AES' group managing director, Chris Rea, says the acquisition will allow AVT’s customers in Western Europe to benefit from a synergy of skills and service capabilities to help maintain and improve the reliability of rotating machines, and to reduce downtime.

“Asset reliability products and services are a fast growing and rapid technology development area,” he adds. “The acquisition of Van Geffen is part of a strategic decision to develop AVT Reliability to become a global business which will both support and be supported by the global AESseal Reliability Group.”

AVT Reliability, based in Warrington, employs more than 100 condition-monitoring engineers across the UK and Europe. It is an innovator in reliability products and services and over the past two years has launched products including the Machine Sentry cloud-based condition-monitoring system, and the EasyBrace bracing system for reducing structural vibration in small-bore pipes.

AES Engineering also owns AESseal, claimed to be the world’s largest designer and manufacturer of mechanical seals, as well as AVTPump, ProPack Dichtungen und Packungen, and others. It has bases in 230 locations worldwide, supplies customers in 104 countries, and employs more than 2,000 people around the globe.