As part of the Group’s growth strategy, Rubix has acquired compressed air specialist Holding Europeo de Compressores (HEC). The acquisition brings a new specialism to our customers in Spain while complementing our existing services offer in the flow category.

HEC has a strong track record of reducing costs and carbon emissions for its customers, supporting them in addressing the energy price challenge and in meeting their environmental objectives.

Specialising in the compressor end of the pneumatics value chain, the offer includes equipment sales as well as maintenance and repair, installation and compliance certification services. The business partners with its customers through long-term service and rental agreements.

With 88 employees, HEC delivered almost €14m of sales in 2021. Over 50 per cent of employees are service-focused and 60% of sales are generated from services.

Headquartered in Barcelona with a strong presence across the Cataluña region, the business was formed by the merger, in December 2019, of two compressed air products and services businesses, Tecnoair and Suimaq.

The two largest HEC shareholders and joint managing directors, Josep Arnan and Cristobal Sancho, will remain with the business, which will now operate as ‘A Rubix Company’.

Commenting on the acquisition, Jesus Martinez, CEO of Rubix in Spain, said: “I’m delighted to welcome my new colleagues to the Rubix family. This highly regarded business, with deep expertise in an area that is in high demand, makes the Rubix offer even stronger. This acquisition is also a further example of our drive to grow our presence in the Cataluña region.

“Our customers are working hard to meet their commitments to reducing emissions while trying to find solutions to energy costs that are high and rising. HEC significantly improves the solution that we can present. Meanwhile, HEC’s long-standing and loyal customers will benefit from the extended offer through Rubix’s multi-specialist value proposition.”

Josep and Cristobal added: “The 2019 combination of Tecnoair and Suimaq as HEC allowed us to build a leading market participant. We wanted a new home for the business that would act as a springboard to a further development of HEC on a national level, whilst respecting the legacy.

“Rubix shares the value we place on deep technical expertise and customer service. When you combine that with its position as the clear European market leader, with a comprehensive product and service offer spanning multiple categories, it is the perfect home for our business as we enter the next phase of growth.”