NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND (Jan. 4, 1:25 p.m. ET) — Lawrence Automotive Holdings Ltd. has expanded its footprint in automotive and other markets by acquiring Northern Engraving Corp. on Dec. 31.
Nottingham, England-based Lawrence Automotive gets Northern manufacturing plants in Wisconsin, Minnesota and South Wales. Lawrence Automotive has factories in the United Kingdom and China and regional representation in the United States, Central America and France.
The purchase also expands Lawrence's sales to the automotive Industry and diversifies it into appliance and product identification industries. Northern makes product identification items like nameplates, gauges and dials for marine and transportation, and decorative trim such as touch controls and overlays and buttons for automotive, appliance and other markets.
Northern's headquarters has been in Sparta, Wis., where Lawrence Automotive has established a subsidiary, Lawrence Holding Inc.
Northern's product offerings include plastic parts. Lawrence Automotive makes wood and other specialty auto interior trim components.
Lawrence Automotive indicated Nothern's manufacturing operations will be an important addition to its business.
“With the economy in some sectors showing signs of improvement, we look forward to continuing production from these historic and important manufacturing sites in Wisconsin, Minnesota and South Wales,” Lawrence Automotive stated in a news release. “This is an important opportunity to continue the business in the U.S. and UK for real aluminum component manufacture and for us to grow our global automotive, appliance and nameplate customer base.”
Lawrence Automotive said Northern will launch new products during 2012 and the UK-based company will invest in technology required to make the new components.
Last year Northern formed a joint venture in China with GM Nameplate of Seattle, Wash., to provide decorative products in that market. The agreement included a GM Nameplate plant in Dongguan City, China.