A survival equipment group with a base in Co Antrim has announced a new acquisition.

Survitec, which employs 252 people at RDF Beaufort in Dunmurry, bought the business of Seaweather (Parker Knight Holdings) for an undisclosed sum.

Seaweather carries out sales and servicing of marine and aviation survival equipment across sites in Kent, Southampton and Liverpool. Customers include P & O, Carnival, Stena Line, Thomson Airways and Agusta Westland helicopters.

Doug Baxter, group chief executive of Survitec, said: "Bringing Seaweather within the Survitec Group is an important step in expanding our service and distribution business globally.

"Seaweather has built an excellent reputation with their customer base for high levels of quality service around the clock, 365 days a year.

"We will look to enhance and expand their activities to ensure we offer our customers an unrivalled level of service."

The company said Seaweather managing director Richard George would remain to help Survitec grow the business.

Survitec Group, which has operated for over 160 years, employs 1,270 people in Dunmurry, London and six manufacturing sites working on marine, defence and aerospace survival technology.

Key products include marine, defence and aviation life rafts and pilot flight equipment.

The group has also developed pioneered marine evacuation technology with its Marin Ark system used on many major cruise ships.

Seaweather's product range includes life rafts, location equipment, distress signals, sea lights and life jackets.

The company also services life rafts and has a large range of life rafts for hire.

Survitec's rapid profit growth earned it a place on this year's Sunday Times Pricewaterhouse Coopers Profit Track 100.

American private equity house Warburg Pincus backed a buy-out of the company for £280m in January.