Flowmax Group, a specialist fluid technologies operating partner focused on supporting owner-managed businesses, has appointed national audit, tax, advisory and consulting firm Crowe to identify targeted acquisition opportunities within the UK water sector.
The partnership will see Crowe’s corporate finance team support Flowmax in identifying owner-managed SMEs that assemble and distribute products used across applications including potable water, wastewater, sludge treatment, water quality monitoring and network infrastructure within the UK water industry.
The search will focus on established SMEs that assemble and distribute fluid management and control products supporting critical water infrastructure, typically generating between £3 million and £8 million in revenue and employing around 10 to 35 people.
The partnership forms part of Flowmax's long-term strategy to support the growth of specialist businesses across its portfolio and the wider UK water sector, combining complementary capabilities to better serve customers.
Flowmax's approach is centred on supporting specialist businesses that share a common focus on fluid management and control. With more than 25 years of experience, 15 businesses across the Group, over 210 colleagues and annual turnover exceeding £60 million, Flowmax provides the platform and expertise to help its operating companies strengthen their offering, access new opportunities and continue their long-term growth while preserving the expertise and relationships that underpin their success.
Headquartered in Coventry, the Group has grown significantly in recent years, with revenue increasing by 50% over the past five years, including an 18% increase in the most recent financial year.
Flowmax says this approach is demonstrated by B&D Plastics, a Colchester and Aldridge-based specialist in plastic pressure pipework systems, which Flowmax acquired in 2024.
The business has built a strong position supplying piping systems and related products into the UK water industry, providing a platform for further investment in complementary capabilities that strengthen its offering to customers in the potable water sector.
Building on this approach, future acquisitions will be considered where there is a strong strategic fit, with opportunities either strengthening existing operating companies such as B&D Plastics or complementing the wider Flowmax Group.
The objective is to connect specialist businesses that can share expertise, broaden product offerings and create new opportunities across the water sector while preserving the strengths of each business.
Graham Morrell, CEO of Flowmax Group, said:
"Our focus is on specialist fluid management and control businesses and on creating brighter futures for owner-managers and their teams. The UK water sector is a priority for us, particularly potable water, and we see a clear opportunity to support our operating companies by bringing together complementary businesses that strengthen technical capability, collaboration and the value we deliver to customers.
"Whether businesses join an existing subsidiary or become part of the Group directly, our objective is to create long-term value through complementary expertise, not simply greater scale. Working with Crowe enables us to identify businesses that share our focus on specialist fluid management and control, while creating opportunities for owner-managers to build on their success with the support of a specialist group."
Ryan Niblock, Director - Corporate Finance at Crowe, added:
"Flowmax has a clear understanding of the businesses where it can add value, and we are pleased to support its search for companies that align with its strategy. The UK water sector includes many highly specialised businesses with strong technical expertise and long-standing customer relationships. We look forward to engaging with companies that are considering their future growth plans and exploring opportunities to build on their existing success, and supporting Flowmax through every stage of the acquisition process from identification through to completion.”