Infrastructure, galvanising and building products group Hill & Smith Holdings (Shirley, Solihull / UK; www.hsholdings.co.uk) has agreed to pay USD 21m (EUR 14.2m) in cash for GRP products manufacturer Creative Pultrusions (Alum Bank, Pennsylvania / USA; www.creativepultrusions.com). Founded 35 years ago, Creative Pultrusions is a leading composites manufacturer with a reputation for innovation. It has 185 employees and reported annual sales of USD 32.7m (EUR 22.2m) in the year to 31 August 2007.

Through its subsidiary Redman Fisher Engineering (Tipton, West Midlands / UK; www.redmanfisher.co.uk), Hill & Smith established a marketing and manufacturing agreement with Creative Pultrusions in 2006. This has enabled Redman Fisher to manufacture pultruded GRP products, such as gratings and handrails, at its Telford factory, with the US company providing technological assistance. Creative Pultrusions will now play a key role in the expansion of Hill & Smith’s product offering, according to chief executive Derek Muir, who termed the acquisition “a great fit for our core businesses”.

The principal shareholder of the Creative Pultrusions business, Robert Sweet, has stepped down as chairman and chief executive, but is remaining as a consultant. He is replaced as chief executive by Shane Weyant, formerly chief operating officer.