Shropshire rubber specialist completes takeover

DKL Rubber, which is based in Wem, has acquired Medcraft Bryden, a Cambridgeshire-based specialist rubber engineering business.

The Shropshire company was founded in 1988, providing high-specification rubber mouldings.

Now it has taken over the Cambridgeshire company, adding to its range of services and expanding its business, and bringing into its portfolio a company which is three times its own size.

Robert Oakes, a director of the company alongside Ian Oakes, said: "We had known of Medcraft Bryden for a while and were impressed with the range of services that they offered, believing that these would be a good fit with the work we already carried out at DKL.

"However, as two relatively small enterprises with day to day business commitments to focus on, it took until earlier this year for those conversations to really start focusing on the desired result."

Mr Oakes said the takeover was important for the ongoing success and longevity of the business.

The deal was overseen by Stuart Rea from Shropshire law firm FBC Manby Bowdler.

"The acquisition of a small business needs to be handled with care and sensitivity given that the firm is often the vendor's life work and often a family concern as well," he added.

"Robert and Ian were mindful of this and approached the transaction with the necessary time it takes to ensure that all parties were comfortable with how things progressed.

"Their acquisition of Medcraft Bryden, a firm three times their own size, places them in a very favourable position to not only extend the reach of each businesses' distinct product and service portfolios, but also prepares them for further growth which I don't doubt we'll see from them in the coming years."

Both the Wem and Cambridgeshire sites will be maintained for the foreseeable future, and it is expected that the two operations will cross-sell to one another following the takeover deal.

As a result of the acquisition, two additional members of staff have already been appointed to work from the Wem base, which is on Wem Industrial Estate in Soulton Road in the north Shropshire town.

DKL Rubber serves a range of sectors including automotive, as well as overhead power transmission and marine.

The company was founded in 1988 and has 50 years' experience of the rubber industry. It was started to provide high specification rubber mouldings.

Mr Oakes added: "We have worked with Stuart and his team before as he had supported us on a previous acquisition.

"We, therefore, felt confident that he'd be the best man to support us in this latest stage of our business' growth."

"Stuart is always considerate when dealing with a small business not used to working with solicitors but at the same time, employs the necessary focus to ensure that the negotiations don't lose momentum."

FBC has a number of branches in Shropshire, including in Shrewsbury, Telford and Bridgnorth, as well as further branches in Wolverhampton and Birmingham.