UK Test leaders signal no.1 position through joint venture.

Cape Engineering UK Ltd and KTL Laboratories have announced a joint initiative to herald the formation of a single, multi-site, UK wide test business occupying the market leading position in testing services for Environmental, EMC, Telecoms, xDSL, Safety, FEA, ATEX and Compliance.

Under the terms of the deal, the shareholders of KTL have wholly acquired the shares of TRL Compliance Services. TRL operate 6 laboratories in the UK specializing in EMC, safety, Atex, calibration and compliance.

The initiative will now lead to confirmation of the joint establishment of a new and unique facility aimed at EMC testing for the specialist UK aerospace and defence sectors. In combination, Cape and KTL/TRL will operate eleven UK test locations employing over 150 skilled staff. In addition KTL operate a broadband DSL accreditation laboratory based in Santa Rosa, California. The joint initiative unites the independent test businesses of TRL Compliance Services, KTL Laboratories and Cape.

The coming together of three of the UK’s leading test providers creates a world class test services group with a single point of entry for the companies’ 1500 customers including leading blue chip manufacturers in the defence, aerospace and telecoms sectors. In addition to the group’s leading capabilities in its core markets of Environmental, EMC, Safety, FEA and Telecoms/DSL, the business will also provide a broad range of specialist test services including calibration, radio, noise and hydrodynamics.

The announcement follows Cape’s recent acquisition of EMC Projects, Hants and a £500,000 investment in Cape’s new Environmental Test Centre of Excellence in Dorset. Remaining at the centre of Cape’s UK operations, Cape has also announced plans to extend its 36,000 ft sq Warwick test facility by 20% to accommodate additional EMC, outsourcing and specialist environmental test capabilities.

Commenting on the deal to bring Cape, KTL and TRL together, Cape’s Managing director Steve Roberts said, "We see this as a hugely significant step in creating a truly world-class UK test business. This is a long term commitment that will deliver tremendous benefits for all our customers and employees while positioning our business with the technical skills and critical mass to partner with Europe’s leading development projects.". Nigel Brain, chairman of TRL and KTL described the joint initiative with Cape as "A serious and viable alternative to the established test service infrastructure in the UK. The coming together of the three laboratories paves the way for future integration and developments benefiting both customers and employees.".

KTL is the trading name of Laboratory Accreditation Services Ltd, Saxon House, Saxon Way, Priory Park West, Hull, HU13 9PB. Tel (01482) 801801 

Contact : Nigel Brain, Managing Director. 

TRL is the trading style of TRL Compliance Services Ltd.

Cape Engineering Ltd, Rothwell Road, Warwick, CV34 5JX. Tel (01926) 478478. 

Contact : Steve Roberts, Managing Director