Martin Graham, founder of Manchester Technical Innovations Ltd, acquired Van Driel Engineering. Van Driel is a respected steel fabrication business built on solid engineering principles, pride in workmanship and long-standing customer relationships.
With over 15 years' military and engineering experience and a track record on projects for BAE Systems, Garrett and Maersk, Martins ambition is to build a group of efficient, technically strong engineering businesses.
His vision is to transform Van Driel’s operations by using lean manufacturing, boosting efficiency and cutting waste, to open doors to new markets. It’s all about building a strong, future-proof group of elite engineering businesses! The deal completed at a day-one purchase price of £720,000, with ABL securing tailored funding to make it happen.
The Opportunity:
Van Driel has experienced staff, a strong reputation for quality and a culture that matched Martin’s growth plans. He liked the business and the team from day one.
Strategic goals
- Add fabrication capacity and technical capability to support larger contracts and cross-selling.
- Introduce lean manufacturing to reduce waste, increase productivity and lower running costs.
- Modernise systems (digital job tracking, standardised QA) so the business can scale and target higher-value work.
Key challenge
The biggest challenge wasn’t the numbers, it was keeping multiple parties aligned. With solicitors, advisers, lenders and the seller involved, timings can slip and tasks can drift. Coordinating everyone to hit the completion date was the main challenge.
How ABL helped
ABL went beyond financing and helped drive the transaction:
- Took the lead at crucial stages, coordinating directly with solicitors and advisers so everyone knew what to deliver.
- Responded quickly and offered practical advice that prevented delays.
- Demonstrated a strong understanding of the business, giving guidance when needed
What that meant
- Fewer delays and a smoother path to completion thanks to organised communications.
- Timely, practical advice that shaped a successful acquisition.
- More time for Martin to plan post-acquisition improvements.
Client quote
“The full ABL team, particularly Andy, Luke and Taryn, played a key role in getting the deal completed. They were proactive, professional and extremely accommodating, especially when I visited their office to work through the finer details in person.” - Martin Graham, Manchester Technical Innovations Ltd
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