Remarkable growth of the service company continues with Houghton addition
If IPS (Integrated Power Services) were already considered a continental "empire" in the proverbial sense, it has now taken its first step towards being a global one. The rapidly growing service company just made what it called a "platform entry" by acquiring Houghton Intenational, yet another big name in the electromechanical sales and service industry. Houghton is based out of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, United Kingdom.
The Greenville company announced this acquisition in a press release May 23. Houghton, likely well-known to most EA readers, specializes in the repair and remanufacturing of electric motors, generators, pump systems, and of electric coils for electric motors,
generators, and alternators for customers in the Rail, Power Generation, Industrial,
Water/Wastewater, and Mining industries. The acquisition represents IPS’s
platforming entry into the new markets in the UK, Europe and Middle East and an
expansion of its leading network of operations in the US and Canada. Financial
details of the transaction were not disclosed.
Houghton was founded in 1984 by Ron and Christine Mitten. Since 2006, Michael Mitten has
operated as Houghton’s CEO and has led Houghton into impressive services
expansion, resulting in a quadrupling of sales and a tripling of the employee base
while expanding served markets into Europe and the Middle East. Houghton has
highly integrated operations at the Ronnie Mitten Works service center, a well-
equipped, 124,000-square-foot facility with capabilities from electrical coil
manufacturing to pump repair, motor and generator repair, and testing. This facility’s
addition to IPS makes it part of a 51-location service center network spanning the
US, Canada, and now the UK and Europe.
As a leading aftermarket provider of operating and maintenance services for
Renewable Power generation customers in the US and Canada, IPS will now be
able to build on and expand Houghton’s Wind market asset lifecycle services with
IPS’s technologies in power management, generator repair, pitch, and yaw systems.
IPS will now look to bring its repair, distribution, and field service offerings to new
customers in the on and offshore markets in the UK and Europe.
Houghton will also join 11 IPS locations that specialize in services for propulsion
systems used in freight rail, people transit, and mining applications. This will build on
IPS’s capabilities in undercar transformers, traction motors, alternators, inductors,
fans, pumps, and field services supporting original equipment manufacturers and
operating companies.
"After 40 years of family ownership, I am thrilled to hand over the responsibility for
future growth to IPS. I found in IPS a team that shares our values and our mission to
excel globally. I am proud of our innovations and achievements, such as being
named National SME of the Year in 2022 by Make UK. I am grateful to our
employees, suppliers, and customers who have supported us throughout my 19
years of leadership. As part of the transaction, I have invested in IPS, ensuring my
continued involvement with the business. I look forward to collaborating with the IPS team to build a European network of electromechanical service and power
management companies," said Michael Mitten, CEO of Houghton.
“The acquisition of Houghton International not only brings a well-respected,
customer-focused company into IPS, it also marks a milestone in our company’s
growth by expanding beyond the US and Canada into new markets in the UK,
Europe and the Middle East,” said John Zuleger, IPS President and CEO. “IPS and
Houghton have an incredible opportunity to expand and improve our service offering
to new customers and markets. We both share a commitment to delivering an
Unmatched Customer Experience and creating a special place to work where
employees can grow and develop through our training programs. We look forward to
discussing our new capabilities brought by Houghton to our current North American
partners customers who have operations that span these new markets now serviced
by IPS.”
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