Originally reported by Silicon Scotland — read the full story here
In a story that underlines Scotland’s growing reputation as a home for high-growth AI businesses, UK artificial intelligence software firm IntelliAM AI plc has acquired Ayrshire-based RBM Lubrications & Monitoring Solutions Ltd — and is signalling that Scotland is a central pillar of its long-term expansion strategy.
Silicon Scotland broke the story this week, including an exclusive interview with Keith Smith, COO and Co-Founder of IntelliAM, who made clear this acquisition is the beginning of a deeper Scottish chapter for one of the UK’s most promising industrial AI companies.
A Growth Story Rooted in Trust
The deal, which completed on 1 April 2026, formalises a working relationship spanning more than seven years. Seven RBM Lubrications employees have transferred to IntelliAM alongside engineering assets and vehicles, while founder Brian Sarginson has joined the enlarged group as Vice President of IntelliAM Scotland.
Tom Clayton, CEO of IntelliAM, said: “We are delighted to formalise our long-standing relationship with RBM through this acquisition. Having worked closely together for over seven years, this is a natural and strategically important step for both businesses. It strengthens our presence in the central belt of Scotland, a key hub for UK manufacturing, and enhances our ability to deploy IntelliAM’s advanced Intelligent Asset Management solutions at scale.”
Smith told Silicon Scotland: “We’ve worked closely with RBM for a number of years as part of the supply chain, so this is a partnership we already know works. That established relationship means we can move quickly and begin delivering real impact from day one.”
Scotland at the Heart of the Strategy
Smith was unequivocal about Scotland’s role in IntelliAM’s ambitions. “Scotland is a key part of our growth strategy. The country has real strengths in advanced manufacturing, and the central belt’s position as a primary energy hub gives us a strong and immediate foothold in Scottish industry. Our acquisition of RBM builds directly on that foundation.”
The acquisition also opens a new front in Scotland’s energy sector. “It also brings us closer to Scotland’s energy sites, giving us the infrastructure and local presence needed to deploy our systems there more quickly and efficiently,” Smith added.
Closing the Loop Between Insight and Action
Smith told Silicon Scotland the combined offering addresses one of industrial AI’s most persistent challenges. “Fundamentally, this is about closing the loop between insight and action. At its core, IntelliAM takes vast amounts of data from manufacturers – operational data, reliability metrics and failure modes – and turns it into actionable insights, helping to predict failures and support better maintenance decision-making.”
“Most AI and machine learning systems struggle to bridge the gap between insight with what actually happens on the asset. By bringing RBM into the fold, we’re strengthening that connection by combining trusted lubrication and reliability expertise with AI‑driven insight – while ensuring existing services, relationships and ways of working continue unchanged.”
“The result is that Scottish manufacturers have the option to move beyond the limitations of traditional predictive maintenance – away from dashboards and alerts that simply indicate something might go wrong – towards an approach that supports clearer prioritisation and more targeted actions, which will, in time, improve overall operational efficiency.”
The Numbers and What Comes Next
The acquired business generated revenues of £648,331 for the year ended 31 July 2025 and was profitable. IntelliAM anticipates the acquisition to be modestly accretive to full-year 2027 profit. The transaction is structured as deferred consideration, with assets estimated at approximately £25,000 payable in cash on 31 December 2029.
Brian Sarginson said: “Having partnered with IntelliAM for many years, I am pleased to be joining the Group at such an exciting stage in its development. This transaction brings together deep domain expertise in lubrication and reliability with IntelliAM’s cutting-edge AI capabilities. I believe this combination will deliver substantial value to customers across Scotland and beyond.”
On further Scottish partnerships, Smith said: “While we’re not actively pursuing further acquisitions right now, we’re very focused on building technology and industry partnerships that help advance our solutions. Scotland’s industrial and AI ecosystem is a natural place for that collaboration, and we see strong long‑term potential in working alongside local innovators to drive smarter, more resilient industry across the country.”
In Case You Missed It:
For the full story and exclusive interview with Keith Smith, visit Silicon Scotland.
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