Tue, 21 Apr 2026 | BUSINESS SALE
Automatic Industrial Machines Limited (AIM), a South West-based precision engineering business, has been acquired by private equity-backed investment group Fordhouse. An advisor working on the deal said that the acquisition comes amid sustained M&A interest in well-run UK engineering businesses.
The deal is described as providing Fordhouse with an established entry point into the precision engineering sector. The acquisition will bring AIM’s highly-automated production capability into the group, along with established relationships across the defence, aerospace and advanced manufacturing sectors.
Somerset-based AIM supplies Tier 1 aerospace and defence programmes with high-precision components for use in demanding environments. Supported by ISO 9001 and AS9100 accreditation, AIM has longstanding relationships with major customers including BAE Systems, Airbus and GKN Aerospace and achieved growth of 102 per cent between 2020 and 2024.
The acquisition represents the first step in Fordhouse’s planned buy-and-build strategy in the precision engineering sector and is intended to serve as a platform investment, supporting a wider consolidation strategy, with further acquisitions expected.
Following the acquisition, AIM’s founders will remain with the business in the short-term before retiring, in order to support a successful transition.
Nicholas Ashcroft of Fordhouse said the company was seeking “to build a high-growth, dynamic advanced engineering group around AIM”, calling the firm a “business with strong technical competence and an impressive customer set.”
Discussing Fordhouse’s future M&A plans, Ashcroft added “We specialise in acquiring and working with owner-managed businesses to overcome capital and capacity constraints, so they can unlock their full potential. We look forward to helping AIM grow and welcoming further businesses into the group."
Lucas & Weston acted as lead advisor to the shareholders of AIM during the sale process.
Howard Weston, Managing Director of Lucas & Weston, said that AIM was a business that had become “embedded in critical aerospace and defence supply chains” and that the firm’s “ability to deliver consistently, combined with a high level of automation, made it particularly attractive in a market where reliability and accreditation are non-negotiable.”
Weston continued: "We ran a competitive process with strong interest from both trade and financial buyers. Fordhouse stood out for its clear buy-and-build strategy and its understanding of how to scale a business like AIM without disrupting what already works.”
He added that Lucas & Weston was continuing to see “sustained demand for well-run UK engineering businesses, particularly those with accreditation, long-term contracts and exposure to sectors such as aerospace and defence."
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