Denver-Based Pipeline Technology Company Acquires Canadian Manufacturer to Expand Corrosion Protection Services
Denver-based GPT Industries has acquired Integrated Rectifier Technologies Inc., a Canadian manufacturer of transformer rectifiers used in pipeline corrosion protection systems, in a deal backed by private equity firm Branford Castle Partners.
The acquisition brings together GPT's pipeline sealing and monitoring technology with IRT's rectifier systems, expanding the combined company's ability to serve Colorado's extensive pipeline network and energy infrastructure. Financial terms were not disclosed.
GPT Industries, headquartered in Denver with an estimated 75 employees, manufactures pipeline sealing products, electrical isolation devices, and remote monitoring systems for oil and gas, water, hydrogen, and infrastructure industries. The company operates as a subsidiary of Enpro Industries, according to business registry records.
Cathodic Protection Technology Critical to Colorado Pipelines
IRT manufactures transformer rectifiers essential to cathodic protection systems that prevent pipeline corrosion. The technology converts alternating current from the electrical grid into controlled direct current, which is fed to underground pipelines via anodes to suppress the electrochemical reactions that cause rust and deterioration.
Colorado and Wyoming combined operate over 40,000 miles of regulated pipelines, with Weld County hosting the state's densest pipeline network, according to industry data. Most interstate and intrastate oil and gas transmission lines utilize cathodic protection systems with rectifiers.
The Colorado Division of Oil and Public Health and Safety requires cathodic protection for pipelines under federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration regulations and state rules. Operators must regularly inspect, maintain, and document system performance, particularly for lines buried in corrosive soils.
"The energy and infrastructure sectors are seeing increased demand for pipeline safety solutions that bolster product reliability and deliver innovation for the future," said Marilyn Yang, principal at Branford Castle Partners. "This combination will enable both companies to extend their impact across new and existing industries."
Cathodic protection extends pipeline lifespans, reduces maintenance costs, and mitigates spill risks by making the pipeline the cathode of an electrochemical cell, preventing oxidation. Historical pipeline leaks in Weld County and adjacent regions have cost millions in repairs and environmental remediation.
Private Equity Investment Signals Regional Focus
The acquisition represents Branford Castle Partners' first investment through GPT Industries, which serves as a platform company for the firm's Fund II. Branford Castle focuses on lower middle-market companies with up to $15 million in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, targeting industrial and specialty manufacturing businesses.
Private equity activity in Colorado's oil and gas services, precision manufacturing, and industrial technology sectors has increased since 2015. According to Colorado business development agencies, companies acquired by private equity firms have averaged 5-10 percent employment growth over two to three years following acquisition.
Darin Lane, CEO of GPT Industries, said the combined companies will enhance corrosion mitigation technologies and monitoring capabilities. "We look forward to working together to offer customers more products and solutions," Lane said.
O2 Sponsor Finance, a division of Old Second National Bank, provided debt financing for the transaction. The bank focuses lending on middle-market industrial companies, often backing private equity acquisitions in the Rocky Mountain region.
Regional Pipeline Infrastructure Demands
GPT's products are used throughout Colorado's Front Range and Weld County's pipeline systems, serving oil and gas companies, water and wastewater utilities, infrastructure engineering firms, and industries adopting hydrogen and renewable energy pipelines.
Pipeline sealing products prevent leaks through compression assemblies with advanced polymers, while electrical isolation devices use non-conductive materials between metallic pipeline segments to stop unwanted current flows. Remote monitoring systems employ sensors, telemetry, and software for real-time condition tracking.
The acquisition follows broader regional infrastructure investments, including Greeley-based 4Rivers Equipment's recent partnership with Trimble to offer construction technology solutions across Northern Colorado.
Branford Castle Partners and GPT were advised by legal counsel Stikeman Elliott in Canada and Akerman in the United States. IRT is based in Alberta, Canada.