South Tyneside's UTS Engineering acquires Scunthorpe specialist pipeline manufacturer

Jarrow-based UTS Engineering has acquired PTS Group
Jarrow-based UTS Engineering has acquired PTS Group -Credit:UTS Engineering


A South Tyneside engineering group is set for expansion after snapping up a Scunthorpe specialist.

Jarrow-based UTS Engineering has expanded after acquiring pipeline manufacturer and service provider PTS Group, which was launched by a group of engineers who have worked within the oil and gas sector for 42 years.

The £5m-turnover company designs and manufactures a range of pipeline products from its 80,000sqft base in North Lincolnshire, which are then shipped to customers in the UK and European utility sectors. It has also expanded further overseas, with clients in Australia, Columbia and across the Middle and Far East.

UTS was established in 2001 by managing director Shaun Sadler and employs more than 450 staff, the majority of whom are based at the company’s design and manufacturing facility on the Bede Industrial Estate, Jarrow.

Mr Sadler said: “PTS is highly respected in its sector for the quality and innovation of its products. It has an exceptional management team, headed by Kevin Dobbs, who founded the business and I am excited to working closely with Kevin in moving UTS forward. It has an outstanding client base, with customers such as Thames Water and Anglian Water and it operates in a wide range of industries, including water, gas and oil.”

Kevin Dobbs, managing director at PTS, added: “We have a very good reputation in the UK market but also within Europe, not least due to our exceptional capabilities and we have a strong order book. However, we remain very ambitious and plan to grow the business further, now under the UTS banner. We see great opportunities with this deal.”

Emma Pern, partner in the corporate team at Sintons, completed the deal on behalf of UTS.

Ms Pern said: “This further significant acquisition for UTS following the acquisition of Ulrich Attachments in 2020, which shows its ambition to continue to be a significant fast-growing player in this sector. UTS continues to place itself in a strong position to go forward and take advantage of further opportunities. As the long-standing advisors to Shaun and his team, we are very pleased to support them in completing this deal.”