National lifting equipment specialist Lloyds British Testing, is expanding into new markets with the acquisition of Somers Handling, a leading supplier of specialist handling equipment to the metal production and rail industries.

Somers Handling is to be integrated into Lloyds British Testing and will be known as Lloyds Somers.

The new division, which has a £2 million turnover and 15 employees, will be relocating its head office from Lye in Strourbridge to the Lloyds service centre in West Bromwich. The full range of Somers products will be available through Lloyds’ extensive national network of 15 service centres.

Said Lloyds British Testing’s Chief Executive Ian White: "We have made no secret of the fact that Lloyds is an acquisitive organisation with a strategy to expand our customer base across new, complementary markets.

"The acquisition is excellent news for our existing customers as well as those of Somers Handling. The deal will allow us to offer a complete one-stop package for handling equipment, hire sales fabrication, testing and inspection across all of our specialist sectors.

“Crucially, our investment in developing our service centre network means that this can be offered at the all-important local level."

With Lloyds annual turnover now in excess of £20 million, the addition of Somers Handling boosts number of employees to over 300.

Added Ian White: "It is our intention to consider further niche acquisitions over the next twelve months. The Lloyds long term aim is to build an international lifting equipment engineering group of companies and we are exploring new avenues of business all the time."