Severn Drives & Energy opens new US facility as global growth targeted

Severn Drives & Energy (SDE) is a UK-based clean energy engineering company. It is now poised for significant international growth, after establishing new operations in the US.

The company’s new 30,000 sq ft manufacturing facility, based in New Berlin, Wisconsin, will enable the business to meet rising customer demand for its products and services, and to boost future sustainable growth. SDE expects to triple its US workforce over the next two to three years, and is targeting an increase in turnover from £10m to £50m.

The Leicestershire-headquartered business was established in 2010 to provide repair and maintenance services to critical infrastructure installed at wind farms across the UK and Ireland. Customers include EDF, Scottish Power Renewables, E.ON and SSE.

SDE’s new base comes one year after the business secured significant funding from BGF, to support its ambitious growth plans. Post-investment, the new manufacturing facility is enabling SDE to strengthen its foothold in the US market and to expand internationally through the supply, manufacture and maintenance of global energy storage systems.

In addition, SDE has also been bolstered following the appointment of Jon Addis to its Board as Non-Executive Chair, via an introduction from BGF’s Talent Network. Jon is an experienced chair, private equity advisor, CFO and investor. He was formerly Group CFO at UK Power Reserve, and Regional Head at LDC and Royal Bank Private Equity.

Jonathan Jones, CEO of Severn Drives & Energy, commented: “The addition of Jon Addis to the team is also a huge endorsement in the potential of our business. He shares in our vision and we look forward to working alongside Jon and the BGF team to power our ambitious growth plans.”

Alex Garfitt, Investor at BGF, added: “We are proud to be supporting a dynamic, forward-thinking company that is playing a key role in supporting critical renewable energy infrastructure on a global scale. Investment in the new US base has seen the company move from making parts to manufacturing whole systems, to meet the complex technological challenges facing the sector.

“Severn’s prospects for further growth are outstanding, and we are confident of continuing to build on our strong track record of working with businesses to help them scale internationally. Thanks to Jonathan’s inspirational leadership, BGF’s multi-million-pound investment and Jon Addis’ experience as non-executive director, Severn Drives & Energy is emerging as a dynamic global-facing enterprise and outstanding UK business success story.”