Rumour have been circulating recently of the sale of Ripmax, the UK's leading r/c modelling distributor. We can now bring you some of the details of the sale.

Ripmax has been in the ownership of the Coote family for 54 years, but they have have now decided to sell their 100% shareholding. The company has been sold, on the 18th August, to Nick Moss, the owner of the Ultimate Model Corporation (UMC).

The acquisition of Ripmax by UMC strengthens UMC's portfolio of companies, which already include Irvine Ltd and Slough Radio Control Ltd. Both Ripmax and Irvine Ltd will however, still trade as separate companies, for the time being.

The Managing Director of Ripmax, Clive Coote, will continue in a consultative role for UMC for a least another two years. Without the day to day pressure of running the business, Mr Coote will work to develop new products for the company he helped build since 1983.

In a way it's the end of an era in the modelling trade in the UK and the Coote family in particular. But, we believe with the help of UMC and Nick Moss, Ripmax will continue to take a leading role in the future of the modelling industry here in the United Kingdom and further a field.

Peter Dennis
Editor