NZ's Skellmax confirms acquisition of Ambic in the UK

By Liz White, ERJ staff

Auckland, New Zealand-Skellmax managing director Donald Stewart has confirmed that the New Zealand-based group has finalised the acquisition of UK-based Ambic Equipment Ltd, from 1 Aug 2005.

Witney, Oxfordshire-based Ambic is a moulder of rubber and plastics-based equipment aimed at improving and testing dairy hygiene. Skellmax's statement said the firm is "recognised as the world's leading supplier of equipment for the prevention and detection of mastitis in dairy cattle."

Skellmax itself is a leading supplier of rubber-based dairy components and of vacuum pumps for the agricultural sector.

The Ambic acquisition "has the benefit of increasing the range of products the Group currently manufactures and distributes to the dairy industry worldwide,' said Stewart, in a company statement. He added that the deal specifically strengthens "the group's involvement with the European dairy industry."

This announcement follows Skellmax's early August news that it was spending NZ$20 million on buying four manufacturers of rubber-based dairy equipment-two in New Zealand and one in Australia, and one in the UK-now revealed to be Ambic.