20.12.2016

Southwire acquires Sumner Manufacturing

US Wire and cable manufacturer Southwire has acquired material lift manufacturer Sumner Manufacturing from owner Rob Collins.

Carrollton, Georgia based Southwire claims to be North America’s largest manufacturer of wire and cable and the third largest worldwide. The acquisition includes Sumner’s manufacturing operations and corporate support functions in Houston and Langfang, China, as well as its direct sales and distribution operations in Canada, the UK and the Netherlands. Sumner’s 160 employees remain with the company, and its manufacturing facilities will be integrated into Southwire's business operations.
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A Sumner material lift

Southwire chief executive Rich Stinson said: "We are excited to welcome the Sumner team to the Southwire family. This acquisition supports all three of Southwire's key strategic goals: build organizational capability, drive operational excellence and accelerate growth. Each day, we seek new ways to drive innovation and help further develop an organization that will be generationally-sustainable. The addition of Sumner gives us the opportunity to look ahead into new markets and channels and expand the range of solutions we can provide to our customers."

Brandon Moss president of the Tools and Equipment division added: "This acquisition provides a significant opportunity to help scale our Tools and Equipment business. Sumner's manufacturing capabilities and distribution network will help us achieve our team's growth expectations over the next few years. We will strengthen our company's position in the contractor equipment market, develop new manufacturing capabilities and rapidly expand our presence in the industrial supply and rental channels. We do not anticipate that your day-to-day operations and business dealings with Southwire/Sumner will be impacted”

Sumner was founded in the mid to late 1960s by Joe Sumner, the general foreman at mechanical contractor Sam P. Wallace. He had realised the need for good quality lifting equipment and welding tools to make the job of installing pipe safer and easier. And so designed and fabricated his own equipment for use on Wallace jobs. The results were so positive he set up a company to make them. Rob Collins has headed the company for many years and made Sumner the largest competitor to Genie’s Superlift and other material lifts.