Robert Cort joins the Flow Group

Robert Cort, the Reading-based manufacturer of pipeline ball and gate valves, has been acquired by the Yorkshire-based Flow Group Ltd, suppliers of specialist valve solutions to the global energy industry.

Robert Cort is a highly respected British valve manufacturing business, which has been operating from Reading since 1823 and on the existing site since the early 1960s. The Cort range of pipeline ball and gate valves covers sizes from 2" to 60" and pressures from class 150 to class 2500. Cort valves are used in oil and gas pipelines, oil refineries, jetties and tank farms all over the world and there are many installed over 50 years ago still being supported and giving excellent service.

The Cort business will now be conducted by Robert Cort Valves Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Flow Group Limited. John Wall, the Flow Group Managing Director, will take on the role of Managing Director of Robert Cort Valves and the business will continue to operate from the current site in Reading.

John comments; “This acquisition adds another strong, globally known British valve brand to our existing Group. We believe this is a great opportunity to build on Robert Cort’s long tradition of engineering excellence and grow the sales of Cort valves. We believe that we can replicate the success we are having with our other UK valve manufacturing businesses here at Robert Cort.

“Last year at Flow Group we took a conscious decision to focus our efforts on valves for the oil & gas market and divested our Sheffield-based businesses, Bestobell and Conflow. This strategic acquisition reinforces our commitment to growing the Group and our commitment to the oil & gas market. We welcome the Robert Cort team to the group and look forward to growing the business together and bringing the benefits of the Flow Group ‘customer experience’ to the Robert Cort customer base.”

Flow Group already consists of a number of well-known market leading valve businesses - Shipham Valves, based in Hull, supplies non-ferrous and high alloy valve solutions for handling seawater and other severe fluids to the offshore and petrochemical industries; John Mills Valves, based in Newcastle, supplies bronze and aluminium bronze valves to valve houses and OEMs; Leeds Valve, based in Leeds, supplies specialist butterfly valves. Over 75% of turnover is from export sales and the Group has sales offices in Shanghai, China, and Houston, USA, as well as an extensive network of overseas sales agents.

Flow Group
Tel: 0113 204 9307
Website: www.flowgroup.co.uk

Published: 7th July 2011