Patrick Dowling, sales director, Alex Reid told LCN that his company saw the deal as a natural progression for its business and a vote of confidence in the industry.
He added that it would be business as usual for these companies which now become Firbimatic UK, a division of Alex Reid.
The division, encompassing TES (Pershore) which has provided service and support for the machine company, will continue to act as a distributor for Firbimatic Italy, which is not directly affected by the deal.
Dowling added that Phil Thompson, managing director of Firbimatic UK, would remain in his role as will sales and engineering support staff. Thompson will now report to Patrick Dowling.
Maurice Wood, the former of owner of Firbimatic UK and TES, will have a consultancy role for a period of time.
Asked about how the deal might affect the relationship with Alex Reid’s parent, Johnson Service Group, Dowling said that the group was an Alex Reid customer and he would expect it to act in its best interests as would other customers. He refused to comment on whether Firbimatic UK would eventually supply equipment to Johnson Cleaners.
As to GreenEarth, Firbimatic UK will promote the alternative solvent, but not to the detriment of perc.
He stressed again that his company’s purchase of Firbimatic and TES was a vote of confidence in the industry.
