The HAPPICH Group, led by the Pelzer family is happy to report further success. By acquiring the English company Weston Body Hardware, the leading German interior furnisher for commercial and specialised vehicles has once again expanded its company and product portfolio, to improve its position on the British and North American market.
Founded in 1984, Weston Body Hardware manufactures locking systems for cabin vehicles in the agricultural and construction segment of the commercial vehicle market and was last owned by a financial investor.
“We most sincerely welcome Weston Body Hardware on board as a new company in our family led HAPPICH Group,“ says Marc Pelzer, Managing Director of HAPPICH GmbH. “Weston Body Hardware is an excellent company, with whom we share long term strategic interests. The fact that the company is not only well established on the English market but also has a significant footprint in the USA is crucial for our decision. With Weston Body Hardware we consider ourselves to be well prepared for the U.K. and North America. We are not only expanding our product portfolio, but we are also building our product capacity at the same time, as Weston Body Hardware has great know-how in manufacturing.”
The current acquisition of Weston Body Hardware is part of a series of new launches associated with Marc Pelzer (39), Managing Partner since the new start-up of HAPPICH five years ago. HAPPICH founded its first branch in England, “HAPPICH U.K.”, in 2010 to ensure the local sale of its components and locking systems on the English market. Further companies launched were “HAPPICH Otomotiv” (Turkey, 2011), “HAPPICH RIU” (Spain, 2012) and “HAPPICH Industrial Parts” (China, 2012).
With its platforms “locking systems and fittings”, “components” and “technical sound proofing and thermal insulation” as well as “profiles and door systems”, HAPPICH has been positioned as a leading supplier for the European coach market for a long time. Increasingly the company sees its future security in the expansion of its market share outside Europe. Furthermore, HAPPICH has also adopted the additional strategic direction of consistently expanding its previously rather small market share in the cabin vehicle market, especially in the agricultural and construction field, and therefore creating a second focal point in the cabin market alongside the previous emphasis on coaches. Therefore it is of special interest to HAPPICH that Weston Body Hardware already focuses on this segment of locking systems for cabin vehicles.
HAPPICH will also acquire new development and manufacturing competences in another area: Weston Body Hardware is also established as a supplier of control cabinets / generators and appliances in the industry sector and has the appropriate know-how.
“Our aim of achieving the closest customer contact possible has come much nearer since making this acquisition. The brand associated to Weston Body Hardware must be maintained. Nothing will change for Weston Body Hardware’s regular customers. However, HAPPICH is clearly increasing its developmental capacity with this aquisition, which will benefit the companies within the HAPPICH Group as well as their customers and partners,” sums up Marc Pelzer optimistically.
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