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Variohm buys UK displacement sensor specialist, Positek
Published:  28 May, 2019

The Variohm Group has acquired the Gloucester-based sensor-maker, Positek, for an undisclosed sum. Positek, which produces linear, rotary, tilt and intrinsically safe position sensors, becomes the fifth member of the Variohm Group, alongside Variohm EuroSensor, Herga, Ixthus Instrumentation and Heason Technology.

The acquisition takes Variohm’s headcount to more than 190, including 20 engineering staff who operate across Europe from four UK production sites.

Positek, which was established more than 25 years ago, designs and manufactures linear, rotary and tilt sensors – including sensors and galvanic isolation measurement amplifiers with Atex, IECEx and CSA certifications. It has developed a patented non-contact inductive position sensor technology. As well as standard products, it offers customised sensors.

Positek’s commercial director Mark Spreadbury and production director Robert Munn will continue to manage the team, reporting to Variohm’s managing director, Graham Pattison.

“The acquisition substantially boosts our design and manufacturing capability, and brings exciting new products and sales channels for both Positek and the existing Group members,” says Pattison. “We very much look forward to developing and enhancing our application-solving competencies by promoting the Group's products through Positek, and vice versa.”

Positek's portfolio includes linear, rotary, tilt and intrinsically safe position sensors

As well as bringing its specialised linear and rotary voltage displacement sensor technologies (LVDT/RVDT) and customised design expertise to the Variohm, Positek will also expand Variohm’s production and customer support capabilities. In return, Positek is expected to benefit from broader sales and technical capabilities that result from sharing Variohm’s customer base and from synergies with the other Variohm Group businesses.

Positek’s robust, accurate technologies can be used to perform linear position measurements over distances of 1.5m or more, as well as angular position measurements from 5–160 degrees. Application areas for the technologies include oil & gas, mining, medical, marine, hydraulic and pneumatic cylinder position feedback, and tilt sensing on heavy machinery.

The Variohm Group is a member of the LSE-listed discoverIE Group, an international group of businesses that design, manufacture and supply components for electronic applications.