Indeed, the company is very keen to paint a positive picture, referring to increased purchasing power and market profile having become part of worldwide and privately-owned Axel Johnson International.

Certex’s three owner-directors – Tony Stringer, Charles Gillespie (sales and marketing) and Kevin Smith (operations) – who acquired Certex UK from Bridon International in 2005 as the result of a successful management buyout, agreed to sell the firm for an undisclosed sum to Forankra International AB, a Swedish subsidiary of Axel Johnson International and a market leader in the supply of lifting and lashing equipment across Europe.

A further nine Certex companies are currently owned by Forankra, including Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Germany.

What only became clear recently is that Axel Johnson International first approached Certex UK during 2007 with a view to expanding its Certex network.

Tony Stringer revealed: “When Axel Johnson first approached us last year it was not part of our business plan to seek a purchaser for Certex UK. Their interest was both flattering and reassuring but having worked so hard to grow the company since we bought it, we were reluctant to let it go.”

This was a stance also adopted by finance director Adrian Tomkinson.

Stringer added though: “Once we began discussions with Forankra it became apparent that we could benefit from the commercial strength of joining such a prestigious international group without losing out on any of the autonomy and high levels of customer service we enjoy at ground level.”

Sven-Olof Berntsson, managing director of Forankra International, responded: “Our customer base includes some of the world’s largest shipping and transport companies, as well as leading players in the airline, mining, steel, paper, engineering and manufacturing industries.”

Certex UK will retain its name, current autonomous infrastructure, directors and senior management team and existing UK premises.

It also pointed out commercial advantages including “access to funding to accelerate Certex UK’s acquisition strategy within the UK, and a stronger international offshore presence.”

There’s a series of stories tracking recent develops at Certex UK at a newly created web link: www.hoistmagazine.com/certex

I’ll bring you all the latest from the MHIA Spring Meeting, which I referred to at the outset, later in the week.

Richard Howes, Editor