwest, established in 1918 and based in Prestwick, employs around 40 people and specialises in electrical control and hazardous area equipment. Baldwin & Francis, founded in 1919 in Sheffield, also employs around 40 and is best known for its expertise in electrical equipment for the toughest of environments – including industrial, utilities, energy and rail.

By combining the two businesses’ field service engineering expertise, which includes MRO and 24/7 technical support, BRUSH can deliver flexible, end-to-end power engineering solutions, across a broader range of core industries such as energy, water, technology, transport, manufacturing, and commercial development.

BRUSH Group’s CEO Nicolas Pitrat said: “We are delighted to welcome the teams from Allenwest and Baldwin & Francis into the BRUSH family. It is apt that in a year when we are celebrating 150 years of innovation that we welcome these highly respected, pioneering brands to our Group. Along with engineering expertise, these acquisitions bring complementary market positions and expand our portfolio into new areas, enabling us to build a more diversified and resilient organisation that is focused on exceeding customer expectations.”

Enhanced aftermarket service
He added: “The additional expertise of our new colleagues means BRUSH is well-placed to deliver an enhanced aftermarket service offering across an even broader range of products and geographical locations, something we know is important to our customers, and to the energy security of the UK.”

The integration of Allenwest and Baldwin & Francis also allows BRUSH to leverage established production, assembly and distribution systems as well as certifications and accreditations which strengthen BRUSH’s already impressive technical expertise.

In addition, the acquisition expands BRUSH’s product portfolio to include equipment certified to ATEXand IECExstandards – widely recognised certifications ensuring equipment safety in hazardous and explosive environments. These accreditations unlock entry into new, high-growth markets for BRUSH while enhancing credibility across regulated industries.

Neil Shailer, CEO of Baldwin & Francis and Allenwest, said: “BRUSH is a well-established player with a strong reputation across the sector, and we are incredibly excited to become part of this dynamic and future-focused business. It is a fresh chapter and one that we relish as we look to collaborating and innovating with our new colleagues. I would like to extend my thanks to Longacre Group for their support over the years in positioning our businesses ready for even further growth.”

Stani Schmidt, CEO of Longacre Group, concluded: “During our ownership, we built iDESo into a UK leader in mission-critical switchgear, bringing together Baldwin & Francis and Allenwest, sharpening the Group’s focus on premium specialised solutions for blue-chip customers, nearly doubling revenues over six years. We are proud of what the team has built and confident that BRUSH, with its scale and technical reputation, is the ideal partner to take that story forward.”