European equipment makers Maag Pump, Automatik Plastics merging

Europe-based equipment manufacturers Maag Pump Systems and Automatik Plastics Machinery are merging to create a new group that will supply systems and components for manufacturing and processing plastics.

With a combined workforce of about 460 employees, the new group is headed by Ueli Thurig, the CEO of Maag Pump.

Both companies will appear on the market under their existing brand names for the time being, the companies said in a June 7 press release. The new group is planning to increase current turnover by more than 50 per cent by 2012, and will double their on-site presence to comprise over 100 countries

“With the merger, we can offer customers high-quality components and complete, integrated systems for plastic processing,” Thurig said. “We are thus becoming the largest provider in this segment worldwide.”

With headquarters in Oberglatt, Switzerland, Maag Pump provides gear pumps, filtration systems and screen changers for the plastics industry, as well as for chemical and industrial processes. Grossostheim, Germany-based Automatik Plastics makes pelletizing systems for manufacturing plastic pellets. The production plant in Grossostheim will serve in the future as a central location for the installation of complete systems, repairs and services, the companies said.

The creation of the new group will not affect Maag Pump’s production locations in Switzerland, Italy, China and the U.S., the companies also said.