Testing and inspection specialist SOCOTEC UK and Ireland has acquired a major Irish infrastructure firm.
The Burton upon Trent-based firm’s acquisition of Belfast-headquartered Lloyds Datum Group (LDG) enhances its capabilities in the infrastructure field as well as marking further growth in Ireland and SOCOTEC’s first office in Northern Ireland.
The deal is the latest in a series of strategic steps being made by SOCOTEC to help widen its infrastructure services, both geographically and with the depth of services offered.
It follows the acquisition of Scottish independent fire testing laboratory UK Testing and Certification (UKTC), as reported by Daily Focus in July.
LDG is an expert in foundation testing, structural monitoring, geotechnical and environmental systems.
There are also plans to utilise LDG’s expertise increasingly within the rest of the UK, primarily to complex foundation and micro-piling projects. And the firm has said there is the potential for its offering in Scotland to increase following the latest acquisition.
Matthew Marriott, CEO of SOCOTEC UK and Ireland, said: “This acquisition of Lloyds Datum Group is the next step of our growth strategy and the expansion of our Infrastructure capabilities across the UK and Ireland.
“Following our second Scottish acquisition in two years, our first major acquisition in Ireland marks the next stage of expanding our geographical footprint, doubling our overall office space in Ireland, and demonstrating our commitment to continue investing in this important area.”
SOCOTEC CEO Hervé Montjotin added: “Our Infrastructure business is one of high strategic importance for SOCOTEC, with 37 per cent of our global turnover stemming from our seven platforms in Europe and the US.
“We already provide air emissions and fire safety services in the Republic of Ireland and are looking forward to the customer bases of LDG and SOCOTEC benefitting further from our shared knowledge base.”
