Whitehouse Industries acquires Ernest Engineering Limited

Whitehouse Industries acquires Ernest Engineering Limited

Whitehouse Industries has announced a raft of new acquisitions as part of its growth strategy to consolidate services in the engineering sector, with Coventry-based Ernest Engineering, the latest to be added to its growing stable.

The purchase of Ernest Engineering includes high precision turned parts specialist Bailey & Wade Engineering and Anchor Inserts, which produces brass threaded inserts designed especially for the plastic-moulding industry.

Founded in 1975, Bailey & Wade has a long history of supplying high quality precision turned parts with an excellent reputation for quality, service and delivery to a wide range of industries. Whilst Anchor Inserts was formed in 2005 to focus on the manufacture and supply of brass and stainless inserts for the rotational moulding industries with all parts being manufactured in the UK. Stuart Whitehouse, Managing Director at Whitehouse Industries said of the acquisition: “I am delighted with the acquisition of Ernest Engineering, Bailey & Wade and Anchor inserts, who have undergone significant development over the last 10 years through the leadership of Austin Wade,”

“With ongoing investment in sliding head CNC machines and property extensions combined with fantastic customer service the Group has gone from strength to strength and I very much look forward to maintaining this trajectory by continuing to offer our customers UK made products of the highest quality.”

“As the world returns to normality, there is a growing appetite for UK made engineering products of the highest quality. Many of our customers and prospects recognise the environmental benefits and reliability of supply offered by reducing the length of their supply chain and sourcing closer to home. Austin Wade, owner of Ernest Engineering commented: “Joining Whitehouse Industries offers a lot of positives, not least of which is that the business will still be run as a family company, sharing many of the same cultural values that have made us a success.

“At the heart of the business is our commitment to effective product design, high quality products and a clear focus on customer service. Combining this winning formula, with our unrivalled expertise and history of innovation, will ensure that Bailey & Wade and Anchor Inserts will continue to succeed with the outstanding support of the Whitehouse Industries team, led by Stuart.”

Birmingham-based distributor Nutter’s Fastenings is also part of Whitehouse Industries, a business created by engineering entrepreneur Stuart Whitehouse to build a group of UK-based mutually beneficial businesses. Further acquisitions in the engineering sector are already planned.