In December 2023, the Swedish Atlas Copco Group acquired a renowned German manufacturer of pumps, valves and hydraulic drives. The Swedish company had already expanded in 2022 through mergers with various German industrial pump companies.
On 4 December, Kracht GmbH from Werdohl (North Rhine-Westphalia) officially became a member of the Atlas Copco Group. The planned merger represents a significant milestone in Kracht's development and opens up the opportunity for the company to pursue new strategic growth opportunities, as announced in a press release.
“Atlas Copco has approached us several times”, said Heiko Zahn, Managing Partner of Kracht GmbH. The Swedish company had apparently been interested in the Werdohl-based company with around 300 employees for some time. Serious talks have been taking place since August.
Important step in the industrial pump segment
With an annual turnover of around 72 million euros in 2022 and a return on sales of 5.9 percent in 2021, Kracht was probably an attractive expansion target for Atlas Copco. The equity ratio of 53.2 percent (2021) was also apparently interesting.
“The Atlas Copco Group not only provides a solid foundation for the future, but also strengthens our position as a leading player in fluid technology. In the Atlas Copco Group, we have found a partner with an excellent global network. We are confident that this step will have a positive impact on all our partners”, says Heiko Zahn.
Atlas Copco is an internationally operating industrial group based in Sweden. The Group has also been represented in Germany since 1952. The German subsidiary Atlas Copco Holding is based in Essen. The company manufactures products for compressor, industrial, construction and mining technology. Atlas Copco expanded in the industrial pumps segment in 2022 with the acquisitions of pump manufacturer Lewa (Stuttgart) and Pumpenfabrik Wangen.
“The industrial pump segment was identified as a strategic fit for our Group. This acquisition will be a further step for us in this segment, which plays a crucial role in many industries”, says Andrew Walker, Business Area President Power Technique at Atlas Copco.
