US computer board maker Curtiss-Wright Controls Embedded Computing is on the look out for more UK companies, following its purchase of Livingston-based Pentland Systems for $2.3m.

"We are on the acquisition trail and anticipate acquiring more companies in the UK and Europe," spokesman John Wranovics told Electronics Weekly.

Curtiss-Wright makes rugged cards for rack-type computer systems including VME, Compact PCI and VPX.

Prompted by US legislation, which promotes COTS (commercial off-the shelf) purchasing for military projects, there has been consolidation among companies making rugged cards for rack-based computers, with big players including Curtiss-Wright and GE buying up smaller firms.

"There is no way we can meet sales targets on organic growth," said marketing director Michael Hornby.
So what kind of firms is Curtiss Wright looking for?

"Pentland is a good example," said Hornby. "We needed more data acquisition expertise and didn't have it. Pentland did."

Curtiss-Wright bought Cambridge-based embedded graphics card maker Primagraphics in 2004 for $21m.