Passenger Lift Solutions (PLS) has been purchased by Spain-based accessibility solutions supplier Hidral S.A.
Hidral has global reach in the supply of lifts and other products in the accessibility field. It has taken 100% ownership of PLS in a move that “supports continued growth and long-term investment in the business,” the Smethwick-based firm says.
The deal for PLS also supports the existing position of Hidral via its Hidral Gobel arm, which specialises in accessibility solutions for road transport applications. That will create “a broader and more complementary platform for international growth,” PLS adds.
PLS will continue to function as a standalone business under its existing name. The current senior management team, including Managing Director Adam Beck, will remain in place and maintain responsibility for day-to-day operations.
Combining the two businesses will bring together a pair of complementary product ranges “and shared engineering values,” PLS says. Its offerings “align naturally with Hidral’s wider portfolio, supporting expansion across different vehicle and accessibility markets.”
The acquisition also creates opportunities to strengthen collaboration across procurement, research and development and manufacturing between the businesses, providing what they believe will be a broader platform for innovation and long-term capability.
Mr Beck describes the sale as “a very positive and significant moment for Passenger Lift Solutions.”
He goes on: “PLS has been specifically selected by Hidral because of our longstanding position as the market leader in the UK M2 sector. Our deep experience, strong reputation, and continued focus on how we design and deliver our products makes us a natural fit to complement Hidral’s existing range across wider vehicle categories.
“Importantly, the intention is to build on what already works. PLS will remain PLS, with the same people, the same values, and the same commitment to customers, now supported by the additional reach, capability and resource of a wider international group.”
Hidral Managing Director Florencio Chacartegui notes how the purchase of PLS is part of the Spanish business’s long-term strategy of growing internationally “through the integration of specialised companies that complement our expertise, expand our capabilities, and create new opportunities across key mobility and accessibility markets.”
He continues: “In this context, the pairing of PLS and Hidral Gobel creates a highly valuable synergy by strengthening the group’s overall offering across different vehicle segments and accessibility applications, while supporting its long-term international growth strategy.” Hidral is active in over 120 countries.
