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Rubix buys Matara to strengthen its mechatronics arm

03 December, 2020

The industrial distributor Rubix UK has acquired Matara UK, the Gloucestershire-based supplier of industrial automation, linear motion, pneumatics, aluminium extrusion and actuator products and services.

While continuing to operate independently, Matara will become a part of Rubix UK and its linear automation component expertise will provide a platform for Rubix to develop its UK mechatronics business.

Tewkesbury-based Matara was founded in 1995 and currently employs 27 people, including ten workshop technicians and three field sales technicians. In the year ended 31March 2020, it reported sales of more than £5m. Its machine shop provides precision customisation services such as cutting linear rails, building bespoke frames, machining ballscrews, and assembling pneumatic cylinders. Matara’s customer base includes machine-builders, systems integrators and end-users.

Matara’s managing director, David Cox-Chanin, will remain in his role and will report to Nigel Banks, managing director of Rubix UK’s services division. Matara’s co-owner Tracey Cox-Chanin is stepping down from the business.

“Joining Rubix is a significant opportunity to realise the full growth potential of Matara – something we felt we couldn’t do without the support and expertise of a larger group,” says David Cox-Chanin. “Our existing customers, and our expanded customer base with Rubix, will enjoy the benefits of doing business with a focused specialist team, backed by the resources of the European market-leader.”

According to Mark Dixon, CEO of Rubix UK, the acquisition will “help us to make our plans for further expansion as a multi-specialist provider into mechatronics a reality. With Matara’s exceptional expertise and Rubix’s national and European market leadership in the field of industrial supplies and services, I am certain this represents a substantial opportunity for growth for both companies. It completely supports our ambition to be recognised not only for our value-added services, but also for our diverse specialisations.”

Rubix was formed in 2018 to combine the former operations of Brammer and IPH, which had been brought together the previous year by the venture capital firm Advent International. The Rubix Group, whose head office is in London, operates in 22 countries and is Europe’s largest supplier of industrial MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) products and services It has a turnover of €2.4bn, and is one of The Sunday Times HSBC Top Track 100 privately owned companies.

Matara’s expertise in linear automation components will expand Rubix UK’s footprint in the mechatronics market

• The Dorset-based “boutique exit advisory firm” TheNonExec acted on behalf of Matara UK in the sale. The transaction was led by TheNonExec’s managing director, Justin Levine, who is former managing director of the Bournemouth motor-maker, Parvalux.

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