Ametek buys Airtechnology from Candover

The US fan motor manufacturer Ametek is buying Airtechnology Holdings, a British company specialising in cooling motors and fans, mainly for the aerospace and defence markets. Ametek is buying the Slough- and Sunbury-based business from Candover Partners, which acquired Airtechnology as part of Charter plc`s specialised engineering division which it bought in November 1999.

Airtechnology employs about 240 people and is expected to generate sales worth some £29m this year. According to Ametek chief executive Frank Hermance, the acquisition "significantly expands our presence in high-end technical motors and strengthens our relationships with large European-based aerospace and defence companies".

Airtechnology produces motors and fans for equipment cooling systems and for environmental integrity applications such as temperature control and filtration systems. As well as serving the commercial and military aerospace markets, it supplies equipment for use on military vehicles, ships and trains.

Ametek claims that its electromechanical group, with annual sales worth some $500m, is the world`s largest manufacturer of motors and blowers for the floorcare industry, as well as being a leader in brushless air-moving motors for aerospace, office equipment, medical and other applications.