Added by Love Business East Midlands | 15 April 2026<\/p>\n
UPDATED:<\/strong> 15 April 2026<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tEnergy engineering solutions firm BRUSH Group has acquired iDESo \u2013 home of industrial switchgear specialists Allenwest and Baldwin & Francis \u2013 from UK evergreen B2B investment company Longacre Group, boosting BRUSH\u2019s switchgear manufacturing capabilities.<\/p>\n The takeover significantly increases BRUSH\u2019s switchgear product range and aftermarket service capacity, and enables the Group to develop a nationwide OEM -agnostic service platform that will benefit numerous industry sectors, allow BRUSH to grow beyond its established, predominantly DNO , customer base.<\/p>\n Allenwest Limited, established in 1918 and based in Prestwick, Scotland, employs around 40 people and specialises in electrical control and hazardous area equipment. Baldwin & Francis Limited, founded in 1919 in Sheffield, England, also employs circa 40 people and is best known for its expertise in electrical equipment for the toughest of environments \u2013 including industrial, utilities, energy and rail.<\/p>\n By combining the two businesses\u2019 field service engineering expertise, which includes maintenance, repair, overhaul and 24\/7 technical support, BRUSH can deliver flexible, end-to-end power engineering solutions, across a broader range of core industries such as energy, water, technology, transport, manufacturing, and commercial development.<\/p>\n Nicolas Pitrat, CEO of BRUSH Group, said:<\/p>\n \u201cWe are delighted to welcome the teams from Allenwest and Baldwin & Francis into the BRUSH family. It is apt that in a year when we are celebrating 150 years of innovation that we welcome these highly respected, pioneering brands to our Group. Along with engineering expertise, these acquisitions bring complementary market positions and expand our portfolio into new areas, enabling us to build a more diversified and resilient organisation that is focused on exceeding customer expectations.\u201d<\/p>\n He concluded: \u201cThe additional expertise of our new colleagues means BRUSH is well-placed to deliver an enhanced aftermarket service offering across an even broader range of products and geographical locations, something we know is important to our customers, and to the energy security of the UK.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The integration of Allenwest and Baldwin & Francis also allows BRUSH to leverage established production, assembly and distribution systems as well as certifications and accreditations which strengthen BRUSH\u2019s already impressive technical expertise.<\/p>\n In addition, the acquisition expands BRUSH\u2019s product portfolio to include equipment certified to ATEX and IECEx standards \u2013 widely recognised certifications ensuring equipment safety in hazardous and explosive environments. These accreditations unlock entry into new, high-growth markets for BRUSH while enhancing credibility across regulated industries.<\/p>\n Neil Shailer, CEO of Baldwin & Francis and Allenwest, said:<\/p>\n \u201cBRUSH is a well-established player with a strong reputation across the sector, and we are incredibly excited to become part of this dynamic and future-focused business. It\u2019s a fresh chapter and one that we relish as we look to collaborating and innovating with our new colleagues. I\u2019d like to extend my thanks to Longacre Group for their support over the years in positioning our businesses ready for further growth.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Stani Schmidt, CEO of Longacre Group, added:<\/p>\n \u201cDuring our ownership, we built iDESo into a UK leader in mission-critical switchgear, bringing together Baldwin & Francis and Allenwest, sharpening the Group’s focus on premium specialised solutions for blue-chip customers, nearly doubling revenues over six years. We are proud of what the team has built and confident that BRUSH, with its scale and technical reputation, is the ideal partner to take that story forward.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
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