Howden Group buys South Africa’s Fancraft

Howden Group announced plans to buy South Africa’s Fancraft, an independent aftermarket services company focused on the maintenance, repair and installation of gas and air handling equipment and turbomachinery. 

The combination of Fancraft with Howden’s South African business will allow Howden to expand its aftermarket service abilities and provide Fancraft customers with access to Howden’s network of technologies and global experts, the company said.

The acquisition will also accelerate the growth of Howden’s compressors and turbines aftermarket services business and broaden its footprint in Southern Africa. Fancraft has operated as a qualified service agent for Thomassen compressors and Peter Brotherhood steam turbines, both of which are products owned by Howden.

“This acquisition is well aligned with Howden’s strategy to aggressively expand the aftermarket services we provide to our customers globally,” said Howden CEO Ross B Shuster. “The fact that Fancraft already has strong experience with a variety of Howden technologies, including Thomassen compressors, and also steam turbines from Peter Brotherhood, a company which Howden recently acquired, demonstrates the natural fit of Fancraft within the Howden family.”

Fancraft was established in 1989 by Andries Gouws and is based in Sasolburg, South Africa. Howden Africa designs, manufactures and supplies products, solutions and services for a diverse range of industries. The agreement to acquire Fancraft follows three other acquisitions made by Howden earlier this year: Balcke-Dürr Rothemühle GmBH in Germany; Peter Brotherhood in the U.K.; and Maintenance Partners NV in Belgium.

Howden did not announce terms of the acquisition or a projected closing date.