Wittmann Group of Austria will take over insolvent Battenfeld Kunststoffmaschinen, including its plant and headquarters in Kottingbrunn, Austria, its worldwide sales subsidiaries, and the formerly separate service units.
Wittmann Group of Austria will take over insolvent Battenfeld Kunststoffmaschinen, including its plant and headquarters in Kottingbrunn, Austria, its worldwide sales subsidiaries, and the formerly separate service units. The deal was expected to close March 31. Battenfeld will operate as separate company in the Wittmann Group, according to Michael Wittmann, general manager.
One rationale cited for the sale is the combined firm’s ability to supply presses plus a full range of auxiliary equipment. In addition, Wittmann hopes to increase opportunities abroad for both businesses in countries where one or the other already has a strong presence and established sales network. From now on, Battenfeld will use Wittmann robots, which will be integrated with the press controls. Controls of other Wittmann auxiliaries may later be integrated as well.
Battenfeld’s future had been uncertain, owing to its financial problems and its abortive sale in 2007 to British investors by the German Adcuram Group, which bought Battenfeld from SMS Group in 2006. The Austrian service unit was briefly separated from the machine builder and then reunited.
