The acquisition of Metaltech will allow UHT to further vertically integrate its supply chain, shortening product lead times and adding capacity to support global growth.
Founded in 1976, Metaltech is a precision engineering and CNC machining services vendor to the hygienic flow control sector. UHT is one of Metaltech’s largest customers, and the two businesses have worked together for more than 20 years. Metaltech already provides machining for a wide range of UHT’s hygienic pumps that serve the food, beverage, bakery/confection, meat and poultry, brewery, pharmaceutical and transportation markets globally.
“With the two companies’ long history of partnership, Metaltech and UHT leadership saw an opportunity to bring Metaltech’s team members, experience and equipment inside the UHT organization,” said Chris Stevens, CEO of Unibloc Hygienic Technologies. “The combination of the two businesses fits hand-in-glove with our internal manufacturing investments and continues our strategy of providing superior customer responsiveness combined with the assurance they will receive premium quality hygienic flow control equipment.”
UHT is a global provider of hygienic positive displacement pumps, air-operated double diaphragm (AODD) pumps, drum pumps, and other flow control products.
Late last year, UHT announced that the company had made significant investments in new CNC equipment capacity at its Bolney, UK facility. Additional investments in two new lathes, one delivered in January 2023, and one expected to be delivered in June 2023, will further add more precision machining capacity and support a 24-hour operation.
This is the third acquisition in 18 months for UHT, a May River Capital portfolio company. In January 2022, UHT acquired Standard Pump, a Duluth, Georgia. USA-based manufacturer of hygienic and industrial process pumps, including drum pumps and other fluid handling equipment. In August 2021, the company acquired Flotronic Pumps, a UK-based manufacturer of specialized hygienic, AODD pumps and related accessories.
“The vertical integration of Metaltech into the UHT portfolio allows Unibloc to have meaningful additional control over its supply chain,” said Dan Barlow, founding partner, May River Capital. “The acquisition supports UHT’s growth strategy and further enhances the company’s operating efficiency.”