New distributor for PIX products
Veterans of the UK power transmission industry will remember the name Distag from the 1990s. Originally specializing in the supply of agricultural belts and chains, they quickly built a reputation for service and value across the UK and Ireland. At the same time, they were early entrants to the world of Chinese production for standard and bespoke transmission and engineering components.
Having worked with PIX Transmission for the supply of belts since the early 1990s, Distag joined forces with them in 1999, to form a joint-venture company PIX Europe. PIX Europe grew rapidly over the next decade, building a distribution network across Europe, along with a list of blue-chip OEM clients. In 2004, they opened a new office and warehouse in Germany, near Paderborn; and three years later purchased their UK hydraulics partner, Flexequip. This brought two further locations in Lisburn and Cardiff, and provided the manufacturing know-how for hydraulic fittings to complement the PIX hydraulic hose, which had become a major growth area.
As of 1 October, PIX Europe have demerged and the business will be divided geographically. Distag QCS (UK) Ltd will become a national distributor for the UK and Ireland, exclusively distributing PIX belts and hoses along with a range of related mechanical, hydraulic and engineering products. PIX Transmissions will take on the distribution of belts and hoses for mainland Europe, using an expanded warehouse, in Paderborn, as their distribution hub.
QCS stands for ‘quality component solutions’ and, according to the company, that is really the essence of the Distag story. They say the ‘new Distag’ is placed to bring a remarkable product offering to their UK partners. Over the years, the Distag Group has evolved, alongside PIX Europe, with companies in Ireland, the UK and China, and the product offering is immense – a massive range of transmission belts, including specialist products like Agri, Lawn & Garden, FRAS and High Power; a full range of metal PT products including pulleys, bushes, chain and sprockets; hydraulic hose and fitting, including state-of-the-art hose-making facilities – and the ability to produce bespoke engineering products (machined, forged or cast), and provide cost-effective outsourcing solutions.
The new company will continue to be run by Joe and Sheila Deacon, who founded the Distag Group, and celebrated their first 25 years in business in June 2013. Most of the team, including Stewart Booth, co-director, and Nigel Rose, business development mangager, will be transferring from PIX Europe and PIX Hydraulics. The locations in Ipswich, Cardiff, and Lisburn, will all be retained under the Distag QCS banner.
Joe Deacon commented: ‘The de-merger is a kind of natural progression – the two companies helped each other to grow. Now they have different agendas and priorities – PIX, understandably, want to concentrate on their core belt and hose products and growing their brand; while we have many other products and market sectors we want to grow our presence in. We also have a very well developed infrastructure in China, which we want to bring much more to the fore.
‘We will fill a unique space in the UK market. There are many national distributors specializing in bearings, and one or two who major on PT metal goods. We aim to offer a full range of PT products; hydraulic hose, fittings, and assemblies; as well as bespoke engineering products.’
