electronics manufacturer Seaward Group has bought a test instrument company based in the South for an undisclosed sum.

Seaward's acquisition of Cropico, in Croydon, Surrey, which provides scientific and quality control measurement equipment to clients in the aerospace, pharmaceuticals and automotive sectors, will take group sales above £10m. The company recently won a contract to supply the US Air Force with specialist temperature measurement systems used in engineering laboratories.

As well as its Croydon manufacturing site, Cropico also operates a research and development centre in Norfolk.

The acquisition increases the Seaward Group workforce to 150.

Seaward has operations at Seaward Electronic and Rigel Medical, in Peterlee, County Durham, and Clare Instruments, in Sussex, as well as a US sales office in Florida. Rod Taylor, managing director, said: "Cropico is a very well known brand name in its field and, as market leader in its own right, will complement our existing businesses very well.

"In particular, the company's export performance has been very strong and this will help to further expand the opportunities for our existing group products in some new market sectors.

"As part of the new arrangements, we will be consolidating our group sales efforts in the US and sharing product development expertise here in the UK."

Seaward was established in 1982 and manufactures test equipment used by electrical contractors, service engineers and safety managers for testing electrical equipment and appliances.