WEINHEIM, Germany (March 5)—Freudenberg Group has acquired majority ownership of family-owned mechanical seal maker Burgmann Dichtungswerke GmbH & Co. K.G., following approval by the German Federal Cartel Office.
Wolfratshausen, Germany-based Burgmann's main product line is mechanical seals, which are used to seal rotating machinery. Freudenberg is particularly interested in the piston-ring-type seals, equalizers and automotive sectors. In 2002, Burgmann had sales of about $330 million with 3,300 employees.
Renamed Burgmann Industries GmbH & Co. K.G., it will be one of 10 independent operating businesses at Freudenberg. Burgmann Industries will be managed by Elmar Baur, formerly Burgmann CEO, and Walter Steinbach, formerly vice executive officer.
The acquisition, for an undisclosed price, fits with Freudenberg's strategy of growing outside of the automotive sector in technologically demanding markets, said Peter Stehle a Freudenberg board member.