William Hackett, a supplier of safety-critical lifting, rigging and chain solutions, has strengthened its customer offering through a new acquisition.

The company has purchased Forge Lifting Gear, a specialist in the bespoke manufacturing of bolts, shackles, and forgings. Based in the West Midlands, Forge is known for its rapid prototype and production capabilities, creating custom equipment and volume products for sectors including energy, construction, mining, agriculture, and utilities.

Ian Kelly, Operations Director of William Hackett Chain Products, said: “Forge Lifting Gear is a great addition to our group. It complements our existing operations, bringing us capabilities that truly enhance our customer offering.

“We have worked closely with Forge Lifting Gear for over 20 years and built up a great relationship. They were located close to our William Hackett Chain Products facility in Cradley Heath, making them a natural fit with our existing business and a great acquisition to support our growth strategy.”

Forge Lifting Gear brings a more bespoke skill set to William Hackett, with diverse in-house expertise in bending, boring, chamfering, drilling, folding, milling and hot forging, as well as tapping, thread cutting, and welding. It can also offer surface treatments such as galvanising, sherardising, zinc plating and powder coating.

“Our customers are often up against tight deadlines, requiring non-standard products very quickly,” added Ian. “We can now provide them with a full end-to-end solution, from assisting during the design process to providing a one-off product or small batch run.”