T-H Marine purchases competitor

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – T-H Marine Supplies, Inc. has formed a wholly owned subsidiary named CMC Marine, Inc. that has purchased the assets of Cook Manufacturing Corp. of Duncan, Okla., the company reported in a recent statement.

Cook Manufacturing is a division of Marine Accessories Corp. of Knoxville, Tenn. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

T-H Marine’s president, Jeff Huntley, said the company would retain Greg Cook and his employees in Duncan. “The Cook family has built a strong company with an excellent reputation for quality products and excellent customer service. Those attributes perfectly match our philosophy at T-H Marine,” he explained.

T-H Marine and Cook have been “friendly competitors” in the recreational marine business for many years, according to Huntley. T-H Marine has been manufacturing parts and accessories for recreational boats since 1975. Cook Manufacturing was originally formed in 1956 by Henry Cook and began manufacturing products for the marine industry in 1981 under the direction of Greg Cook.

“This is a rare opportunity for us to be able to join forces with an historic competitor whom we respect,” said Huntley. “We are combining the strengths of two major players in the outboard engine bracket market segment. Together we have combined experience of over 60 years in manufacturing jack plates. We will hold a very strong market leader position that will allow us to serve our customers even better.”

For now, CMC Marine, Inc., will continue manufacturing the entire Cook Manufacturing product line in the same facility in Duncan, Okla., according to T-H Marine. These products include hydraulic and manual jack plates, outboard tilt and trim brackets, and wakeboard towers and accessories. However, in the future, the company may look at combining product lines, consolidating manufacturing operations and streamlining distribution, Huntley added.

“There is too much manufacturing leaving our country,” he concluded. “I am proud that we have built a strong company that is still making real products here in the U.S.A. The acquisitions of the Cook assets will allow us to hire more U.S. workers, to build more quality products right here at home, and serve even more industries and industry segments than ever before.”

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