Cawood secure Irish laboratory

Published by

Stephen Emerson

Cawood today announced their acquisition of Ireland’s IAS Laboratories.

The largest provider of analytical laboratory test services for the land-based industries in the UK, Bracknell-based Cawood have secured the Irish agricultural and environmental testing laboratory.

IAS provide a range of water, soil, crop tissue, silage, sludge and effluent analysis services to the agricultural and environmental sectors.

Boasting a turnover of £75 million, the Berkshire based Cawood group have 800plus employees and complete almost ten million analytical tests annually.

Located in Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, IAS employ 20 people comprising management, administration, and qualified laboratory personnel. The company has only recently moved into the environmental monitoring sector and will now operate as a division of Cawood.

The new acquisition fits perfectly into Cawood’s Agriculture and Environmental business units, said Cawood CEO, Simon Parrington: “I would like to give a warm welcome to David O’Connell, the IAS management team, and all our new colleagues to Cawood.

“We have long desired our own laboratory location in Ireland. We are delighted to secure a laboratory nearer one of our major markets in order to expand tests available to Irish farmers.

“Both Cawood and our new parent company, Ensign-Bickford Industries, are looking forward to helping grow the business within Ireland,’ concluded Simon.

Stephen Emerson

Stephen Emerson is the Managing Editor of The Business Magazine and is responsible for the publication's print publications and online properties including the newly launched Biz News websites in Hampshire and Dorset. Stephen has been a journalist for 20 years and has worked at local, regional and national publications and led a team which made The Scotsman website one of the fastest growing news sites in the UK with over eight million monthly users. He has a keen interest in technology, property and corporate finance and telling the stories of the people behind the successful firms in these sectors.