IPS Makes Platform Entry into European Electromechanical Services Market
Greenville, SC (May 23, 2024) – IPS, a North American leader in the servicing, engineering, and remanufacturing of electrical, mechanical, and power management assets, has acquired Houghton International. Houghton is a leading electromechanical services provider specializing 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 International is based in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, and 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.”
For more information on IPS and its latest acquisition or to arrange an interview with IPS senior management, contact Megan Thompson, IPS Director of Marketing, at 001 864.451.5636 or mcthompson@ips.us.
About Integrated Power Services
Headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, IPS has the industry’s largest network of locations, with service centers, distribution centers, and field service offices across North America and the United Kingdom, combining industry-specific experience with comprehensive engineering resources to revolutionize reliability for customers. For more information, visit www.ips.us.