3sun Acquires Rope Access Company

3sun Group has acquired AID Industrial, specialist Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) providers and experts in Industrial Rope Access, Work at Height and Global Wind Organisation safety courses.

Great Yarmouth-based AID Industrial provides training to clients throughout Europe, North America, Africa and Asia and a complete range of equipment to suit industry needs including fall arrest, work restraint and work positioning.

3sun said that this acquisition reflects its commitment to offer complementary capabilities to the renewable energy and oil and gas sectors, and follows its recent expansion into the European market through opening of its Danish office. The amalgamation also expands 3sun Group’s expertise in the supply of PPE, encompassing a full range of equipment across multiple areas of the industry including Rope Access, Working at Height and Confined Space.

Commenting on the recent acquisition, 3sun Group CEO Graham Hacon said: “This is a significant acquisition for 3sun Group and is aligned to our ambitious growth strategy for the next five years. 

“Rope access and working at height are key competencies required of our technicians. Bringing this training expertise in-house to our 3sun Academy allows us tighter control over costs, which ultimately benefits our clients.”

Tjebbe Roestenburg, Managing Director, AID Industrial adds: “We have worked with 3sun Group for a number of years, training its technicians using our specialist expertise in this field. 

“With the Group’s backing, we can enhance our training provision and are already considering improvements to our tower climbing facility to replicate servicing offshore equipment at height. Our commitment to offering a quality service will be enhanced through this synergy with 3sun Group as we look to establish ourselves as a centre of excellence within the southern sector.”

UK Home Secretary, Theresa May, attended a ceremony at AID Industrial on Thursday 9 April to mark the official partnership. After hearing about its apprenticeship schemes and talking to current course delegates, Mrs. May commented: “It’s fascinating to see a company like this and I think one of the great things is that these visits give me an opportunity to find here in Great Yarmouth, a company that’s exporting around the world, transferring skills and playing its part in what’s a hugely important industry for us all.” 

Image: 3sun