Custom Flex sold to Provident

The Provident Group has acquired Custom Flex, a manufacturer and distributor of doctor blades, end seals and other products for the printing industry.

Doctor blades from Custom Flex, which is now owned by The Provident Group

The acquisition is part of The Provident Group’s on-going effort to provide continuous improvement in its product offering of doctor blades, end seals and technical support for its customers.

It was founded in 1996 and operates independently as a wholly owned subsidiary of Anderson & Vreeland. It owns numerous patents that introduced improved doctor blade and end seal performance, including Chamber Wrap, which protects the doctor blade chamber from ink build up.

Custom Flex provides a selection of doctor blades and is the exclusive master distribution partner of Sweden’s Prime Blade throughout the US and Canada. Custom Flex also offers a broad selection of end seals that deliver long-lasting performance by using superior materials and AquaShear, a precision machining process for creating seals.

The Provident Group has a manufacturing and sales/warehouse facility in Englewood, Colorado and will now add Custom Flex’s Appleton, Wisconsin manufacturing and sales warehouse facility to its footprint.

Drew Elisius, vice-president of operations for Anderson & Vreeland, said: ‘Custom Flex’s technical expertise and patented innovation in the doctor blade and end seal field is a natural fit for The Provident Group and allows us to better serve customers throughout North America.

‘Our customers will benefit from the cumulative knowledge and industry innovation created by Custom Flex and The Provident Group.’