Despite Brexit Brinkmanship: Schlemmer Acquires British Cable Cleat Specialist BICA Ltd.
The Schlemmer Group has acquired English cable cleat manufacturer Bulldog Industrial Cable Accessories Ltd. (BICA Ltd.). The contracts were signed on 12th of September. BICA Ltd. will operate under the name Schlemmer UK Ltd. going forward.
Founded in 2010, British firm BICA Ltd., based in Wrexham, manufactures high-quality, non-rust cable cleats made of plastic and aluminium. Although a medium-sized company, BICA Ltd. distributes its products worldwide and is currently looking into developing production capacities in Asia. By acquiring BICA Ltd., the Schlemmer Group has gained experienced cable protection experts. Both company directors Meirion Williams (Operations Director) and Ian Humphreys (Technical Director) have decades of experience in this area and will continue to spearhead the activities of Schlemmer UK Ltd. in the future. The first cable cleats produced under the Schlemmer UK name will soon be found in the London Underground.
“Thanks to its many years of technical experience, BICA Ltd. was able to flag key safety aspects and even use innovations to fill an existing safety gap”, highlighted Josef Minster, CEO of the Schlemmer Group. Products of other manufacturers in the hard-fought cable cleat market do not have any short-circuit protection, and offset voltage can therefore cause major damage. Schlemmer UK cable cleats, on the other hand, are protected from this through the use of rustproof material. Furthermore, special processing means the entire system can be “locked down” if there is a risk of a short circuit, virtually ruling out any damage.
This safety feature also follows a proposal for an international standard which may be introduced in the future. “As the only cable cleat manufacturer already producing in line with the standard, Schlemmer UK stands to gain a major boost if the new standard comes into effect”, said Minster.
Besides standardized products, BICA Ltd. also offers individualized cable cleat solutions that meet a specific customer need. The company is distinguished in this regard by its particularly flexible production line: for example, production capacity can be ramped up quickly, or reduced, through its three-shift operation according to the level of orders. “This strategy suits the Schlemmer Group particularly well as we demonstrate how to adjust production capacities to market conditions within a very short time at many sites worldwide, and not to mention with our mobile production facility as well”, said Schlemmer CEO Josef Minster. “Therefore, we are excited about this new addition to the Schlemmer family and sincerely hope that no impediments to cooperation with Britain will emerge in the future as a result of the Brexit goings-on.”
About Schlemmer GmbH
The Schlemmer Group is a global technology expert, which has focused on the development and production of highly specialized synthetics solutions. Building on 60 years of experience in cable protection, the group of companies headquartered in Poing, Upper Bavaria, has become one of the leading and most comprehensive value added providers, supporting its clients as an intelligent consulting and service partner.
In addition to the core Automotive business area, the Schlemmer Group also pursues activities in a wide range of other sectors with its Industry and Appliances business areas. Over 60 sites throughout the world, almost 30 production plants at strategically important locations and a mobile factory enable the company to simultaneously implement global strategies and enjoy a local presence in development, production and sales. The company’s more than 2,500 employees generated a consolidated net revenue of € 263 million in 2015.
For further information, please visit www.schlemmer.com and www.schlemmer-ecotech.com.
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