William Cook Cast Products acquires Astrum (UK) Ltd

William Cook Cast Products Ltd, the principal operating subsidiary of William Cook Holdings, the Yorkshire-based industrial group, has acquired Astrum (UK) Ltd from the Administrator of Astrum Holdings Ltd for an undisclosed sum. Astrum (UK) Ltd is the former William Cook Defence Ltd, which was sold to a management buyout in 2006. It specialises in the design and manufacture of tracks for military vehicles and is a major supplier to the British Army. It is located in Stanhope, County Durham and employs around 200. The William Cook group is one of the best known steel and engineering companies in Yorkshire, with two plants in Sheffield and one in Leeds. Family owned, its annual sales are in the region of £60 milllion and approximately 700 people are employed. William Cook already has an established presence in the defence equipment market through its subsidiary Cook Defence Systems and its position as the exclusive UK licensee for Diehl Defence Land Systems, the European leader in military vehicle tracks. The acquisition of Astrum reinforces the breadth and depth of its capabilities. Commenting on the acquisition, Andrew Cook, Chairman of William Cook, said "I am delighted Astrum is re-joining the William Cook group after a 5 year absence. Its Stanhope plant always was a major player in the Cook organisation, and I look forward to it again becoming a key element of our growing company. It is particularly satisfying that, with Astrum back in William Cook ownership, the valuable jobs and expertise at the Stanhope plant are once again secure".