PG Drives, a major manufacturer of electronics for scooters and power wheelchairs, has been acquired by Curtiss-Wright Corp.
A news release announcing the completion of the purchase said PG Drives’ business “will operate within the Curtiss-Wright Controls industrial division.” That division is located in Charlotte, N.C., while PG Drives is headquartered in Christchurch, U.K. The company says its controls division “designs and manufactures complex motion control components, systems and subsystems for very specialized defense, commercial aerospace and general industrial applications.”
Curtiss-Wright described itself as employing some 8,600 people worldwide. The company traces its origins to aviation pioneer Glenn Curtiss, and Orville and Wilbur Wright, inventors of the airplane.
Hal Chenhall, PG Drives’ managing director, said of the acquisition, “Curtiss-Wright is an ideal parent for PG Drives Technology and brings increased investment and resources to the business. PG’s advanced control technology is central to Curtiss-Wright’s strategy for diversification and expansion into mobility and industrial systems. We join the fast-growing industrial division, which includes Penny & Giles. Combined we are leaders in position measurement and control for the world’s most demanding industries.”
Curtiss-Wright’s Chairman/CEO Martin R. Benante said, “”The acquisition of PG Drives Technology significantly strengthens and expands Curtiss-Wright’s existing industrial controls business and provides growth in a new direction with a strong presence in the rapidly growing electric vehicle market. “With almost four decades as a leading supplier of high-end and reliable electric vehicle control systems, PG Drives Technology brings unmatched expertise, experience and long-standing customer relationships to Curtiss-Wright. This acquisition enhances our market diversification by providing further penetration into our existing industrial and medical markets while simultaneously increasing our presence and breadth of product offerings in the specialty vehicle market.”
