SME manufacturing IT firm McGuffie acquires Equator HR software

Manufacturing ERP and e-business systems firm McGuffie Brunton has acquired human resource (HR) software developer MDF Systems and its Equator suite. MDF had more than 500 installations in the UK and overseas, including Britax, Marley Floors, British Midland Airways and KLM UK Engineering. The firms have worked together for the past 11 years. It’s an excellent fit for McGuffie, which gets control of one of the main HR system for small to mid size companies (SMEs). It means that McGuffie, which is still privately held, now offers everything from core enterprise resource planning (ERP in the form of Syspro’s Impact Encore) aimed squarely at manufacturers in the SME sector, as well as CRM (customer relationship management), HR, e-business and warehouse management through its Wherehouse software deal. It’s quite a range. Norfolk-based MDF Systems now becomes McGuffie’s East Anglia Branch, responsible for selling and implementing Equator and Impact Encore – giving the firm four offices and 80 staff. Paul Murray, McGuffie’s managing director, says: “There is increasing demand for HR software … as companies come under pressure to comply with new workforce legislation, including working time directives and payroll red tape, like family tax credits and student loans. The merger will give the Equator business the necessary infrastructure, financial and marketing support it requires for further expansion across the UK.” Graham Larter, a director of MDF Systems, believes synergy is also an important issue. “We could have created a bigger business independently, but we would have lost critical time and market opportunities. What attracted us to McGuffie Brunton was the fact that they have a long history and the financial resources, staff and marketing expertise to help take the Equator business forward.”