Enfield Speciality Doors acquires business and assets of Cotswold Doors

Completed on 6 October for an undisclosed sum, the acquisition deal brings Cotswold Doors’ manufacturing operations in Fairford and Ipswich into the business, adding around 60,000 sq ft of production space as well as an experienced specialist workforce.

Going forward, the Ipswich operation will now become a shared manufacturing facility with the Enfield site on Alexandra Road in North London. For clarity, all production and operational roles across the new sites are being retained.

Enfield manufactures bespoke door solutions for commercial and public sector projects right across the UK. For its part, Cotswold Doors produces high-quality door solutions for projects in the education, hospitality and healthcare sectors.

Fire episode

News of the acquisition follows on from a fire at Enfield Speciality Doors’ North London factory on 8 July, which damaged part of the manufacturing facility and temporarily reduced production capacity.

To the company’s great credit, production continued throughout and lead times are already improving. The additional capacity resulting from the acquisition will serve to accelerate Enfield Speciality Doors. return to the normal pattern of four-to-six week lead times.

James Saunders, managing director of Enfield Speciality Doors, explained: “Enfield Speciality Doors is a very technical business and much of its strength emanates from people who really understand doors. We’ve found that same depth of knowledge and experience within Cotswold Doors.”

Saunders continued: “The fire back in July reduced our capacity, but we kept on manufacturing and worked hard to make sure customers were supplied with the products they had ordered. This acquisition changes the picture significantly. It gives us more capacity, more technical expertise and much greater resilience.”

Further, Saunders noted: “We’re also bringing forward planned investment at the Enfield site. We’re not simply replacing what was lost in the fire. Instead, we’re building a stronger and more capable business.”

Full refurbishment

The fire-affected part of Enfield Speciality Doors’ factory will be fully refurbished over the next six months, with new manufacturing equipment installed as part of an accelerated investment programme.

Alastair Thompson, CEO of The GSP Group, commented: “The fire could have made us more cautious. Instead, it has strengthened our resolve and given greater momentum to our plans, expanding the breadth and capability of The GSP Group and enhancing the solutions available to our customers.”

Thompson also said: “This acquisition brings together significant manufacturing capability and a wealth of specialist knowledge. It increases Enfield Speciality Doors’ capacity, while at the same time retaining the skills and experience that are so important to the specialist door industry.”

Also, Thompson informed Fire Safety Matters: “Alongside the investment being made at Enfield Speciality Doors, the acquisition strengthens our platform for the future, combining manufacturing strength, specialist expertise and the backing of an independently owned Group with the scale and resources to support customers across the construction sector.”

*Further information is available online at www.enfielddoors.co.uk