A pair of Black Country businessmen are celebrating after successfully completing the management buyout of a simulation manufacturer. Terry Monkton and Andy Roberts of Simworx have acquired the simulation division of AI Group and its subsidiaries from administration for an undisclosed fee. The company, which manufactures a range of capsule simulators and motion and effects theatres, will continue operating from its Willenhall base, safeguarding the future of ten members of staff. Under the terms of the deal, Simworx has obtained an exclusive licence to market, manufacture and develop Morphis ESP and Morphis 20 capsule and mobile simulators to compliment its own range of Motion and Effects Theatres. The company will also take over AI Group's current projects and work in progress, together with all service and product support for Camber Entertainments, AI Group and Thomson simulators. Terry Monkton, managing director of Simworx, said: "In acquiring the entire product range, manufacturing, product support and development resources and placing them all in one new company, we have created a truly world-class organisation." The company currently has contracts to supply simulators to venues across the world, including a motion theatre to Goa Science Centre in India, a Morphis 20 simulator to an entertainment complex in Sochi, Russia, a simulator and effects theatre to the corporate headquarters of a Toyota dealership in Oman and a Morphis 20 simulator to Holmekollen Ski Centre in Norway. It will also be installing one of its eight-seat ESP simulators at Think Tank in Millennium Point, Birmingham, later this month - a move that will enable visitors to experience a World War Two spitfire dog fight or life as an astronaut, among other experiences. James Knight of law firm Manby & Steward, who advised on the deal, said: "As the UK's only manufacturer of simulation capsules and motion effect theatres, the future looks very positive for Simworx and I am looking forward to following its progress over the coming years." Meanwhile, a Shropshire charity is celebrating after completing the acquisition of an unusual sports centre, near Market Drayton, in a second deal involving Manby & Steward. The Maurice Chandler Trust acquired the Maurice Chandler Sports Centre from North Shropshire District Council for an undisclosed sum. The trust, which leased the former RAF hangar in Stoke Heath since the 1970s, will continue the management of the centre and will also be appointing a new sports development officer to develop its leisure programme. Arnold Cope, trustee of the charity, said: "We're delighted to have acquired the centre, which will secure the future of one of the county's more unusual sporting venues. "In its original incarnation as an RAF hangar, the centre housed World War Two bombers. Now it is home to fourteen badminton courts, two sets of cricket nets, two bowling greens, two astro-turf pitches and a gym. "Although the centre is in need of some repairs and modernisation, it has great potential as a sporting facility. Only last year we hosted the regional badminton championships as we were the only facility that could provide enough simultaneous courts in the area." John Freeman of Manby & Steward, who advised on the deal, added: "Leisure facilities such as these provide an important community resource and, with such an unusual history, it is especially satisfying to be able to save the building for future generations." | 
