Ruskin Air Management Ltd (RAML) has been rebranded Swegon Air Management Ltd (SAML) following its acquisition by the 60-year-old Swedish air handling, cooling and ventilation specialist Swegon AB from Johnson Controls International (JCI).

The former Ruskin brands – Actionair; Air Diffusion; Naco; and Airolution – will now operate alongside Swegon’s existing UK businesses creating a combined operation turning over more than £43 million with a workforce of 330.

SAML will continue as a sales agent for the other two UK-based brands Envirco and Trion, which remain under the ownership of JCI, but it is simultaneously launching a new venture in the air filtration marketplace called Airfiltrera.

Swegon AB is owned by the engineering investment group Latour and is one of Europe’s largest energy efficient ventilation and climate systems manufacturers – best known for its acclaimed Gold air handling units. Its existing 12 production plants in Sweden, Finland, Belgium, Italy, India, North America and Germany have now been augmented by the addition of SAML’s two plants in Whitstable, Kent and Bridgnorth, Shropshire.

The Swegon Group employs 1,900 staff and its turnover is more than €400m. It has an extensive product portfolio covering air handling units; waterborne climate systems; air diffusers; chillers; heat pumps; data centre cooling; and advanced demand controlled ventilation. It also provides acoustic sound attenuation systems.

All former RAML personnel will be retained including Kevin Munson (pictured), who will continue as managing director of the new SAML operation. He will work in partnership with Alistair Compton, who is managing director of Swegon UK, which operates out of four offices headquartered in Hampshire. 

“The standard phrase at times like this is: ‘Business as usual’,” said Mr Munson. “However, we can go further than that. We are joining a group that fully understands our sector; sees the importance of locally-based manufacturing; and regards this as a marriage of equals.

“We are not losing people and we are not being integrated into anything. Swegon has a reputation for acquiring successful businesses and working to make them more successful by avoiding wholesale changes,” said Mr Munson. “We will be working alongside Swegon UK to expand and improve both businesses using our complementary skills and product ranges.”

Swegon Group CEO Hannu Saastamoinen confirmed that the acquisition of the former Ruskin brands was a significant boost to the group, particularly as it offered additional expertise in the area of smoke and fire control.

“This acquisition gives us a very strong local presence and identity in the UK through the well-known RAML brands whose products are complementary to ours. We see good potential for cross sales in the future,” he said