Quebec’s ADS acquires Beckwith Bemis

ADS Inc., a Saint-Elzear-de-Beauce, Que. manufacturer of nonwoven materials, has announced the acquisition of Shebrooke, Que.-based Beckwith Bemis Inc. Beckwith is a manufacturer of technical products with applications in the water and sewer network rehabilitation markets, health sector markets, exterior flooring coating, roof membranes and specialized geomembranes.

Beckwith has been in business for more than 90 years, and has annual sales totaling more than $11 million. The company’s technology portfolio includes film extrusion, hot-melt adhesive coatings, printing, coated laminated fabrics and embossing.

“The acquisition of Beckwith Bemis falls directly in line with our development strategy,” said ADS president and CEO Guy Drouin. “This deal provides us with access to a membrane manufacturing market that serves the water and sewer networks rehabilitation sector.”

Drouin noted that many cities are working to counteract sewer and water network deterioration, and the sector will represent a larger market share in the coming years.

Drouin also added that the Beckwith business will be integrated easily with ADS’s existing operations.

“Beckwith will be able to use the non-woven materials manufactured by Texel, a division of ADS, and ADS will be able to use Beckwith as a sub-contractor for the final manufacturing steps of some products,” said Dourin. “We share common clients in the medical sector, and other business opportunities could be developed in our various business sectors.”

The Beckwith acquisition brings ADS’s total annual sales to $65 million, a step closer to its goal of $100 million in annual sales by the end of 2009.