Brückner Group GmbH, Siegsdorf, and Reifenhäuser GmbH & Co. KG Maschinenfabrik, Troisdorf, announce that retroactively as of January 1, 2009 all their equity interests in Kiefel Extrusion GmbH, Worms, engaged in the blown film extrusion lines business, will be sold by Brückner to Reifenhäuser. Worms will be the headquarters of the new business unit Reifenhäuser Kiefel Extrusion.
In 2007, Brückner acquired the whole Kiefel group of companies from J.M. Gesellschaft für industrielle Beteiligungen mbH & Co. KGaA, Worms. With a total turnover volume of some 120 million euros in 2008, in addition to Kiefel Extrusion GmbH in Worms, this group also comprises Kiefel GmbH in Freilassing, which together with its subsidiaries achieved a turnover of some 80 million euros in 2008.
Brückner focussing its activities and planning further expansion
With its now completed divestment, Brückner is concentrating its Kiefel corporate division on Kiefel GmbH's thermoforming and welding machines. "In this field of technology with its product areas packaging, medical and automobile technology we see major growth potentials; we are going to increasingly tap into these in the context of our corporate strategy", explains Peter Wellenhofer, chairman of the management board of Brückner Group GmbH.
Brückner is continuing to pursue an expansive corporate strategy. "On the basis of our strong technological position in the sector of plastics processing machinery and in plant construction as well as in growth markets, primarily in Asia, our objective is to grow and further develop the Brückner Group through targeted strategic acquisitions", says Maximilian Schneider, managing director of Brückner Group GmbH. "We specifically see the next one to two years as a favourable period for this objective".
With the takeover, Reifenhäuser has substantially strengthened its own commitment to the market segment of blown film extrusion lines. "With the takeover, we are creating the best prerequisites to consolidate and further develop our leading position in the global market for extrusion lines", says Ulrich Reifenhäuser, managing director of the traditional family enterprise. "Together, we offer the most comprehensive range worldwide of extrusion lines for blown film applications", emphasises Edgar Gandelheidt, former managing director of Kiefel Extrusion GmbH and also future managing director of Reifenhäuser Kiefel Extrusion GmbH in Worms. "This brings benefits to our customers whom we support as innovative partners and of course to our employees for whom we are reliable and solid employers going forward."
