Ecolab Inc. has announced that it has acquired RP Adam Ltd (Arpal Group), the 126-year-old manufacturer of cleaning and disinfectant products based in the Scottish Borders.
Arpal Group has a footprint in long-term care and the commercial catering sectors in the UK and Ireland, as well as the thriving hospitality sector in the Middle East.
The UK operation, based in Selkirk, employs 85 factory and field personnel, while the Dubai-based UAE operation has 46 employees. Annual sales for the group are approximately $20m.
Ecolab provides water, hygiene and energy technologies and services that protect people and vital resources. With 2016 sales of $13bn and 48,000 associates, Ecolab delivers comprehensive solutions and on-site service to promote safe food, maintain clean environments, optimise water and energy use and improve operational efficiencies for customers in the food, healthcare, energy, hospitality and industrial markets in more than 170 countries around the world.
For Ecolab, this deal brings RP Adam’s strength in regional, independent customers and in the long-term care sector nationally in the UK, along with Arpal Gulf’s expertise in commercial catering in the UAE in particular.
For the Arpal Group, Ecolab’s global reach in corporate accounts presents significant opportunities to develop product and equipment innovation, customer and employee training, as well as enhanced customer service capabilities.
The shared focus will continue to bring value to end-user customers and distributors through unmatched service levels and technical excellence. Other than the change of ownership, Arpal Group will continue to work with suppliers, customers and distributors as it did before the acquisition.
