LTI Acquires TAC Technical Instrument
This deal expands their immersion ultrasonic inspection systems and testing services for tube, pipe, bar, billet and other cylindrical materials.
Posted: August 3, 2018
Laboratory Testing Inc. (LTI; Hatfield, PA) has purchased TAC Technical Instrument Corp. (TACTIC; Trenton, NJ), an ultrasonic inspection business since 1962 that develops and sells immersion ultrasonic inspection systems and accessories, parts, repairs, training and independent ultrasonic testing (UT) services that are primarily designed to inspect cylindrical materials, such as tube, pipe, bar and billet. However, they have also provided UT equipment to inspect hexagonal and square billet.
“They are a perfect fit for our growing business, and our companies have a long history together,” said Mike McVaugh, the president and chief executive officer of LTI. “We were started as a nondestructive testing lab in 1984 and have been using their equipment to perform ultrasonic testing since the beginning. They were the leader in the industry back then and still are.”
Both companies are family-run businesses with second-generation ownership. LTI was started by Robert W. McVaugh, Sr. and ownership was transferred to some of his children following his death in 1994. Two of his children are still involved with the company and three of their children also work there. Kenneth H. Beck and William I. Sheply founded TACTIC. Beck’s son Fred has been employed with them for 38 years and held the position of president for the last 20 years. He will stay with the company for at least three years to ensure a smooth transition.
TACTIC will remain at their current location and will operate as a subsidiary of LTI. Fred Beck and the other employees will remain in their positions. Quoting and sales of all products and services will continue to be handled by the New Jersey facility, with the exception of ultrasonic testing services that will be consolidated into the LTI NDT department.