U.K.-based J-Flex under new ownership

RETFORD, U.K.—J-Flex Rubber Products, whose customers include London Underground, Pepsico, Siemens and Tata, is under new ownership.

The United Kingdom-based manufacturer was established in 1984 by John and Jill Kirk to produce and supply rubber-based products such as sheetings, moldings and fabrications to industries such as aerospace, rail and pharmaceuticals.

Under a deal with Managing Director Sam Kirk and Finance Director Chris Barnes, J-Flex now has been sold to a newly created parent company—Clockpress Holdings Ltd.

In a statement Oct. 5, the new owners said they planned to use Clockpress as an investment vehicle to acquire other owner-led SMEs and grow the business further with job creation.

"J-Flex has changed considerably over the last two to three years," said Sam Kirk, commenting on the deal.

According to Kirk, while exploring acquisition opportunities for J-Flex, the previous owners expressed an interest in possibly exiting the business.

"We are delighted to have reached a deal that allows them to achieve that, without impacting other acquisition plans and ensuring business continuity," he said.

This deal marks "the first of several" expected acquisitions for Clockpress, according to the statement.

A second deal to acquire the majority share in Composites Evolution—a Chesterfield manufacturer of prepreg materials for the composites industry—also has been concluded, according to the announcement.