Sheffield's oldest gear maker acquired by Chesterfield engineers

A Sheffield engineering firm which claims to be Sheffield's oldest gear manufacturer has been snapped up by a Chesterfield rival.
Marie Cooper, front second left, with the BG and Pentag teams.Marie Cooper, front second left, with the BG and Pentag teams.
Marie Cooper, front second left, with the BG and Pentag teams.

Pentag, based on John Street, has been acquired by BG Engineering.

As part of the transaction, directors Martin Wragg and Andrew Larkin and four staff will remain with the combined business as it locates to the BG facility at Holmewood, Chesterfield.

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Pentag was founded towards the end of the 19th Century in Sheffield under the Wilmot North name as a pattern, wheel and gear manufacturing company.

In 2016, it won an order to make eight gears for the thrusters on the £200m polar research vessel RSS David Attenborough, to enable the ship to manoeuvre accurately in heavy ice water.

The ship almost had a comedy name after an internet vote for ‘Boaty McBoatface’, which was ultimately given to its remote control sub.

At the time, sales manager Mark Crossley said: “Despite our senior years we are bang in the frontline of technology.”

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In April 2017, Cooper Brown Enterprises Limited bought a stake in BG.

Marie Cooper, CBE director, said “The opportunity to acquire the Pentag business will allow BG to grow and the acquisition of the complimentary skills base at Pentag will allow us to continue to invest in infrastructure and staff to deliver further growth in existing and new markets.”

BG went on to Acquired NiTEC Engineering in August 2017.

Pentag was advised by Andy Ryder and Ellie Wilcockson of Shorts Chartered Accountants with legal advice from John Baddeley at Wake Smith.

BG was advised by Steve Bell and Lisa Ritson of Castle Square Corporate Finance.

Shorts Accountants Partner Andy Ryder said “It has been a pleasure to help Andrew and Martin find a suitable acquirer for this historic company. I look forward to seeing it grow.”