Rencol, which employs around 120 people and had a turnover of some £11.3m last year, will join Saint-Gobain’s bearings business and be renamed Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Rencol. Jim Smith, Rencol’s managing director, says that the acquisition represents "an exciting opportunity," giving the firm access to Saint-Gobain’s global sales network. He adds that the companies’ product families "complement each other" and allow both of them to grow faster.

Rencol, founded in 1982, is said to be the only company worldwide to focus solely on the design and manufacture of tolerance rings – radial spring fasteners that are press-fitted between two mating components. The technology is claimed to solve many engineering problems associated with temperature, vibration and torque control between shafts and housings.

The rings (such as the one shown above holding a motor stator in place) can be used to: fasten annular components; reduce noise and vibration, and avoid resonant frequencies; produce predictable and repeatable slip; provide overload protection; and avoid thermal expansion.

Rencol’s customers include blue-chip companies in the automotive, white goods and electric motor industries. It shares automotive customers with Saint-Gobain, and the two companies are already involved in common projects.