A Bradford specialist measuring instrument-maker has been given a chance to send its goods even further round the world since it was taken over by an American group.

Bowers Group plc, in Leeds Old Road, is now part of the USI hardware and tools business - itself part of parent company US Industries of New Jersey which has a placing on the New York Stock Exchange.

The company already had big name aerospace and automotive industry companies on its books including British Aerospace, Lucas and Rolls Royce and exported 80 per cent of its goods.

The company, originally known as Bowers Internal Gauge, and included Boeing, Lockhead and Chrysler as some of its big American customers, can now extend its export range even further.

The group, which employs 130, joined the American group by being merged with Sheffield-based specialist instrument-maker Moore & Wright.

Both firms are looking at expanding sales in the UK and overseas and heavy investment is taking place in the two companies following the takeover.

The two companies are themselves part of the Spear & Jackson group whose deputy managing director, Tony Lisante, has become the new managing director of Bowers Metrology.

Working alongside him on a consultancy basis is the former owner and chairman of Bowers Group plc Roger Bowers.

Both firms make specialist tools for the engineering industry including micrometers. The new acquisitions include the separate divisions of the Bowers Group which include Bowers Metrology, CV Instruments, based in Bradford, who manufacture a complete range of hardness testing instruments and Bowers UK, the sales & distribution company based in West Drayton.

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