Northern Balance Acquires A1 Scales to Bolster Customers’ Choice and Access to Critical Weighing Services

Gateshead-based, independent weighing specialists Northern Balance is set to extend the choice and accessibility of its hire and UKAS calibration services with the successful acquisition of A1 Scales - a supplier of hired weighing equipment and complementary weighing services in the Northeast of England.

The acquisition strengthens Northern Balance’s position as a full-service weighing solutions provider.  In addition to extending its range of hired equipment services to existing customers, the integration provides A1 Scales’ customers with access to an established UKAS calibration service to meet their growing compliance requirements. The move is integral to Northern Balance’s customer-centric approach, which is focused on providing greater choice and convenient access to critical weighing services.

Founded in 2004, A1 Scales developed long-standing relationships serving the Northeast’s most prominent manufacturing companies.  Alongside its capabilities in traceable calibrations, repair, servicing and supply, A1 Scales became the supplier of choice for providing quick and convenient access to a comprehensive range of precision to high-capacity hire solutions.

Northern Balance will retain all engineering and back-office team members with company director Maureen Whittle continuing to provide ongoing support within Northern Balance’s business administration and engineering functions. Maureen will assist with the integration of A1 Scale’s people, contracts, and systems. A1 Scales will be fully integrated and will trade under Northern Balance at their Gateshead Head Office.

Maureen Whittle, a Director of A1 Scales said: ‘With our mutual focus on customer service, we’re delighted to be integrating our team and expertise with Northern Balance to provide extended choice and accessibility. We’re working closely to ensure a seamless transition to Northern Balance’s services for previous A1 Scales customers and we look forward to introducing additional services to our collective customers.’

Paul Moran, Managing Director of Northern Balance, said of the deal: ‘Our decisions are greatly shaped by customers’ needs. The branching out of our hire and UKAS calibration services demonstrates our ongoing commitment to expanding our solutions to enable customer success. With Brexit, Covid 19, overseas conflict and the cost-of-living crisis making it difficult to predict demand for goods and services, providing more choice and accessibility via a broader range of flexible hire options helps to circumvent changeability without affecting capital expenditure.  Added to the external challenges, we know from customer feedback that time needed to source and vet a reliable UKAS calibration partner can be scarce but compliance critical.  As an ISO 17025 accredited company, we’ve performed UKAS calibrations for over 30 years and could not be more excited to support our extended customer base with additional services.’

The milestone follows two recent developments to further customers’ choice and access to extended laboratory and industrial services.  In 2022, Northern Balance joined the Scientific Laboratory Supplies (SLS) Group and launched its UK Partner Network enabling customer access to a wider spectrum of weighing and non-weighing services under one roof.