Business Weekly - Cambridge, UK

Doubling up: PIX Europe is driven on by the desire to become a top six pan-European player in the mechanical and fluid power transmission industry

Driven by a desire and stated strategic goal of becoming a top six pan-European player in the mechanical and fluid power transmission industry, PIX Europe has undergone significant growth over the last few years.

The European subsidiary of PIX Transmissions, the Indian based manufacturer of belts, hose and end fittings, PIX Europe has doubled in size since 2004 through organic growth alone, a figure it is looking to repeat over the next three years and which in terms of staff, has been exceeded in 2007 alone following its acquisition of Flexequip Hydraulics in May.

”Because of our current level of growth, we were running out of warehouse space quickly,” said Stewart Booth, operations director for PIX Europe. “We’re located on the Farthing Road Industrial Estate, Ipswich and the existing 18,000 sq ft warehouse had become too small.

“The Ipswich logistics centre and offices are the hub of our operations, providing storage for onward distribution of our products  throughout the UK and to 17 countries in Europe.”

PIX Europe is responsible for sales, marketing, support and warehousing of all PIX products in addition to belts and hoses. It also has factories in the Far East producing a host of other products including pulleys, chains and couplings – creating a one-stop shop for quality Power Transmission products.

The new, combined 33,000 sq ft warehouse features enhanced access facilities for speedier unloading of containers and loading of outgoing shippers. All movements within the logistics centre are controlled by a new ‘state of the art,’ computerised software package.

Already a force in the European power transmission industry, bringing Flexequip into the business for an undisclosed cash amount immediately established PIX Europe as a major participant in the hydraulics industry.

Flexequip is well established and highly regarded in the hydraulics industry. An innovator for many years as an end fittings manufacturer, it remains a leading manufacturer and supplier of quality hydraulic products.

The company’s head count more than doubled following the acquisition, up from 30 to 80 and it is now looking to at least double turnover over the next three years, lifting its annual revenues to £20 million by 2010.

“It is a defining moment in the history of PIX and heralds our emergence as a global power in the field of hydraulics,” said Rishipal Sethi, joint managing director of PIX, at the time of the purchase.

“We are very excited about the opportunities this acquisition presents in terms of operational synergies, expansion of our product range, and increasing our customer base, as well as providing expertise in end-fittings.”

Flexequip’s branch sales office and warehouse have remained in Barry, South Wales, effectively servicing the UK. All other export markets will be serviced directly from Lisburn, Northern Ireland. Manufacturing of Flexequip products continues at the company’s machine shop at Harlow, Essex.

PIX Europe has also increased staff figures through recruitment and announced eight new staff in September alone.