Airedale’s owner set to buy Barkell

USA: Modine Manufacturing, the US owner of the fire-hit UK manufacturer Airedale, is set to to acquire Barkell Ltd, a manufacturer of custom built air handling units located in Consett, UK.

Modine says the acquisition will enable it to expand its product offering in the air handling segment and is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2014.

“Acquiring Barkell helps us expand both our product line and our sales channel in the UK,” said Matt McBurney, Modine’s vice president, Commercial Products Group. “In addition, this acquisition will help us build on Modine’s success in the growing data center air conditioning market by providing innovative solutions, including adiabatic cooling.”

Barry Phillips, Barkell’s co-founder and director, added, “I am incredibly proud of the business we have built at Barkell and am confident that Modine is the right partner to help us bring the Barkell business to the next level while at the same time maintaining the culture of excellence and customer service for which Barkell is known.”

“Everyone at Modine is excited about the opportunities Barkell and Airedale can bring to each other,” said Clive Parkman, managing director of Airedale. “We have been working together for a number of years and are pleased we are moving forward with this next step. With a focus on the air handling market, Barkell offers Airedale — and thus Modine — an excellent opportunity to expand both our product and service solutions to new and current customers.”

Founded in 1981, Barkell has focused on the custom air handling market within the UK and has around 100 employees. With 48,000ft2 of manufacturing space and a dedicated 4,500ft2 design and engineering block, the company’s current production capacity is in excess of £1m per month.

Airedale is currently recovering from the devastating fire which hit the company’s Rawdon, Leeds, facility three weeks ago. Some manufacturing has now resumed at the plant and a new facility has been acquired in central Leeds.