Today, (1st April 2021), Van Elle announced the acquisition of ScrewFast, a helical piling and steel modular foundations company, for £3.68m.
Established in 2000, ScrewFast Foundations has a 15-year track record in highways, and its first rail schemes date back to 2002. In 2019, the company acquired Q&E Fabrications, a specialist fabrications business, to provide a full, bespoke service offering of design, fabrication and installation.
Flagship projects completed by ScrewFast over recent years include the temporary foundations for venues at the London 2012 Olympics, foundations work on Crossrail, the Leeds Flood Defence system and numerous highways and Smart Motorway programmes.
All employees, including the entire management team led by managing director Dan Dye, will join Van Elle.
Mark Cutler, CEO at Van Elle, said: “This is a very exciting, complementary acquisition focussed on our higher margin, specialist piling activities which strengthens our leading position in growth markets such as highways and rail.
“ScrewFast has an established client base and proven track record of highly specialist services and will support the group in the delivery of its medium-term strategic objectives.
“The two businesses have a similar culture and ethos which is very important to us, and we look forward to working with the ScrewFast team as we welcome them into the group.”
Dan Dye added: “We have long identified Van Elle as the ideal owner to support our growth potential.
“ScrewFast is an innovative and specialist business that fits well both culturally and technically into the diverse range of end-to-end services and market prospects offered by Van Elle, who we have worked alongside on several recent projects.
“My whole team is very excited by the opportunities ahead.”
ScrewFast has patented designs with a system that allowed the installation of steel helical piles without heavy piling equipment or in-situ concrete works.