PBE acquires TR Minecom

TR’s Minecom underground communications division has been sold to US electronics manufacturer Pyott-Boone Electronics (PBE) for an undisclosed sum.

David Gallagher, CEO of TR commented, “This sale will create enormous opportunity for the Minecom business with an expanded range of mining safety products that will allow it to grow market share both in Australia and the international markets the business operates in.”

PBE’s relationship with TR Minecom started many years ago when the Virginia-based company became a major distributor for TR Minecom in the US.

PBE is a manufacturer of electronics primarily in the mining safety area and has been supporting the coal industry in the US with innovative safety solutions for over 40 years. TR is a specialised rental organisation in the rental of test and measurement equipment, audiovisual equipment and two-way radios in the Australian, New Zealand and Malaysian markets.

TR Minecom has extensive experience in the design and manufacture of intrinsically safe communication systems for all types of underground environments from coal mining and tunnelling to hard rock mining, making them suitable for PBE. All of the products, people and intellectual property of the Minecom business will transfer to PBE’s ownership.

“Through the divestment of our manufacturing business, we can invest more heavily in our core business sectors of rental, calibration and service provision of electronic technology solutions in our key markets of Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia,” said Gallagher.

Stuart Champion de Crespigny, CEO of PBE, commented, “We are very pleased with the acquisition of Minecom. PBE has worked closely with the Minecom business over the years and have always admired the quality of their products and technical sales focus. The combination of the two businesses makes a lot of sense, enabling PBE to continue its strategy of becoming a single source provider for safety, monitoring and communications systems to the global mining industry.”