Holding company Körber AG sells off group that includes Studer, Schaudt, Mikrosa, Magerle, Blohm, Walter and Ewag.

The new owner structure comprises a strategically aligned pool of investors organised by the Swiss BZ Bank Aktiengesellschaft. The sale of the Group by the Körber technology group was completed at the end of June, following approval by the responsible supervisory authorities.

The United Grinding Group has three product technology groups that support eight brands of grinding machines. The cylindrical grinding product technology group represents Studer, Schaudt and Mikrosa. Its surface and profile grinding product technology group represents Magerle, Blohm and Jung and the tool grinding product technology group represents Walter and Ewag.

The group employs around 2 400 employees and has more than 20 production, service and sales locations worldwide as well as agencies through third parties.

The Group says it has experienced positive development in recent years and has been able to further expand its strong position in the machine tool market. Investments in innovative solutions, modern production technologies, the Group’s international locations and consistent focus on customer benefit, have all contributed to this positive development. The new owners want to systematically continue this success with United Grinding and the course previously pursued so successfully.

“BZ Bank is delighted to be able to offer its customers the opportunity to invest in a high-yielding international industry group, which is one of the leading providers in the relevant markets. For our long-term oriented investors, the ongoing positive development of the Group is of crucial importance. Further strengthening the Group’s solid foundation is therefore of great interest,” says Martin Ebner, CEO of the BZ Bank Aktiengesellschaft.

“Our aim is to remain one of the market leaders, based on our broad and unique product portfolio. We also want to shape further developments in our customer industries actively. Together with our new owners, we will continue our international course of expansion and invest even more intensively in technological and digital innovations in our products and services portfolio,” said Stephan Nell, CEO of the United Grinding Group.

For more information contact Retecon Machine Tools on TEL: 011 976 8600 or visit www.retecon.co.za