AN EAST LANCS firm has completed its second major takeover in two years.

Manufacturing and maintenance firm Beta Group has acquired a Midlands-based business to take its annual turnover to more than £5m.

Beta Group, based in Bacup, has bought the assets and goodwill of Spraybooth Maintenance Services (SBMS), which operates in Rugeley, Staffordshire.

The takeover adds £300,000 to Beta Group’s annual revenues and extends its existing maintenance operations, which involve spray booth, facilities and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning activities.

SBMS is Beta Group’s second acquisition following its takeover of north east firm Spraytherm in October 2013.

The Stockton-on-Tees outfit sells, maintains and services spray booths used for vehicle and industrial paint spraying.

Martin Lewis, managing director of Beta Group, said the firm is looking at more acquisitions as part of a growth strategy.

He added: “Spraybooth has an excellent reputation in the industry, with a highly-respected and skilled team of engineers and a strong and loyal customer base.

“This will bolster our technical excellence and enhance our geographical coverage and breakdown response capabilities.

“We believe SBMS is a great fit for Beta Group and gives us a strong platform from which to achieve further growth in the sector.

“We remain on the lookout for manufacturing or maintenance businesses to acquire where they fit our criteria.”

Beta Group was founded by Mr Lewis in 1987 and has grown into a leading servicing and maintenance specialist.

Its operations span building services maintenance, the supply, installation and maintenance of spray booths, the manufacture of air filters for the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and spray booth industries, and the manufacture of coatings for furniture and other products.

Meanwhile, SBMS was founded in 1994 by Chris Whitehouse, who is remaining with the company for two years in a consultancy role following the sale.

Chris and his engineers have more than 40 years’ combined experience and his operation focuses on the car repair and body shop market.

Mr Whitehouse said: “After running a thriving business for over 20 years, we are delighted with the successful transfer of Spraybooth Maintenance Services to Beta Group. We are confident the merger of our companies will be successful and will ultimately benefit everyone concerned.”

He added: “It was a major priority for us that, whoever purchased the business, would maintain our standards of customer service, and we are confident that Beta Group is the best company to do this.

“Beta Group is a dedicated, experienced and extremely professional outfit and has the facility to stay up-to-date with the constantly changing regulations and certification requirements, which will greatly benefit our customers.”