US giant in swoop for Borders cleaning firm

RP Adam (Arpal Group), the Borders-based cleaning and detergent manufacturer, has been acquired by an American leader in water and hygiene for an undisclosed price.

Minnesota-based Ecolab has swooped for RP Adam, which has a 126-year history of making cleaning and disinfectant products, with a presence in longterm care and commercial catering sectors in the UK and Ireland, as well as the Middle East hospitality sector.

RP Adam’s UK operation, based in Selkirk, employs 85 factory and field personnel, while the United Arab Emirates division, in Dubai, has 46 staff. Annual sales for the group are $20 million (£15m).

Arpal Group said Ecolab’s global reach in corporate accounts gave “significant opportunities” to develop product and equipment innovation and enhanced customer service capabilities. Ecolab, with sales of $13 billion in 2016 and 48,000 staff, said it could capitalise on RP Adam’s “strength in regional independent customers” and the long-term care sector.