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Rubix adds repairer Knowlton & Newman to its portfolio
Published:  13 January, 2021

The industrial distributor Rubix UK has acquired Knowlton & Newman which provides electromechanical repair services to customers in the South of England. The acquisition is part of the Rubix’s network development strategy, and follows its recent acquisition of the industrial automation specialist, Matara.

“It is an excellent fit for both parties,” says Rubix UK CEO, Mark Dixon. “As Europe and the UK’s number one multi-specialist provider of industrial supplies and services, we are keen to expand our offer in electromechanical repair solutions. The synergies in terms of sectors, geography and overall strategy offer huge potential.”

Previously family-owned Knowlton & Newman, which was founded in 1973, specialises in the repair and replacement of electric motors, pumps and gearboxes. With sites in Southampton, Portsmouth and Chatham, it employs 65 people and had sales worth £8.2m in the year ending 31 March, 2020. Knowlton & Newman’s customers operate mainly in the utility, marine, pharmaceuticals, food, aggregates and petrochemical sectors.

Knowlton & Newman will continue to run independently but will play a strategic role in extending Rubix’s offering in electromechanical repairs services, which it regards as a key growth area. The acquisition will also add a southern regional hub to Rubix’s existing engineering service centres in the Midlands, South-West and North of England.

Knowlton & Newman’s managing director Mike Knowlton will report to Nigel Banks, managing director of Rubix UK’s Services Division. “We are really looking forward to leveraging the Rubix UK network to accelerate sales, as well as capitalising on Rubix’s technical expertise in providing other key maintenance and repair solutions to expand our offer to our customers here in the south of England,” says Knowlton.

Knowlton & Newman offers electromechanical repair services to customers in the South of England

Rubix is Europe’s largest supplier of industrial maintenance, repair and overhaul products and services. It was created by the merger of IPH with Brammer in 2017, following the acquisition of Brammer by Advent International. It has 8,500 employees in 22 countries serving more than 20,000 customers. The business had sales worth €2.4bn in 2019.

Knowlton & Newman:   LinkedIn

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