Victaulic, the Pennsylvania-headquartered manufacturer of mechanical pipe joining, fire protection and flow control systems, has acquired Spain-based modular construction specialist Arumani as it seeks to expand its capabilities in off-site construction.
The acquisition will establish Arumani as Victaulic’s European centre of excellence for modular construction, strengthening the company’s ability to deliver fully engineered modular skids across the region.
For Victaulic, which is headquartered in Easton, Pennsylvania, the deal represents another step in expanding its engineering and fabrication capabilities beyond conventional pipe joining. The company employs more than 6,000 people worldwide and operates more than 50 facilities.
The company said the acquisition will allow it to combine Arumani’s expertise in modular mechanical assemblies with its own engineering capabilities and product portfolio. The resulting offering is intended to accelerate project delivery, reduce on-site labour requirements and improve construction efficiency through greater use of off-site fabrication.
“Modularization is transforming the construction industry,” said Branden Kotyk, vice-president and general manager for EMEA at Victaulic. “Arumani allows us to bring a different approach to the market by combining the innovative build strategies that Arumani is known for with the engineering excellence and reliability that define Victaulic.”
Bringing construction off site
Arumani will support customers using Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) strategies, with modular assemblies designed and manufactured away from the construction site before being delivered for installation.
The approach can reduce the amount of work required in the field while improving quality control, project predictability and installation times. Victaulic already promotes off-site modularisation as a way of reducing material handling and improving jobsite productivity.
The acquisition therefore extends an existing strategic direction for the US manufacturer rather than representing a move into an entirely new area.
Victaulic CEO Rick Bucher said the combination of the two companies would help customers “rethink how things are built” and establish new benchmarks for construction certainty.
“By integrating Arumani’s advanced modular construction expertise with Victaulic’s proven engineering excellence and innovative products, we are now uniquely positioned to enhance project efficiency, accelerate timelines, and set new benchmarks for construction certainty,” Bucher said.
Third European investment in three years
Victaulic said the acquisition is its third investment in Europe during the past three years, underlining its continued focus on the European construction market.
Arumani, a family-founded business based in Spain, specialises in mechanical assemblies and modular construction. Its integration into Victaulic is expected to provide a platform for expanding modular construction services across Europe.
For North American manufacturers, the deal also highlights the growing importance of modularisation and Design for Manufacturing and Assembly as construction companies seek to address labour constraints, shorten project schedules and move more fabrication work into controlled manufacturing environments.
Victaulic has already developed modularisation capabilities for sectors including high-rise construction and oil and gas, while its wider product portfolio is designed around improving constructability and installation efficiency.
The acquisition gives the Easton-based company an expanded European platform from which to develop those capabilities, while potentially creating opportunities to transfer modular construction practices and engineering expertise across its global operations.
Never miss a North American manufacturing story
Sign up for our free weekly North American Manufacturing Digital Briefing to receive the latest industry news, insights and analysis direct to your inbox every Monday.
