Specialist fleet safety provider Safe Fleet has doubled its European presence with the acquisition of Labcraft.

In March 2021, Missouri U.S.-based Safe Fleet acquired Durite. The Essex, U.K., company provides commercial vehicles with electrical lighting equipment and vehicle safety products. It was Safe Fleet’s first purchase outside America.

Twelve months later and it has made its second acquisition, this time for Labcraft.

Also based in Essex, Labcraft designs and manufactures a wide range of interior and exterior low voltage LED lighting solutions for vans, trucks, trailers and coaches. 

Safe Fleet said the addition of Labcraft would help strengthen and broaden the company’s existing lighting portfolio for the commercial and emergency vehicle sectors. Other lighting brands within the Safe Fleet portfolio include Durite, FRC (Fire Research Corporation, active in the emergency services), Speciality Manufacturing Inc (school bus and commercial vehicle market), and Pretoria (rail transit and school bus market).

Commenting on the acquisitions, John R. Knox, Safe Fleet Chairman & CEO, said:

“Safe Fleet sees the addition of Durite and Labcraft as an important step in our vision to become the leading global supplier of safety solutions for fleet vehicles. With both companies onboard we are well-positioned for growth in the European commercial vehicle market.”

Knox added that he anticipated further European growth by acquisition. He said the company had an active mergers and acquisitions strategy to identify, evaluate and acquire best-in-class brands that addressed fleet safety and productivity.

Both Labcraft and Durite will continue to operate as separate entities within the Safe Fleet business, while contributing to group brands on continuous product innovation and development for the commercial vehicle market.