Rapid Tooling Solutions（Rapid）加入英国大型刀具专家集团，与 Cutwel、Toolex 同属一家

Rapid, Cutwel and Toolex bring together complementary strengths, with continued investment supporting growth, regional expertise and a broader service offering for manufacturers.

Gateshead based Rapid has been acquired by the group behind Cutwel and Toolex. With a combined turnover of approximately £37 million, the group is one of the largest cutting tool distributors in the UK. The group of companies is backed by Inflexion, a leading European mid-market private equity firm that invests in high growth entrepreneurial businesses, and will continue to invest strategically in supporting its customers and suppliers.

Rapid, Cutwel and Toolex will retain their operational independence, preserving their own customer and supplier relationships, alongside the specialist knowledge and individual strengths that have made each business successful. Alongside this independence, the companies will draw on the group’s combined resources to create a distinctive customer experience in the UK cutting tool market. Sharing technical expertise, product knowledge, stockholding capabilities and support services will provide opportunities to offer customers greater choice, improved availability, and practical support to improve productivity and reduce manufacturing costs.

For Rapid, joining the group brings the backing to build on its established presence in the North East. Continued investment will support its employees, strengthen its capabilities, and develop and maintain the local customer and supplier relationships at the heart of the business. Customers and suppliers will continue to deal with the same Rapid team, with no changes to their day to day arrangements. Maintaining continuity and the personal service customers value remains a key priority.

Adam Gillard, Group CEO, said:

“Rapid joining the group is an important step in building a stronger cutting tool business with the scale, expertise and resources to support manufacturers across the UK and Ireland. “Mark, David and the Rapid team have built strong customer relationships, excellent technical knowledge and valued supplier partnerships. We want to protect those strengths and give the team the investment and support to build on them. “Each business will retain its operational independence, while benefiting from being part of a larger group.

“With Inflexion’s continued backing, we are looking to invest further in developing our people, strengthening our services and making it easier for customers to access the products and expertise they need. The North East is an important part of that ambition.”

Mark Stewart and David Barkel, owners of Rapid prior to the acquisition, said in a joint statement:

“We are proud of what we have built at Rapid and grateful to the customers, employees, and suppliers whose trust and support have made it possible.

“Joining the group gives us the backing and resources to take the business forward while retaining the relationships, identity, and personal approach our customers and suppliers value. Our team will continue to run Rapid and serve both customers and suppliers with the same commitment to understanding their operations and solving their manufacturing challenges. “Being part of a group alongside Cutwel and Toolex creates opportunities to share knowledge, develop our people and offer customers a wider range of products and support. We look forward to working with our colleagues and suppliers to turn those opportunities into practical benefits.”

The acquisition strengthens the group’s regional presence and forms part of its wider ambition to become an increasingly valuable partner to the UK and Ireland’s manufacturing community. Further development will build on the strengths of each business, combining local relationships and operational independence with the investment, expertise, and capabilities of a substantial group.

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