Anglo-Scottish Merger Structured for Growth

Jason Sandefur

Scottish distributor McLean, Buchanan & Wilson merged with English fastener manufacturer Cooper and Turner, part of the Andaray Group.
Sheffield-based Cooper and Turner produces 11,000 metric tones of heavy duty bolts, nuts and washers annually in Sheffield, where it employs 140 people. Main markets are rail, tunneling, wind energy and structural bolting.
“We’ve worked with MBW for over 25 years and during this time we’ve formed a very close relationship,” stated Tony Brown, managing director of Cooper and Turner. “Merging the two businesses makes a great deal of sense for both organizations and the synergies are significant. We can unlock far greater potential via the utilization of MBW’s established sales channels across Europe and the rest of the world.”
MBW and its 40 staffers will remain in Glasgow.
Following the deal, joint turnover is expected to grow �40million (US$78m) “over the next few years”.
Cooper and Turner dates to the 19th century when Joseph and James Turner started making gun barrels. By 1912 the company was making rivets and merged with Henry Cooper & Co, moving production to Sheffield, from which the company supplied applications ranging from battleships to the Model T Ford. In the 1960s the company invented the ‘Coronet’ direct tension indicator, establishing itself in the structural bolting and high strength friction grip fastener market. Web: cooperandturner.com �2007 FastenerNews.com and Fastener & Fixing Europe