Wed, 12 Aug 2026 | BUSINESS SALE
Nottingham-headquartered Testing, Inspection, Certification and Compliance (TICC) firm Phenna Group has continued its acquisitive international expansion with the takeover of a metallurgical, materials and microscopy testing services provider based in the US.
Massachusetts-based Sturbridge Metallurgical Services (SMS), which was founded in 1990, provides accredited technical testing and analysis services, helping customers across the aerospace and defence, medical device and industrial industries verify material performance, investigate failures and meet stringent quality and regulatory requirements.
The acquisition of SMS strengthens Phenna Group’s capabilities in metallurgical and mechanical testing and, alongside Hansen Aerospace, creates complementary opportunities within the group.
Eric D'Orio, Divisional Managing Director, Americas at Phenna Group, called SMS “an outstanding addition to our Industrials Division in the Americas”, saying President Courtney Grimes and the wider SMS team had “built a highly respected business with exceptional technical expertise and strong customer relationships.”
He continued: "Together with Hansen Aerospace and our wider North American businesses, SMS strengthens our specialist materials testing capabilities and enables us to provide aerospace customers with an even broader range of complementary destructive and non-destructive testing services."
Phenna Group Chief Executive Phil Marshall said that SMS was an “excellent example of the specialist businesses we look to partner with”, citing the firm’s “market-leading expertise in metallurgical and materials testing” and offering of “critical technical assurance services to customers operating in some of the world's most demanding industries.”
Marshall added: "SMS strengthens our ability to provide customers with a broader range of specialist testing services further enhances our aerospace offering across North America and fits perfectly with our international growth strategy."
Sturbridge Metallurgical Services President Courtney Grimes said: "Joining Phenna Group marks an exciting new chapter for SMS. We are incredibly proud of the reputation and technical expertise we have built over the last three decades, and we are excited to continue that journey as part of an international group that shares our commitment to technical excellence, customer service and long-term growth.”
"We look forward to the opportunities this partnership creates for our employees, our customers and our business."
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