Stackpole International, a manufacturer and sole-source supplier of highly engineered oil pumps and powdered-metal components to automotive original equipment manufacturers, was acquired from Gates Canada by the Sterling Group, a Houston-based private equity investment firm, for $285 million. Headquartered in Ancaster, Ontario, Stackpole currently has 12 manufacturing facilities and technical centers in North America, Europe, China and Korea.

Stackpole, which was founded in 1952 and acquired by Gates in 2003, is a market leader in both oil pumps and powdered metals. The company’s products are specified into powertrain (engine and transmission) platforms that have an average lifecycle of 10-15 years. These platforms underpin approximately 400 vehicle nameplates.