Blachford Acoustics Group Buys UK Supplier TMAT, Enters European Market
Blachford Acoustics Group, a leading supplier of cab interior systems for heavy truck and off-highway equipment, is pleased to announce the purchase of TMAT Acoustic Technologies, Chesterfield, UK. TMAT is a major supplier of polyurethane floor mats, headliners and trim for agriculture and construction equipment OEM’s in Europe. The move allows Blachford to provide common, coordinated solutions in both North America and Europe.
The purchase of TMAT means no other company in the world operating in the off-highway sector will have the focus and resources Blachford Acoustics Group now has at its disposal. The Blachford Acoustics Laboratory and Research Center is a world-class facility featuring a large hemi-anechoic chamber equipped with a heavy-duty dynamometer, a reverberation room as well as a complete chemical/materials lab.
The Blachford Acoustics Group, led by Dr. John Blachford, President, has grown significantly over the past several years. With the purchase, the 93-year-old Canadian-based company expands to six manufacturing facilities located throughout Canada, the United States and now the UK. Blachford is a Gold Certified supplier to Caterpillar and was recently presented the Masters of Quality Award by Daimler Trucks NA.
Dr. Blachford explained that his interest in TMAT originated many years ago. “Way back in 1995 we tried, unsuccessfully, to make a license agreement with TMAT, because we very much needed to be manufacturing polyurethane mats in North America. We also needed a partner in the UK or Europe.”
He added, “Now, finally, we have actually bought TMAT, which has recently become a very successful company. The extent to which TMAT’s product line complements ours and our line complements theirs is remarkable, and will result in great opportunities for the growth of both companies.”
The move into Europe is a key element of Blachford’s global strategy with further expansion into other regions to follow.
TMAT will continue to manufacture its products and solutions at its Chesterfield HQ but, critically, will now have access to Blachford Acoustics Group’s unrivaled R&D laboratory and testing facilities.
With TMAT no longer being restricted by being part of a private equity house and now forming part of a global group, profits can be reinvested in TMAT so that it can achieve its considerable ambitions,
particularly with respect to improvements in processes, development of new products and access to Blachford’s technical resources.
Jason Lippitt, who will remain as MD of TMAT, said: “We are delighted to have been bought by a world- class, global company that shares our strategy and ambition. Our business plans are so closely aligned that they could quite easily have been written by one another. Both businesses are absolutely committed to R&D and to making the best solutions for industrial and agricultural vehicles across the world, steering clear of the automotive sector.”
Customers Who Trust Blachford Acoustics Group
“Blachford eliminated SKUs. Across product families, the reduction of one SKU is a $10k savings. Blachford eliminated 14 SKUs.”
– Noise Control Research Engineer – Construction Equipment Manufacturer
“The first project with Blachford, it was a definite quality improvement, and it was over a million dollar yearly cost savings for just the purchase parts themselves. We went from 28 (SKU) parts to 14.”
– Design Engineer – Heavy Equipment Manufacturer
“Noise is important to brand image. It is one of the top factors along with driveability and reliability. Acoustics – it’s a 4 out of 5, it might even be a 5 in importance projecting the image, the brand, and the quality that we want projected to the market.”
– Design Engineer – Truck Manufacturer
“Our ten-fold growth prior to our acquisition was expedited by our working relationship with Blachford.”
– Design Engineer
“For our shareholders, we have to produce a product at the lowest cost, at the right level of quality and sell it at the highest price we can. We look for suppliers who can help us do that. Blachford helps us do that.”
– Global Procurement Manager – Construction Equipment Manufacturer
“When a company does a spec, boundary conditions like humidity that day, temperature, that all matters. ASPM national or international spec. We try to verify where we can, but we don’t even have the equipment they have. We trust their specifications. Blachford brings innovative ideas, processes, materials, and offerings we value.”
– Design Engineer – Truck Manufacturer
“Then, bringing them in at the beginning with our new product design, it probably saved 6-12 months of development. We didn’t just wa nt the spec sheet value. We wanted customers to get in the machine and experience the difference.”
– Design Engineer – Heavy Equipment Manufacturer
“If we have an acoustics issue, we will reach out to Blachford since they are the experts. It saves us money because we do not have to keep an acoustic expert on site with an annual salary, with benefits, of $125K.”
– Design Engineer – Truck Manufacturer
“As a mechanical engineer, we make stuff that is practical and affordable and Blachford’s materials routinely help me reach these goals.”
– Design Engineer
“We [purchasing department] reported savings of $100k annually from moving to the die-cut solution using Blachford.”
– Design Engineer – Truck Manufacturer
Customers Who Trust Blachford Acoustics Group
“Blachford eliminated SKUs. Across product families, the reduction of one SKU is a $10k savings. Blachford eliminated 14 SKUs.”
– Noise Control Research Engineer – Construction Equipment Manufacturer
“The first project with Blachford, it was a definite quality improvement, and it was over a million dollar yearly cost savings for just the purchase parts themselves. We went from 28 (SKU) parts to 14.”
– Design Engineer – Heavy Equipment Manufacturer
“Noise is important to brand image. It is one of the top factors along with driveability and reliability. Acoustics – it’s a 4 out of 5, it might even be a 5 in importance projecting the image, the brand, and the quality that we want projected to the market.”
– Design Engineer – Truck Manufacturer
“Our ten-fold growth prior to our acquisition was expedited by our working relationship with Blachford.”
– Design Engineer
“For our shareholders, we have to produce a product at the lowest cost, at the right level of quality and sell it at the highest price we can. We look for suppliers who can help us do that. Blachford helps us do that.”
– Global Procurement Manager – Construction Equipment Manufacturer
“When a company does a spec, boundary conditions like humidity that day, temperature, that all matters. ASPM national or international spec. We try to verify where we can, but we don’t even have the equipment they have. We trust their specifications. Blachford brings innovative ideas, processes, materials, and offerings we value.”
– Design Engineer – Truck Manufacturer
“Then, bringing them in at the beginning with our new product design, it probably saved 6-12 months of development. We didn’t just wa nt the spec sheet value. We wanted customers to get in the machine and experience the difference.”
– Design Engineer – Heavy Equipment Manufacturer
“If we have an acoustics issue, we will reach out to Blachford since they are the experts. It saves us money because we do not have to keep an acoustic expert on site with an annual salary, with benefits, of $125K.”
– Design Engineer – Truck Manufacturer
“As a mechanical engineer, we make stuff that is practical and affordable and Blachford’s materials routinely help me reach these goals.”
– Design Engineer
“We [purchasing department] reported savings of $100k annually from moving to the die-cut solution using Blachford.”
– Design Engineer – Truck Manufacturer
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