On 21st September 2010 William Cook announced the acquisition of Cook Track Systems. Acquisition of Cook Track Systems marks the Group's return to the tank track and armour business after a four-year hiatus. Cook Track Systems will be based at the Group's Leeds plant.

Tank track manufacture ceased at William Cook in 2006 when the Group sold its Stanhope track plant to a management buy-out. That plant was renamed Astrum.

As part of the terms of the sale, William Cook was excluded from direct participation in the tank track market for four years. However, this restriction did not apply to William Cook's Chairman, Andrew Cook. Two years ago, Mr Cook set up Cook Track Systems with the express purpose of re-entering the track business. A few months later, Cook Track Systems became the exclusive licensee for Diehl Remscheid, the internationally recognised "number one" in track design and manufacture. Diehl tracks will be manufactured under licence in the UK at William Cook's Leeds plant, where the traditional range of 'make to print' single pin tracks will also be made.

William Cook has announced a significant investment programme at the Leeds plant, which for many years was the UK's centre of excellence in track manufacture, a status it intends to recover.

21st September 2010