Global group swoops for long-established heating equipment manufacturer
Backer Electric Company Ltd, a Rotherham-based manufacturer of heating elements founded in 1938, has been acquired by NIBE Group’s UK subsidiary, Heatrod Elements Ltd.
Backer Electric supplies products in high volume to many household brands, producing domestic electrical appliances, spares to distributors and specialist elements for use in industrial, catering and commercial applications.
It was founded by Christian Backer, who was born in 1885 in the village of Flisa, Norway. He patented the modern-day tubular heating element back in 1921.
He established Backer Electric in Rotherham then set up Backer AB (now part of the NIBE Group) in Sweden after World War II. The two businesses remained separate until December 2023.
The NIBE Group is a leader in the global energy markets sector whose operations extend around the world in the form of over 120 group companies employing over 17,000 people.
Businesses in the group range from the manufacture and supply of climate solutions and heating elements to energy-efficient stoves for various heating needs.
Heatrod Elements Ltd is part of NIBE Element, the world’s largest heating element manufacturer, and represents NIBE in the UK.
Simon Ellam, managing director of Heatrod, said: “The NIBE Element group shares its roots with Backer Electric and many of our manufacturing sites across the world carry the Backer name.
“To bring such a wealth of history and knowledge back together is a proud moment for all of the team at Heatrod and the wider NIBE Element Group.”
Law firm RWK Goodman advised Heatrod on the acquisition. RWK Goodman’s team was led by corporate partners John North and Bharti Moore, alongside colleagues William Bartoli-Edwards (Corporate) and Holly Freuchen (Employment).
John North, partner in RWK Goodman’s Corporate team, said: “The NIBE Group is a long-standing client of ours, we have been advising on its UK and international acquisition programme.
“It was a delight to work with the team at Heatrod Elements again as their company continues to grow.”
